Move Ungainly Plywood Sheets with Ease

You're going to be cutting a lot of plywood for an entertainment center. But hauling those sheets through the workshop and trying to tip them onto the saw table without damaging them, your tools, or yourself seems risky.

With this simple two-wheel dolly, a pulley, and a length of rope, rolling the sheets into your shop and hoisting them onto your saw table (equipped with a table extension or work supports sufficient to hold a full sheet safely) will seem almost easy. Refer to the illustration to build the dolly.

Drill an ¹¹⁄₆₄ " hole through the center of the 1x2 turnbutton and attach the part to the center of the top 1x4 block with a #8x1¹⁄₄ " roundhead wood screw. The turnbutton must be free to move. Install sturdy pulls, such as those made for shed doors and gates, and place a heavy screw eye with threads at least 1" long near the center of the 2x4.

Hang a pulley above your saw table, making sure it can handle the weight of the plywood plus the dolly. Pass a rope through the pulley and attach a hook to the end.

Now, slide the sheet of plywood into the dolly. Secure it at the top with the turnbutton and roll the plywood and dolly to the saw. Park it with the 2x4 facing away from the saw and attach the rope to the screw eye. Now, hoist the sheet and dolly, pulling the rope with one hand, and guide it over the saw table. Lower into position, remove the dolly, and put the rope out of the way.
—Vern Baldus, Yuma, Ariz.