Caxton magazines staffMake this little trolley and use it to keep ingredients and braai tools at hand when cooking outdoors this summer
PROJECT DIFFICULTY: Intermediate/Some skill needed
SHOPPING LIST
SA PINE (These lengths can be cut at Builders Express)
- 2 x 20 x 380 x 400mm top tray base and bottom shelf
- 2 x 30 x 20 x 360mm for the short inside edges of the top shelf
- 2 x 30 x 20 x 400mm for the longer outside edges of the top shelf
- 4 x 20 x 40 x 980mm for the legs
OTHER
- 1 x bag 30mm short screws
- Compass and pencil
- Jigsaw
- Sandpaper (medium)
Drill
- 2 x nuts and bolts
- 8 x dowels
- Wood glue
- 4 x 20 x 20 x 100mm wooden spacers
- 1 steel handlebar pipe 20 x 480mm (for between the outside legs)
- 1 steel handlebar pipe 20 x 440mm (for between the inside legs)
- 2 x 200mm slim bar handles
- Mahogany stain
- Matt sealant
- Hooks
- 4 x 80mm castors (wheel sets)
WHAT TO DO
To make the top tray of the trolley: Using 3 short screws (per side) attach the longer sides to the corresponding side of the tray base. Now insert the shorter sides flush with the ends of the base and attach the same way.
Round the top and bottom edges of each leg, use a compass to measure 20mm in and 20mm down to mark a 180° curve on each end of each of the 4 legs. Use a jigsaw to cut the curve then sand slightly for a smooth finish. (Fig A). Drill a hole 20 x 20mm from the ends of the top of each leg at the top to insert the handlebar pipes at a later stage.
To assemble the legs, place 2 of the legs on top of each other, find the centre and make a mark for the bolt that will hold them together. Drill and insert the bolt and loosely attach the nut. Scissor the legs open to 400mm and tighten the nut. Repeat this step for the other pair of legs.
Take the other pair of legs and using a pencil, mark a line 120mm from the top of each leg – this is where the top tray will go. Then mark a line 150mm from the bottom of each leg – this is where the bottom shelf will go.
*NOTE: The top shelf will meet the inside legs on the one side and the bottom shelf will meet the inside legs on the opposite side.
- Dowels will be needed to attach the top tray and bottom shelf to the legs. Place the top tray and then the bottom shelf against each set of legs to mark where the dowels should be inserted. Now attach the shelves to the legs using the dowels.
- Place a spacer parallel to the legs between the top tray and one of the outside legs. Mark a line on the spacer where it lines up with the top of the tray edge and the underside of the tray. Cut off the excess corners and re-insert using one dowel that goes into the shelf, through the spacer, and into the outside leg.*NOTE: Put a little wood glue on each piece before closing the join.
- Repeat step 6 for the remaining 3 sides that have a gap between the outside legs and the top tray.
- Insert the handlebar pipes through the holes at the top of the legs. Attach these handles with the screws provided.
- To create a space to hang braai utensils using carabiners, attach a slim bar handle to the centre of each side of the top tray using the screws provided.
- Stain the entire piece to the colour you desire, this may take 2 or 3 coats of stain. Once dry, seal with 2 coats of matt sealer. Make sure you allow each coat of sealer or stain to dry before applying the next.
- Measure and mark a line 20mm from the bottom ends of the legs, this is where the wheels will go. Drill a hole and then insert the wheel bolts and attach the wheels on the outside of the legs.
