HF vs Princess Auto welding cart

[jayoldschool]

Let me know your thoughts on these welding carts. I need one for my mig, and I will ether pick one up at PAuto tomorrow, or grab one at HF when I am in the US at . With the sale at PAuto, the price is the same.

Princess Auto cart

Harbor Freight cart

 

[UncleJoe]

If you had to pay for the steel and your time you could not build it for that. You will want to check all the bolts if you get it assembled. Add a fire extinguisher and some tool holders and it is not too bad.

 

[e-tek]

After years of seeing guys make awesome welder carts on GJ, I decided what UncleJoe just said. I had other things to build and do, so I bought the PA one about a year ago. It's pretty-much perfect for the job at hand. (But, I have NO idea why they put those damn chains on them to "hold" the gas tank.....they hold NOTHING! Use bungee cords.)

Left me time to build a ROTISSERIE:

 

[padronanniversary]

wow, $50 its hard to beat that to try to make it unless you had scrap steel

 

[Stephenw]

I have the Harbor Freight cart. I think I paid around $35 for it on sale several years ago. I replaced the front casters with better ones when I first assembled it (because I had them laying around). I also cut rubber carpet runner and put it in the bottom of the two trays. It's been decent for the money I paid.

 

[DGC15]

I have the HF cart and it is OK. I agree that the front casters could be better. I like the looks of the PA cart because of the handle on the front. The HF doesn't have a handle and it is hard to move. I added a handle on mine.

 

[Falcon67]

I have the HF cart, bought on sale for like $40 I think. It's a nice piece with some mods. I replaced the china hardware with real Tractor Supply china 1/4 stuff. I also used a piece of my old HF welding cart to space out the tank from the back of the top shelf and conform to the bottle. You can also use a piece of 2x6 to move the bottle back some to clear the top. I have that issue because I have a tall bottle. The chains work, but you may have to force things tight with a screwdriver as a puller. I also set the Hobart 140 on some stick-on rubber feet so the side access door would clear the top shelf edge. That also cured the slip issue, because there is no handle you want to grab the welder and if it's just a metal bottom, the welder wants to slide out. Duplicolor Old Ford Blue is a very close match for the cart color.

 

[baubau]

i have had Princess Auto welding car for 3 years now, i think i paid around $50 for it, i dont remember exactly..

it has good stability,the casters are in good shape, it rolls across floor well balanced...the chains are good and you can tighten the bottle snuglly....

i have added a piece of chain to the front of the cart so that i can use it for pulling the cart instead of pushing it....it is so much easier...

it is worth the money,...u cant build something like this , u only waste time and money.....

 

[dodge610]

I have the Harbor freight cart had it for years had to cut alum. rails for my miller to sit on for side door clearance chain seems to work good on my shorter tank havent had any trouble with my casters yet" KNOCK ON WOOD" still need to put handle on it as soon as i find the tubing im lookin for to bend the correct handle got mine for 40.00 on sale if i remember right.

 

[Bootybug]

I have a brand new Northern Tool one they gave me with my Hobart purchase. I put it together but have not used it. FREE to anyone near Colleyville TX (DFW).

 

[blackice]

i used to have the PA one. it was flimzy and unstable. I ended up tossing it out. I have less money into my home made one and its ten times better.

 

[Old Patriot]

I can only say that the HF cart works for me, even with the cheap casters. Does what a welding cart should do, but I do like the handle on the PA.

 

[lilredex]

I have less money into my home made one and its ten times better.

Have to agree with that........

 

[crewchief888]

i have the HF one, picked it up on sale several years ago for around $50.
had no problems with mine, it rarely gets moved in my small garage.
ive seen some of the imported carts sold elswhere ( tool trucks) that are a POS compared to the HF model.

only negative i see with the HF carts is that they are narrow, if you have a larger mig or plasma they dont fit on the shelf.
lincoln 140 fit fine, my bluepoint plasma didnt

 

[stricht8]

I'd be wary of that blue HF welding cart. I bought one and within three months the blue powdercoat almost completely peeled off in sheets leaving behind a very rusted steel surface. It was not kept in a humid environment or under the ocean!

 

[Notch1988]

I have the PA cart as well. No complaints here. Had to prop up my Miller 180 so the side door would open/clear the sides of the cart. Other than that she's good.

 

[PCO6]

I bought a bottom end Lincoln cart which like the the PA & HF units came with basic wheels and casters. I weld outside fairly often and wanted pneumatic rear wheels and better front casters to make it easier to get in and out of the garage. It was an easy upgrade and makes the cart much easier to move around.

 

[A29]

What do ya build first, Cart to hold welder or a welding table to build the cart on? Why buy one, Whats the welder for?

 

[dodge610]

I bought a bottom end Lincoln cart which like the the PA & HF units came with basic wheels and casters. I weld outside fairly often and wanted pneumatic rear wheels and better front casters to make it easier to get in and out of the garage. It was an easy upgrade and makes the cart much easier to move around.

I like that idea i have to take mine from the garage to the shop on occasion think ill get some pneumatics and put them on my cart to make it a little easier great idea thanks.

 

[neverenoughtools]

Personally , I'd fabricate my own.......nothing beats custom in my humble opinion.

 

[PCO6]

I like that idea i have to take mine from the garage to the shop on occasion think ill get some pneumatics and put them on my cart to make it a little easier great idea thanks.

One thing I plan to do is change the angle of the handle. If I tilt it down a few inches I will be able to "drag" it somewhat like a hand truck - basically wheel it around on the rear wheels only which will be good for outside use. I can do it now but it's just a little awkward.

Here are the front and rear views of it if you are interested. I added a small lift off "trunk" for some welding tools. It's an old amo box that I cleaned up and painted. The backpack holds my helmet, beanie, gloves, light duty welding jacket and a few other things. I added a 4 lb. fire extinguisher to the front. I also put 4" sides on it to partially enclose the bottom shelf.

 

[PCO6]

Personally , I'd fabricate my own.......nothing beats custom in my humble opinion.

I did that for my last welder and it was a good project. Sometimes "pimping out" factory stuff is fun too.