If you do a lot of woodwork, you’ve probably amassed a lot of scrap lumber. After a time, all of that lumber cart might start to take up a lot of room, especially if you’re already working in a cramped environment. Not only will having a decent storage and organisation system keep your room neat and tidy, but it will also preserve your lumber cart in good condition and make your work zone more efficient. One of the first steps in regaining control of your workshop is to invest in a sturdy lumber cart. Today’s project will teach you how to make a small-space lumber cart.
When it comes to finishing your workshop space, having a place to store a lumber cart is just as important as having a place to work on projects.
Lumber cart storage racks are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and prices to accommodate a wide range of storage requirements and budgets. You can select solutions that are free, upcycle/recycle an item, or build one from scratch.
It can be difficult to find a neat and organised way to store your lumber. Several options are available to assist you in building the perfect lumber cart storage rack for your space.
You must first construct the foundation for this project by building a lumber cart. This component is made entirely of wood and glue. If you don’t have enough clamps, you may always use a combination of glue and wood screws, or even a brad nailer to get the job done. The goal is to simply keep things in place.
Steps to built a Lumber Cart:
STEP 1
- Glue two of the 72′′ x 4′′ pieces to the bottom of the 72′′ x 26 1/2′′ portion, as well as the 18 /12′′ x 4′′ pieces. Allow time for it to dry. This will be the base’s bottom.
- It’s a good idea to mark the spots where you want the casters to go when the adhesive has dried. Drill any holes that will be required for the casters ahead of time and set them aside.
STEP 2
Flip the base over and connect the 72′′ x 19 1/2′′ to one long side of the base once it has dry sufficiently to continue. This part will require pre-drilling and the use of wood screws. For added strength, you can put glue along the seam.
STEP 3
Repeat for the opposite side of the base, only this time you’ll be adding the last 72′′ x 4′′ piece. The remainder of the project will be completed by working from left to right (or from the tall side).
Begin attaching the 24 1/2′′ X 6′′ pieces to the cart’s left side (tall side) by working on the left side. These will serve as the cut-off compartment’s dividers. As specified in the cut list, you should have already angled the ends of these pieces at a 45-degree angle. As a result, the connecting side should sit at or slightly below the frame to which it is being linked.
STEP 4
Adjust the dividers to fit the section sizes you choose. Predrill a hole through the external side of the cart and secure with wood screws and glue. After that, pre-drill and screw through the base’s bottom.
STEP 5
The next step is to route four dados into the 46 1/2′′ plywood. Each dado should be 3/4 inch in width and 1/4 inch in depth. One dado should be 2 1/2′′ from the top end, and the others should be spaced at similar lengths. Each of the last three grooves should be 11′′ on centre.
STEP 6
Attach the plywood piece to the cut-off dividers’ long sides next. The dividers should be facing away from the dado grooves. Drill holes in the plywood sheet and through the bottom of the base. Wood screws are used to secure the piece.
STEP 7
Then, predrill holes in the dividers and in the dado side of the plywood sheet. Wood screws are used to secure the piece. (Tip: Use extra wood blocks to support the plywood while it is slanted on its side to balance the cart and keep it from tipping.)
STEP 8
After that, glue the shelf portions to the plywood’s dado grooves. With the angled cut facing away, place the flat cut in the dado. Notice how the shelves narrow as you move from the bottom to the top of the cart in the image above. Place your shelves in the appropriate order, with the broadest side of each shelf facing down and the narrowest side facing up.
The shelves are held in place using scrap wood blocks and various clamps while they dry. Whatever method you use to complete this step, make sure your shelves are square. For extra strength, screws are placed through the plywood for the top three shelves.
NOTE: You may discover that 3 degrees is insufficient for your cart’s slope. If that’s the case, you can increase it to something more to your liking. I favour 5 degrees, but this is purely a personal taste that has no bearing on the cart’s integrity.
The plywood panel on the bottom of this cart is angled at a 3-degree slant. If you choose to raise the angle on the shelves, you will also need to increase the angle on this sheet of plywood.
STEP 9
Attach the last piece of plywood to the shelves and through the base’s bottom. Make sure you pre-drill the holes before screwing them in.
Last but not least, add your casters! Before attempting to take the cart from your workbench, make sure they are locked. If you don’t, it’ll start rolling on you.
