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A coffee table that mimics an old factory cart: a low, wide plank box on chunky 5" caster wheels, with angled corner braces at each corner for that reclaimed-industrial feel. It's built entirely from 1x8 and 2x4, joined with self-tapping screws and glue, so there's no fussy joinery — the character comes from the proportions, the corner braces, and the wheels.
Build the perimeter frame first with three screws per joint, then square it the reliable way: measure both diagonals and push the longer corners together until the two measurements match. The 45°-mitered corner braces get added into the corners to lock that square and give the industrial look. Add the center support underneath before you lay the top.
Lay the seven top boards with an even gap all the way around the frame — the gaps are part of the cart aesthetic and let you screw down cleanly with two screws per joint. Finish, then bolt on the four 5" casters. Those wheels carry real weight, so use the screws that come with them and drive them all.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x8, 10 ftSides. | 1 each |
| 1x8, 8 ftEnds and tops. | 3 each |
| 2x4, 8 ftCorner braces and center support. | 1 each |
| Self-tapping star-bit screws, 1-3/4" | 40 each |
| Caster wheels, 5", with screws | 4 each |
| Wood glue | 6 oz |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Sides1x8 | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 49 3/4" |
| Ends1x8 | 2 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 28 1/2" |
| Corner braces2x4Long point; both ends 45° off square, NOT parallel. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 10" |
| Center support2x4 | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 48 1/4" |
| Tabletop boards1x8 | 7 | 3/4" × 7 1/4" × 31" |
Buy 6 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
5 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Build the perimeter frame from the 1x8 sides and ends with 1-3/4" self-tapping screws and glue, three screws per joint.
Square the frame by measuring opposite diagonals and pushing the longer-diagonal corners together until the two measurements match. Then add the 45°-mitered corner braces to lock the square and give the industrial cart look.
Flip the frame over and add the center support under where the tabletop boards will run, giving the middle of the top something to fasten to.
Lay out the seven top boards so they overhang evenly, keeping an even gap on all four outsides — the gaps are part of the factory-cart look. Screw down with two screws per joint.
Sand and finish, then attach the four 5" caster wheels to the base with the screws that come with them — drive all of them, since the wheels carry the table's whole weight.
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