Welding cart advice?

[Rugar]

Just put a cross brace for your bottle to sit on. Then just add the screen over it for looks.

[Rambozo]

The Beave suggested I use an Open grate style shelf. I found a 13 Gauge, 3/4" one at Tractor Supply. And a cheaper one at HD. The one at HD is 1/2" spacing. And it states .125" which tells me 1/8". These are 12" x 24" pieces. Which would work for the two upper shelves. Not sure if I want to Trust that for under the weight of the Tank. I am thinking about the two at HD. Would get me started. The bottom one would be welded on last.

There are both good and bad points to that material. It's nice that the shelves don't catch crud and give plenty of cooling ventilation. However, you can't set things like contact tips or other small items on them. Also depending on foot placement and size, on some equipment a foot will fall through the openings, so it will rock around and not be stable. Of course sometimes all the feet will line up and fall through so the item will be really locked in, something you just have to play around with. Some material has punched holes and is pretty much smooth and flat, while others are expanded metal, so there are slits cut, then the metal is pulled open. That ends up real strong, and great traction, but it can be a little rough, and is an uneven surface. It's all up to what you want. The bottle shelf doesn't need to be thick as long as it is attached all the way around. It's a great place for a grate. If using chains, it's good to keep the bottle from moving around at the bottom. Keeps it sliding out and or hitting the wheels. Depending on size, an easy way to get that, is to put your bottle shelf under the frame, so the bottle fits inside the frame. I prefer ratchet straps instead of chains anymore, so nothing moves around anyway. There are as many cart designs as there are people that make them. Just use what makes sense for your situation. I made one cart with just two rolled rings welded on so you just dropped the bottle in the rings, and no attachment was needed. Super secure and easy to swap bottles. That limited me to one bottle size, but I wanted that cart to roll under a bench, so I always used a small bottle on it anyway.

[Elantramax1]

HD lied. It is actually 18 gauge. Too thin for what I need. I'm going to return it. I may just use my original idea of 16 Gauge shelves. Solid pieces

[Elantramax1]

Couldn't wait to start

[Elantramax1]

Met the Beave. And this is where we are in the Project.
Thanks Matt.

[The_Beave]

You're welcome, Chris! I hope I was useful.

[Elantramax1]

Thanks again Matt!! I see I have a bit more to learn. Guess I know what I am doing next weekend.

I am thinking that when I make the Top, I should use a Third bar. In the middle to help support the weight of the welder. I have enough scrap to make one more. What do you think?

Thanks
Elantramax1

[Elantramax1]

I started welding on the Middle Shelf. Figured it would be easier to do this now. Tried doing a Spot Weld. I had the Blue spots on the backside of the Shelf. But not in the Tubing underneath. Just doing a Filet on the outside. Maybe on the inside as well when I am done.

[Rambozo]

I started welding on the Middle Shelf. Figured it would be easier to do this now. Tried doing a Spot Weld. I had the Blue spots on the backside of the Shelf. But not in the Tubing underneath. Just doing a Filet on the outside. Maybe on the inside as well when I am done.

What you wanted was a rosette weld. They end up as an almost invisible weld for sheet metal MIG after a little touch with a flap disc.

[Elantramax1]

That's what I meant. Problem was it wasn't going through the sheet metal. Even with the Volts all the way up.

[Rambozo]

That's what I meant. Problem was it wasn't going through the sheet metal. Even with the Volts all the way up.

To do a rosette weld, you have to start with a hole in the sheetmetal, drilled, punched, plasma cut, etc. Everlast has a pretty good example in one of their trailer hitch videos as I recall.
To do a spot weld or resistance weld, you typically use two contact electrodes and a different type of power supply.

[Elantramax1]

Thanks. At least I get to practice some beads. The Self was slightly larger than the frame. Grinder will fix that.

[Elantramax1]

Have a good chuckle. I know I am.

[Rugar]

All you needed was a few tack welds on that self to hold it in place.

[Elantramax1]

It doesn't rattle. Today I added an additional support bar to the top shelf. Once I put the 16 gauge sheet metal on, Should be plenty strong for the weight of the welder. Even with the 8" Roll.

The Rosette Weld. What size hole should I drill in the sheet metal? 1/8"?

Thanks

[zoama]

It doesn't rattle. Today I added an additional support bar to the top shelf. Once I put the 16 gauge sheet metal on, Should be plenty strong for the weight of the welder. Even with the 8" Roll.

The Rosette Weld. What size hole should I drill in the sheet metal? 1/8"?

Thanks

3/16 to 1/4" would be better. You want the weld to start on the base metal. I always called it a plug weld.

[Elantramax1]

3/16 to 1/4" would be better. You want the weld to start on the base metal. I always called it a plug weld.

Thanks Zoama. I "Tested" the welds. Lifted the unit by pressing on the underside of the top shelf. It holds. Ended up with a couple low spots.

I went into this knowing it wasn't going to be perfect. Its going to end up looking like "Cr*p"

[zoama]

Ended up with a couple low spots.

The good thing about steel is that you can put more on and grind it down flush... if that makes you happy. Some people will say things like "only cats cover up their crap" but snobbish comments don't bother me, I'm not working for them.
If you're looking for a good flap wheel, these are what I use http://www.cometsupply.com/mp/PFERD/pm/PFE60626/ They cut very fast and last a long time. The difference between PFERD and the cheap ones is like night and day.

[Elantramax1]

Just welded together two 3" wide pieces of 1/8" flat steel. Blasted the one side so hot, It warped the table a little. Flipped it over. Welded the other side. Polished the one side down. Today I was curious as to how well the weld is. Laid it across two pieces of plywood. And stood on it. The 1/8" plate bowed under my 140 Lbs. But the welds seem to hold.

[Elantramax1]

Right now. I finished welding the cart. Sanded it down. Note: Don't buy HF brand Sand Paper. Garbage doesn't last. Even with hand use. And I use the one listed for Metal. Sprayed a coating of Rustoleum Primer on the top and sides. Waiting for it to dry before I spray underneath. Haven't decided on a color. Maybe a Medium Gray?