Project 1 from ShaneJackson. Category: Welding Cart

Well this is my entry for the Summertime contest. Hopefully this build will be helpful to someone else.....

As of right now I have not sat down and designed anything yet... I have a few ideas but want to keep the cart very simple. One of the main things I want is to be able to pull this cart thru the yard as I will be using it on my solar installation. So today I picked up 4 wheels from Harbor Freight for $4 each (on sale - great price).

http://www.harborfreight.com/merchan...ire-30900.html

They are 10" wheels and should work good for this. The only negative I have read on these are the wheels do not hold air very well. If this ends up being the case, I have a gallon of green slim an will fix them!

I will probably use 2" angle x .125 for the cart because that is what I will be using for the solar install and I can use the leftovers.....

It sure would be nice to be building it with an Everlast welder, but I will have to suck it up and drive to my father in laws shop to do the welding.....

Please feel free to make any recommendations or give any advice you can offer.

Thanks,

Shane

I use those wheels all the time, and yes you might as well slime them right from day one. Then they do fine.

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Originally Posted by Rambozo

I use those wheels all the time, and yes you might as well slime them right from day one. Then they do fine.

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Ditto. I get them on sale a couple at a time ($4.99-$5.99). Fix-a-flat or slime.

Green slime it is....

On a side note, I broke down and bought a welder today.... I tried to hold out for the PowerUltra 205 but just couldn't.... Still need a plasma cutter so now I have to decide between a PU205 or a SC50P...

Any advice?? (This choice will affect how the cart should be built...)

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Originally Posted by everlastsupport

Ditto. I get them on sale a couple at a time ($4.99-$5.99). Fix-a-flat or slime.

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Wow, I just got an email coupon for 3.99 good through 8-31, limit 7. :rolleyes: Guess I'll have have to build a wagon and a trike.

Here is the link with a random customer number substituted, should work OK:

http://r.harborfreight22.com/r2/r4.a...&keycode=1002&

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Originally Posted by ShaneJackson

Green slime it is....

On a side note, I broke down and bought a welder today.... I tried to hold out for the PowerUltra 205 but just couldn't.... Still need a plasma cutter so now I have to decide between a PU205 or a SC50P...

Any advice?? (This choice will affect how the cart should be built...)

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PU205 or PP50 would be my picks. PU205 you get the TIG and MOSFET cutter, PP50 blowback start if you want to go CNC down the road.

On the tires, I just got the $3.99 coupon too. Gonna pick up 2-4 more.

this is just so I can keep up with my tweets for the contest.
Liked on facebook and followed on tweeter today.
First tweet:
https://twitter.com/Shane_Jackson/st...23355136147457

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Originally Posted by ShaneJackson

this is just so I can keep up with my tweets for the contest.
Liked on facebook and followed on tweeter today.
First tweet:
https://twitter.com/Shane_Jackson/st...23355136147457

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Some contrast between your Twitter avatar and your Everlast one.

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Originally Posted by Rambozo

Some contrast between your Twitter avatar and your Everlast one.

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His twitter is an older picture. All grown up now

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Originally Posted by everlastsupport

His twitter is an older picture. All grown up now

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LOL

Actually that is a picture of my son at my grandfather's funeral. He's 5 now (today is day 2 of kindergarten... no call from the principal yet....)

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Originally Posted by ShaneJackson

LOL

Actually that is a picture of my son at my grandfather's funeral. He's 5 now (today is day 2 of kindergarten... no call from the principal yet....)

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He is doing good then. Mine all all grown up, don't see much of two of them and they live at home. Enjoy them while they need you and knows less that you. :D

was going to add this to the other post so I could keep all these links for the contest together but I can not edit the post???

Here is this weeks tweet:
https://twitter.com/Shane_Jackson/st...72779962961921

Would be awesome if these tweets paid off with a first or second prize. Third wouldn't be too shabby either. :) If I ended up winning 1st price I would probably step up to the PowerPro 205 or get a PowerPlasma50 and a PowerTig 185 Micro. Second would make things hard... go with the PowerUltra205 or spend the extra and get ????? Third and its a PowerUltra 205 for a little cheaper ($649 vs $675 with the 25%).

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Originally Posted by ShaneJackson

was going to add this to the other post so I could keep all these links for the contest together but I can not edit the post???

Here is this weeks tweet:
https://twitter.com/Shane_Jackson/st...72779962961921

Would be awesome if these tweets paid off with a first or second prize. Third wouldn't be too shabby either. :) If I ended up winning 1st price I would probably step up to the PowerPro 205 or get a PowerPlasma50 and a PowerTig 185 Micro. Second would make things hard... go with the PowerUltra205 or spend the extra and get ????? Third and its a PowerUltra 205 for a little cheaper ($649 vs $675 with the 25%).

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You can post a summary near the end of the contest with links to all your project threads.

This weeks tweet:

https://twitter.com/Shane_Jackson/st...65020724260864

I just placed a bid on a Supercut 50P... The last few have sold for the opening bid, let's see if I get lucky. If so I will have to rethink what I will end up getting after the contest.... I like the idea of having the plasma cutter separate from the welder so if I win the auction for the Supercut 50P, I will probably be looking at the I-Tig 200 or the 200DX.

I like the idea of having separate equipment as well. Make enough room on the cart! LOL Mind you, with an I-TIG 200 or 200DX with a plasma cutter on the cart, you can keep the 140st portable and not have it on the cart at all .....

Yes I was thinking of putting the plasma on the bottom... not sure... may build a separate cart for it.... I am limited on the space I have... humm.... lots of ideas running thru my head....

How do you like the 185 Micro? I am considering it as well but hate to give up the pulse control.....

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Originally Posted by ShaneJackson

Yes I was thinking of putting the plasma on the bottom... not sure... may build a separate cart for it.... I am limited on the space I have... humm.... lots of ideas running thru my head....

How do you like the 185 Micro? I am considering it as well but hate to give up the pulse control.....

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I have the IMIG-205 on top, 250EX in the middle and PP60 on the bottom. I rarely use pulse. So a PP50 on the bottom and probably a 185 in the middle would not bug me. I have used the IMIG-200 for years too. Great unit for the size.

If it will not break the bank, I would go bigger and not upgrade later. But if you are tight on funds, all the units you mention weld quite well. I just like to have the extra power. Also, I do not use a foot pedal. Guess I am a cheap date.

Well I guess it's time to start praying... that my plasma cutter makes it here with no drama from UPS.... Needless to say I won the auction. :)

Now I have to figure out what I want/need next.... I know it is better to go bigger now.... but don't think I need 250 amps..... AC would be nice but I don't see using it very often (but I know what will happen... I'll need it and not have it...) I can see where pulse would be very handy... not absolutely needed but would like to have it.... As for breaking the bank.... thank goodness my birthday is coming up... make it a little easier with the wife... "but it's for my B-Day"

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Originally Posted by ShaneJackson

Yes I was thinking of putting the plasma on the bottom... not sure... may build a separate cart for it.... I am limited on the space I have... humm.... lots of ideas running thru my head....

How do you like the 185 Micro? I am considering it as well but hate to give up the pulse control.....

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I'm loving my 185 micro. It's well loved (used) but in excellent condition. Jodi from Welding Tips and Tricks did some really low amperage welding with the 185 in a video. I'm curious, what are you using pulse for?

Before the opportunity to pick up the 185 came up, the Everlast 140st and the Everlast 160 were on my short list.

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Originally Posted by ShaneJackson

Well I guess it's time to start praying... that my plasma cutter makes it here with no drama from UPS.... Needless to say I won the auction. :)

Now I have to figure out what I want/need next.... I know it is better to go bigger now.... but don't think I need 250 amps..... AC would be nice but I don't see using it very often (but I know what will happen... I'll need it and not have it...) I can see where pulse would be very handy... not absolutely needed but would like to have it.... As for breaking the bank.... thank goodness my birthday is coming up... make it a little easier with the wife... "but it's for my B-Day"

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Bday, Christmas, Fathers Day, I use them all. Mark and a couple other now have the latter on their list :)

I myself, would rather have AC than pulse.

You can learn to get around the pedal and pulse for about anything with some effort (and test pieces sometimes help).

Realize, AC allows you to make more money welding and allows you to have project made from aluminum. There is more out there than one might think. The price is higher on aluminum, but not like the scrap value difference. So the 185 is not a bad starter pick. The DX would be the next pick for me. I personally do not use our multi-process units, and will not, as long as I make money welding. For a hobby where I can be without all my tools in an emergency for a short period, then they are fine. But I can't take the chance and get the bills and toys paid for.

Hope that helps.

Tweet #4 (this weeks tweet):

https://twitter.com/Shane_Jackson/st...91651310428162

A little less than 4 weeks left on the contest. Been very busy and not had time to work on the cart yet... kind of a good thing since I ended up buying a SuperCut 50P. Now I can build the cart for 2. :) Back to work....

And finally tweet # 5 :

https://twitter.com/Shane_Jackson/st...91695207530496

Hopefully I will be able to save up enough to buy a 200DX.... I have already listed 2 of my Fluke 87's on ebay and my Poly-Metric OMF faceting machine (I haven't had time to cut a stone in years...) I hate to sell the OMF but I never have time and haven't used it much anyways. I know I am going to miss it... you can cut some awesome stones with it.

Then again, if I win 1 or 2nd... 200DX here I come. So far I have 9 entries (need to build a welding cart to make it 10...). Must figure out how to get those final 2 entries. :)

Ok need a little input. I FINALLY have everything together to start the build (I think - 2" angle). But I want to run these numbers by everyone to get some input on the size.

I was planning on going with a 1'x3' wide base. I am basing this off the measurements for a 200DX = 20.2Lx8.6Wx15.5H in. or if I were the lucky 1st place I would go with a 210ext at 19.3Lx9.5Wx18.5H in. (is that height correct???)

Based on the height and the 2" lip I was planing on putting the top at 24" That would give me enough room for a 3.5" drawer in the future. The wheels sit approx 6" off the ground... So the top would be at approx 30" from the floor.....

However I was thinking, since I will be putting my plasma cutter on here maybe I should go with a 3 level... I would need to put the second level at 20" high and do away with the drawer idea.... The add a top at 16" above the second (Supercut 50P is 11.5" tall). That would give me a top at approx 42" high.

Also should I make it 4 wheel or 2 wheel and legs on the front....

Any thoughts???

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Originally Posted by ShaneJackson

Any thoughts???

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Another option is to go wider and do the side by side setup. A lot depends on where you will park it, does it need to fit under something, what size and number of gas bottles, cable/torch lengths, etc. One thing I've always liked to have mounted on a welding cart is a small Halon fire extinguisher.

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Originally Posted by Rambozo

One thing I've always liked to have mounted on a welding cart is a small Halon fire extinguisher.

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Where do you get those now? I thought the ozone huggers had them outlawed.

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Originally Posted by redbeard

Where do you get those now? I thought the ozone huggers had them outlawed.

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People get them all the time. It is favored in computer/server rooms as well.

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Originally Posted by everlastsupport

People get them all the time. It is favored in computer/server rooms as well.

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That stuff scares me... I used to fear security checks in the server rooms more than the dark, deserted manufacturing floor in the middle of the night when I did security work. I do have to ask though, would it be effective in any area with any sort of wind or breeze? Wouldn't a small dump like valve on an argon bottle be cheaper and easier to refill? Or a CO2 for that matter?

Well yesterday and today I broke bad and built my welding cart. My wife was a little pissed as I put off having an appraisal done today so I could get this done. Refinancing the house to lower the interest rate.

I used my PA140ST in TIG mode. I was using a 3/32 2% thoriated with a #5 cap. Amperage was 100 - 120. Filler rod was a 1/16 ER70S2. The metal used was 2x2 1/8 angle, 1x2 1/16 box, and .50" black iron tubing and 2" nipples. Wheels are Harbor freight 10" $4 tires. Bolts (axles) are 5/8 x 5". I also used my Strong Hand WAC35D. It made the build a lot easier.

I ended up building it 1x3 and the space between the top and bottom is 20" . The back area for the bottle is 1x1 so It can hold a 330.

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I left the 1x2 flooring loose for now. I may tack it later.. The hardest part was putting on the handle. Well actually tacking it. Had I had a mig it would have been easy, with a tig it was a little tricky. Now I have to decide on the paint.... I am thinking GREEN would look nice. Oh and I need a nice new welder to put on the bottom. :)

Back to work on the house... before my wife beats me.