Individual welding carts or one?

[BrianTN]

A question for the guys with multiple welders I guess. When I bought my first welder, I made a decent sized (30"x48"ish), 3 shelf cart where I could place my welder, 80ci tank, oxy/ace torch w 80ci tanks, and a work surface on top. Well, since then I've added a vise and a grinder on top, and bought a Millermatic 211. I'll probably try switching my first welder to aluminum so I'll get a new 80i tank for 100% Ar. I need more space.

My current thought is just make a single, larger cart that can hold everything. Both welders, eventually a plasma cutter and in the distant future maybe even a Tig machine on the bottom. Middle shelf with consumables, clamps, etc. And a few receivers for a vise and grinder. But this will end up heavy, awkward to move, and a I can't pull one machine out at a time.

I've also thought about turning my current cart into something just to hold consumables, parts and stuff for what I'm working on. Then building or buying individual carts for each welder and a cart for the torch. Northern has a torch cart for $80 on sale right now. This would be a lot easier to move.

What do you guys think?

 

[justme-]

Personally, I'd put which ever welder you expect to use most often on that cart and either build/buy another for the other machines as needed, or don't. I guess the big question is are you planning on moving the welder to your work or having a welding area?

My mig (lincoln weldpack 110) is setup on a Hf cart (the open one) with the bottle on the back. The ol man's tig (lincoln 175) has it's own cart which also holds the liquid cooling system and room for extras (masks, torches, rod holder for arc, etc)
His rods are kept in a separate rod rack. The plasma cutter has nothing - currently stored under a work table on the floor to stay out of the way and protected. All of these are in his garage (I sadly have no garage/home shop)

Adding several units to one cart is going to get unwieldy, and IMHO a waste of space since you'll have to haul all or nothing. At work one shop has a Mig on a cart and a stick sitting on the floor in a corner where it stays. All welding is done near it. My shop has a gas power stick unit on a frame/cart, and a tig (lincoln 175) on it's own cart (home built as is the mig in the other shop).
the other shop with the dedicated welding corner has a plate welding table and some clamps/consumables right there. My shop (same as at home) I pull out what I need when I need it, with the exception of a vice which stays on the bench.

 

[cbones62]

First, let me say that Harbor Freight has what looks to be that same torch cart on sale for $54.99. Use a 20% off coupon which is easy to find, and that brings it down to $43.99. If there is not a store near you, their flat rate shipping is like $6. I own one of these carts, and it seems fine after a year of moderate use.

As to your question, I will say up front that I am new to welding so this is no expert opinion, but I have managed to acquire several things in the last 1 1/2 years. I am building a cart that will hold the stick welder and the plasma cutter (they are both 220v). My 110v Lincoln 140 mig is on a store bought "metalman" cabinet style cart that has drawers for supplies and room for bottle storage on back. I bought it at Murdochs. My 220v Hobart Ironman 230 came on a self contained cart that has bottle storage and wheels, so I just left that as is.

I guess it really just depends how far you have to move stuff, how heavy it is, and your personal preference.

 

[GPKughn]

I have my two Lincoln mig welders on one cart. They share the same gas bottle. I have the 110 unit set up for lighter guage welding and the 220 unit for thicker materials. I just wheel the cart to where I'm working and grab which ever one I need. I did this so I didn't have to buy another gas bottle. I made my own cart from two cheaper carts (one from HF and one from Lowes) and some scrap metal. Works great.

 

[lakeroadster]

You guys got camera's? Let's see those carts.

When I got my ESAB Multi I built a sturdy frame to attach my Lincoln SP-100 above it.

Works pretty slick. I still like using the Lincoln for sheet metal.

 

[Robert Hall]

I have put my welder and plasma together, even with them both being digi machines (non-transformer) with the tig rod and tig cooler, it's pretty heavy.

I can move it around but I wouldn't want to run any races pushing the thing.

cart

 

[BrianTN]

Thanks guys. I'll probably end up getting or making individual carts for each welder. I already ordered the HF torch cart for $53ish shipped to me.

Hereis what I have now, sorta of cramped.

 

[MP&C]

Mig, Tig, Spot welder, Dent puller