Tig cart in progress

I'm almost done with my first welding cart that I've made. My previous welder came on a cart (Lincoln PT185) and then my Lincoln mig welder ended up getting the standard Harbor Freight blue universal cart.

This time around I wanted something beefy and custom. The frame is 1/8" wall 1" tubing that I got for almost free through a friend. The expanded and perforated sheet metal I picked up through work and the local scrap yard, so those were cheap as well. The wheels and drawer rollers (not installed yet) were the most expensive pieces to this cart yet.

Still on it's way are two aluminum outside frame panels to clean it up, and two drawers out of steel--both 16 gauge. These are going to be waterjet cut so they'll probably add up to be the most expensive pieces on it (aside from the welder). I'm hoping they're done in the next week or two so I can finish this project up.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3421.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3420.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3423.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3424.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3425.jpg

Wow nice cart did you wing it or do you have any kinda of plans that you went off of?

Just wingining it for the most part. I looked at other carts that people have made and borrowed some ideas I liked from each, and just cut and welded. :)

A nice design, good to see different idea's in projects, gives a person some idea's to add into their own efforts.

Looks realy nice like the way you put the support bars slanted makes it look cool.

The water-jet pieces showed up finally Thursday, so here they are:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...sidepanels.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...jetdrawers.jpg

I had to cut shorter and bend this part of the side panel to fit behind the cable hooks. Here the panels are held up by friction temporarily.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...anelrecess.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...eanglecart.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_sidecart.jpg

The drawers I finished bending up at work today and migged the seams tonight. They'll be ground down tomorrow and finally I can install the sliders.

Some final pics of wrapping it up:

Side panels notched and bent
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3439.jpg

Drawers bent, welded, and welds ground down
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3437.jpg

Penetration of the weld through to the inside
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3438.jpg

Drawer sliders mounted. I had to shim these in later on.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3440.jpg

Done, for now
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3442.jpg

Loaded up
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3443.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3444.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3447.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3445.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...h_100_3446.jpg

Very nice. I like the detail and functionality.

There might be a business in building carts in your future. We sell carts, but wow. That is nice and heavy enough. Maybe you can make a few more to make the units pay for themselves.

I have yet to get the bill for those water jet cut pieces, so I could have more than I realize tied up into this.... not sure if I'd make much building more of these with that and my time invested.

I'll keep it in mind though, and if anything take it as a compliment :D

A cart like that should easily be worth 500-600 bucks.