Welder Cart

[SchuLace]

I bought a cheap Northern Indsturial mig welder today and would like to build a cart for it. It doesn't use tanks so I don't need a space for them. I would like to see some pictures of what others have built and advice as to what I should put on it. I would like to keep it fairly compact

I am just starting to learn how to weld so I don't need anything too fancy. What do you guys like/don't like about the cart you have?

 

[RotaryTech]

What ever you buy or build for a cart, you will want room for a tank, trust me.
You'll end up getting a tank in the future, lol.

Today I almost got done building a cart for my welding machines. Tomorrow ill post up what I built.

 

[AndrewH]

Why not just buy the harbor freight cart? The cost for the steel will be more than the cart they sell. And that's not including the painting, wheels etc.

Andrew

 

[Nursepeter1973]

What ever you buy or build for a cart, you will want room for a tank, trust me.
You'll end up getting a tank in the future, lol.

Today I almost got done building a cart for my welding machines. Tomorrow ill post up what I built.

Def build for a tank... its relatively addictive... I havent used my cylinder yet.. (the steel I'm using is overly thick for gas wire).
There are some great threads showing peoples ideas on carts.. I'd sit down and doodle..

• Think about a height that you can reach the knobs without bending (too much.
• Something to hold the gun & earth cable when you're moving it
• A place to put a fire extinguisher
• Maybe a drawer/shelf to put the little bits like tips, pliers, chipping hammer etc

Just my $0.02

This is my creation...
View media item 38074

 

[SchuLace]

Why not just buy the harbor freight cart? The cost for the steel will be more than the cart they sell. And that's not including the painting, wheels etc.

Andrew

I doubt I can come out ahead on price on building vs buying. But considering I have the tools to build one, I might as well build it. It's a project for me, it would allow me to work on my welding skills a bit, and I can say I built it. I think it's wrong to buy something to put my welder on when I could use the welder to build the cart it will sit on.

 

[SchuLace]

I would have never thought about the fire extinguisher. Thanks for that. I will be sure to make a spot for one. I like the shelf above the welder. Most of the carts I have seen have the welder as the highest shelf but a shelf above makes sense. I will have to try to work that into a design. I am going to try to sit down one of these nights and sketch something up.

What's the reasoning behind having the welder pointed upward? Easier to reach the controls?

 

[Nursepeter1973]

I think ergonomically it means the dial faces are more visible.... the dialswould be the right height if you design it right. If it was flat you wouldnt see them as well..

 

[dodgemike]

I gave away a HF welder cart. I
bought one of their two shelf
service carts. My Lincoln fits on
the bottom and three small tanks
strapped behind. Welder gas and
torch set. Yeah the tanks are small
but the whole cart rolls right under
my workbench. For me it works.

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

 

[toolin' around]

I know you said you want to keep it compact, but this is my second welding bench and I like the utility of having a good welding work bench that's mobile, with everything I need at hand.

Just offering more food for thought...

 

[Spareparts]

When I build any kind of table or cart that will have cords, leads, or hoses on them I will make a "J" hook out of 1/4"-5/16" or heavier round bar with a flat washer welded on the long leg. Then use a short piece of angle iron with a hole drilled just a tad bigger than the round bar and welded on the cart/table to hang the cords, leads, or whatever. They will swivel out of the way when not in use, also when moving around the cart/table they will swivl and let you get thru tighter places.

 

[RotaryTech]

Got my cart pretty much finished up today.
I know most of you build yours out of metal, but this way was cheaper.
Problem is, its a big ol cart.
But its got potential for more storage or something.

 

[Aquaticbob]

Got my cart pretty much finished up today.
I know most of you build yours out of metal, but this way was cheaper.
Problem is, its a big ol cart.
But its got potential for more storage or something.

I know there are a couple guys on here with some wood carts, but do you really think skimping on the cost will get you ahead if the cart catches on fire?

I started welding with a wood topped table and I caught that thing on fire so many damn times... I had a fire extinguisher on hand since I knew I was going to do it, but by the time I had a metal top the wood was charred all over the place. I built my little table of metal out of scrap that I found.

 

[Rated ///M]

+1 on reasons above.. Make sure you have an extinguisher laying around! That's why wood and metal shops are never in the same room.