Had fun building on my tool cart today. My tools are more numerous than the space I have for them, so I need to make more. Making my own is cheaper and more fun than buying - plus, I get to design the case how I want. There will be some drawers for tools, a pegboard / clamp rack for hanging stuff, an area for larger tools (skillsaw, etc.) and a shelving unit for paint, stain, and finishes.
Its rare that I use plywood, but building with plywood is fun, because there is no jointing, planing, or gluing up panels. You just cut and build. In this case with 3/4 inch Poplar plywood and 1/2 inch Russian Birch for the drawers and shelves. Also, instead of dowels, mortise and tenon, or dovetails I am using that staple of cabinet makers - pocket holes and screws. The advantage of these is that, when the tool cart is done all the screws will be hidden from view.
I got quite a bit further than the picture indicates. the far compartment will be a bank of drawers, and I got the drawers built and the faces cut out (even with plywood - which will be painted - the grain down the bank of drawers is continuous). I will buy the drawer slides tomorrow so I can finish that. The shelves, which go in the end facing the camera are built and faced.
All that is left is: fit the drawers, put the top on (which is cut, but off to make working on the case easier), insert some panels covering the sides and back of the drawer compartment, put molding around the base and top, prime paint and clearcoat (glossy fire engine red!), and put the plexi top, drawer hardware and casters on. Oh yeah, and fill it with tools.
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