Rolling Lumber & Sheet Goods Cart

buildsomething added on 8/6/2015

Finding a place to store lumber and sheet goods can be challenging. This lumber cart keeps them all organized with shelves to store long boards, upright bins for shorter pieces, and a large area to hold sheet goods. Plus, the cart rolls, so you can push it wherever you need to in your work space.

Directions

Follow the steps below to complete this project.

Print Directions

Create the Base Parts

Cut two Base Stiles to length from 2x4 boards, and five Base Rails to length from 2x6 boards, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then, with your jig set up for 1 1/2” stock, drill pocket holes in the base rails and in one of the base stiles, as shown. Note that the pocket holes are set toward one edge of the stile.

Assemble the Base

Screw the base rails to the base stiles using 2 1/2” coarse thread pocket hole screws. Note the position of the stile that has pocket holes.

Make a Bottom Panel

Cut a Bottom Panel to size from 3/4” plywood, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then, with your jig set up for 3/4” stock, drill pocket holes in the Bottom Panel, as shown.

Attach the Bottom Panel

Flip the base stile/rail assembly over (so the pocket holes face down). Apply beads of glue to the rails and stiles, and then lay the Bottom Panel on the assembly so that the pocket holes in the bottom panel are over the base stile that has pocket holes. Attach the bottom panel using 4d finish nails every 6” to 8”.

Create Front Rails, Stiles, Trim

Cut one Front Rail, and two Front Stiles to length from 1x3 boards, and create one Front Panel Trim from a 1x3 board, as shown in the cutting diagram. With your jig set up for 3/4” stock, drill pocket holes in the front rail and the front stiles, as shown.

Assemble the Front Rail and Stiles

Screw the front rails to the front stile using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws.

Attach the Front Panel Trim

Attach the front panel trim using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws, making sure the trim overhangs the assembly by 1/4” on the pocket-hole side.

Make a Front Panel and Ends

Cut a Front Panel to size from 3/4” plywood, as shown in the cutting diagram. Cut two Front Panel Ends to length from a 2x4 board, as shown in the cutting diagram. Cut a 1 1/2” x 1 1/2” notch off one of the front panel ends, as shown. With your jig set up for 3/4” stock, drill pocket holes in the front panel, as shown.

Attach the Front Panel Ends

Attach the front panel ends to the front panel using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws, making sure the front panel ends are offset as shown.

Complete the Front Assembly

Apply beads of glue on the face of the front rail/stile assembly that doesn’t have pocket holes. Then attach it to the front panel assembly to the using glue, 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws, and 4d finish nails.

Joint the Front to the Base

Attach it to the front assembly to the base assembly using glue and 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws. Also be sure to attach the base stile to the panel ends using 2 1/2” pocket screws. Check that the assembly is square as you do this. Also drive 4d finish nails through the front panel and into the base stile.

Make the End Panel Parts

Cut an End Panel to size from 3/4” plywood, as shown in the cutting diagram. Also cut one End Panel Trim to length from a 1x2 board, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then with your jig set up for 3/4” stock, drill pocket holes in the end panel, as shown.

Attach the End Panel Trim

Attach the end panel trim to the end panel using glue and 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws.

Add the End Assembly

Attach the end panel assembly to the base/front assembly using glue and 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws. Also attach the casters to the underside of the bottom stiles by positioning them, drilling holes, and using bolts and washers. Our casters called for 3/8" bolts, as shown in the materials list. Check the mounting hole size in your casters.

Cut the Support Frame Parts

Cut three Support Frame Front Stiles and nine Support Frame Rails to size from 2x4 boards, and then cut three Support Frame Back Stiles from 2x8 boards, as shown in the cutting diagram. Notch the top end of each back stile as shown.

Drill the Back Stiles

With your jig set up for 1 1/2” stock, drill pocket holes in one end of the back stiles, as shown.

Drill the Front Stiles

With your jig set up for 1 1/2” stock, drill pocket holes in the front stiles, as shown.

Drill the Frame Rails

With your jig set up for 1 1/2” stock, drill pocket holes in the rails, as shown.

Assemble the Frame Parts

Assemble all three support frames using 2 1/2” coarse-thread pocket hole screws.

Install the Frames

Attach the support frames to the cart base using 2 1/2” coarse-thread pocket hole screws.

Add the Support Frame Backing

Attach a Support Frame Backing (made from a sheet of 1/4” plywood, as shown in the cutting diagram) to the support frames using glue and 4d finish nails.

Add the Cap and Shelves

Cut one Cap, one Top Shelf, one Mid Shelf, and one Bottom Shelf to size from 3/4” plywood, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then attach the cap and shelves to the support frame rails using glue and 4d finish nails.

Create Two Support Panels

Cut two Support Panels to size, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then, with your jig set for 3/4” stock, drill pocket holes in the panels, as shown.

Attach the Support Panels

Attach the support panels using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws.

Create the Right Back Parts

Cut one Right Back Panel and four Right Back Dividers to size from 3/4” plywood, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then, with your jig set for 3/4” material, drill pocket holes in the back panel and the dividers, as shown.

Attach the Dividers

Attach the dividers to the back panel—on the face without pocket holes—using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws, as shown.

Install the Right Back Assembly

Attach the right back/divider assembly to the cart using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws, as shown.

Cut the Remaining Back Parts

Cut one Bottom Left Back Panel and four Bottom Left Dividers to size from 3/4” plywood, as shown in the cutting diagram. Then cut one Shelf Panel, one Shelf Back, and four Shelf Dividers to size from the sheet, as well.

Drill the Shelf Parts

With your jig set for 3/4” material, drill pocket holes in the shelf dividers, shelf panel, and shelf back, as shown.

Assemble the Shelf and Back

Attach the shelf bottom to the shelf panel—with all pocket holes facing out—using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws, as shown.

Add the Shelf Dividers

Attach the shelf dividers using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws, as shown.

Install the Shelf Assembly

Attach the shelf/divider assembly to the cart using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws, as shown.

Drill the Bottom Left Parts

With your jig set for 3/4” material, drill pocket holes in the left back panel and the left dividers, as shown.

Attach the Dividers

Attach the bottom left dividers to the bottom left back panel—on the face without pocket holes—using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws, as shown.

Install the Last Assembly

Attach the left back panel/divider assembly to the cart using 1 1/4” coarse-thread pocket hole screws, as shown.

Materials Required:

Wood Products:

(1) 1x2, 24", Board
(1) 1x3, 48", Board
(2) 1x3, 96", Board
(6) 2x4, 96", Board
(2) 2x6, 96", Board
(2) 2x8, 96", Board
(1) 1/4" Thick, Full Sheet, Plywood
(5) 3/4" Thick, Full Sheet, Plywood

Hardware/Supplies:

(22) 2 1/2" coarse pocket hole screws	Shop Online
(150) 1 1/4" coarse pocket hole screws	Shop Online
(125) 4d finish nails	Shop Online
(6) 3" heavy duty locking swivel casters	Shop Online
(24) 3/8" x 1 1/2" lag screws	Shop Online
(2) 6 1/2" utility pulls	Shop Online
(1) wood glue	Shop Online
(24) 3/8" washers	Shop Online

Parts/Cut List:

(2) base stiles , 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 96
(5) base rails, 1 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 25 3/4
(1) bottom panel, 3/4 ply x 32 3/4 x 96
(1) front rail, 3/4 x 2 1/2 x 96
(2) front stiles, 3/4 x 2 1/2 x 16 3/4
(1) front panel, 3/4 ply x 21 1/2 x 96
(1) front panel trim, 3/4 x 2 1/2 x 96
(2) front panel ends, 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 22 1/4
(1) end panel, 3/4 ply x 13 3/8 x 21 1/2
(1) end panel trim, 3/4 x 1 1/2 x 13 3/8
(3) support frame back stiles , 1 1/2 x 7 1/4 x 46 9/16
(3) support frame front stiles , 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 47 7/8
(3) support frame top rails, 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 7 1/8
(3) support frame middle rails, 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 9
(3) support frame bottom rails, 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 11 9/16
(1) support frame backing, 1/4 ply x 48 x 96
(1) bottom shelf, 3/4 ply x 10 1/2 x 96
(1) middle shelf, 3/4 ply x 8 1/8 x 96
(1) top shelf, 3/4 ply x 6 1/4 x 96
(1) cap, 3/4 ply x 9 1/2 x 96
(2) support panels, 3/4 ply x 45 3/4 x 46 9/16
(1) right back panel, 3/4 ply x 45 3/4 x 24
(4) right back dividers, 3/4 ply x 5 3/4 x 27 1/2
(1) bottom left back panel, 3/4 ply x 45 3/4 x 12
(4) bottom left back dividers, 3/4 ply x 5 3/4 x 15
(1) shelf panel, 3/4 ply x 10 x 45 3/4
(1) shelf bottom, 3/4 ply x 6 1/2 x 45 3/4
(4) shelf dividers, 3/4 ply x 5 3/4 x 13 1/2

Discussion

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Reviews:

February 9, 2020

Excellent Lumber Cart - I’m still new to the woodworking game. This build took me a week and a half to build. The plans are detailed however; I would have liked caster sugges… see full review

- lanasimm
January 13, 2020

Great addition to my shop - This thing is a beast but holds a ton of lumber. Plan and instructions were excellent. Incorporated a couple of the other suggestions. Thanks a ton… see full review

- gertman@prodigy.net
April 22, 2019

Sturdy and Versatile - Built this over a weekend, and it has made a huge impact on how organized I can keep my shop. My only real criticisms of this plan are the dimensions … see full review

- pdbcreations
January 19, 2018

otimizador de espaço - Muito bom o carro organizador,otimizando o espaço para armazenamento de madeiras e placas. Acabando com a bagunça na garagem.

- jeremiasdealmeidaclaro@gmail.com
January 3, 2018

Good plans - Easy build and not too difficult to modify. As mentioned you can get away with less ply and in my case, saved a whole third sheet of 3/4 by using scra… see full review

- product229
March 7, 2017

Great How-To and Material List! - Well written instructions. Instead of using 1x3 and 1x2, I purchased a 1x6 and ripped it to the dimensions needed. Saving a little bit of money in… see full review

- jbutzine
January 27, 2017

Nice Build - Don't always have the money for plans with every other expense. Its nice these are provided. I would be curious what Norman built and if there is a pi… see full review

- teachme
November 30, 2016

Fantastic cart - The plan is very precise. You can load a lot of lumber on this cart.

- jacques
October 8, 2016

A great cart, but..... - The best cart I've seen online. However, I would like to see the plywood storage section bigger to hold more plywood. Also, there is no mention as to … see full review

- cnormie
February 4, 2016

Great storage for all sizes of lumber. - My only complaint is that the 1 1/4 screws seemed too short at times. A 1 1/2 screw worked much better when I started using them instead.

- jester23d