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Hi Becky:

I've built a ton of carts/small desks on wheels for different  
locations.  Usually they are made out of plywood or mdf.  They look  
pretty, but inevitably they get banged up and don't look so good.   
Repairing just never seems to be a priority.  And inevitably, once  
you've built it, you figure out something you wish you had done  
different, or added, or not had, or...

What I would suggest you consider is use a structural aluminum  
system.  There are several advantages:

1.  Off the shelf components
2.  Aluminum is easy to cut with woodworking saws
3.  You can build it to just the size you need
4.  You can interchange panels for fronts and sides - suppose you  
want to feature a new show or a new activity
5.  Rock solid
6.  Easily reconfigured/repurposed without wasting material

As to tops, there are lots of things you could use - several  
companies sell raw butcher block material, or you could go down to a  
salvage yard and get a scrap piece of pre-covered countertop -you  
have lots of choices....

The materials may seem a little pricey, but when you consider the  
cost of building a custom cabinet, I have found that it is a very  
cost effective solution.

We use McMaster-Carr.  Here's a link to their web page.  I like the  
fractional t-slotted material, because it has hardware components  
like door hinges, but there are other kinds as well..... Because of  
the webbed design, even the 1"x1" stuff is really stiff.

http://tinyurl.com/x39j
	




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