Plywood Cart - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

KMac · 03-08-2009, 08:43 AM

Have any of you guys built a cart to move plywood around? I'm looking for some design tips and ideas. I need something to move sheet goods from my truck to my shop area - about 100 feet from where I back my truck in to my shop. I don't want it to take up too much space. I'm sick of carrying it. Any ideas?

JonM · 03-08-2009, 09:01 AM

Get yourself a drywall cart...

**loneframer** · 03-08-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMac

Have any of you guys built a cart to move plywood around? I'm looking for some design tips and ideas. I need something to move sheet goods from my truck to my shop area - about 100 feet from where I back my truck in to my shop. I don't want it to take up too much space. I'm sick of carrying it. Any ideas?

Harbor freight has a 2'x4' steel mesh wagon with 10" pnuematic tires and a 1000# capacity for under $100. It would probably do the job or at least give you some design ideas.

TimelessQuality · 03-08-2009, 09:18 AM

I hear HD or Lowes will give you a cart if you have an enclosed trailer (ramp door helps too)

**Leo G** · 03-08-2009, 09:43 AM

I made an "A" frame cart, holds about 20 sheets. Yours would surely need better wheels than mine. Probably (4pcs) 1000lb rated pneumatic tires.

KMac · 03-08-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonM

Get yourself a drywall cart...

Thats no fun - I want to make something! That is along the lines of what I want though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by loneframer

Harbor freight has a 2'x4' steel mesh wagon with 10" pnuematic tires and a 1000# capacity for under $100. It would probably do the job or at least give you some design ideas.

That's a nice cheap cart - I want the sheets to sit on edge but I may grab one of those carts for loading high rise jobs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimelessQuality

I hear HD or Lowes will give you a cart if you have an enclosed trailer (ramp door helps too)

I didn't realize those were free.

tcleve4911 · 03-08-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo G

I made an "A" frame cart, holds about 20 sheets. Yours would surely need better wheels than mine. Probably (4pcs) 1000lb rated pneumatic tires.

Show him a pic, Leo. Don't be shy.............

**Leo G** · 03-08-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcleve4911

Show him a pic, Leo. Don't be shy.............

I wish I had one. And if I wanted to take one I would have to remove at least 10 sheets of 3/4", not happening soon.

KMac · 03-08-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo G

I made an "A" frame cart, holds about 20 sheets. Yours would surely need better wheels than mine. Probably (4pcs) 1000lb rated pneumatic tires.

I would like half an "A" frame cart - may i should just buy a drywall cart like JonM suggested.

**Leo G** · 03-08-2009, 09:54 AM

An "A" frame is a balanced cart. Mine is designed to fit through a 34" opening (36" door). It is nice, bring it over to the door, off load the truck and put it aside. When you need to use sheets, pull it through the door and put it behind the tablesaw. Pull off the sheets one by one and you never have to drag them more than about 10'. Makes it nice when you are building a kitchen with 15-20 sheets of 3/4" plywood. Like I said about my wheels. Get good ones, mine suck. HD specials. Need something from Graingers or WoodCraft. Something with ball bearings. Are you getting the hint that you shouldn't cheap out on the wheels?

OCRS · 03-08-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo G

An "A" frame is a balanced cart. Mine is designed to fit through a 34" opening (36" door). It is nice, bring it over to the door, off load the truck and put it aside. When you need to e sheets, pull it through the door and put it behind the tablesaw. Pull off the sheets one by one and you never have to drag them more than about 10'. Makes it nice when you are building a kitchen with 15-10 sheets of 3/4" plywood. Like I said about my wheels. Get good ones, mine suck. HD specials. Need something from Graingers or WoodCraft. Something with ball bearings. Are you getting the hint that you shouldn't cheap out on the wheels?

I would second Leo on this. I once watched from afar a new guy transporting drywall across the site with a drywall cart, the wheels got caught up on a small ledge. He tried to stop the tipping, broke his leg.

neolitic · 03-08-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo G

An "A" frame is a balanced cart. Mine is designed to fit through a 34" opening (36" door). It is nice, bring it over to the door, off load the truck and put it aside. When you need to e sheets, pull it through the door and put it behind the tablesaw. Pull off the sheets one by one and you never have to drag them more than about 10'. Makes it nice when you are building a kitchen with 15-10 sheets of 3/4" plywood. Like I said about my wheels. Get good ones, mine suck. HD specials. Need something from Graingers or WoodCraft. Something with ball bearings. Are you getting the hint that you shouldn't cheap out on the wheels?

Unless you want to spend the next
five years waiting to "get around to"
changing them for the ones you
should have bought
to begin with.

tcleve4911 · 03-08-2009, 10:07 AM

Check out this article about a plywood tilt cart that acted as storage & a table saw feed

http://books.google.com/books?id=OdZ...esult#PPA36,M1

**Leo G** · 03-08-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolitic

Unless you want to spend the next
five years waiting to "get around to"
changing them for the ones you
should have bought
to begin with.

I had bought the same wheels (or so I thought) from HD a few years ago. They worked great. All these wheels did was look the same, nothing else.

I built the cart when I was starting up the shop, had a mortgage, shop payments new equipment. In other words cash strapped. I did the bet I could with the stuff I had. Now I can afford better.

Thanks for the encouragement.

**Leo G** · 03-08-2009, 10:16 AM

I looked at a bunch of those drywall carts. If all you are planning on using them for is going from point A to point B then they would be fine. A little pricey on some of the better ones. But if you are going to use it for storage as well ans transport then I find that they are to short. You would end up having your plywood turn into potato chips because of no support on the ends. A storage cart should be at least 6' long. I made mine 7'. Short enough so that when you are putting plywood on it you have a place for your had to go, but long enough for full support so the plywood stays nice and straight during its storage period.

**Leo G** · 03-08-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcleve4911

Check out this article about a plywood tilt cart that acted as storage & a table saw feed

http://books.google.com/books?id=OdZ...esult#PPA36,M1

Looks like it can do one or the other.

tcleve4911 · 03-08-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo G

Lookas like it can do one or the other.

not both?

**Leo G** · 03-08-2009, 10:20 AM

Not at the same time.

**Leo G** · 03-08-2009, 10:24 AM

I like the idea of the clamping cart. I don't think I'd go as far as making the top with all the notches for the clamps. But like the idea of the storage and clamping surface on wheels. Not sure if my shop has the room for it though.

http://books.google.com/books?id=OdZ...-1&output=html

tcleve4911 · 03-08-2009, 10:26 AM

okay.....why not? Several stacked sheets....I do that all the time with a stack on sawhorses staged behind the saw. Push one off at a time.
no?