Upcycled Hand Cart Coffee Table Version II

ScavengerChic
by ScavengerChic
10 Materials
$10
2 Days
Medium
Today I have one more hand truck, hand cart, dolly (whatever you want to call it) upcycle for you. I love upcycling flea market finds into coffee tables and this is my second dolly to coffee table transformation.
Funny, I’m looking at this picture and I’m realizing that all of these beautiful goodies were courtesy of other people looking out for me.  The window is from my daughter in law’s , stepfather,  the pallet wood is from my brother in law, the long pieces I’m using to build the box were from my son’s backyard when he finished a remodel, and the star of the show, the hand cart, is a flea market find my sister picked up several years ago.


 OK, my sister wasn’t looking out for me, she intended to do something with the hand cart herself three years ago and never got around to it.  So when I asked if she would like me to transform it, I barely had the question out before her husband was saying yes, yes, please, take it.  That may not be an exact quote, but it’s pretty close.
Using 2×8’s cut a box surround for your window leaving an extra 1/4″ wiggle room for the window to open and close.


Assemble your box using long wood screws (3 inches or longer).  I used 4 screws per corner.  
At the base of the box attach a piece of pallet wood, or other scrap wood,  on both ends.  Nail from the outside with finish nails.  I’m using a nail gun, it makes this part of the job so easy.


With the window inside, turn the box over onto a flat surface.  


On both long sides of the box, place 1×2’s, cut to fit up against the window and nail in place.  This will be the ledge on which the window sits when it’s turned right side up.


Cut pallet wood to fit the bottom of the box, but don’t attach just yet.
Use a level to straighten out the hand cart and measure how long your legs should be.


My legs are from an old 2×4, notched to give them a little interest. 


Sand the legs well then attach with long screws from the top of the cart.
Most of the dirt on the cart I cleaned up with a wire brush, including the rust on the wheels before painting with red chalk paint.
My wood box was a little too new so it’s getting the meat tenderizer, hammer, screwdriver, instant age treatment.


Time to paint.  This is just a single coat of dark gray chalk paint.


I also sanded down the cut handles of the hand cart.  They will also need a little gray/brown stain to match the rest of the cart.


Sand off any edges you’d like exposed and finish with vintage wax.
Where the arrows are pointing is where I screwed the new top to the hand cart.
Before installing the pallet wood bottom, sand each piece thoroughly then  nail, screw or glue ( the choice is yours) those pieces to the scrap wood ends you installed earlier.


The pallet wood interior was given 2 coats of clear wax.
To my junk pile to find hinges and a handle.
You can find my first hand cart coffee table here. It's constructed a little bit differently but I love them both.


If you have any questions I would be glad to answer them. You can also find lots more step by step pictures on my blog and details on how I fixed some rotten wood on this project.


The total cost for this project for me was $10 for wax and paint but your costs will vary depending on how generous your friends and family are. :)


For a gallery of all my coffee table and side table transformations , you can find them here.
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ScavengerChic
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  2 questions
  • Sam21544278 Sam21544278 on Jun 28, 2018

    what to do with old wood ladders

  • Barb Barb on May 31, 2019

    Did you replace the window glass with something sturdier? I would be afraid it would shatter if someone dropped something on it. Window glass is very sharp

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