Free plans to build an animal book cart. You can easily customize the front for any type of animal. Easy to build with just a few tools and step by step diagrams and lots of photos.
It's the season of building to give!
For the past seven years, Jaime Costiglio and I have collaborated on a series Handbuilt Holiday - where we share a new, free gift plan every Friday in the 12 weeks leading up to Christmas.
Have you made any gifts yet? This week we have an awesome one that you can make from scraps in your shop - and you can customize to delight any child!
This animal book cart is perfect for towing around favorite books or toys!
Jaime Costiglio customized hers as a shark (and we are amazed!) - but it's easy to customize to any animal. Hop over and check out Jaime's build post with lots more photos. Then the plans follow.
Preparation
- 1x6 - 28" of board needed
- 1/2" plywood - 12" x 36"
- 4 - 2" bolts with nuts, washers for attaching wheels
- Rope (about 2 feet) and dowel piece or scrap wood can be used
- 1-1/4" brad nails
- Wood glue
- 2 - 1x6 @ 13-1/2"
- 1 - 1/2" plywood @ 12" x 5-1/2"
- 1 - 1/2" plywood 12" x 14-1/2"
- Cut front 12" wide by desired height of ears from 1/2" plywood
- Cut wheels from scrap 1/2" plywood
Instructions
Step 1
Cut wood pieces according to cut list.
Cut front piece larger and draw animal ears on top of wood piece. Cut out with jigsaw.
Attach 1/2" plywood to the 1x6 ends with 1-1/4" brad nails and wood glue.
Step 2
Nail the bottom on with 1-1/4" brad nails and wood glue.
Step 3
Cut wheels out about 4" diameter (can be larger but shouldn't be much smaller) with a jigsaw from leftover 1/2" plywood.
Drill holes in the center of the wheels slightly larger than your bolt shaft.
Drill holes in the 1x6 cart sides, about 1/2" up on the 1x6, and install wheels on the cart.
Jaime provides more details on what bolts she used and photos of this step here.
Add optional rope with handle to front by drilling out a hole in the front, and placing a knot on the back of the rope so it can't pull through the hole.
