How to build a metal tool cart – 6 Simple Steps

Are you very much worried about keeping your essential tools together so that you can find them easily when you need? Do you miss your important tools frequently? Then a good tool cart is the best solution for you. Stay with me and I'll walk you through the whole process of How to build a metal tool cart.

In this article, I have brought up an in-depth discussion about a metal tool cart, it features and how to build a metal tool cart. Let’s see what are here for you!

A metal tool cart is mainly a metal box having two or three drawers in it. It is very handy furniture to keep the tools organized. A metal tool cart is mainly made of sheet metal. It is more durable any other wooden box.

It may be that you cannot afford to buy a tool cart now. But it has been essential to keeping your tools together safely. Then what can you do?

Yes, you can do one thing and that is you can make your metal tool cart. Believe me, it is not very hazard task. You can easily do it if you know some basic steps to making a metal tool cart.

I am going to share with you these steps which were secret to you before! You will know how to build a cart with wheels from these steps. You will also get an idea about how to make a toolbox out of sheet metal below.

So let’s start:

The design is the most important part to build a metal tool cart. So, make a good design before starting making your metal tool cart.

You should have a pretty design idea for your cart. In your design give emphasis on using sheet metal rather than rod angel to save money. At the time of designing, consider if you have any metal tool chest plans. Consider your room space also.

Start going through all of your sheet metal that how much metal you need to purchase to build a metal cart. Then make a quick sketch of your desired tool cart on paper to get the measurements.

It will help you to know demand that how many drawers you need. You can also measure its deepness by sketching. It will help you with wastage of your materials.

As a second step of your metal tool cart making, you have to collect some tools and materials for your project. You will easily find them in hardware shops.

To smooth your collecting process, I am bringing up here a list of tools and materials you will need:

1. Lincoln 210 MP Welder

2. FEIN Angle Grinder 

3. 375 Air Plasma Cutter

4. Welding Table

5. Milwaukee FUEL Impact

6. Metal Chop Saw

7. FEIN Slugger Drill

8. Die Grinder

9. Air compressor

10. Brad nail gun

11. Air hose

12. Circular saw

13. Cordless drill

14. Clamps

15. Countersink drill bit

16. Hearing protection

17. Framing square

18. Miter saw

19. Safety glasses

20. Table saw

21. Straightedge

22. Sheet Metal

23. 90-degree clamp

Now you have to cut the sheet metal to get your desired size for your metal cart. But if you have free sheet metal tool box plans, you can use free size sheet metal then. 

Actually, it depends on you that if you use free sheet metal or use it by cutting. But if you need to cut your sheet metal, you will need following tools and materials to run this cutting mission perfectly as well as safely.

1. Tin snips

2. 4 foot by the 8-foot sheet metal

3. Two Sawhorses

4. Tape measure

5. Straight edge

6. Pencil

7. Plastic molding (optional)

8. Two Wooden blocks (optional)

9. ​8′long 1×2 furring strip 

10. Safety glasses

11. Wood clamps (optional)

12. Work gloves

13. Metal cutting drill bit

14. Power drill

15. Metal file

To cut your sheet metal for your cart simply goes through the following steps:

Buy a pair of tin snips that you need for of cutting your project entails. Many tin snips have a color code on the handles. These color codes represent three basic varieties:

1. red handles means the snips cut left,
2. green-handled means the snips cut right
3. Yellow-handled means the snips cut straight.

Set up a stable, sturdy, workbench that can support the size of your sheet metal. Usually, a 4 foot by 8-foot sheet metal needs two sawhorses as an ideal workbench.

Lay the sheet metal on the workbench. Then lay your pattern on it. Sketch your design pattern on the sheet metal using a tape measure, straightedge, and pencil.

When you will get your desired shape, just set up the whole arrangement on your sheet metal for tracing. Once the tracing is done, remove it.

Don’t forget to put on your work gloves and safety glasses before grabbing your tin snips. First of all open the tool completely.

Then seat the edge of your sheet metal in the jaws as deep as possible. Align the blade of the tool with your pattern line. Keep contact with the upper blade of tin snips and the sheet metal.

Cut squeezing the handles in one hand. Repeat the process until final the cut is done.

Now, run a metal file to clean them up. Remove if there are any lingering burrs to get a fresh sheet metal piece.

The drawers are a small part of a metal tool cart. But it is main part as you actually keep your tools in this part. So, be sure that you are making your drawer properly.

The numbers of drawers depending on your want. Generally, a metal tool cart has 2-3 drawers. You may make more if you need.

To run a proper drawer construction, try the following steps:

As a Whole, I can hope that you have been now little bit expert in balding a metal cart. What a good news! You can make your friends and family wonder now making your metal tool cart. It is not tough to you anymore.

But keep in mind one thing that you are working with metal parts which cause you serious injury anytime. So, don’t forget to take adequate sate measures before starting making a metal cart.

One more thing, don’t forget to collect all the necessary tools and materials prior to the work. Otherwise, you may have to rush to market even at the time of your making process.