HF MIG cart upgrade thread

[nonhog]

Hoping for critiques of my cart or your own cart ideas.
I'll post mine-you post yours. The more the merrier!

My homemade job is my 1st welding task. Poorly planned but fun while it lasted. It'll get duty as a cut of saw stand.

I went cheap and brought home the HF cart. Right away I knew it would work O.K. as is but need more from it. Some of my changes will get changed again.
That's part of the fun.

I tilted the welder enough to open the side lid. (how are others doing that?)

I cut a slot for my side cutters to always be handy. I end up setting them somewhere else anyway. LOL

Used my rivet gun to add a small exhaust bend to set the gun down between welds.

Zip tied a clippy to hold my gloves.

I know there are welding cart threads but I want to focus on HF upgraded carts. Lets see yours!

 

[csp]

So the exhaust pipe is for the gun? You kinda lost me on the "handle" part of that.

Why rivet it since you have a welder?

Replacing the casters on those carts is usually a good idea, unless they've added quality casters to them now.

 

[MP&C]

Good placement on the diagonal cutters, they will come in handy!

 

[crewchief888]

i've had the older blue model for several years.
no need for any modifications, and it's holding up well

 

[nonhog]

So the exhaust pipe is for the gun? You kinda lost me on the "handle" part of that. Edited, yes gun. (I was multi tasking while posting)

Why rivet it since you have a welder?

I suspected it felt kind of low. As it turns out it would be better a smaller diameter and higher up (somehow)

Replacing the casters on those carts is usually a good idea, unless they've added quality casters to them now.

Agreed, only casters I have now are overkill. So that'll have to wait.

 

[nonhog]

Good placement on the diagonal cutters, they will come in handy!

Yeah before it was a constant struggle to find in my open box that was also full with vise grips, wire brush, copper backing etc.
Thanks!

i've had the older blue model for several years.
no need for any modifications, and it's holding up well

I knew it was weak before I put it together and the wheels and casters are sub par.
However I'm a hobby guy aside of rolling it to another bay in the shop,
it pretty much stays put by the bench.
I'll still keep upgrading it, gussets, casters, maybe a sliding drawer?

 

[FriendOfYours]

I've had a 150cuft tank on the back of my cart for about 3 years now. Casters are still going and it's rolled around all day

 

[lotsoftools]

Those are some good mods you made. I had to dump my HF cart because it was too flimsy for my use. It was fine on the shop floor, but I have to pull my welder out to the tractor shed or my outdoor fab area quite often so I needed something more durable.

 

[188slo50]

I have the old blue one for a few yrs and the only mod I made was I made a bracket for the front caster wheels to set them out wider cause I was having a tipping problem going across rough concrete.

 

[super-six]

I raised my welder with a piece of plywood to provide enough clearance to open the side door.

 

[stage20]

i prefer their 2 or 3 shelf red metal roller carts. you can take a saws all or a torch and cut a hole for a bottle. holds a lot more tools than the std welding cart for not too much more. there is always a coupon floating around for them.

 

[nonhog]

I've had a 150cuft tank on the back of my cart for about 3 years now. Casters are still going and it's rolled around all day

Good to hear! I have that low on my list as of now.

Those are some good mods you made. I had to dump my HF cart because it was too flimsy for my use. It was fine on the shop floor, but I have to pull my welder out to the tractor shed or my outdoor fab area quite often so I needed something more durable.

Thought of that when buying it. My welding (so far) has always meant bringing the project in the shop.

I have the old blue one for a few yrs and the only mod I made was I made a bracket for the front caster wheels to set them out wider cause I was having a tipping problem going across rough concrete.

Good idea, However the main reason I like the cheap cart was it being thin.
have to think that through.

I raised my welder with a piece of plywood to provide enough clearance to open the side door.

No issue with the welder wanting to slide off?

i prefer their 2 or 3 shelf red metal roller carts. you can take a saws all or a torch and cut a hole for a bottle. holds a lot more tools than the std welding cart for not too much more. there is always a coupon floating around for them.

Pics? I thought about that same thing but went the easy route. Partly because I am time poor and project rich.

Thanks for the reply's! Keep em coming

 

[super-six]

No issue with the welder wanting to slide off?

No problem so far. If needed, run a couple screws as stops.

 

[welder4956]

I've had the blue one for a couple of years with a Hobart Handler 187 on top. No problem opening the side door, but the front casters are starting to get wobbly. I will be changing them out soon. Got an 80 CF bottle on it but had to space the bottom of the bottle out with a short piece of 2x4 to make it sit vertical.

 

[stage20]

Good to hear! I have that low on my list as of now.



Thought of that when buying it. My welding (so far) has always meant bringing the project in the shop.


Good idea, However the main reason I like the cheap cart was it being thin.
have to think that through.



No issue with the welder wanting to slide off?



Pics? I thought about that same thing but went the easy route. Partly because I am time poor and project rich.

Thanks for the reply's! Keep em coming

my welder setup is out at my dads right now, but this is the cart.
they offer it with a middle shelf as well. you can really stack up some clamps and supplies on it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/16-inch-x-30-inch-steel-service-cart-5107.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/three-shelf-16-inch-x-30-inch-steel-service-cart-6650.html

a 50# tank sits in these pretty nicely once you cut a hole. a 100lb tank might make it lopsided, but its an idea to pass on. add your own touch and go.