Mini Garden Cart

Your garden helpers will love this wheelbarrow that's just their size. Or if you don't have a little helper, this project makes a great decorative planter.

Tiered Plant Stand
General Instructions

Cut and label the parts as needed, using the Cut List as a guide and adjusting for fit.

Step-by-Step
  1. Build the wheel.
    • Cut two (01) wheel boards to 7 1/4 inches square from the 1 x 8.
    • Attach the two (01) wheel boards at each of the four corners with glue and screws, making sure that the grain of the wood on both pieces is perpendicular to each other (see Figure 1). Allow the glue to dry for at least 30 minutes before proceeding.
    • Locate the center of the wheel assembly by drawing a pair of diagonal lines from opposite corners.
    • Set a compass to 3 1/2 inches, and then draw a circle (measuring 7 inches in diameter) onto the wheel assembly.
    • Drill a 7/8-inch-diameter hole in the center of the wheel assembly. (This hole is for a dowel that will be added later.)
    • Use a jigsaw or band saw to cut the assembly round.
    • Sand the assembly, and set it aside while the glue dries.
  2. Build the bed assembly. (See Figure 2.)
    • Cut the (02) floor boards approximately 1/2 inch longer than indicated in the Cut List for trimming to size later.
    • Drill alternating pocket holes into the long edges of the three inside (02) floor boards (as shown in the floor detail). Do not drill into the two outer pieces.
    • Assemble the (02) floor boards using glue and pocket hole screws (see the floor detail).
    • Trim the floor assembly as shown in the floor detail.
    • Cut the (03) bed sides as shown in the bed side detail.
    • Attach the (03) bed sides to the floor assembly using glue and screws.
    • Cut the (04) bed nose as shown in the bed nose detail.
    • Attach the (04) bed nose to the (03) bed sides and to the floor assembly using glue and screws.
    • Scribe and cut the (05) bed back to length with a 9-degree bevel on each end.
    • Attach the (05) bed back to the floor assembly and the (03) bed sides using glue and screws.
    • If you plan to use this project as a planter, drill holes in the (02) floor boards to allow for drainage.
  3. Build the undercarriage. (See Figure 3.)
    • Rip two 1 x 1 pieces approximately 36 inches long from a 2 x 4 for the (06) handles. Lay out each (06) handle using the handle detail.
    • Make the (06) handles by using a router with a 1/2-inch roundover bit, and round over the four corners of the handle approximately 4 inches from the end, or as long as desired.
    • Cut a 3/4-inch-square piece (from the 1 x 4 or 1 x 8) for the (07) dowel. Use a router with a 3/8-inch roundover bit to round the edges. Make the (07) dowel longer than indicated in the Cut List, trimming to length after assembly.
    • Attach one (06) handle to the bed assembly 2 13/16 inches from and parallel to the edge of the (03) bed side. The (06) handle should extend 9 1/2 inches from the back of the bed assembly. Attach the (06) handle using glue and screws.
    • Position the (07) dowel in the 3/4-inch hole of the (06) handle, securing with glue. Remove excess glue with a damp cloth.
    • Slide a washer onto the (07) dowel.
    • Slide the wheel assembly onto the (07) dowel.
    • Slide another washer onto the (07) dowel.
    • Apply glue to the end of the (07) dowel, sliding the remaining (06) handle onto the (07) dowel. Position the remaining (06) handle 1/8 inch from the second washer.
    • Trim the (07) dowel so that it is flush with the (06) handles.
    • Attach the second (06) handle to the bed assembly using glue and screws. The distance between the handles should be 7 5/8 inches along the wide edge of the bed assembly, and 3 1/8 inches along the short edge.
    • Cut two (08) legs from the 1 x 8 as shown in the leg layout detail.
    • Attach the (08) legs to the (06) handles with glue and screws.
  4. Apply a finish.
    • Fill holes and gaps with stainable wood filler.
    • Sand, apply primer, and paint. We recommend Valspar Extra Premium Exterior in the color of your choice. For added interest, you can paint a design on the sides of the cart using a stencil.
Illustration
Mini Garden Cart
Cut List
Part Material Size (in inches) Quantity
wheel boards 1 x 8 3/4 x 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 2
floor boards 1 x 4 3/4 x 3 1/2 x 15 5
bed sides 1 x 8 3/4 x 7 1/4 x 18 11/16 2
bed nose 1 x 8 3/4 x 3 1/2 x 9 1/4 1
bed back 1 x 4 3/4 x 3 1/2 x 15 1/4* 1
handles 2 x 4 1 x 1 x 32 3/4 2
dowel 1 x 4 3/4 x 3/4 x 4 7/16 1
legs 1 x 8 3/4 x 4 7/16 x 7 11/16 2

Finished Dimensions

Height: 13 3/4 inches
Depth: 34 1/4 inches
Width: 15 3/8 inches

*Scribe to fit.

Comments

Submit Comments & Photos
  • 0 out of 0 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.
  • 12 out of 14 people found this comment helpful. Was this comment helpful?
    Flag this comment.

Submit Comments & Photos

Please feel free to post a comment and someone from LowesCreativeIdeas.com will review your submission. You can check back after 24 hours to see if your comment has been posted.

Fields in BOLD are required to preview and submit your comment.

  • Instructions

    Your email will only be used in the event that one of our moderators needs to clarify your comment. It will be used strictly in the context of or relating to your comment.

    Your email will NOT be used for marketing purposes or shared with any 3rd parties.

  • Your Photo

    Have a photo? Attach it to your comment here.

    Make sure your photo meets the following requirements:
    Max File Size: 2 MB
    File Types: jpeg/jpg, gif

    Photos will be scaled to fit this space.

    Upload Photo
    Character count: 0
    (500 character limit)
  • If you do not see the security words image:

    • Make sure the version of your browser is current. For example, you need to have at least Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape 6.0 or higher.

    • Make sure your graphics (pictures and images) are turned on or enabled in your browser.

    • Refresh your browser and try again. You may want to copy your comment though as it will not be saved.

    Instructions

    Please enter the words you see in the box, in order and separated by a space. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this service.

    If you are not sure what the words are, either enter your best guess or refresh the browser for a new set image.

  • Terms & Conditions




Total Votes: 2
Read Comments(2) Submit Comments & Photos

These "social bookmarking" services make it easier to share and manage your favorite online content.

StumbleUpon, digg, and del.icio.us help you gather content from around the web, describe it how you see fit, and tag it for easy sorting. These sites also allow you to see what other people are gathering and tagging (if they've made it public), and find new content that may interest you.

Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace also allow you to share content that you find interesting, with people who visit or subscribe to your personal profile.

Post to StumbleUpon! Post to digg! Post to del.icio.us! Post to Facebook! Post to MySpace!


Project Details
Tools
  • Table saw (or circular saw with a straightedge guide)
  • Compound miter saw (or compound miter box and handsaw)
  • Jigsaw or band saw
  • Router with 1/2-inch and 3/8-inch roundover bits
  • Power sander and various grits of sandpaper
  • Drill/driver with drill bit set
  • Kreg Jig R3
  • Ruler and flexible tape measure
  • Compass
  • Paintbrush
  • Pencil
Lumber *
  • 1 (8-foot-long) 1 x 4
  • 1 (12-foot-long) 1 x 8
  • 1 (8-foot-long) 2 x 4
Hardware and Supplies
  • 1 box (1 1/4-inch) Kreg pocket hole screws, course thread
  • 1 box 1 1/4-inch screws
  • 2 (3/4-inch) washers
  • 5 packages (3/4-inch) nail-on furniture glides
  • Stainable wood filler
  • Wood glue rated for exterior use (Titebond III)
  • 1 quart exterior paint
  • Green paint (Valspar Ultra Premium exterior, Four-Leaf Clover 6011-6, semi-gloss)
  • Yellow paint (Valspar Ultra Premium exterior, Sunspark 3010-2, semi-gloss)

*Availability varies by market.

Tags:

Tags are keywords or terms that have been assigned to a piece of content.

A tag list is simply a list of all the tags used on all content and a count of their frequency.

A tag cloud is a visual representation of a tag's popularity based on how often it is used throughout the site.

Click on a category below to view other projects and articles. (What are these?)

Display as: cloud | list