Project by Ron Stewart | posted 08-22-2018 11:11 PM | 12892 views | 33 times favorited | 8 comments | ![]() |
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I just finished building this small cart to hold my ever-growing collection of scrap lumber. It’s a modified version of a Fine Woodworking design. It also incorporates some ideas (pocket hole joinery instead of dadoes and blunt divider ends instead of bevels) fellow LJer YesHaveSome presented in his Scrap Wood Storage Cart project and video.
My version has a slot on one side for storing a few sheet good cutoffs (up to about 24” by 48”) and two small cubbies for holding very small scraps in plastic bins. It’s approximately 32” wide, 24” deep, and 38” high. Casters and 1/2” thick mounting pads add another 4” or so to the height.
The vertical cutoff cavities have openings of 11 3/4” by 7”, with varying heights. The cubbies at the bottom stop short of the rearmost cavities, so those cavities are as tall as the cart and can store long pieces. The sheet goods slot is 5 1/2” wide.
The cart is made of 3/4” luan plywood from Home Depot (five 24” by 48” sheets, equal to one and a quarter full-sized sheets). I didn’t use any glue for assembly—only many pocket hole screws.
For mobility, I used Everbilt 3” locking casters from Home Depot. They’re new to me, but I’m impressed with them. They’re very heavy duty, and the lock stops both the wheel rotation and swivel. They have wide mounting holes, so I used hex-head lag screws to mount them.
I’ve been intending to build a cart like this for years. I’m glad I finally got around to doing it. For now at least, my shop’s horizontal surfaces are much cleaner.
I’ve uploaded the SketchUp model to 3D Warehouse.
One last note: the dimensions in the drawing (and model) above are theoretical. They don’t account for the kerf losses, actual plywood thickness, mistakes, and the like. That’s why my cavities aren’t the full 12” wide, etc.
-- Ron Stewart
8 comments so far
oldrivers
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2471 posts in 2581 days
#1 posted 08-22-2018 11:18 PM
That is a handy/Dandy cut off cart I need to build one of those I have an abundance of cutoff’s. Good job!
-- Soli Deo gloria!
Ron Stewart
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#2 posted 08-22-2018 11:31 PM
Thanks, oldrivers! The other benefit of building this cart is that it forced me to throw away some useless scraps (old MDF pieces I’ll never use, etc.). So it helped me declutter in two ways.
-- Ron Stewart
woodbutcherbynight
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#3 posted 08-23-2018 01:16 AM
It is empty, I am betting not for long…
LOL
nice work
-- Live to tell the stories, they sound better that way.
Peteybadboy
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#4 posted 08-23-2018 10:38 AM
Thanks for posting. My cut offs are out of control.
-- Petey
KimAccurso
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#5 posted 08-23-2018 10:51 AM
Great organization and great smaller cart. I’m sure a lot of us have that serious mental problem called, “I”ll use that for something someday”. LOL
-- Kim - imperfection is the pursuit of perfection
recycle1943
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#6 posted 08-23-2018 07:10 PM
ought to be a real handy cart – I always say I’m build one but I end up making something that fits the cut off sizes.
-- Dick, Malvern Ohio - my biggest fear is that when I die, my wife sells my toys for what I told her I paid for them
fivecodys
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#7 posted 08-23-2018 07:52 PM
Great project. I really like the size.
I built Steve Ramsey’s a couple of years ago. I use it all the time.
Thanks for sharing.
-- A bad day woodworking is still better than a good day working.
Buck_Thorne
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#8 posted 02-03-2020 11:24 PM
Great idea to have the shelves for plastic bins for those really small bits that you just can’t throw out!
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