How to Build a Scrap Wood Storage Cart

Hey friends, let's finally take care of this chaotic scrap wood pile some of you have been giving me a hard time about ;)
I've been trying to clean and organize my shop after a busy summer full of projects. While cleaning up my wood storage room, I decided that after years of procrastinating, I should finally just build a cart to help organize my scrap plywood.
And...I only wish I'd done it sooner. I hope you enjoy following along to see how I built it!
Grab the printable building plans here: woodshop-diaries.myshopify.co...
Check out more project details, tips, and information here: www.woodshopdiaries.com/scrap...
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SHOP WOODWORKING TEES AND BUILDING PLANS HERE:
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Helpful resources for this project:
How to cut plywood: www.woodshopdiaries.com/cut-d...
How to use a pocket hole jig: www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-t...
Affiliate links below
Tools & Materials:
Tools:
Drill/Driver: homedepot.sjv.io/Aoo6Ya
Circular Saw: homedepot.sjv.io/AooaYx
Kreg Rip Cut: amzn.to/3Y38tDQ
Kreg Accu-Cut: amzn.to/3sMUojF
Pocket Hole Jig: amzn.to/32eoPBY
Speed Square
Miter Saw (optional): homedepot.sjv.io/b3DkDx
Materials:
(1) 4×8 sheet ¾″ plywood
(1) 24″ x 24″ piece ¾″ plywood
1 ¼″ pocket hole screws: amzn.to/3FKfikk
1 ¼″ wood screws
Washers
(4) Caster Wheels: amzn.to/3ZiXyI8
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:41 Past plywood scrap storage
01:11 Cutting down the plywood
01:40 Assembling the bottom and sides
03:00 Adding the back supports
03:38 Adding the middle and section dividers
05:43 Assembling the left cubby
06:36 Attaching the front
07:01 Installing the caster wheels
08:44 Finish and Load Up

[@rea59]

My problem is I can literally do anything with the smallest of scrap pieces. A little glue, some scrap hardwoods, a band saw and a lathe gets you a beautiful bowl. I never know when to purge.....lol

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I understand! Haha! Everyone uses their shop differently so you kind of have to come up with your own line to draw to know what’s worth keeping vs tossing

[@westtexas5754]

I think projects made from scrap materials are great! Thank you for continually making us think of new ways to do things.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I love giving my old projects a new purpose haha! I appreciate you watching and hope you have a great weekend!

[@dinero-grande]

I just built one following your design, came together very quickly and I'm super happy with it. I did make one tiny tweak, I cut a notch from the middle separator and used one long strip of ply all the way across. Other than that it was perfect for me. Thanks!

[@nobuckle40]

Shop organization is never ending. An organized shop is a safe shop. Thank you for encouraging us to work safely.

[@MakersStudioFAY]

We will definitely build one of these for our Makers Space since we have so much wood that is shared among our members. Thanks for posting this!

[@SawdustmakerLori]

Great project!!! It not only gets all the scraps organized but will save time in helping to see at a glance what wood is available to use when getting ready to start a project. We all have this problem so this will be useful for a lot of people. I love that you were able to use wood from previous projects and how perfect it was that the pocket holes were already drilled in some pieces. Good to see Lucy was helping on this build!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! Yes, this is already so helpful in the shop to be able to take a quick glance and see what I've got. I've still got some pieces left from the old cabinet that I'm brainstorming ways to reuse it. You may see those scraps again haha! I appreciate you watching and hope you have a great weekend!

[@timothycreasy2161]

It is nice that you can use cut off wood, and recycle wood from other projects to make something you will certainly need and use and cost effective . And mobile is great. Nice job Ms. Shara 👍

[@WoodshopDiaries]

It’s definitely nice to be able to reuse the wood so it’s given a new purpose in life haha. Thanks so much for watching and have a great weekend!

[@pteddie6965]

Good looking and well thought out little lumber cart. Thanks for sharing the build and video with us.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I appreciate you watching and following along! Have a wonderful weekend!

[@Joshua.zero29]

Shara returns!!! Saturday mornings are exciting again! 🎉🎉😊😊❤❤

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I'm glad you're excited for a new video! I appreciate you watching!

[@joeywatch1145]

You legend. I've been batting around various ideas for one. I built a vertical sheet goods cart, but I wanted a smaller one for stick lumber and sheet goods.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I hope this was helpful! Happy building!!

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

Great little cart. I like that you have the length of the dividers so that you can easily just tell what sizes are in that bin.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I’m always having to take my tape measure to the scrap pile to figure out which pieces are at least 16” long 😆 this at least saves the trouble so I can easily see what I’ve got to work with (or not haha). I hope you enjoyed watching-I appreciate you following along! Have a great weekend!

[@AlexanderElse]

Everyone needs a scrap wood cart. Or three!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Agreed! 🙌😆

[@WillysPerformanceCycleCtr]

This is a great idea and nice project. Always fun to use leftovers and scrap in a project. Thanks for a great idea! Have a great weekend Shara!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! Yes, definitely fun to turn old projects into new ones! I hope you enjoyed watching--I appreciate you taking the time. Have a wonderful weekend as well!

[@jimrosson6702]

Great idea thanks for sharing

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much! I appreciate you watching!

[@lovejones7545]

Awesome! It will definitely come in handy around the shop. Love seeing your projects come together. "Happy Building" 🤙🏾💯

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much! It's already made a world of difference in here! Thanks so much for watching and Happy Building!! 😎

[@lkjsdf1]

1:47 Wow. Seems like this channel as amassed a lot of fans.

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome job Shara! 😃👍🏻👊🏻

[@christophermckinney984]

It’s about time you’ve made a “Scrap wood cart” video. And there is no surprise that it is slap full of plywood scraps! I swear, you must have know that I’m looking at all my scrap wood and trying to figure out what to do with it! (I’m still not convinced that you don’t have access to some cameras at my home and work area, and you get your ideas from everything that needs to be done around here!!!). All jokes aside, it’s good to see another video from you. I feel like you’re my YT friend, and it makes me smile when I see that you’ve put out something that I can watch, and later make fun of your….well, antics. 😉 😂❤

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I mean, let's be honest. Scrap wood hoarding is a universal problem. Some people just don't admit it 😂 I really appreciate you watching my crazy videos and always enjoy the comical comments you share on them--even if it that includes a little "making fun" of my antics 😂 I hope you have (had since it's already halfway over) a great weekend and thanks so much for following along!

[@johnvatistas6569]

Very nice!

[@mon2dan]

You are so awesome! Love love ❤your channel! Please keep the videos coming!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

You're so kind! Thank you so much for watching and have a wonderful weekend!

[@tomstone2322]

I need one so bad 😂🤣

[@WoodshopDiaries]

It’s definitely a nice upgrade from what I was working with 🙈😆

[@johnkelley9877]

That's a great idea and it looks good too! I need to rearrange some lumber I have too so this inspires me to go work on it. Thanks for sharing this.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much! Happy organizing haha 😉 I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

[@scottmorris4914]

I like that you built your scrap wood bin from scrap wood pieces. LOL. Very nice project.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Just a little less to have to store inside haha! Thanks so much for watching and have a great weekend!

[@scottmorris4914]

@@WoodshopDiaries I have to out something for my stock and scraps. I has something that is temporary, and it works quite week, mobile cart. What I need to do is use up the wood I have, and then just buy what I need for a project. And when the scraps pile up, make something from them, maybe kids wood toys and donate them.

[@jimmcnett]

Love your videos. Really useful.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate you watching!

[@Bekim8310]

Simple and effective! Great work Shara!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much! Have a great weekend! 🙌

[@johannesputter8455]

👍 but on shot of your storage area at the start, it seems. you need more than one cart 😉

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Haha I actually already had a cart I use for full plywood sheets and some scraps-but those are mostly hardwoods and trim scraps. After organizing and tossing some too small plywood pieces, believe it or not, 90% of the scraps from that beginning shot fit into this cart-wish some room to spare!

[@joelcopeland3018]

Very smart build... Well done and God Bless...

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! Have a wonderful weekend and God bless you too!

[@stevedockery3534]

Nice scrap cart Shara. I made one similar to yours but a bit longer for my hard woods I use. Have a great weekend

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much for watching! I hope you have a great weekend too! 😎

[@javierteodorakis1647]

Aunque entiendo poco el idioma ingles me gusta ver esos videos son buenos proyectos tomas ideas y experiencia de otros yo me dedico a la carpinteria y viendo esos contenidos me ayudan a seguir creciendo saludos shara😊

[@WoodshopDiaries]

¡Te agradezco que veas y me alegra saber que disfrutas los videos! ¡Gracias!

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic work, Shara! Really excellent cart! 😃 My things are a mess as well... I guess I need to make something like that as well. 😬 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I don’t know why I waited so long to make this 🤣🙈 but it’s really nice to have my pieces sorted by size and (even better!) on wheels! Hopefully I can keep it this way haha. Have a great weekend and thanks so much for following along!

[@samme5513]

Very nice

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! Happy building!

[@samme5513]

@@WoodshopDiaries you're very welcome

[@brewster3987]

Ah, there you go again peeking in my shop windows and shaming me! I, too, am a scrap hoarder. There, I said it. When I finish typing this, I'm going over to your website and grabbing those plans... I would not have thought to be quite so intentional about sizing your compartments to help with visual sorting - that's brilliant. Once an engineer, always, I guess. Here's my existential angsty question, though... what did you do with the triangular cutoffs from the dividers? Did they "make the cut?" 😁 P.S. Bubby was totally judging you for stealing those casters... P.P.S. cool camera angles!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Haha! I think if we were all honest, we'd all admit we have a scrap wood hoarding problem. It's so tough to get rid of those pieces because--you just never know! About once or twice a year I have a meltdown and decide I'm sick of the clutter and get rid of it and then I inevitably need something that I JUST THREW AWAY 🙈 I feel like it's part of the process at this point. I actually kept those triangles to see if I can use them on another shop project soon. You may see them again in a future video 😉 Bubby was certainly judging--but he was easily distracted when I tossed him some treats!

[@craiggoodwin9704]

Shara, my shop is a big a mess or even bigger of a mess as yours. And as you well know it sure takes a lot of fun out of working out there. I REALLY like how you not only built something to store your scraps but also built it to organize those scraps so their size could be easily recognized. Of course you really "cut to the bone" when you used such phrases as "need to purge" and "scrap pile out of control". Hopefully I'm thick skinned enough to handle those comments as they apply to my shop and also intelligent enough to spend the $8.99 for your plans as I'm thinking with the same kind of mess that's probably a great place to get started on a solution. Thanks for Sharing! P.S. I hope you had a great time at Yellowstone! 🙃🙂

[@WoodshopDiaries]

16" seems to be the big number when I'm digging through scraps. I'm so glad this can easily help me see what I have in the 16" or longer category to know whether I need to start cutting a fresh sheet (which I hate having to do haha). I'm also excited to have these neatly stacked in the cart instead of just against the wall because Bubby likes to run around behind them and knock everything over 😂 I hope this gave you some ideas (and not too many hurt feelings!) for your own shop. I appreciate you watching and hope you have a great weekend! PS: we had a great time at Yellowstone but I'm always happy to be back home!

[@itswhatevswithnurseevelyn8668]

Welp...now I gotta go see what I have that I can repurpose!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

YESSS! 🙌 Happy building! 😊

[@georgewilmore7599]

On the to do list but never seems to make it to the top.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I understand haha! It took several years to make it to the top of my list 🙈

[@barryroberts6470]

Very nice build, one thing i don't understand is why you have such a wide piece of plywood that could have been cut in half with one piece on either end? unless you just wanted to get rid of the scrap. Take Care and Stay Safe, Barry (UK)

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks! I’m not sure i understand the question or what part you’re referring to? But thanks for watching and have a great weekend!

[@barryroberts6470]

@@WoodshopDiaries It was the piece of Plywood that you cut to put on the bottom so that when you screw in your screws for the wheels they don't poke through, that piece of wood. I thought considering that it was just for the wheels, you could have cut one piece in half which was plenty wide enough to attach the wheels to.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Oh, I understand now. These pieces were just left from my old cabinet and already this size, so I just used them as is and didn't bother trimming them down.

[@amoledor]

When using the rip cut, do you re-calibrate for if you’re using a right blade vs left blade saw?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Yes when I first set it up. But once I set it up, I keep the sled on the saw so I don’t have to do it again unless I get a new saw.

[@joec96]

I have your plans printed for this and have one question before I start: Last week I made my first plywood project with pocket holes. It was a small cart with one shelf, 24 x 24 x 24. I didn't use any glue. How do you know when you do need to use pocket holes AND glue?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Hi! Thanks so much for your purchase and support of my small business! There’s really no straight answer for this. In many cases, glue doesn’t make a huge difference. Depending on what you’re building and the way it’s braced/supported in multiple directions, it often doesn’t do much to help. However, it doesn’t hurt, either.

[@jhold7553]

And that is why you dont glue everything. Cost: free. I have 2 giant plastic tubs once they are full i burn and start over

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I feel like we all need to draw a line somewhere to know when it’s time to purge the scraps 🤣 they accumulate so easily haha

[@patmash]

If you only seen the size of scraps I keep, you’d laugh at me. Wood hoarder for sure I am.

[@louiswhitney1761]

Did I see a new puppy?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Nope-just the same old cat and dog 💕

[@louiswhitney1761]

@@WoodshopDiaries didn’t think your dog’s tail was docked… sorry everyone who I got excited… ☺️☺️