What type welder?

[Stevebaz]

If you make a cart make a table with a vise on it and a rack for the extension cord and a place for the helmet, gloves and mount the welder underneath with a fire extinguisher. A good steel top and a vise will make your welding much more enjoyable.

Also if you are just going to use a portable mig with flux core you can rent the mig at any Home Depot. Of course if you rent it after a few days you could have bought it. But if your really unsure about doing it, better to spend a few bucks than alot of bucks with something you end up not using.

[Old Bill]

A welding cart sounds like a worthwhile project...and God knows I need a quick project to show my dear wife how much I needed a wire welder!!

This morning I remembered that I owned a old acetylene cylinder about the size of the one that emiller said he owned. Years ago I used it to install copper plumbing in our house.

At one of our local welding supply places I was able to trade my old cylinder in on a new 75% Angon/25% CO2 "C" size cylinder filled with gas for only $40.00!

So, then of course I had to order the gas conversion kit!

This welding stuff is sure getting costly!

[Nitetimes]

I've got 2 bottles of my own. One is about 2' tall, it was $90, the other is about 4' tall and it was about $150. As far as I'm concerned the short one was a waste of money for me. For the amount of welding I do it needs refilled too often. I'm sure for a lot of people it would be just fine tho. It's just a backup to my taller one now.
My next one will be a full sized bottle with a long hose on it!

[Airspeed]

I built my own cart out of particle board, everyone told me it would catch fire but ofcoarse it hasnt, mostly because you dont weld on the cart.
It has a slot for the welding line and gun, a shelf for my helmet, another for clamps and tools and on the rear it has a mount for the gas bottle and extra spools of wire. I used wheels from an old golf bag cart for the rear and a pair of casters for the front. I was going to build a steel one later but this one has worked fine for two years so I think I'm stuck with it! I do need to paint still.
Aaron

[Nitetimes]

I built my own cart out of particle board, everyone told me it would catch fire but ofcoarse it hasnt, mostly because you dont weld on the cart.

I guess who ever told you that never tried to burn that stuff!!!

Nice lookin cart.

[Old Bill]

I built my own cart out of particle board, everyone told me it would catch fire but ofcoarse it hasnt, mostly because you dont weld on the cart.
It has a slot for the welding line and gun, a shelf for my helmet, another for clamps and tools and on the rear it has a mount for the gas bottle and extra spools of wire. I used wheels from an old golf bag cart for the rear and a pair of casters for the front. I was going to build a steel one later but this one has worked fine for two years so I think I'm stuck with it! I do need to paint still.
Aaron

My goodness Aaron, I've got furniture in my home that doesn't look that nice!

Did the cart take more than one sheet of 4' by 8' particle board to build?

[Juneaudave]

Boy that cart is nice!!!

[Airspeed]

Thanks! I think I built it out of a half sheet of 3/4" particle brd. I'm sure it was less than a whole sheet.
It was pretty simple to build but I do need to plug the screw holes and spray on some paint. I have some K2 urethane left over so I will probably spray it with that, Thanks again! Aaron

[Gerdo]

I just finished my cart. I started with a $20 two wheel hand truck from HF and some stuff I had around the house.

[Dale M.]

I built my own cart out of particle board, everyone told me it would catch fire but ofcoarse it hasnt, mostly because you dont weld on the cart.
It has a slot for the welding line and gun, a shelf for my helmet, another for clamps and tools and on the rear it has a mount for the gas bottle and extra spools of wire. I used wheels from an old golf bag cart for the rear and a pair of casters for the front. I was going to build a steel one later but this one has worked fine for two years so I think I'm stuck with it! I do need to paint still.
Aaron

For some reason that is just wrong...........

Dale

[Podunkfla]

Wow... Airspeed... That is one nice welder cart! I still think leaving the gas bottle in the shop is a better idea though. Particularly if you opt for a large cylinder.

[sunny16]

Around here they ( the gas/welding shops) rent you the bottles for about ten years. You just bring it in when you need gas and they give you a filled one. I rented mine when I started my trailer 2 years ago and have yet to refill it. (Shows you how much I weld.) I did weld my trailer frame (first welding job ever) and I built me a nice welding table on casters. I still need to add a good vise. I even welded me up a snow plow for the 4 wheeler last year. I have the Millermatic 175 w/gas. I tried the Harbor Freight flux to start but it wouldn't do what I thought it should. The Miller is so much nicer and the welds look good, too. Welding is fun!

[bdosborn]

I just finished my cart. I started with a $20 two wheel hand truck from HF and some stuff I had around the house.

Ha, I'm about a week behind you. Here's my cart:



I'm not quite done, I need to bolt down the shelves, tie the bottle down somehow and paint it. Great idea on the hand truck! I wish I'd thought of that.
Bruce

[Old Bill]

Howdy all,

Man, those are such nice welding carts!

I started this thread by asking about what type of welder to purchase, and for the most part I followed the excellence advice that I received. I did purchase a less powerful welder (Hobart Handyman MIG 125) than recommended because (1) the different in cost, and (2) my welding will be for the most part limited to metal less than 1/8" in thickness.

I found an old cabinet in my little barn…(a building known as the Okie Boat Works…and soon to be renamed the Okie Teardrop Works!)…and by loosely coping Aaron's welding cart, I made a very ugly, but hopefully serviceable welding cart. The gas bottle sits in a hole at the rear of the welder, with the gun held with a spring-clamp on the top of the cart.

It still needs the finish paint on the sides, which most likely will never get done!




It's not pretty but then again neither am I! Well, that's not really true…I'm actually an exceedingly handsome old man, but very modest!

Thanks everyone for your help,

[toypusher]

Hey Bill,

Nothing wrong with your cart. Important thing is that it works for you!!!