Does anyone have any ideas or plans for a homemade (i.e. cheap, but good) cart for a small mig welder?

 

These guys here have built dozens, there is always a couple on going in the projects forum.
http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/

 

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/engloi.../workpics.html

thats amazing

 

PLANS??? You are supposed to make it out of scrap junk from your garage.

Many years ago I made very pretty welds... Alas, no more

 

I am of two minds on this one - either make it out of scrap junk as Torque1st wrote, or plan, design and build your own. Either way it'll be a one of a kind and you can be proud of it. The scrap junk cart also distracts attention from the rookie welds (isn't a cart always the first project when a guy buys a new welder?).

Cheers,
Eric

 

A Welding cart is an excellent first project because...
1. You need one, anyway, and you just got this neat welder.
2. If you screw it up, you can always use the scrap.
3. You can always mofify it/add or subtract from it at any time inthe future,
4. You'll always be able to lead off with "When I need a cart I..."
5. You will boost your self esteem immeasurably (or humble yourself as the case may be).

Just go get some stock (bed frames are a good source of angle), try the goodwill store back door area on Monday mornings, a lot of "junk" people drop off is good welding stock they'll be glad to see you haul off. Buy buying isn't bad. I just bought two 20 foot lenghts of 1-1/2 x 3/16" angle for $28.00, they do one cut free, so I got four 10 foot pieces for under $30.00/ That's a lot of steel to play with, and more than I'll need for my cart, which will have my MIG, Plasma Cutter, and a shelf. I'm only piggy-backing them to save floor space in my shop. I'd really rather have them seperate, so I could keep the under their covers (Harbor Freight $1.50 tarps). Look at the Hobart "Projects" section, and just go do it!

 

Bed frame angle iron seems to be a dirty steel that is strong but brittle. Your welds will sometimes crack in the heat affected zone near the weld.

 

Mine is an old Resturant cart modified (STAINLESS) Cost me 5 buck at an auction

 

When you build it, plan for the mid size or larger tank. The small ones just don't hold enough gas.

 

Thanks for the replies guys, I will get some tubing and get to work...

 

if you have a old push mower that doesnt work pull the engine and the handle then bolt the welder to the mower frame. already has wheels and is somewhat rugged.

 

Store wanted $100 for a welding cart for my little welder. I wasn't gonna pay that much. I used some pipe, Only like $6 for 10', and buildt legs welded up a lower framed area, with enough area for a small gas bottle if I ever get one, and which I can someday put a piece of wood on for storing things, add two wheels in the back and wheels that swivel in the front, and an angle iron top that the welder sits on with a handle. Could possibly use a cheap tool cart also and use that. I just looked at some pictures of welding carts, and it easy enough to figure out how to build something. The legs and wheels are bolted on and i can take it apart if I ever needed, but it doesn't really take up much space.

 

That's a great idea. I'd leave the handle on to move it around, plus it would be a good place to store cables, clamps, etc. This is right there with the BBQ used as a welding table trick..."You can weld on your BBQ, but you can't cook steaks on your welding table"! Well, you could, but they'd taste pretty funky...Gimmie my torch, I'll show them BLACKENED!!!

 

Cory,

go to

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/...p?s=&forumid=5

do a search on welder carts... or carts... and you'll get covered up with ideas... plans ??? ; kinda build to fit your machine/tank/tools etc... you'll get the idea when you look a little/lot

joh

 

When my shop is done this summer, I plan on building a similar cart. But what I want is a cart/work table: mig and stick welder underneath, storage for clamps, grinders, etc., big thick steel work table with a vise, mounted on lockable casters. This will allow me to push the whole thing out of the way, and pull it out when needed. I'm always worried about where my sparks fly, this will let me work where the sparks don't matter, and I'll have all my welding tools right there.