20. Simple DIY - make a simple wooden dolly
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- In this video, I show you how I made a simple wood dolly using half-lap joints and swivel casters.
Tools used are: tape measure, combination square, carpenters square, a circular saw, electric drill and bits, 1"wood chisel, hammer, awl, adapter to drive sockets using the drill, adapter to drive #2 Phillips screws with the drill, and patience.
Materials used: (2) 2x4's 8 feet long, (4) swivel casters, drywall screws, sheet metal screws, and glue.
The 2x4s I bought were reasonably straight and had a minimum of twist and bow in them. Since I was only going to cut these boards to length and carve out the half-lap joints, getting straight ones was extra important. I think it turned out pretty well since all 4 wheels touch the ground at the same time (as you'll see).
The half-lap joints in this project are definitely not perfect. However, since this dolly will be used for a piece of workshop furniture (a tall storage cart), the joints are fine I think.
You'll see that I had to fill in a hole where a knot in the wood came out. I filled it using a mixture of sawdust and wood glue (which makes an excellent wood putty).
As you'll see in the video, I spent a fair amount of time using the 1" wide wood chisel to smooth out the cuts for the joints. This worked out pretty well I think and used simple inexpensive chisel. I wanted to demonstrate that anyone can do this with inexpensive tools. Time and patience are the primary ingredients.
Music:
"Backbay Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...
"Aces High" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...
All video content was written, shot and edited by Matt Ancona. Music provided by the source listed above. The camera used was a Samsung S6 smartphone and the video editor used was PowerDirector (version 15).
Half laps are some of the most enjoyable joints. Kudos brother.
Yes, half-lap joints are easy to make and provide a lot surface for glue. I tend to use the original Titebond wood glue. Many times, the glue joint is stronger than the wood itself. Here's how I know: ruclips.net/video/KnDokEpcUac/видео.html
Thanks for your comment and for watching.
The dolly turned out great!
Thanks! When all 4 wheels touched the ground at the same time, that told me that the dolly wasn't twisted so that was good to see.
Wow! This is by far the nicest dolly I have seen created for a video. You have inspired me to get out my tools and make something way nicer than I originally planned. Thanks!
You're welcome and thanks for watching. Now go make something :)
The longer it takes the more fun he has (when 65 or younger) .Later you build everything with how to get rid of it on your mind….
I'm not sure what that means but thanks for your comment and for watching.
I get this, no problems 😊
💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
@judithscales1329 Thank you for your comment and for watching.
I make handmade jewelry, but stay away from the power tools. Thank goodness my husband is handy in that area. lol. I've added this into my playlist- Crafty Creator Support for Artists, Beaders and Crafters. Here's to meeting both of the goals! Best wishes!
Sparkle by Monica Thank-you Monica!
I enjoy the music you have here with the laid back jazzy feel. I've now put your video over at our new home as well. Thanks for sharing your woodworking skills!
Crafty Creators Thanks for your comment. Check in the video description to see where I got the music.
Talk about timely! Like the perfect video at the right time for me - I need a couple of dollies! I joined your network! Thanks for dropping by!
Thanks! So the house closed and now you're moving?
You made it look easy making one. Of course using the right tools as you put it up in your description. But it sure would be cheap rather than buying one, if there is any ready made at the store.
You can buy them at the store, but you have to buy the size they have. If you know how to make your own, you can make it whatever size you need. Over the years, I've built many dolly's of different sizes depending on what I was doing with them. Thanks for your comment.
Nice. Very understandable and clear. Reminds me of the "Wordless Workshop" features in Popular Science. Thanks!
You're welcome Dan. Thanks for your comment and for watching.
This is definitely very handy! Makes moving the impossible, possible :) Great tutorial!
Thanks.
Love projects like this. And I love using the things I've made. Nice job!
Thanks! Stay tuned.......there's lots more to come!
We bolted 100mm HD castors direct to 20mm plywood.
Use the trolley for furniture, white goods and workshop stuff.
Excellent.
Great thank you! Think I'll try exactly what you did but with a circular saw and table saw to make the joints, and with locking casters. I just want to be able to move storage racks around in my garage. Cheers!
You're welcome and thanks for watching.
This is very creative and informative! Thank You for sharing! :)
Thank-you. And thanks for the sub!
Well done, the only thing I would change would be to have 2 locking casters at one end of the dolly.
Thanks for your comment John. I use dolly's in my shop for simply moving things around so I don't need locking casters although locking casters are very useful in some situations. Thanks for watching.
"Like that Cool Jazz..."
Thanks. Me too.
Hi. What would be the weight capacity for this dolly?
If I recall correctly, the casters I used were rated for at least 250 lbs. each so I'd guess the dolly could maybe handle 1000 lbs. BUT I know I can't easily move 1000 lbs. so I would never put that much weight on it. Realistically, I'd guess this dolly could hold several hundred pounds but I don't know for sure. And of course, everyone is responsible for their own safety so be careful and stay safe.
@@ImaginethenMake so is the weight capacity based on the casters, not the wood?
I think both the caster rating and the type and size of the wood are used to determine the weight capacity of a dolly. I don't have an exact formula or anything. I guess I always assumed that the casters on your typical moving dolly is the limiting factor when deciding how much weight the dolly can hold.
I have moved a lot of stuff in my lifetime and have never broken the wood used in a dolly but have damaged or ruined the casters probably by overloading them.
I hope this helps. Thanks for your follow-up question.
how would you put a handle that bends on this. I have a bought trolley truck with four wheels and a handle that bends at an angle for pulling. I put a milk crate on it secured it with heavy duty cable ties and when I walk my 13 year old pup in he goes when he gets tired. The only thing I hate about my commercial made one is that the tires are hard plastic and make a racket on asphalt. I can't for the life of me know how to take them off because they have these weird nuts that don't come off with any regular screw drivers. If I could figure how to take them off to replace them with soft rubber ones it would be great so the other alternative is a dolly like this but I need that wagon type handle to pull it along
nevermind I found a wagon handle sold separately for wooden trolleys
I have thought about adding a handle as you describe to the dolly but I haven't done it yet. As for removing the existing wheels, I wonder if they are held on with a cap that is hammered on over the axle? Or maybe there is a removeable cap that once removed, would reveal a cotter pin or spring clip that is used to hold the wheel on? If you were able to get the wheels off, then you'd need to find rubber replacement wheels that use the same size axle. Instead of all of that, have you considered buying a wagon. Something like: www.amazon.com/Roadmaster-Pacific-Cycle-Steel-Wagon/dp/B000F6FSXS/ref=sr_1_123?dchild=1&keywords=kids+wagon&qid=1603219157&sr=8-123
Thanks for your comment and for watching.
Seems like cutting those half lap joints could be done faster another way. Maybe a router? Nice craftsmanship and properly built with glue and screws.
Thanks. Yes, I could have used a router but wanted to try using the circular saw this time.
Yes, you could buy a dolly already made but if you needed a dolly of a specific size, using this video, you could make one yourself.
Thanks for your comment and for watching.
A dado blade on a table saw would also be a faster and more accurate way to cut the lap joints but not everyone has one of those. I like videos like these because they use common materials and tools.
There's such an advantage to DIY these days...by the time one finds the right store, finds the right product, ensures it's well made (usually not these days) one might as well build it? Further, if using Amazon or similar often hard to tell what product is like from screenshots and videos. Making things gives a person total control & more satisfaction.
In fact, one could make a very similar dolly with no lap joints but just let the 2 x 4's overlap; then screw and glue the joints. Wouldn't be as pretty but would be plenty strong - or use glue and bolts or lag screws.
4 wheel dollie
Yes sir! I was trying to demonstrate how anyone with modest tools can make a dolly whatever size they need. Thanks for the comment and for watching.
Good video, love the music ,Who is it?
Thanks. If you mean the walking bass music, in the video description, there's a link for more info on the artist. I have used this particular track many times. I have also used several other of his (royalty free) tracks for other projects. Thanks for the question and for watching.
Oh okay, I see two, plus two from mine now and this will be the fifth.
Thanks for watching.
A lot of time and energy going into making 8 laps... might just go buy one at at the store for $10.99. That's a beautiful dolly though!
Lol. Yes, extra time spent making something I could buy cheaply. I built it for a couple of reasons: #1) I wanted to try making the end lap joints, #2) I needed a dolly of a specific size, #3) I wanted the top of the dolly to be flat. Thanks for watching.
Watching your video now. Again, why no comments?
That's weird because this vid does have comments. Not sure why you don't see them. I can see them on my screen. Maybe refresh your screen?
It might be informative if it was slowed down a lot so you can actually see what he is doing!
Hello Victoria. I made this video quite a while ago so I re-watched it. I thought I showed the entire process to make this dolly. What did you have questions about?
Thanks for your comment and for watching.
@@ImaginethenMake You did a great job making the dolly but for me the process needs to be slowed down to follow all the steps. Other than that great job!
That's. Not. No. Dolly
Thanks for watching.
A lot of work for a weak product in the end. At least it looks nice though.
Actually, since the dolly was made from 2x4s, it is quite strong. I did this project to show how easy it is to make half lap joints.
Thanks for your comment and for watching.