How to build a lemonade stand

This step by step diy project is about how to build a lemonade stand. If you have small kids, building a small lemonade stand is a great way to keep them busy and entertained for the whole summer. Nevertheless, even if it might look as a straight-forward job, there are still a few tips and tricks that will make your work a lot easier and help you keep the costs under control.

There is a large variety of designs yo can choose from when building a lemonade stand. Nevertheless, in this project we show you the most straight-forward techniques and plans to get the job done in just a few days. If you have basic carpentry tools and are aware of the woodworking techniques, you can build the wooden lemonade stand from scratch in less than a weekend.

If you will have to move the stand from one location to the other, we strongly recommend you to consider adding caster wheels to the base frame. Align all the components at both ends with great attention, otherwise you might not be satisfied with the end result of your work. Choose weather-resistant lumber, such as pine, cedar or redwood, and make sure the slats are in a good condition. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

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Building a lemonade stand

Materials

A – 2 caster wheel – 5″ WHEELS
B – 1 piece of 2×2 lumber – 60 1/2”, 1 piece – 61 1/2″, 1 piece – 55 1/2″, 1 piece – 66 1/2″ LEGS
C – 4 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 45″ long, 6 pieces – 21″ long FRAME
D – 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 48″x60″ BOTOM
E – 2 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 16 3/4″, 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 21″, 2 pieces – 23 1/4″ SHELF
F – 7 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 49 1/2 long TABLETOP
G – 27 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 19″ long SLATS
H – 2 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 49 1/2″ long, 4 pieces – 24 3/4″ long RAFTERS
I – 12 sq ft of waterproof material ROOF

5 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x6′
1 piece of 1×3 lumber – 4 ft
4 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 10 ft
7 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 8 ft
3 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 10 ft
12 sq ft of waterproof material
5″ caster wheels
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Apply several coats of wood stain to the wooden components
Fill the holes with wood filler and smooth the surface
Plumb the sides of the bench with a spirit level

Time

One Day

Building the frame of the lemonade stand

The first step of the woodworking project is to build the frame of the lemonade stand. As you can notice in the image, we recommend you to build the frame of the lemonade stand using 2×2 lumber and 2 1/2″ galvanized screws. Cut the components ta the right size and check if the corners are right-angled before drilling pilot holes and inserting the screws.

Attaching the bottom shelf

Afterwards, cut a small piece of 3/4″ plywood and fit it to the bottom frame, as shown in the image. Cut small notches in the plywood sheet, otherwise it will not fit between the legs of the lemonade stand. Lock the piece of plywood to the frame by using 1 1/4″ screws.

Attaching the slats

Adding 1×4 slats to the front and to both sides of the stand is a great idea, if you want to get a neat appearance and a classical design. Adjust the size of the slats with a circular saw and lock them to the frame with 1 1/4″ screws. Pre-drill the slats to prevent the wood form splitting.

Attaching the tabletop

Afterwards, install the slats to the top of the table, in the same manner described above. It is essential to align the slats at both ends before inserting the screws, if you want to get the job done in a professional manner. Make sure you leave no gaps between the slats and add waterproof glue for a better bond.

Attaching the trims

Adding 1×4 trims to hide the edges of the tabletop is the next thing you should do. As you can easily notice in the lemonade stand plans, you have to cut the ends of the trims at 45 degrees. Attach the trims to the sides of the lemonade stand and lock them into place with finishing nails and waterproof glue.

Installing the shelf

Adding shelves to the interior of the lemonade stand is not compulsory but it will most certainly help you organize all the ingredients. As you can see in the image, you just need to use common materials and solutions in order to create additional storage space for the stand.

Installing the caster wheels

One of the last steps of the project is to add small caster wheels to the lemonade stand. Align the wheels and lock them to the frame with galvanized screws. In this manner, you can move the stand a lot easier to another location.

Attaching the rafters

The next step is about creating a simple roof for the wooden stand, in order to protect it from sunlight and rain. As you can see in the image, we recommend you to build the light structure from 1×2 lumber and to cover it with a waterproof material at your choice.

How to build a lemonade stand

Last but not least, you should take care of the finishing touches. Therefore, smooth the edges with sandpaper and remove the residues with a damp cloth. Fill the irregularities with wood putty, if necessary.

Thank you for reading our project about how to build a lemonade stand and we recommend you to check out the rest of the projects. Don’t forget to LIKE and SHARE our projects with your friends, by using the social media widgets. SUBSCRIBE for a new DIY video almost every day.

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