Build a Simple Rolling Shop Cart from a Solid-Core Door
A solid-core door laid across a pair of sawhorses makes a handy temporary work surface. But with a few simple modifications, you can turn that same door into something even more useful.
This DIY rolling shop cart provides plenty of room for tools, supplies, and bulky workshop items. Best of all, you can put it together in about an hour using a solid-core door, shelf brackets, and a set of casters.
The result is a sturdy, mobile storage cart that's easy to move wherever you need it in the shop.
Build the Cart from a Solid-Core Door
The basic construction couldn't be much simpler.
Start by cutting a solid-core door into two sections. One section forms the vertical back of the cart, while the other becomes the bottom.
Join the two sections in an L-shaped arrangement using screws and large shelf brackets.
The brackets reinforce the connection between the back and bottom, creating the basic structure of the cart.
Next, install a set of heavy-duty casters beneath the bottom section to make the cart mobile.
The large bottom platform provides plenty of room for heavier, bulkier items that might not fit on conventional shelves.
Add Adjustable Shelves for Workshop Storage
To make better use of the vertical space, install a pair of metal shelf standards on the back of the cart.
Then add smaller shelf brackets and plywood shelves.
The shelf standards allow you to adjust the height of the shelves to accommodate different tools, supplies, and accessories.
One detail worth pointing out is the way the shelves fit against the back.
I notched the plywood shelves around the shelf standards and brackets so they sit tightly against the cart's back panel.
This eliminates the gap that might otherwise allow small items to fall behind the shelves.
Use a Solid-Core Door, Not a Hollow-Core Door
There's one important requirement for this project: Use a solid-core door.
A hollow-core door doesn't provide enough solid material throughout its interior for securely fastening the shelf brackets and other hardware.
The solid core gives the screws something substantial to hold onto and helps create a sturdier cart.
Choose heavy-duty casters and brackets appropriate for the weight you intend to store. Keep heavier items on the bottom platform, and make sure the completed cart is stable before loading the upper shelves.
A Quick and Practical Workshop Storage Project
This simple shop cart is a great way to add mobile storage without building a complicated cabinet.
The adjustable shelves keep smaller tools and supplies organized, while the spacious bottom platform holds larger items.
And because the cart rolls wherever you need it, it's easy to keep frequently used supplies close at hand.
With just a solid-core door and a few pieces of hardware, you can have a practical new shop cart ready to use in about an hour.
Shop tip submitted by Kent Borcherding, Hazel Green, Wisconsin.
Space-Saving Tool Stations for Your Workshop
A rolling shop cart is a great way to keep tools and supplies close at hand without taking up permanent workbench space.
Looking for more ways to organize your shop? Explore our Space-Saving Tool Stations for Your Workshop for practical ideas that help you make better use of your available space.
EXPLORE SPACE-SAVING SHOP IDEAS → Make More Room for the Tools You Use
