Welding cart build

[DavidR8]

A while back I bought a warehouse cart to repurpose into a welding cart for my MIG and TIG machines.

I cut it into pieces so it was easier to store till I got at it.

Tonight I started by cutting the shelves apart so I could preserve the rounded corners. I then welded the narrowed parts back together.
Went pretty well.

 

[YotaBota]

Your a busy man, looks good.

 

[DavidR8]

Put the shelves on the upright tonight.
Also made the base.
TIG on the top shelf for easy access to controls, MIG on the bottom.

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[DavidR8]

Major progress on the cart tonight.

Put the uprights and shelves on the base.

Cut up the remaining parts of the original cart to make the supports and upper side guards/handles.

Just need some racing slicks!

This is the most involved project I’ve designed and welded. Very happy with how it’s turning out.

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[Everett]

That looks really good!

 

[DavidR8]

That looks really good!

Thanks Everett, I appreciate that!


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[PeterT]

Great job reclaiming the materials for your own purpose.
What is the square section tubing wall thickness btw?

 

[DavidR8]

Great job reclaiming the materials for your own purpose.
What is the square section tubing wall thickness btw?

Thanks Peter! I like finding a good deal on something that I can repurpose
It’s 1” x 1/16 wall.
The original warehouse cart was rated for 750 lbs. I will have about 200-225 lbs on it with both welders and two 110 cu ft tanks.


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[Brent H]

@David_R8 : great job! Looking forward to seeing the finished product!!

 

[DavidR8]

@David_R8 : great job! Looking forward to seeing the finished product!!

Thanks Brent!
I’m noodling some ideas for rod holders and cable hangers.
And there will be a couple of drawers. One under the top shelf and one on the base. Need somewhere to hold consumables and things like grinding wheels.


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[Brent H]

@David_R8 : for cable hangers I use garden hose hangers, mine are on the wall but could be cart mounted. Princess Auto typically has the twist and seal rod cases - they work well. I also have a spool case for the smaller spools of wire (little red case from Princess) for TIG wire I have it in the original tube but a couple lengths of PVC or ABS would work great. For consumables I use a couple fishing tackle flat cases (Cabela’s) They go into the drawers and keep all the TIG and mig stuff organized.

 

[Hruul]

looks great David!

 

[DavidR8]

looks great David!

Thanks Lee, I'm very happy with it so far.
This was my initial sketch.


I later tried my hand at SketchUp. I didn't know how to make rounded parts at that point. But this gives you a good idea of what I'm aiming at.

 

[DavidR8]

A bit more progress tonight.
Dismantled more of the donor cart to get a length of 1x3 for a cross member under the tanks.
Used some of the sheet metal to make a shelf for the tanks.

Cut up some of the wire grate to back a back for the top shelf.
Thing looks like a chair...maybe it’s too tall...

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[francist]

Thing looks like a chair...maybe it’s too tall...

You could always suspend a small upside down salad bowl above the “backrest” and hook your welding leads up to it. Bet your neighbours would really start to wake up....

Seriously, it probably looks like a chair to you because there’s nothing in it yet. If your design intent is still solid — and I think you put some time into what you were after — you should be good. I’d give it a chance before making the call. Maybe the back becomes a helmet rack?

-frank

 

[DavidR8]

You could always suspend a small upside down salad bowl above the “backrest” and hook your welding leads up to it. Bet your neighbours would really start to wake up....

Seriously, it probably looks like a chair to you because there’s nothing in it yet. If your design intent is still solid — and I think you put some time into what you were after — you should be good. I’d give it a chance before making the call. Maybe the back becomes a helmet rack?

-frank

You read my mind Frank. As I was cleaning up last night I thought about where I was going to hang things.
Seems like the wire grate is a good space for some hooks etc.
Thinking more about it I may put some on the sides for clamps.
Need to noodle that a bit more.

Edit: I think you're right @francist I'll hoist the TIG onto the shelf and see how it looks.


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[Brent H]

You will need a hanger for your helmet(s), coats/jackets, cables, chipping hammer, clamps etc

 

[DavidR8]

You will need a hanger for your helmet(s), coats/jackets, cables, chipping hammer, clamps etc

Ahh jacket.. yes, right now I hand it on the back of the shop door. Seems more sensible to put it with the thing it's used with!

 

[DavidR8]

Just about wrapped up the cart build today.
Was given some awesome tank straps by a member on Welding Web.
Fitted those up.

Loaded it up with the machines.
Still need to make cable hangers, the drawer and rod holders. But it’s largely complete.

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[francist]

Those are two of the shiniest tanks I’ve ever seen...
Nice job, David.

-frank