How to Build an Outdoor Bar Cart
By , This Old House magazine
Photo: David Prince
Refer to the illustration for dimensions. Cut two 1x4 long sides, two 1x3 short sides, and three 1x3 bottle spacers. Follow the process in step 4 to glue, butt, and nail the joints together. Start by attaching the edge of a long side to the end of a short side so that they're flush at their top edges. Next, attach the edges of the spacers along the inside face of the long side, flush with its bottom edge and spaced at proper intervals (use bottles to size them). Attach the second long side to the end of the first short side and the edges of the spacers; it should be flush with the top of the short side and the bottoms of the spacers. Finish by attaching the edges of both long sides to the ends of the second short side, flush at their tops. Fit the rack onto either tray to hold bottles in place.
Tip: If you leave the cart unfinished, the cedar will weather to an attractive silvery gray—just like a beach house. If you'd rather preserve the color of the wood or bring out its red undertones, apply a clear toner, such as Penofin, annually.
Steps
- Introduction
- Overview
- 1. Cut the Pieces
- 2. Cut Out the Top Tray's Handles
- 3. Attach Ledges to the Long Sides
- 4. Make the Tray Frames
- 5. Attach the Bottom Boards
- 6. Cut and Mark the Legs
- 7. Make the Notch Cuts
- 8. Drill Holes and Recesses
- 9. Assemble the Sides
- 10. Drill Pilot Holes for the Bottom Tray
- 11. Add Insert Nuts to the Bottom Tray
- 12. Add Insert Nuts to the Crosspieces
- 13. Assemble the Cart Bottom
- 14. Attach the Second Side
- 15. Attach Wheels to the Axle
- 16. Build the Bottle Rack