Finally got started again on this cart. Here's some prelims. The top and bottom frame are made from cedar 2x6. They are dowelled and glued. The sheathing is made from old cedar 1x4s run through the joiner. I have these hickory slabs I may incorporate into the top. I also want to incorporate the black cutting board. Thinking of working the hickory around it. Also thought about making it a hidden board. Not sure yet. The bottom frame will be done in cedar slats 1.5 in wide. No finish on the cedar. Thinking about butcher block oil for the hickory top. Lots of ifs.

I like it.... but if it were my build I think I would look for some
more rustic looking wheels.

if you have enough hickory, make a split top that folds out to either side to expose the black board. use some ss piano hinges and just a flop top on either side. doubles the surface area and hides the black board.

I had the same thought.

Thanks for the suggestions. Here's a different perspective. This would be a hickory border with a cedar center. The table top boards would be dowelled and glued and then attached to the frame. The handles are represented by the long board that extends to the left. The cutting board would be loose but would slide into a frame accessed under the apron. This cart will be kept inside until used as a prep station next to the pit located at a rustic lake house in East Texas. Hop, I like your idea. I stared at the thing for an hour trying to figure it all out. I'm guessing the hinges would go on the left and right ends. The question then becomes what supports them when they are open. You could move the hinges toward center so that they flop over and on top of the existing top. This would give support but you'd have hinges in the top. If I take away the cutting board, problem solved. Keep it loose and store it under the apron.

handle on ea. end where the tops would stop, instead of hinges move the handle boards up and dado a slot for them to slide out? use wax from a NEW wax ring for a toilet, it is all beeswax (best screw helper out there too).

if you have some 1x8 you can make the handle boards from, cut them to 4" or so where they protrude on the ends and hold them up 1 1/2" with a 3/4 or even a 1" dado for the sliders. make a decorative cut where the 1x8 meets the cart and use the full width to bolt it there.
you do some good work.

Thanks Hop. Well I've been in la la land trying to figure out a direction. I think I have one now. Can't explain it, but when your wood supply is limited, it makes you think way too much. So I went simple and started ripping the hickory into usable lengths and running everything through the planer for thickness and the joiner for edge gluing. Lots of work left to do. But I have a plan, so it's time to get going. No slider Hop. I liked the dado idea. Thanks for the input.

So it's been a few days. I'm currently gluing up the top using 5/16 dowels and TB3. Getting everything ready has taken awhile. This is a glue up of cedar with hickory. I'm using a self centering jig for the dowels and like it a lot. One tip. Use the correct bit in the dowel jig and then go up a size for glue up. Gives some wiggle room. Once I get these sections done, I'll run them through the planer and then glue them up together. That's the plan.

Finally got back on the cart. Bottom shelf slats are cut and planed to size. Top section glue up. Another one to go. Same ol green wheels lol. Went treated for the bottom slats. They were left over from the swing build. Justified.

Got a little more done today. A few more trim pieces and the base is done. Then it's on to the cart top and handles.

Got a glue up for the top today. The dark strips are hickory. The rest is cedar. Also top rails, axle cut and wheels installed. Tomorrow is sand day. Lots of sanding lol.

Well that's a wrap. The tool slot is surrounded by treated pine and doubles as the cutting board holder. Outside of the two inner frames, everything is removable for maintenance needs in the future. Not shown also are two cedar "coasters" for the front legs to sit on to help protect them.

Dang malibu, that's nice.