Make a Rolling Kitchen Cart From an Old Filing Cabinet
We’ve never met anyone who couldn’t use more kitchen storage and counter space. This rolling kitchen cart offers both - drawers for storage of tools, spices, or root vegetables, racks to hang towels and utensils, and a butcher-block top for food preparation or appliance storage.
Read on to find out, in step-by-step detail, how to make one yourself...
We're bringing you this Curbly original project as part of a series of posts sponsored by Caesarstone - makers of quality natural quartz surfaces.
The main structure is a used filing cabinet, which are plentiful in secondhand shops, garage sales, and online classified listings. We found ours for less than three dollars at a charity shop. Look for a filing cabinet whose drawers and hardware are in working order, and for a case that has no major dents or damage. The color and finish are of no consequence, as it’ll be painted.
Materials:
- Secondhand filing cabinet
- Spray metal primer
- 2 cans spray paint
- Two rolling casters and two locking casters
- A cutting board or piece of butcher block that’s at least the size of the top of your filing cabinet
- Two inexpensive horizontal towel racks
Tools:
- Mineral spirits or sticker remover
- Electric drill
- 1⁄8” and 1⁄16” drill bits
- 24 1⁄8” bolts, 1/2 - 1” long
- 24 1⁄8” nuts
- 4 #8 short screws
- Washers (if necessary)
Step 1
Remove the drawers, and use mineral spirits or sticker remover to get rid of any tape residue, labels, or grime, and wipe clean. Remove any hardware will come off easily, and cover remaining hardware with painter’s tape.
Then, spray the cabinet case and drawers with a coat of metal primer, followed by two coats of spray paint.
Step 2
Mark the location of the holes of your casters on the bottom of your filing cabinet, and drill 1⁄8” holes for the screws. If the cabinet bottom is not solid, use a piece of scrap wood under the ledges to prevent them from bending under the drill. If the metal is thick, you can use a blow torch to soften the metal, but most drills should be able to get through. Then, screw in the casters using the included screws or 1⁄8” bolts and nuts.
Step 3
Attach the towel/utensil racks to the sides by marking and drilling holes as in step two, and securing them with short bolts and nuts.
Step 4
Place your cutting board on top of the cabinet, and mark where the screws will need to go to secure it. Drill 1⁄16” pilot holes, then attach the 1” screws from the underside of the cabinet. You can use the washers to prevent the screw from going all the way through the cutting board.
Step 5
Now, insert the drawers back in the case. Then fill the cabinets, hang your utensils using S-hooks, and make something delicious for dinner!
Tagged : Curbly-Original, caesarstone, Kitchen
