Cart Build

[its_34]

Any concern that you will pile too much wait towards the front of the top shelf?

Not really. Before deciding on axle and caster locations, I made sure I could load a bottle with nothing on the shelf and that the welder was stable with the bottle removed. I can sit on the front of the upper tube and it deflects about 1/4" (I'm 175#) but the rear wheels stay on the ground.

[Jason]

Not really. Before deciding on axle and caster locations, I made sure I could load a bottle with nothing on the shelf and that the welder was stable with the bottle removed. I can sit on the front of the upper tube and it deflects about 1/4" (I'm 175#) but the rear wheels stay on the ground.

ok cool... I just realized I used an incorrect spelling.... Wait = weight

[its_34]

I blame autocorrect! Fortunately, there are few grammar police here.

[its_34]

Picked up some more aluminum sheet yesterday and finally finished off the bottom shelf. I'm going to have to replace the rear wheels though, these are just too soft to take the weight.

[Jason]

I blame autocorrect! Fortunately, there are few grammar police here.

I blame it on sleeping 3 to 4 hrs every night

Anyways on topic, it seems to me that it almost needs a handle to pull/push it by..I assume you use the one straight off the front? but how high is that? Do you have to bend over to reach it?

[DVA]

That is a nice cart. I have been following the thread and like the tube look.

[its_34]

That is a nice cart. I have been following the thread and like the tube look.

Thanks. I tend to use round tube most and end up using the remnants for everything else.

[its_34]

Anyways on topic, it seems to me that it almost needs a handle to pull/push it by..I assume you use the one straight off the front? but how high is that? Do you have to bend over to reach it?

I just pull it by the front loop. It's probably 28" off the floor but would be tough for a long walk. One regret is that I should have pushed the upper tube forward a couple inches more so I could get more clearance to the bottle. I wanted to keep the torch connection behind the tube for protection. I may bend a small diameter loop and put it at the front, about 6-10" higher. That would solve both issues.

[zoama]

What are the specs for the frame tubing ?

[its_34]

What are the specs for the frame tubing ?

It's a mixture. The bottom tube is 1.5x.120 DOM, top is 1.5x.095 ERW and the bottle post is 1.5x.065.

[Kempy]

It's a mixture. The bottom tube is 1.5x.120 DOM, top is 1.5x.095 ERW and the bottle post is 1.5x.065.

Are you just using up odd and ends or did you design it that way.

[its_34]

Are you just using up odd and ends or did you design it that way.

The former. I've had an 8ft piece of 0.120" wall in the rafters for many years and the 0.065" was left over from something else. I had to buy 10ft (0.095") to finish the project but everything else was recycled.

[youngnstudly]

It looks good finished and in use. If you bent up a 180 and then bent (or cut and welded) the 180 so it was "standing up" like an arch, you could just extend the top shelf out with that new u-bend to make a handle. If you installed a piece of sheet (aluminum if you have leftovers) onto the top shelf, you could rest your torch on the top of the shelf between your new handle and the front of the welder. I personally don't like the idea of the torch hanging loosely on the side of the cart. Too many things that it could get hooked on or smashed against (at least where I weld there is).

[its_34]

It looks good finished and in use. If you bent up a 180 and then bent (or cut and welded) the 180 so it was "standing up" like an arch, you could just extend the top shelf out with that new u-bend to make a handle. If you installed a piece of sheet (aluminum if you have leftovers) onto the top shelf, you could rest your torch on the top of the shelf between your new handle and the front of the welder. I personally don't like the idea of the torch hanging loosely on the side of the cart. Too many things that it could get hooked on or smashed against (at least where I weld there is).

The torch does need to be fixed someplace or I'm sure I'll be smashing many cups on the floor. I'm not sure if I picture what you describe correctly, but I like the idea of a "basket handle" loop extending forward and up. I may do this and add a torch holder.

[youngnstudly]

The torch does need to be fixed someplace or I'm sure I'll be smashing many cups on the floor. I'm not sure if I picture what you describe correctly, but I like the idea of a "basket handle" loop extending forward and up. I may do this and add a torch holder.

That's exactly what will happen too, smashed cups every time you turn around...Well, maybe not, but it will wreck the ceramic cup when you least expect it to! I'm still mad that I let my tig torch slip off the table, resulting in a broken back cap (a pain to remove the threaded portion)! I'm still running the flush back cap now because of that minor setback. Your description sounds like what I had going in my head when I typed that. I was looking at the "hoop" on a pressure washer frame that was sitting next to me.

The front "bumper" on this pressure washer cart is what I was thinking. Actually, either end represents what I was thinking. Obviously you could extend it out as far as you needed, and change the angle of the handle portion to more or less of the angle you like:

[its_34]

Yep, that's the image I had in my head. I'll try that with some smaller diameter bar and add a short piece of tube to hold the torch. I think I've taken the 1.5" tubing too far already with this thing.

[Kempy]

Yep, that's the image I had in my head. I'll try that with some smaller diameter bar and add a short piece of tube to hold the torch. I think I've taken the 1.5" tubing too far already with this thing.

I made this to hold my torches one mount to the cart and one on a magnet mount to use on the bench or were I am welding.

[SeanMurphy265]

Thanks. I'm using a hole saw notcher. It's one of the cheap ones (no ball bearings, stamped steel guides) but it works for light use. It took quite a bit of shimming to get it to cut on center.

Attachment 10717

I made some more progress today and will post some more pics later.

I have the harbor freight notcher and I have been happy with it. I do use good hole saws which I'm sure helps. I do plan to add some shims to mine.

[its_34]

I made this to hold my torches one mount to the cart and one on a magnet mount to use on the bench or were I am welding.

That is brilliantly simple, thanks for posting. I think I'll cut something similar out of aluminum sheet and weld it to the shelf on the torch-side of the unit.

[Rambozo]

I've use one of these for years. It's also magnetic, but might be a bit large to stick on the top of smaller welders.



I think I'll have to make a couple of Kempy's style.

Another thing I want to try is chop saw notching. There is a good thread about it HERE along with an online calculator to figure out the angles.