End Table Cart for $20 in Wood!

In my family room I had a cute little two toned end table I refabbed off of Craigslist.  It was fine but I really wanted something deeper since that is where we store all of the television equipment on.  Plus I had a few blankets with no home and having more depth would be helpful.  Plus the drawer on the small end table never had anything in it.  For $20 in wood, ($35 if you count the casters and the industrial bracket details), it was well worth it to me to have something with a little more oomph in that space.  Plus it is made from all 2×4’s!  If you have a building site near you and don’t mind scavenging scraps you could probably get all the wood for free!  Now a Kreg Jig is imperative for this project.  Believe me, a Kreg Jig is worth it’s weight in gold if you want to build your own furniture.

 

Supplies:

2 boxes of 2 1/2” Kreg screws 

Kreg Jig

(8) 2” x 4” x 8’

Pre-stain conditioner

Cordless drill

stain (I used Minwax Special Walnut)

top coat (I used Minwax Wipe-On Poly)

orbital sander

corner brackets

2” metal casters (I got mine on Amazon)

chopsaw

tape measure

1 1/4” screws for casters

upholstery tacks

Final size: 28” deep x 24” tall x 24” wide

1.  Cut all your boards to size.

2.  Next you will spend some serious time with your Kreg Jig.  This bad boy is filled with pockethole to give it a nice tight fit.  You will want think through where you drill your pocketholes because there will be so many in it to keep it in place you don’t want them to bump up to each other.  Make sure your screws are in well but don’t pop through the other side.  You want them nice and tight because 8 2” x 4” boards screwed together is a lot of weight so you want a tight hold.  Also two pocketholes in the end of each board end might be overkill.  I probably could have gotten away with one in each end and saved money on screws.  Also keep in mind you don’t need to drill pocketholes on the last end board since you don’t need to attach that to another board (see bottom board in the picture below)

3.  Next build the sides.  The 21” piece will sit flush with your top, shelf and bottom.  The 22” piece will give you the height.  You will be able to see (unless you fill them) these pocketholes.  But I hate filling pocketholes and it doesn’t bother me.  See below for what I am talking about.

If you stain the pocketholes well and have stuff on the shelf it is no big deal.  But if you are particular then you can fill them too.

4.  I find it easier to stain all the pieces before assembly.  I give everything a sanding with 120 grit sandpaper and then use pre-stain conditioner since it is a soft wood.  I don’t want splotchiness.  Use a small disposable paint brush or q-tip to get in the edges.  I used Minwax Special Walnut on mine.

5.  Once dry I gave it 3 coats of Wipe-On Polyurethane (sanding between coats).  I love the hand rubbed look it gives while still giving it protection.  Plus it is so easy to apply.  Love it!

6.  Next I assembled it.  I wanted my shelf 7” from the top so I cut some scrap 2 x 4 pieces that size to give me spacers.  I found it easier to screw it in place with those.

7.  To add the wheels makes sure you pre-drill first.  I used 1 1/4” thicker headed screws.

8.  To add the corner brace detail I set it in place and then pre-drilled tiny holes in the edges.  Then I actually used upholstery tacks instead of screws because I liked the look.  I pounded those in with a hammer.

Such an easy beginner Kreg Jig project for those are new to the wonderful world of pocketholes!

Now I have the depth I need to put all of the television equipment on and I also have space to tuck in a couple of blankets.

I look the little metal accents of the wheels and the braces pared with the wood.  So pretty.

To see more of my family room click here.

For more easy build project click on the pictures below..