Welding Cart incorporating ToolBox/ToolChest

[duwem]

I need storage for all my consumables and other bits. Was going to build some drawers or something but I have seen a few posts with carts built around toolboxes or toolchests

Let’s see them!

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Look up ZTFAB's kits for ideas.

 

[dr_clyde]

I keep all my tips and bits in Plano tackle trays, and they live in a 2 drawer Cornwell mid-section.

You don’t need a whole toolbox for most welding accessories.

That said, I keep setup tooling and clamps elsewhere.

 

[pi_guy]

I keep my stuff in a travel bag, gloves, helmets, consumables, and tip grinder. I keep the foot pedal cables and machine stuff in a bin. I will pull from toolboxes clamps and other needed tools in other bin depending on job. If general trackside support take what has been needed in past.
So when I travel to job site I load my Suburban with bins.

 

[duwem]

Big blue some neat stuff on there!

Dr you got a picture of the setup?

 

[tarmy]

Build one...the tank is in the back...

 

[mikehaugen]

When I bought my "smaller" welder, I was looking to get a cart for it, then considered building one. After looking at the available carts that had drawers I decided it just made more sense to buy a roll-around toolbox. I built a small bottle rack to sit on top that holds 55cf bottles... costs more this way I know.

I bought a 42" box and honestly it is full. I have a drawer for clamps, one has welding rods and small spools in it, one is grinders, one is cables and spoolgun. The smaller drawers on the right have consumables and various marking utensils and the big bottom right drawer I had my helmet in, but now is larger (12 lb) spools and gloves/jacket. It works well this way I think, lots more drawer storage in about the same footprint as the typical store-bought welding cart, and is more solid than most of the cheap carts. It also keeps the welder at a comfortable height.

 

[mikehaugen]

Sorry, forgot the obligatory picture...

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[duwem]

Interesting. A guy could bolt some angle or something to where the wheels mount to extend a support for the tanks to sit on too I suppose

 

[mikehaugen]

In all honesty if you wanted to save space you could put 80-130 cf tanks up there if you built the rack taller and felt like lifting them.

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[ZRX61]

I use a 7 drawer Craftsman roller:


https://scontent-lax3-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/200397_1793804537668_5455587_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_oc=AQlsYLkugoBN1bh1wFjfOPkC3bcaaSIPYY7Dpy5U7GBQn1CT0lIBtheTMoj2G6Bpjp9KRQjbEOS-jJ72hwzMIu4U&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.**&oh=448910cce642000f89c47e391f5f7ad6&oe=5DC38AB6

 

[Rich1028]

this is how I did mine,all my welding gear is in the cabinet,helmets,clamps,wire,tips,grinding shield....ect..

kinda long video,my old computer had all the pics,but I lost them.

 

[ez-duzit]

My welder/plasma cutter cart.





https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=424979

 

[zkling]

What machine do you have?

Unless you have little welders, I typically find the all in one carts to be extremely space inefficient.

ez-duzit's is one of the nicest I have seen.

This is a good value, when you consider time and raw materials.

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding-cabinet-61705.html

 

[ez-duzit]

z--thank you.

 

[duwem]

Sweet ideas guys. I have a Dynasty 200 that would fit that harbor freight cart awesome. But I also have a Coolmate 3...

EZ do you have your welder and cooler wired into one switch? I’m gona cry the day I fry my torch the day I forget to turn on the water cooler.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have the big Harbor Freight welding cart and it's great. I was originally going to build one based on a toolbox, but decided I like the HF unit. It has more than enough drawer space for consumables, and you can put a couple of machines on it and 2 bottles. The only changes I made to it were relocating some of the lead hooks and I made another bracket to be able to hold the large filler metal tubes. Like dr clyde said, all of my consumables fit in a couple of Plano organizers. I use the cabinet to store my tubing notcher and other fab tools, which was why I was looking at a toolbox in the first place.

 

[zmotorsports]

My consumables are in plastic storage trays and kept in a drawer next to my welders. Everything is within about a 8' range from my welders in the general welding area of the shop. Clamps are stored on the side of the fabrication table, but again everything is within easy reach. Think efficiency and workflow.

 

[ez-duzit]

...EZ do you have your welder and cooler wired into one switch?...

No cooler. Mig, tig and plasma cutter all plugged into one junction box, on the back of the drawer chest, with a ~50' #6 cord. Only run 1 machine at a time.

 

[Brad54]

Here's mine, made from a vintage Craftsman tool box I picked up at the NE GA Swap Meet.
Twin bottle mounts, so if I run out at night or a weekend, I'm not dead in the water.
I've got two heavy-duty extension cords for it--one 12-footer, one 25 foot. They each have their own "channel" on the holder on the back to keep the separate, so I can just grab the appropriate one.
Extended table top for a work station, and that little vise has proven itself to be one of the best ideas I've had in a long time. It's remarkable how often I've used it to hold things I'm welding.
I made the chassis for it, the side covers on the bottle mount area, the table top is an electrical cabinet door I rounded the corners on (because banging into corners is always painful). The bottle mounts are simple strap bent around the bottle: the outboard end slips into a pocket I made, the inboard end is a 90-degree flat, with a threaded plate mounted inside the cabinet, and the red T-handle screws to each and holds the strap in place.
Finally found a lock for the bottom door.
Welding helmet and a few other big items are in the bottom, gloves and leathers in bottom drawer; copper and aluminum backers, wrenches for bottle changes, extra tips, different size wire, clecos, etc. etc. are in the other drawers.
I don't have any clamps in it--they're all hanging on the wall. If you can fit all your C-clamps and welding clamps in your tool box, you don't have enough C-clamps and welding clamps.

 

[duwem]

Here are some images of my current cart. Was designed to have mig and tig on top and dual tanks. Sold the mig. Then added coolmate 3 to bottom. I may end up chopping it up and redoing to get storage.

 

[duwem]

Just realized HF makes a BIG cart for multiple machines. Only gripe I can see is if you want single side access and have the machines facing the side with the drawers/door, the cables might get in the way of opening them??

https://www.harborfreight.com/Heavy-Duty-Large-Welding-Cabinet-63179.html

 

[bigguns69]

https://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-large-welding-cabinet-63179.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding-cabinet-61705.html

 

[kb1982]

Just realized HF makes a BIG cart for multiple machines. Only gripe I can see is if you want single side access and have the machines facing the side with the drawers/door, the cables might get in the way of opening them??

https://www.harborfreight.com/Heavy-Duty-Large-Welding-Cabinet-63179.html

Kinda like this lol. I zipp tied the cable to the handle so it is up above the door now. Only downfall is using some cable length. If you go that route, here is a coupon. These green brake caliper hooks also come in handy for extra holders on the cart.

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[bradleykd]

Kinda like this lol. I zipp tied the cable to the handle so it is up above the door now. Only downfall is using some cable length. If you go that route, here is a coupon. These green brake caliper hooks also come in handy for extra holders on the cart.

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This is the same cart I have. You can't build one this nice for the price unless you have all of the parts from some other project or something.

 

[duwem]

Bradly you got a picture of yours with the welders and stuff all on it?

 

[Shootinok]

Nothing fancy here — I was looking for something also to be mobile and have some drawers. I had this box and the little rolling base so I added a few angles and a shelf behind the toolbox for the inexpensive wire feed to sit on.
Didn’t spend any money not at all.



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[bradleykd]

Bradly you got a picture of yours with the welders and stuff all on it?

I just took one. It isn’t as organized as it sometimes is. I have been mig welding and my lead is short enough that I have to move the cart around, so my tig pedal and helmets are just thrown up there.

https://flic.kr/p/2gzvcoN

 

[duwem]

Thanks. Guy would have to manage cables to avoid the drawers/doors

 

[lis2323]

Personally I don’t like drawers on my carts.





I keep all my welder and plasma cutter consumables “in the corner”



and electrodes, wire and filler rod on the shelf





and 7018 in the oven


,


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[bradleykd]

Thanks. Guy would have to manage cables to avoid the drawers/doors

Yeah, I'm going to tig a little P-clamp on the top corner to drape the cables through. It is kind of inconvenient really, but I do like the cabinet and drawers to keep stuff organized and clean looking.

If I had as much stuff as Lis, I wouldn't care for drawers on the cart either, but as it stands, between the cart and my welding table, it contains all of my welding stuff.

 

[ItsNemo]

Here's mine. Just a little two drawer mid box. Sized the cart big enough that I could move the multimatic 215 down a shelf and add a TIG or plasma on top if I wanted. Rear tank space is big enough for two tanks side by side.

 

[Fatboy148]

Personally I don’t like drawers on my carts.

Most excellent job!

The only things I see that cart is missing are turn signals, warning flashers and the statement:

"Kids, don't try this at home".

 

[danielbuck]

don't really have a better photo of it, it wasn't quite finished in this photo (it's evolved a bit) but this is basically it. Two drawers on either long side of the table, MIG & TIG under the drawers, bottles out back, and hooks to hang everything.

 

[duwem]

Lots of good ideas. Keep them coming!

 

[Woodsrider]

Following as I have an extra 7 drawer tool chest that is not being used at the moment that I'd like to use for a welding table/cart.

 

[slodat]

I have these marketed as Metal Man at my LWS. Overall happy with them. Store hoods in bottom drawers. Drawers lock.

 

[74cj5]

I see some great ideas on here! You guys do good work.


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[74cj5]

Here are some shots of a cart I just finished with some drawers. I hope that you guys like it.


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[duwem]

Nice!