Project Information
Once upon a time, before a terrible lapse in judgment, I owned a Shopcart which did all these things you read in the title. The need for such a device has returned, and building one seemed the better option over the $1200 to purchase. The one feature the Shopcart has which I did not include was a hydraulic jack for raising the deck a pump at a time to keep it at the tablesaw height. My one improvement was the placement of fixed casters in the center. You can pivot this cart in a circle with one hand, and when you roll it, it tracks. (I opted for two fixed and two swivel casters on my early Shopcart-far better than four swivels.)
specs
Tread: 24.5
Wheelbase: 63
Height to top of deck: 34.5
Deck: 46×71; 2.75 thick
Deck lip: 5.5 high
Hardware: 2 floor locks (Grainger);
6 casters (2 fixed; 4 swivel) (Grainger);
3 HD door butt hinges (exterior door) (Habitat ReStore);
48" piano hinge (Hardware Supplier).
Notes: Deck is a torsion box with 11/16 webbing, pine and cedar (for lightness). Skin is 1/8 ply.
6 each 3/8" teenuts to receive lip bolts, installed during construction.
Interior reinforcement for attachment of hinge board likewise.
Deck locking structure is 2.5" maple, pocket screwed. Pieces are identical for simplicity. I am indebted to J D Grinnell for the design of the locking device. It is simple, elegant, and secure.
Things I'd do differently: I bought cheap floor locks and they're an annoyance to operate. They are important to the function and safety of the cart, so they'll likely get changed out.
Silliness: When I saw the torsion box complete but for the top skin, I couldn't resist it-I dug out some 3/4" steel balls I had stashed away and placed them in various compartments (they're about 6" square). Now when you tilt the deck, there's this lovely friendly music that accompanies the act.
specs
Tread: 24.5
Wheelbase: 63
Height to top of deck: 34.5
Deck: 46×71; 2.75 thick
Deck lip: 5.5 high
Hardware: 2 floor locks (Grainger);
6 casters (2 fixed; 4 swivel) (Grainger);
3 HD door butt hinges (exterior door) (Habitat ReStore);
48" piano hinge (Hardware Supplier).
Notes: Deck is a torsion box with 11/16 webbing, pine and cedar (for lightness). Skin is 1/8 ply.
6 each 3/8" teenuts to receive lip bolts, installed during construction.
Interior reinforcement for attachment of hinge board likewise.
Deck locking structure is 2.5" maple, pocket screwed. Pieces are identical for simplicity. I am indebted to J D Grinnell for the design of the locking device. It is simple, elegant, and secure.
Things I'd do differently: I bought cheap floor locks and they're an annoyance to operate. They are important to the function and safety of the cart, so they'll likely get changed out.
Silliness: When I saw the torsion box complete but for the top skin, I couldn't resist it-I dug out some 3/4" steel balls I had stashed away and placed them in various compartments (they're about 6" square). Now when you tilt the deck, there's this lovely friendly music that accompanies the act.
