If you carry around too much baggage or materials in and around in your house, you should definitely make a cart to make your life easier.
1. Start with designing the frame.
The dimensions of the frame depend on the cart’s purpose. For a garden cart or wagon, make the frame 2’ wide and 5’ long. You don’t have to stick with that measurement, but note that it’s the standard size.
2. Estimate how much weight the cart will carry.
If your cart will be use to carry flowers, you can use trolley cart wheels. If your cart will be carrying heavy materials like sand and soil, you can use small bicycle wheels.
The thickness of the cart platform depends on the cart’s load. If it will be light, the platform can be as thin as 1/4”. If it will be heavy, the platform can be as thin as 1”.
3. Cut the legs of the frame according to its dimensions.
You can use 2” x 2” lumber for the legs. If you’re going to use trolley cart wheels, use 2” x 3” lumber to make it easier for you to install the wheels.
Saw another leg if the cart load will be heavy.
4. Nail the legs to form the frame.
Then, nail the spare leg in the middle if needed. You can use wood screws if you don’t want to use a hammer.
5. Get a sheet of plywood for the cart’s platform.
Cut it according to the frame’s size. Nail down the platform into the frame.
6. Attach the wheels on the cart.
If you are using small trolley wheels, screw the wheels on the four corners of the cart’s frame.
If you are using bigger trolley wheels, install 2” x 3” x 6” legs under the corners of the cart’s frame.
7. Screw the trolley wheels under those legs.
If you’re going to use wheels from a small bicycle, you need to measure the diameter of the wheel’s axle.
Get a bolt (and the appropriate nut for it) that is the same width of the bicycle wheel plus 3”. It should also be as thick as the wheel’s axle.
Drill a hole on the corners of the frame.
Screw the bolt in through the wheel through the hole you drilled on the frame.
Secure the bolt with the appropriate nut.
8. Add the steering mechanism.
The most basic steering mechanism you can install in your cart is rope.
Screw in a cabinet hook on the platform. Tie the rope on that screw. Crimp the hook to secure the rope.
An alternative is to use a piece of lumber and a hinge. Screw the hinge on one end of the cart platform. Then, screw the other end of the hinge on the lumber.
You can screw a cabinet pull on the other end of the lumber to make it easier to pull the cart.
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