Rolling Bar Cart with Removable Tray

Difficulty

Intermediate

Highly inspired by Pottery Barn's Chesapeake Bar Cart, sold out for a whopping $350 a cart, this bar cart, AKA beverage cart, party cart, or could be decorative plant cart, is made entirely of 1x3 boards (well, except for the wood wheels) and cost me under $20 to build in lumber.

Featuring a top tray that is fully removable, and bottom shelf with slatted design for easy water drainage, curved handles for easy moving, and two large wooden front wheels, moving your party outdoors - or indoors come unplanned weather changes, is as easy as it is stylish.

Well, yesterday, I decided that my indecisiveness should no longer keep anyone from being able to have a better BBQ this summer.

So I asked you on our Facebook Page, what color?

Loved the mustard suggestion, but three big paint cabinets later, I discovered that the only mustard I would be coming up with either comes from the fridge or Photoshop.

And I had one spray can of green . . . but now our lawn looks even more like we are still ice fishing in Alaska - and we are.

But I love the charcoal most - really brings out the shiny hardware. Would look great with sparkling glasses, a modern stainless ice bucket and scoop, and a big bouquet of pink peonies - but that's really too fancy for this mom of one, who's pretty happy to go to bed with the dishes done.

So by popular suggestion, red it is!

For as long as I can remember, I've always had a thing for red shoes. Having a piece of red furniture - a smaller accent piece - is just like a favorite pair of red shoes. Especially love the red on the (hopefully soon to be) green grass.

And a side view. I tell you, me and the jigsaw are getting quite close - to the line, that is. Super proud of those handles and wheels that took five minutes to cut and five times that to sand perfectly.

And did I mention that the top is actually a removable tray?

Bring on the BBQ!

Dimensions

Preparation

Shopping List

9 - 1x3 @ 8 feet long
4 - 1/2" diameter bolts, 2 1/2" long with bolts
6 - 1/2" washers to fit bolts
2 - handles
2 - 6" diameter wood rounds

Common Materials

1 1/4 inch screws

2 inch finish nails

1-1/4" Pocket Hole Screws

Elmer's Wood Glue

Elmer's Wood Filler

120 grit sandpaper

primer

wood conditioner

paint

paint brush

Cut List

2 - 1x3 @ 41 1/2" (Side Aprons)
4 - 1x3 @ 32" (Legs)
2 - 1x3 @ 16" (End Aprons)
2 - 1x3 @ 32" (Optional Side Supports)

Trays
4 - 1x3 @ 33 1/4" (Sides)
10 - 1x3 @ 14 1/2" (Bottom Slats)
10 - 1x3 @ 14 1/4" (Top Slats)
2 - 1x3 @ 16" (Bottom Ends)
2 - 1x3 @ 15 3/4" (Top Ends)

Tools

General Instructions

Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!

Instructions

Step 1

Build the sides. Start by drawing a handle pattern on the side aprons. The handle at most can be 6" long, as the handle overhangs the back leg 6". Clamp both side aprons together and sand until the two match perfectly.

You can also taper the back leg with a jigsaw as shown above (I didn't, but would be cute).

Then attach the legs to the side apron, using 1 1/4" pocket hole screws and drilling holes with the Kreg Jig, set for 3/4" stock. Again, the handle overhangs the back leg by 6". Use glue and adjust for the square.

You will need to build two sides. Take care to keep the pocket holes to the inside to conceal.

Step 2

Once your two sides are complete, attach the end aprons as shown in the diagram. Use glue, adjust for square.

Step 3

After I built my bar cart, I thought that a little extra support and also, a rail for possibly using smaller trays (or even a drop in ice bucket) would be good. So this step really is optional, but recommended. Add the side aprons supports as shown above.

Step 4

Now the trays. You can build the trays with pocket holes, but it's really overkill. I used 2" finish nails and wood glue, two nails per slat, with slats spaced 3/4" apart.

The top tray needs to be 1/4" narrower than the bottom so you can easily remove it without scratching the finish. This is noted above and shown in the cut list.

Step 5

Step 6

Now add the trays to the frame. The top is as easy as just resting in place. For the bottom, measure up 6" and screw in place. I used 1 1/4" screws and glue from the insides, two per leg, and it's plenty strong to hold my preschooler.

Step 7

Drill holes in the center of your wood rounds with a 1/2" drill bit. Mark the hole placement on the leg, and drill holes in the legs. Test the wheels with bolts, and when satisified, remove the wheels and trim legs (see next step).

When you put your wheels on permanently, you will want to use three washers - one on the bolts side, one on the nut side, and one between the wheel and the leg to protect your finish. Bolt side out, nuts on the inside.

Step 8

And a diagram for how the finished leg should look.

Finishing Instructions

Preparation Instructions

Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry. Apply additional coats of wood filler as needed. When wood filler is completely dry, sand the project in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper. Vacuum sanded project to remove sanding residue. Remove all sanding residue on work surfaces as well. Wipe project clean with damp cloth. 

It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.

Project Type

Console Table Plans

Kitchen Island Plans

Wine Storage

Outdoor Projects

Room

kitchen

Outdoor

Style

Cottage Style Furniture Plans

Comments

karahart

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 10:28

Love it!

Such a smart plan Ana!! I can't wait for the baby to get here so that I can get back out and start building again! Thanks for another awesome plan (and thanks for the feature too!)

Ana White

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 13:07

Congrats!

Congrats, I'm so happy for you, and thank you! Can't wait to meet the little builder :)

karahart

Thu, 05/12/2011 - 14:28

Thanks!!

Haha, she so is going to be a little builder too!! We've already got plans for lego's and fisher price hammers! Thanks for the Congrats, so sweet!!

babysteps

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 10:42

Gorgeous!

I love it, even if it makes my 'want-to-do list' even longer!

ddietz12

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 10:53

I love it. Was going to build

I love it. Was going to build the outdoor bar table for my brother so he has something to but his food on while he is bbqing but this is so much better for that situation. Especially since the tray is removal. Perfect. Good job as usual Ana and thanks for sharing

claydowling

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 10:56

Wooden wheels a classic

If you don't want to argue with making wheels, Harbor Freight and Menards both have good selections of wheels that would be appropriate for this cart.

The wooden wheels are slick though, if you can pull them off.

ACraftyCauldron

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 11:50

I was hoping...

I was hoping when I saw this on FB yesterday that plans would be coming. I LOVE IT!!! I loved the whole idea of it anyway, but the removable tray really put me over the top. FABULOUS!!!

dananryan

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 12:24

Thank you!

I can't wait for better weather to start on this project. It's perfect!

Rachael Jean (not verified)

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 12:38

Anyone have any hints for

Anyone have any hints for building this if you don't have a Kreg jig?? I'm fine with visible screws...

Ana White

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 13:03

Can be done!

For sure, it can bed done! There are really two ways. The old fashioned way (that still works probably better than anything) is to use wood dowels. Really the only joints that require a pocket hole joint are the side aprons to leg joints.

The other option is to raise the supports to cover the leg to side apron joints. See diagram below.

claydowling

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 13:08

More advanced joinery

Most of this cart could be built using half-lap joinery with a good exterior grade glue (Titebond III comes to mind). Mortise and tenon joinery should take care of the rest.

Those are moderately advanced topics though, and you'd either need expensive power equipment and a fair bit of training, or a couple of chisels, a decent hand saw, and some practice.

You could also look at knock-down hardware. Although to be fair, for what you're going to pay, you could buy a kreg jig.

Ana's suggestion is probably more sensible though. My only reservation was that dowels crossing the end grain don't give as much strength as you might like, but worth it to find out.

Rachael Jean (not verified)

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 13:17

Thanks! Dowels and "advanced

Thanks! Dowels and "advanced joinery" are both WAY beyond my current skill level... :) I was thinking the part about the top of the tray would be the only part that would be a bit of a sticky wicket to do w/o the kreg, so thanks for the diagram Ana! :) This will go on my To Build list... :)

claydowling

Wed, 05/11/2011 - 13:32

Dowels

Dowels aren't really that complicated. You would need to pick up a doweling jig and brad point bits though. Decent doweling jigs are inexpensive and very versatile. You could practice with a bit of scrap and in the space of an afternoon you'd be building good solid joints with your new doweling jig.

There's no shame in the doweling jig, either. Lots of pros use it for building furniture because it just works. I have a set of drawers held together with dowels, and there's no risk they're going to come apart anytime soon.

This video shows how easy they are to use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht0Q5MmwWsM

martinezds

Fri, 07/24/2015 - 10:09