One of the most popular carts on my site is the Aluminum diamond plate and stainless steel E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart that was built from my plans by a customer in Phoenix.
As is quite common with my customers, Jamie modified the basic E-Z Built to make it exactly how he wanted it.
One of his custom mods is a cutting board food prep surface that covers the entire top of the cart. It looks awesome and the health inspector loves, loves, LOVES it!
So you can imagine how pleased I was when I got an email from a Hot Dog Cart News reader who passed along a great source for cutting board material.
Clancy writes,
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I am rebuilding and upgrading a cart for myself and really enjoy your site. A lot of helpful info.
I found this site have not used them yet but their products and prices seem really good. Maybe someone can use this info.
Thanks Steve,
Clancy Munson
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Thanks for sharing that Clancy. It’s readers like you who make this such a great community!
-Steve
P.S If you have any tips to share with your fellow Hot Dog Cart News readers, send them to steve@HotDogProfits.com.
That’s tight! Was thinking about a way to mount a large removable cutting board food prep on my rig. Great tip! 😎
Great Idea for the top! My food inspector wanted larger sinks, which took out more counter space, So I just custom made 2 cutting boards that fit into the top of 2 sinks. They work great on the counter separately or use them right in the sink. They sit about 3/8″ below the top of the sink, so if rinsed off, they drain right into the sink. I drilled in a finger hole so they are easily removable.
Great Idea AJ!!! You can also get polyethylene sheets from McMaster Carr. Available in all sizes or cut to order. Colors too! I love that place like Steve loves Harbor Freight! LOL! 🙂
Another source – Countertop and cabinet shops have scraps and returns that you can pickup for a great price! I picked up a piece of Corian, large enough for an entire top for $45. It’s great! If you get cuts and nicks, you just sand them out.
Try it, you’ll like it!
In addition to a cutting board that can be added to your cart, These items: I wish I had the talent to design. 1. Insulated double walled condiment holder for the summer months. 2. Automatic system to add water to carts that operate with steam or water. 3. A better dog sled made out of cardboard that customers can walk away with when purchasing multi dogs. 4. Better chip clip ideas. 4. Standardized skirting .
Lets talk about products sold on carts some day soon.
Hey Bravo,
I loves me my McMaster Carr too! And Grainger. Nothing like a four pound, 8 inch thick catalog of hardware and tools to get the blood pumping!
-Steve
Nice wish list Joe!
Great source mark!
AJ – brilliant solution!
How is that top taking the heat from the steam table?
USPLASTICS.COM – Another great source for a lot of things. I have purchased from them for years, at a most reasonable cost.
hi,
well i am a recently finished with my hot dog cart and in california the health department told me they would like a top to the cart instead of the painted wood. i went to tap plastics and they have a material you can get a thin as 1/8 of an inche i believe. the board is food safe and fda approved. it is also easy to cut… it is HDPE board and a 40×34 1/4 for 32 dollars. i do understand it is a bit expensive but for something food safe i feel it is well worth it.
Late to the game but, how thick and was it smooth or textured ? Also how did you make the cuts? Regular blades etc.?
Love the look, awesome mod. I found 1/8″smooth at 72″x40.5″ for about 70.00$ tap plastics .
Thanks for the info and mod idea,
David
The cutting board material can be quite thin if it is backed up by an underlying surface. Smooth works best. A wood cutting jig saw blade will go through it like buddah.