A compact shop cart that keeps plywood and partial sheets standing on edge in a center slot, offcuts in two open bins with a front lip, and long boards in a cubby under the deck. Built from one sheet of 3/4 in plywood, a few 2x4s and four cast-iron casters, with square cuts, screws, glue and pocket screws. The cubby opening at each end is about 6-1/2 in tall and 18 in wide: room for 2x4s, 2x6s, 1x boards and plywood strips laid flat. Shown loaded (lumber not included).
Before you buy anything, it helps to know three things: how big the finished build is, what you’ll bring home from the store, and how the assembly goes. Here they are for the Rolling Lumber and Plywood Cart, straight from the plan.
How big is it?
The finished size is 48 × 28 × 38-1/2 in (122 × 71 × 98 cm), width × depth × height. Measure the spot where it will stand before you start.
What you’ll buy
The shopping list comes to about $192 at the prices we saw (Sep 27 – Oct 20, 2026). Prices change, so check your own store.
| Qty | What | At the prices we saw |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2x4 SPF, 8 ft | $12.75 |
| 1 | 3/4 in plywood, 4 × 8 ft | $68.98 |
| 4 | Everbilt 3 in gray cast-iron swivel plate caster | $43.48 |
| 1 box | #8 x 1-5/8 in tan star flat-head deck screws | $10.97 |
| 1 box | #9 x 2-1/2 in tan star flat-head deck screws | $10.97 |
| 1 box | Kreg #8 x 1-1/4 in coarse Blue-Kote pocket-hole screws | $13.47 |
| 1 | Deckmate 1/4 in x 2 in black exterior hex-head lag screw | $13.95 |
| 1 | Titebond III Ultimate wood glue | $9.98 |
| 1 | 3M Pro Grade Precision 9x11 in 120-grit medium sheets | $6.98 |
The shopping list names what to buy; the cut list in the plan turns those boards and sheets into parts. Check both before your first cut.
Tools you need
- Tape measure
- Speed square
- Pencil
- Miter saw
- Circular saw
- Straightedge cutting guide
- Drill/driver
- Drill bits (1/8 in and 5/32 in for pilot holes)
- T20 and T25 star driver bits and #2 square driver bit
- Pocket-hole jig (Kreg)
- Lag-screw pilot bit (5/32 in) and clearance bit (1/4 in)
- Socket or nut driver (7/16 in)
- Hammer
- Clamps (at least 2, bar clamps 12 in or longer)
- Sandpaper
- Safety glasses
- Hearing protection
- Scrap block of wood
How the build goes
The plan has 14 steps, each with a drawing and the parts it uses. The plan’s own estimate is about 6–10 hours; treat it as an estimate.
- Cut the 2x4 parts
- Cut the plywood parts
- Build the left end frame flat
- Build the right end frame flat
- Fit the runners
- Stand the frames up and add the long rails
- Add the middle cross rail
- Glue on the caster pads and mount the casters
- No-jig route: set the bins up on the deck
- No-jig route: screw the bins on from underneath
- Screw on the deck
- Build the front bin
- Build the back bin
- Check it and load it
Before you start
- Compare the shopping list with the stock sizes your store actually carries.
- Check every measurement against your own materials before cutting.
- Read the safety notes at the front of the plan and wear the protective gear it lists.
What the plan includes
- Preparation packet PDF (shopping list, cut list, tools), 10 pages
- Build guide PDF, 36 pages
- Preparation packet PDF, metric (mm) (shopping list, cut list, tools), 11 pages
- Build guide PDF, metric (mm), 36 pages
- Offline animated 3D build guide (ZIP; open guide.html in a web browser; guide-metric.html for mm)
It is a digital build plan: nothing physical ships. See the plan.
These plans are for planning and personal use. They are not engineered drawings and do not claim compliance with any building code. Check local rules and use your own judgment on site.
General planning guidance. Follow your chosen plan and tools’ instructions; ask about unclear dimensions or substitutions before cutting.