A simple wheelbarrow usually costs between €35 and €70. The cost of building it yourself is around €20 to €30. That alone speaks for building a wheelbarrow yourself. If you still enjoy craft challenges, you have found the perfect project. In our construction instructions we explain step by step how to build a wheelbarrow yourself.
How can I build a wheelbarrow myself?
To build a wheelbarrow yourself, you need a wheelbarrow wheel, metal rod, wooden slats, wooden panels, tools and possibly pond liner. First the axle is manufactured, then the box is built and attached to the axle. Handles are then attached and the wheelbarrow is lined with foil or paint.
Where do I get the bike from?
A wheelbarrow consists of three elements: the wheel, the axle that connects the wheel to the wheelbarrow body and the box. Both the box and axle can be easily screwed together from wood, but with the bike it is a little more complicated. Therefore, it is advisable to buy the bike (€22.00 at Amazon) in specialist stores or online. Prices range between €13 and €25 depending on size. Alternatively, you can use a tree disc that is as round as possible as a wheel. To ensure that it runs well, you should fit it with a metal ring, although this requires the necessary tools and some knowledge.
Build your own wheelbarrow step by step
- Battery screw
- Drilling machine
- maybe. Stapler
- Brush
- Wheelbarrow wheel
- Metal rod
- resistant wooden slats for the axle
- Wooden panels for the box
- Saw
- possibly pond liner
- environmentally friendly paint
1. Make axle
First make an almost triangular axle and attach the wheel to the narrowest angle. The bike should ideally run on a metal rod that you screw to the axle on both sides. Screw several crossbars onto the axle to which you will later attach the box.
2. Make a box
Now build the box of the desired size and screw it onto the crossbars of the axle.
3. Handles
You can include the handles when building the axle and attach them diagonally upwards as an extension of the axle (like a “real” wheelbarrow) or you can attach them to the box.
4. Lay out foil
Do you want to transport fine sand or something similar with your wheelbarrow? Then you should make sure that it cannot slip through the cracks. So line your wheelbarrow completely with pond liner, let it overlap a little over the edge and staple it to the sides.
Alternatively, you can simply paint your wheelbarrow with an environmentally friendly paint on the outside and inside to protect the wood from dirt and weather. Even if you line your wheelbarrow with pond liner, it is advisable to paint the outside of it.
