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This cart is deliberately small and rolling, sized to hide a trash bin behind a hinged door while still offering usable prep counter space and a bottom shelf — a genuinely tight-footprint alternative to a full kitchen island. Build the two end frames first from 2x2s and plywood side panels — the plan notes joining the 1x2 trim to the 2x2 legs isn't structurally required, it just keeps that joint snug, so you could attach the plywood first and nail the trim on after if that's easier for your process.
If you're using a hinged, hinge-down drawer or door face and don't own a right-angle drill, attach it before final assembly — the plan flags this explicitly, since certain hinge and hardware positions become very hard to reach with a standard drill once the cart is fully boxed together. Attach the plywood side panels to the legs with pocket holes, tying the whole side assembly together with the 1x2 trim and glue at every joint.
Build any doors or drawers to fit the actual opening, leaving an 1/8" gap around all sides as a default, but measure your actual hinges first — the plan notes simple butt hinges can eat up closer to 1/4" of that gap, so the door dimensions need to account for the specific hardware you're using rather than a blanket gap number. Caster wheels on the base finish the piece, making it a genuinely mobile trash-and-prep station rather than a fixed cabinet.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 3/4" plywood or MDF project panel, 24 in x 48 in | 1 each |
| 2x2, 8 ft | 3 each |
| 1x2, 8 ft | 3 each |
| 1x6, 16.25 in | 1 each |
| 1x4, 12 ft | 1 each |
| Material for door/drawer, 1x3 frame and 1/4" plywood panel | 1 each |
| Hinges | 3 set |
| Magnetic clasps | 3 each |
| Knobs and pull | 3 each |
| Caster wheels, 2 in, on bolts | 4 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" | 80 each |
| Brad nails, 1-1/4" | 60 each |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
| Primer and paint, or stain and poly | 1 set |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Legs2x2, 8 ft | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 32 3/4" |
| Side trim1x2, 8 ft | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 15 3/4" |
| Side panels3/4" plywood or MDF project panel, 24 in x 48 in | 2 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 24" |
| Tie-in trim2x2, 8 ft | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 16 1/2" |
| Door/drawer trim1x2, 8 ft | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 16 1/2" |
| Bottom3/4" plywood or MDF project panel, 24 in x 48 in | 1 | 3/4" × 15 3/4" × 16 1/2" |
| Bottom shelf outside trim, panel sides1x2, 8 ft | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 15 3/4" |
| Bottom shelf outside trim, drawer sides1x2, 8 ft | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 16 1/2" |
| Bottom shelf slats1x2, 8 ft | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 18" |
| Top drawer1x6, 16.25 in | 1 | 3/4" × 5 1/2" × 16 1/4" |
| Tabletop boards1x4, 12 ft | 6 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 20 1/4" |
Buy 10 boards at 8 ft.
3 boards
1 board
1 board
2 boards
3 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 two end frames from the legs and side trim. Joining the trim to the legs first isn't structurally required, just keeps the joint snug — attach the plywood first if you'd rather nail the trim on after.
Drill 3/4" pocket holes on the sides and tops of the plywood side panels on the inside. Attach to the 2x2 legs, and nail and glue to the 1x2 trim pieces.
If using a hinge-down drawer face and you don't have a right-angle drill, attach it now before further assembly.
Attach trim pieces to the side panels to tie the project together, using glue at all joints.
Drill 3/4" pocket holes around all four sides of the bottom plywood piece. Attach with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws and glue.
Build doors and drawers to fit the actual openings, leaving an 1/8" gap around all sides as a starting point but measuring your actual hinges first, since butt hinges can require closer to 1/4".
Attach the tabletop boards on top, and the bottom shelf slats and trim below.
Attach knobs and pulls to doors/drawer. Attach caster wheels to the base. Sand and apply primer and paint, or stain and poly.
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