illustration by Jenna Lechner

A rolling cart can do many things: provide extra storage in the corner of a kitchen, roll up as a bar during a party, act as a plant stand or even travel to the back patio for extra serving space during a summer barbecue. And while we love carts of the vintage variety, sometimes you want something a little sturdier. This cart is made of wood and steel plumber’s pipe, as well as casters for mobility, and can be completed in a few hours from hardware store finds.

1 MATERIALS AND DIMENSIONS

This is a highly customizable project, depending on the finished size and look desired. It uses steel plumber’s pipe for the side supports and push handle. Just make sure that when purchasing the pipe, all of the lengths and fittings have the same diameter for ease of connection. This project uses pieces with a ½-inch diameter, including eighteen flanges, four pre-cut pipes in two lengths (12 and 18 inches long), two elbows and three “nipples.” The latter pieces are for the push handle, with two that are 2 inches long and one measuring 8 inches long.

For the two shelves and counter-top, this tutorial uses a 1-inch × 12-inch × 8-foot board cut into three lengths, each 2 feet long. Feel free to stain or paint the boards to your preferred color, or use reclaimed wood. Keep in mind that increasing the width or length of the boards might require additional supports to keep them from sagging once loaded. You will also need four swivel caster wheels.

2 CUT AND FINISH THE WOOD

Measure and cut the wood pieces, and finish with stain, sealer or paint. If using the cart for serving drinks or holding plants, consider applying a harder finish that will be more impervious to water stains, like a paint with a sheen. Make sure everything dries completely before proceeding.

3 ASSEMBLE THE BOTTOM SHELF

Using a drill, start by attaching a flange to each corner with screws. Next, add the 18-inch-long pieces of pipe to each flange, and when secure, twist on the next set of four flanges.

4 ADD THE MIDDLE SHELF

Perhaps with an extra set of hands, flip the installation over so the top flanges can be set atop the middle shelf lying on the ground. Attach the flanges to the shelf, then flip it right side up. Set up the next shelf, this time using the 12-inch-tall pipe, making sure that when attaching the flanges in the corners, none of the screws meet each other and crack the wood. Add the top shelf, or counter.

5 FINISH WITH WHEELS AND A HANDLE

Attach the caster wheels to the bottom. The push handle will have a base of two flanges, each attached to a 2-inch-long nipple. Add elbows to the top of these, and finish with an 8-inch piece to connect them. And voila—now you can load up your cart and push it anywhere there’s a party.