Spring project - my take on a welding cart (version 1)

So after lugging around the welder for a while, I determined I needed a cart when I made the switch from flux core to solid wire and added the bottle. I had a bunch of scrap angle, mostly bed frame, but didn't like any of the ideas I saw or came up with. A sale at Harbor Freight caught my eye and I picked up a pair of carts: http://www.harborfreight.com/three-s...cart-6650.html (I had to pull the image so I could include all the project pics)

I had an old three drawer toolbox I've been carrying around since my days in the junkyard. The movers smashed the lid, and I never could get it straightened out quite right. I figured I'd incorporate it to provide for wrenches, tips, grinding wheels, etc. and make it a service cart.

Due to cost and ease of use, I picked up a small bottle from Tractor Supply, C25. I had the idea the moment I saw the cart of how I'd set it up. Box on the bottom, notch in the center shelf, welder on top, cords wrapped around the handle.

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6z...g/s640/401.jpg

I traced and cut out the semi-circle with an air nibbler and body saw, saving it for later so I could weld it back in if I made a different cart ;) Well, how to hold the bottle in securely? How about a rod through the rolled edge?

http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-si...Q/s640/403.jpg

Fits snug, stays in, comes out when needed and the bottle just rocks out.

All together, but I didn't like that things could slide around and fall out or hit the bottle

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PM...Y/s640/405.jpg

Yes, I could have welded a piece in, but I didn't want to burn off all the paint and have to re-paint it, I had other things to move on to. Cleco clips and rivets to the rescue!

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1o...M/s640/411.jpg

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ok...Y/s640/412.jpg

http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Br...0/s640/413.jpg

You can see the toolbox open in the pic above, here's one of it shut and of the whole cart

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4X...A/s640/406.jpg (yes, that was before the guard around the tank)

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ku...g/s512/404.jpg

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PM...Y/s640/405.jpg

The cart has served me well, though I've been thinking about how to re-work it when I pick up an Everlast. I am probably going to use the other cart I bought at the same time, placing the welder on the bottom shelf, raising the middle shelf and making a consumables holder in part and a mount for organizer boxes, and leaving the top open for work/temp storage. I'll likely run the bottle out the top of that one, as I'm not about to try to deal with 20 or 40 ft bottles of argon...

Wow nice job looks very professional! In the future I want to build a cart like this but I will be using air filled tires so it's got some give to our miles of concrete and rubbish. ;) How long will that bottle last you if you are careful not to waste it? Kinda small.

You know, it's funny you ask that. I ran it the first day for a few minutes and then forgot to shut it off, bye bye half tank. I've probably done a couple dozen feet of welds, still have about a third of a tank. I'm not sure once I really get to kicking it, if I get the steel I need this weekend or next I'll let you know how it goes, start pressure, end pressure, estimated length of weld, etc. It sort of seems like the magical propane tank that's been 'almost empty' for the last year...

Better wheels would be nice, but it's pretty tall to begin with. I only use it in the garage and driveway anyhow, so I make due.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trip59

It sort of seems like the magical propane tank that's been 'almost empty' for the last year...

Better wheels would be nice, but it's pretty tall to begin with. I only use it in the garage and driveway anyhow, so I make due.

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HAHA! That only works for you apparently...my propane tanks are either unopened factory sealed or empty. ;)

I was thinking 2 20" bike wheels at the far end, with a swiveling 10" pneumatic as steer. That'd roll pretty slick i believe. I would put the axles in a place to make the cart about 2.5-3" off the ground. It would also be nice to completely enclose one full side of the cart and put a locking flip up 2' x 3' work table there on that side. (Enclosed to ensure no sparks go inside or on my welder, plasma, and accessories.) Something to ponder :)

A friend of mine has a cart that looks just like that one. He may have got it at the same place. The cart is not bad but he put his welder the opposite direction which works ok unless you need to make a tight turn with just the front end of the cart.