Made my own handtruck. Got one already but left @ new place. So I had
an idea to build my own out of lawn mower wheels, futon rails, and
drafting table legs. Works like a retail brand!
Parts & Technique:
-2 lawn mower wheels
-2 futon side rails
-U-shaped leg from drafting table (for handle)
-long U-shaped leg from drafting table (cut in half, for bottom plate holder)
-leg support from drafting table (rod) (for kicker)
-wood block (1 for bottom, 1 for general handtruck support)
-propane torch
-solder made for metal
-flux paste
-screws from drafting table
-wood screws
-C-clamps
-drill
-dremel tool
I already had all these parts laying around except the Propane Torch and the C-Clamps. Spent less than $18.
The trick to soldering large metal pieces together is to use the flame torch and heat the metal and scrape off the paint using the dremel tool, showing the metal, do it on both pieces, then use C-clamps to temporarily hold the two metal peices. Heat up the spot, use flux paste, heat up again, then bring in the solder. Let cool, remove C-clamps. To cut the metal rod that goes under the bottom plate, I use a dremel tool.
I might paint the wood black. The wood on the bottom is not painted black, it just got a speaker type mesh over it.
Not bad for a day of work.