greenlizard
Well-known member
So I bought a mig machine a couple of months ago. Life got busy so it sat for a while. Now it's time for the traditional (but necessary) cart build. I decided this was to be a (very) low-budget creation, hence the use what ya got theme. Started with some leftover 1.25 square tubing originally from my local scrap yard. I cut it with an abrasive wheel in an old Delta chop saw. Never again. Nasty, messy way to cut steel, but it's what I had.
Not having welded since, ah... 1975 or so there won't be any weld close-ups. A jig to align parts.
More alignment jigging:
Added plates for the US made casters my Dad gave me several years ago:
Closed up the ends of the frame here and there. The ends were squares cut from some 10 gauge'ish sheet I had:
Built a cable hanger from a 6 inch go-kart wheel. OK, I confess I bought the rim for $6. However, the mount materials were bolts out of my steel bucket. Not really sure how practical it will be, but I was feeling clever.
It's a roller!
Painting. I used what I had, which is a can of "Machine Grey" semi-gloss oil-based.
Lower bottle keeper. Sitting on a piece of adhesive traction stuff leftover from a boat trailer project. Used another scrap plate and some swing chain I already had. I did clean up the paint runs later.
Upper bottle keeper. Used a SCUBA tank holder that's been in use on my boat for many years and more swing chain. These tank holders are plastic but durable. They retain SCUBA tanks while slamming over all kinds of waves. Very strong.
The mostly competed cart. I will probably add a holder of some kind for a hot mig gun. The tank is vertical, camera distortion makes it look as though it's leaning. The welder is tilted up about 5 degrees. Overall I'm pleased with the cart. Much better than dragging around the 70 pound box plus separate tank. Also, the Lincoln Power Mig is 220 only, so it won't leave my garage. The 4 casters work well for easy maneuverability inside. Total cash outlay: $6.
Not having welded since, ah... 1975 or so there won't be any weld close-ups. A jig to align parts.
More alignment jigging:
Added plates for the US made casters my Dad gave me several years ago:
Closed up the ends of the frame here and there. The ends were squares cut from some 10 gauge'ish sheet I had:
Built a cable hanger from a 6 inch go-kart wheel. OK, I confess I bought the rim for $6. However, the mount materials were bolts out of my steel bucket. Not really sure how practical it will be, but I was feeling clever.
It's a roller!
Painting. I used what I had, which is a can of "Machine Grey" semi-gloss oil-based.
Lower bottle keeper. Sitting on a piece of adhesive traction stuff leftover from a boat trailer project. Used another scrap plate and some swing chain I already had. I did clean up the paint runs later.
Upper bottle keeper. Used a SCUBA tank holder that's been in use on my boat for many years and more swing chain. These tank holders are plastic but durable. They retain SCUBA tanks while slamming over all kinds of waves. Very strong.
The mostly competed cart. I will probably add a holder of some kind for a hot mig gun. The tank is vertical, camera distortion makes it look as though it's leaning. The welder is tilted up about 5 degrees. Overall I'm pleased with the cart. Much better than dragging around the 70 pound box plus separate tank. Also, the Lincoln Power Mig is 220 only, so it won't leave my garage. The 4 casters work well for easy maneuverability inside. Total cash outlay: $6.
