Northern welding cart review.

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07-19-2013, 12:43 AM
Brian Ski

1 Attachment(s)

Northern welding cart review.

I was wanting to make a welding cart for the 200DX welder and time got away from me. I looked into one of these from Northern.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5734_200395734

Looked great but I didn't want to spend over $200 for one. I was looking for some cabinets on craigslist and found one brand new for $100. The exact same one. The guy bought it and a Hobart MIG welder. Said his buddy was going to teach him to weld but bailed on him, then they have been sitting.

Has drawers to put all your small items in. Like Tungsten, tips, nozzles, etc. Plus a bigger ones to fit the pedal and the cables. For those who want a nice cart, and not build one, this one is great. Sure beats the little ones that are knee high.

BTW Learned how to sew some vinyl. Made some replacement seats for the 4 wheelers. Thought I would pickup some lime green and make a cover. Nice to keep the dust off the machine when not in use.
Attachment 10275
07-19-2013, 02:27 AM
performance

I covered one of their carts on our youtube channel. I like yours, but I think the one I got was a little better as far as size, and what it offered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW2cta4J85E
07-19-2013, 05:03 AM
Mr120

Both carts look pretty good. Comes down to what you want to use it for.
07-19-2013, 01:45 PM
performance

They are both nice, and the one I have has ball bearing slides. But, I like the extra room at the top as it will accomodate 2 welders, or a welder and a water cooler.
07-19-2013, 02:04 PM
DaveO

Hey, Brian Ski, haven't heard from you in a while- welcome back! I'm liking the toolbox on wheels approach to the welding cart: all the related tools and consumables right there in a lockable drawer, immediately accessible and out of the way of grinders or whatever yet still put away. Pretty smart way to do it, and you got a steal deal too.
07-19-2013, 09:48 PM
performance

I got mine at a surplus place: $50.00
So look out guys, a scratch or a dent is all you need to get one cheaper. lol.
07-20-2013, 12:52 AM
Mr120

Quote:

Originally Posted by performance

I got mine at a surplus place: $50.00
So look out guys, a scratch or a dent is all you need to get one cheaper. lol.

$50 is definitely a steal. I couldn't buy the parts to make one for that price. I gotta keep a better eye out for refurbs and surplus stock.
07-20-2013, 01:13 AM
Rambozo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr120

$50 is definitely a steal. I couldn't buy the parts to make one for that price. I gotta keep a better eye out for refurbs and surplus stock.

You can always keep an eye out on craigslist and such for a toolbox to use as a starting point to build something similar. Just add the bottle rack and wheels.

I like the one Brian got since the drawers face front. I can see having side drawers to be forever blocked by something or other. On Northern Tool you can see there are two manufacturers of those carts and while one kind gets great reviews, the other seems to have plastic hinges and crap hardware, and is generally panned.
07-20-2013, 08:48 PM
Mr120

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rambozo

You can always keep an eye out on craigslist and such for a toolbox to use as a starting point to build something similar. Just add the bottle rack and wheels.

I like the one Brian got since the drawers face front. I can see having side drawers to be forever blocked by something or other. On Northern Tool you can see there are two manufacturers of those carts and while one kind gets great reviews, the other seems to have plastic hinges and crap hardware, and is generally panned.

Thanks for the tips. I'm due to change my cart soon. My needs have changed since I first made it so it's time for me to rethink how I want to use it.
07-22-2013, 12:09 PM
everlastsupport

I've never bought a cart. I have bought used machines that came with carts and tanks. I have seem many builds, like out of an old shopping cart. I see old metal file cabinets getting throw out all the time and thought about dropping casters on one, with a couple hooks a, rim and maybe a plate for the tank. The tank part will be the tricky part due to tank size. Just for kicks since all the material would be free.
07-22-2013, 03:05 PM
johnnymg

FWIW, I bought the Hot Max cart (for an imig 200) and its fit/finish was surprisingly good.
http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Max-WC100-...=welding+cartt
07-22-2013, 03:43 PM
performance

That's a good price. Same cart we sell.
07-22-2013, 10:33 PM
travis

3 Attachment(s)

my $10 cart it will work good for me Attachment 10317 Attachment 10318 Attachment 10319
07-23-2013, 05:16 AM
Mr120

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis

my $10 cart it will work good for me Attachment 10317 Attachment 10318 Attachment 10319

Whoa Nellie! Now THAT's a cart!
08-03-2013, 07:37 PM
Brian Ski

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveO

Hey, Brian Ski, haven't heard from you in a while- welcome back! I'm liking the toolbox on wheels approach to the welding cart:

Yea been busy around here... Stop by once in a while... All the cheap carts I have seen are knee high and just to short. This works out great to pull up to the bench and make a few quick welds and put it back. Also nice to keep all the accessories with it.

Picked up an older John Deere skid steer... It needed some work, so did my yard/drive. So it has been keeping me busy.
08-03-2013, 08:51 PM
everlastsupport

Quote:

Originally Posted by travis

my $10 cart it will work good for me Attachment 10317 Attachment 10318 Attachment 10319

Gotta say that is a first that I've seen.
08-03-2013, 11:31 PM
youngnstudly

I was planning to setup my 160 STH welder on a small toolbox or some other type of cart that was store bought, but then I was given the cart that I am currently using. It's too hard to find something that is built for welding and made from something thicker than beer can material! So many of the newer roll away toolboxes and chests are 22 ga or thinner (I have no faith in those products holding up long term). Plus I have room for upgrades later on too.

I laughed when I saw Travis' cart as I didn't realize what the base material was...until I read the part about it costing $10. That is some out of the box thinking right there! "A" for effort. Hopefully it lasts a while. Is it actually rigid or does it flex and wiggle around? I've been to the state fair, the county fair, and the circus, and I ain't never seen nothing like that!;)
08-03-2013, 11:57 PM
Rambozo

Whatever you say, Major Kong.
08-04-2013, 01:21 AM
Kempy

2 Attachment(s)

I like the Everlast welding carts they are well-made and reasonable price. I put the Plasma cutter PP60S on one the MTS250S on one and PT250EX on the other one when I need the cutter I just mover it out and cut or pull out the MTS and everything has it parts with the cart. I will have to get another one for the PowerTig 255EXT when it comes make more room. I thought of making one but I can buy one cheaper than I can make it, I just modified the MTS tank holder to hold two tanks and the Tig torch one with 100% Argon for the Spool Gun aluminum welding and 25/75 for the Mig gun steel welding just turn on the tank I need and weld.
Attachment 10418 Attachment 10419
08-04-2013, 02:44 AM
travis

my 10$ cart used to be a medical cart of some kind I think it was a portapotty thing but hay it works and its really have made rolls nice wheels lock down so it don't move when sit up oh did I say it WAS 10 bucks total lol
08-04-2013, 12:01 PM
everlastsupport

I used a o-scope cart for my first cart. It did not have enough shelves, but you could tilt it at any angle. Sold it and built them all after that. I know ours are a lot more solid then the HF carts.
08-13-2013, 07:16 PM
jameslo

Quote:

Originally Posted by everlastsupport

I used a o-scope cart for my first cart. It did not have enough shelves, but you could tilt it at any angle. Sold it and built them all after that. I know ours are a lot more solid then the HF carts.

I build mine, too, generally out of scrap metal, or bed frames that are set out on the curb. You can sure do a lot with a load of bed frames :)

I have my plasma cutter on a HF cart. You really can't tighten that thing up enough to get the wiggle out of it. When you pull the handle, the handle starts moving before the rest of the cart. Very 60's kind of experience.

At some point I'll build a cart for the plasma cutter, and I might break down and make a cart to hold that along with the smaller MIG. I'm losing floor space to carts at this point.
08-14-2013, 11:37 AM
everlastsupport

Yea, floor space is a big deal for me as well. I have the PP80 and 210EXT on one cart and the 250P rolls around. But I have a IMIG200 on another cart I would love to free up that space.

Our cart are a lot better than HF. Do not wiggle, solid as a rock. :D
08-15-2013, 04:59 AM
its_34

What size bottle are you using with this one? Looks like a great deal, but all of the pictures show it with short tanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnymg

FWIW, I bought the Hot Max cart (for an imig 200) and its fit/finish was surprisingly good.
http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Max-WC100-...=welding+cartt
08-23-2013, 05:58 AM
breakneckmot

I've got to figure out what to do for a cart when I get my tig machine. I like the idea of drawers a lot but I don't want to spend that much.

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