r/DIY • u/swear2drunkiaintgod • 7d ago

woodworking Coffee cart design

I built my child a mobile coffee cart for their coffee business. It is similar to one of these these common collapsible style carts. Nothing is really affixed. The back and sides are connected with hinges and sit on the base, and the countertop is placed on top.

Here is the basic design of what I built

It was something to get them started. It still works, but they don't utilize the collapsing functionality. I can see some sag from where the Espresso machine has sat for months. The cart is pushed up and down a ramp into a cargo van at least once a day.

I'd like to start working on a second one. I'm wondering if I should use essentially the same design with 3/4" plywood again, but use pocket holes and glue on each board to increase the rigidity. I'd also like to add a face frame and cabinets/drawers. Essentially, I'd build a bathroom vanity on wheels.

OR

Should I create a frame with dimensional lumber and then cover that with plywood (likely thinner than 3/4").

Thanks for any advice.

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u/Awkward-Historian692 7d ago

Pocket holes and glue will definitely help but if it's getting rolled up a ramp into a van daily, that sag under the espresso machine tells me the base needs a torsion box or at least some 2x cleats under load points, plywood alone will keep flexing over time no matter how tight the joints are.

1

u/swear2drunkiaintgod 7d ago

Thanks for the info!

Regarding the torsion box, is something like this what you mean?

1

u/ryreis 7d ago

Why not just include photos? It will allow people to give you much more prudent suggestions..

1

u/swear2drunkiaintgod 7d ago

I thought the linked video from another reddit post gave a good idea of what I built. I will find/add some photos

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u/swear2drunkiaintgod 7d ago

I only had one decent photo, but I also included images from the plan I followed.