How to Make an Axle for a Pony Cart
Whether you are making a pony cart for a craft project, or one for a garden display, you will need to make axles for the cart to hold the wheels in place. The great thing about making axles at home is that you can be creative with the materials that you use, spending much less than you would if you purchased a pony cart kit. The project takes only about an hour, depending on the type of cart you build, and takes just a few supplies.
Things You'll Need
- Craft glue
- Popsicle or craft sticks
- Measuring tape
- Dowel rods
- Hack saw
- Six "U" shaped brackets
- Screws
- Screwdriver
Instructions
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Craft Pony Cart Axles
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1
Spread craft glue over one side of a Popsicle stick with your finger. Use this method of making an axle if you are constructing a homemade pony cart with Popsicle or craft sticks.
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2
Turn your cart upside down and evenly place the Popsicle or craft stick, glue side down, along the top edge of the pony cart. The Popsicle or craft stick should extend out from both sides of the cart evenly for your wheels. Press down on the Popsicle or craft stick and allow the glue to completely dry.
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3
Make the rear axle following the same procedure that you used for the front axle.
Garden Pony Cart Axles
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4
Turn your pony cart upside down and measure the width of the cart bottom with a measuring tape.
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5
Cut two sections of dowel rods with a hack saw. The dowel rod used should be no smaller than ¼ -inch wide. However, the thickness of your dowel rod will depend on how large your pony cart is and whether or not you intend to put anything into the cart once it is complete. The more strain on the wheels of the cart, the thicker the dowel rod axle should be. Use the width measurements that you took plus 8 inches to cut the dowel rods. The extra 8 inches is to allow for overhang on the axle to attach the wheels to.
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6
Attach six "U" shaped support brackets to the bottom of the pony cart with screws and a screwdriver. Attach three of the brackets to the front bottom of the cart for the front axle, and three brackets to the rear bottom of the cart for the rear axle. Center one bracket on the front bottom of the cart, then attach the next two brackets to the left and right sides, about 1 inch from each side. Attach the rear axle brackets in the same manner.
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7
Slide your dowel rods through the three brackets on the front and through the three brackets on the rear. Now you are ready to attach your wheels.
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1
Tips & Warnings
When making pony cart axles with Popsicle or craft sticks, make your cart wheels with cardboard. Cut slits in the center of each wheel with a utility knife and slip the wheels on to the ends of the Popsicle or craft sticks, then secure the cardboard wheels to the axles with craft glue.
