2013 Summer Project #1 Micro Cart

[Rambozo]

Well the rules didn't say anything about project posting titles, but I figure I'll be able to find things easier at the end if I do it like this.

I've been thinking about a different sort of little welding cart for a while. I wanted something small that could go over rough terrain or be pulled up stairs. So I went for a two wheeled design, instead of the typical four wheeled. For compact use I have a 55 cuft. bottle, but I can go larger as well.

I sketched out the basic plan and used ¾” EMT for all the tubes and a couple of 11ga. plates. I did sand back the galvanizing near the weld areas with a flap disc, and fish-mouthed everything for a good fit-up. To stay authentic, I did all the welding with the 140ST using 3/32” 2% lanthanated tungsten and ER70S2 filler, with about 12 CFH argon.



I think I have too many pictures, for a single post. So I'll split it here.

[Rambozo]

Part two.

The wheels are the ones always on sale at Harbor Freight, but I put some slime in the tubes so they actually hold air, now.



And here it is all loaded up. The welder is held in place by a couple of nylon straps and fastex buckles, and the tank is retained with a camlock tie down strap. Put in some PVC pipe for rod holders, and some edging around the upper plate.



At first I thought I would mainly use this welder just when I needed the portability, but I find that it is so handy that I use it all the time. Mostly on 120V, too, as I do a lot of stuff less than .125” thick. Being able to take the welder to the job, instead of having to bring the job to the welder, is a real time and work saver.

I still have a 4500psi carbon fiber SCBA bottle, maybe next up will be a backpack TIG. Something for ladders or bucket lifts.

[redbeard]

Nicely done. Doesn't get much more compact than that.

Do you have a notcher for the fishmouths, or done by hand?

What did you use for the attachment flanges for the pvc?

[sportbike]

That looks pretty nice. I hadn't thought about a cart, but I may need to make something similar fro my PT185. Would make it alot easier to roll it into the trailer for a race weekend.

[Mr120]

Very nice project and I'm sure you are going to get a lot of use out of it. I haven't gotten around to sliming my HF wheels yet. Thanks for the pictures.

[Rambozo]

Nicely done. Doesn't get much more compact than that.

Do you have a notcher for the fishmouths, or done by hand?

What did you use for the attachment flanges for the pvc?

For the cross I just cut 45° cuts on each piece with a chop saw, so it's really four pieces. Just trying out an idea for something else. For the others I used a mill to do the notching.

For the PVC, that was an afterthought, so I cut the holes with a holesaw, then used couplers and bushings to sandwich the top plate when glued together. The bushing was a 1" to 3/4" and I cut out the stop for the pipe to give me a little more room. I have a bunch of those small TIG rod tubes, so I wanted something that I could just drop them into, with a small assortment of rods I might need.

[Kempy]

Rambozo that is a well though out cart for been compact and light good work.

[redbeard]

For the PVC, that was an afterthought, so I cut the holes with a holesaw, then used couplers and bushings to sandwich the top plate when glued together. The bushing was a 1" to 3/4" and I cut out the stop for the pipe to give me a little more room. I have a bunch of those small TIG rod tubes, so I wanted something that I could just drop them into, with a small assortment of rods I might need.

Oh yeah, It is entirely too obvious now. For an afterthought, it sure looks well planned!

[Mr120]

Looking at the pictures I just realized that the cart is so small it almost (almost!) makes the PA 140st look big!

[DaveO]

Using EMT tube is thinking outside the norm... Can't wait to see the backpack design!

[jakeru]

Great design! I'll bet the machine's weight helps counter-balance the heavy cylinder somewhat when rocking it to move it around. (and execution is pretty interesting too with the lightweight and cost-effective EMT tubing, etc)

[youngnstudly]

EMT conduit is my favorite material to use for projects since it's dirt cheap and couplers and elbows can be purchased nearly anywhere! Plus the drop can be used for your next project, and with enough drop laying around, it's like getting free material for an upcoming project!

You're cart design is ingenious! I would have gone that route if I thought of it! Is the cart heavy or awkward to move around with the welder as far back as it is? I was just thinking how a few "wheelie bars" with swiveling casters would make it completely self supporting while you rolled it around, and if you put them high enough, they wouldn't have to interfere with stairs and such. Keep up the good work!

[johnnymg]

Congrats on the VERY useful cart fab. Gives me some ideas on perhaps modding a 'hand truck' for similar use.