Vegaman_Dan
Well-known member
I like the HF welding tables. Those portable things are great, but they don't hold a welder. I had modified a simple welding cart with an extra shelf a year or two ago and it's been my happy cart, but there were some things I didn't like- not enough storage, no enclosed storage, and it had non-swivel wheels on the back meaning it was hard to maneuver.
I also found myself using a vise a lot for quick welds on projects instead of breaking out a table and all the tools. That was awkard.
So I built a new cart. Budget of $100.
Used two drawer filing cabinet
3/16" plate steel for top plate and bottom shelf
60 feet of 1" angle iron
24x18" 20 ga sheet metal
4 300 pound swivel casters
A very simple box frame welded up. It's not hard. I used a square for all joints and amazingly the whole thing stayed square. It's nice when stuff works right. Spend the time to do it right and it pays dividends, if only to make you smile when you check it with a square later.
I set the height at 40" plus casters as that would allow the filing cabinet to be on the bottom, the Hobart on top of that, and just enough clearance above the Hobart to put some space below the top surface.
Casters would end up with one corner hole floating in air so I added some filler pieces out of scrap to provide a solid surface. There was a time when I used to bolt casters on, but for stuff like this I just weld 'em on and call it good. If I need to replace one, it's going to be cut off anyways.
Plate steel was added to the top and bottom. I could have used sheet metal for the bottom instead of the heavier stuff, but I had it there and I wanted the center of gravity lower, so it got added on. A 36x36 piece of 3/16" plate cost $33 at the local metal yard in the remnants. I'm happy with this and I have enough left for other small projects.
I wanted to have some storage for cutoff dics, grinding discs, flap wheels, etc. I had them scattered around the garage and I didn't know exactly how many I had. Since the gas bottle would be centered on one side, there would be about 5" of empty space on either side where it would sit. I made an inset bracket that has 1/4" steel rods welded to it for pegs. The whole thing is flush with the side so nothing sticks out. With all the pegs there, it holds a ton of discs. Easily have 50+ cutoff discs, a dozen or so grinding discs, 15-20 flapwheels of various grits, etc. Now I know what I actually have.
There was space between the top of the Hobart welder and the bottom of the top surface so I added a short shelf. 1" angle iron would have been too big for the space, but I had some 1/2" stuff laying around and made use of that. It's not a big shelf, but it's perfect for a few pliers, chipping hammer, brush, etc. Stuff that ends up cluttering up the work surface. There's good space to clamp objects to the surface as well. I considered a 1" overhang for the top, but decided on a flush surface just for the looks of it. There's plenty of room for clamping now.
I also found myself using a vise a lot for quick welds on projects instead of breaking out a table and all the tools. That was awkard.
So I built a new cart. Budget of $100.
Used two drawer filing cabinet
3/16" plate steel for top plate and bottom shelf
60 feet of 1" angle iron
24x18" 20 ga sheet metal
4 300 pound swivel casters
A very simple box frame welded up. It's not hard. I used a square for all joints and amazingly the whole thing stayed square. It's nice when stuff works right. Spend the time to do it right and it pays dividends, if only to make you smile when you check it with a square later.
I set the height at 40" plus casters as that would allow the filing cabinet to be on the bottom, the Hobart on top of that, and just enough clearance above the Hobart to put some space below the top surface.
Casters would end up with one corner hole floating in air so I added some filler pieces out of scrap to provide a solid surface. There was a time when I used to bolt casters on, but for stuff like this I just weld 'em on and call it good. If I need to replace one, it's going to be cut off anyways.
Plate steel was added to the top and bottom. I could have used sheet metal for the bottom instead of the heavier stuff, but I had it there and I wanted the center of gravity lower, so it got added on. A 36x36 piece of 3/16" plate cost $33 at the local metal yard in the remnants. I'm happy with this and I have enough left for other small projects.
I wanted to have some storage for cutoff dics, grinding discs, flap wheels, etc. I had them scattered around the garage and I didn't know exactly how many I had. Since the gas bottle would be centered on one side, there would be about 5" of empty space on either side where it would sit. I made an inset bracket that has 1/4" steel rods welded to it for pegs. The whole thing is flush with the side so nothing sticks out. With all the pegs there, it holds a ton of discs. Easily have 50+ cutoff discs, a dozen or so grinding discs, 15-20 flapwheels of various grits, etc. Now I know what I actually have.
There was space between the top of the Hobart welder and the bottom of the top surface so I added a short shelf. 1" angle iron would have been too big for the space, but I had some 1/2" stuff laying around and made use of that. It's not a big shelf, but it's perfect for a few pliers, chipping hammer, brush, etc. Stuff that ends up cluttering up the work surface. There's good space to clamp objects to the surface as well. I considered a 1" overhang for the top, but decided on a flush surface just for the looks of it. There's plenty of room for clamping now.
