@Beth Gallagher thank you for the props. It's not something that I look for when I post my DIY projects but I'll take them. My mother and favorite aunt were once my cheerleaders.
@Von Jones How did this project turn out? The problem I see is the design with no bracing to hold the legs from side movement. They should have been recessed into the frame and lower shelf. If you haven't fixed it yet or tossed it, I have two solutions that you can do. One pretty and more involved and one simple and crude.
It's still leaning. It's too good of a piece to toss out and very useful for storage in my kitchen. I'm open to suggestions.
@Von Jones I hope I am not being a pain. Here is my idea for a crude fix. Be sure to saw the boards SQUARE to fit very snug with cart laid down and legs straight. Put some Gorilla wood glue on the back of the boards and use about 3 screws on each board. You can countersink the screws and fill over them if you want a nice finish look. Then stain to match. I would suggest birch or alder as opposed to pine or such that might split easier. I love alder for repairs because it is easy to work, not prone to splitting, sands easily, and takes stain nicely. Do the boards both front and back and you should have a very sturdy cart. You might re-glue and screw any loose legs first.
Here is the neatest method that requires removing all the legs, but square and mark them and then mark the notch in the shelf where the legs will fit in and then saw the vertical lines and then chisel along the horizontal lines. Do this on all the shelves and top support board, both back and front and then put wood glue in the shelf and top notches and put on legs and then screw on using wood screws. Do the same on the back and let set for recommended time and then wa la it is now strong and looks good. To simplify, all you are doing is just recessing the legs so the top support and shelves will keep the legs from moving. Now all you have holding the legs is screws.
Very solid wood. I have one wood chisel needed for another project. I was thinking of removing the screws from the wobbly legs and inserting wood dowels and drill new holes and replace the screws. Just haven't done it yet.
@Von Jones OK, I finally got this thought out for the easiest way and a nice looking way to make this a sturdy cart. All you will need is to saw inside blocks for the legs and GLUE and screw them on. I would say at least 3 wood screws per block. These blocks can be stained so they won't be that noticeable and won't be an eye sore like adding boards to the front. Cheap 1" x 2" should work great. Hope this photo helps. Picture yourself sitting in the cart looking at the inside of the legs. Now picture little tightly fitted blocks, glued and screwed, that will stop this shift.
This might work for a while, if you glue them also, but I think the design is such that the screws and the small area glued will give way in time. If you don't pull and push it around much, it might last a long time. Sand the leg to body glue joints and after gluing get them screwed down tight. Another thought is drill the legs and into the body for a couple of dowels, where the screw holes are and glue it and clamp it tight. No screws needed, but need to clamp tight after hammering in the dowels. Smear a thin coat of glue in the holes and very light on the dowels. Be sure it is square while the glue sets. Another idea for the top of the legs and the board they fasten, is drill out the old screw holes to fit a small carriage bolt and use a big flat and lock washer on the nut side. Glue the leg and then tighten up the carriage bolt nut. Maybe get the lock nuts so no worries coming loose. Just glue and screw the shelves to legs.