Just another welder cart

[Rowdius]

Just another unfinished welder cart.

I had hoped to be able to finish this project with only free, found, salvaged material, but got tired of waiting for an axle to come around. So, because I can't decide to do something during a week day when a cheaper solution than Lowes would be open, I ran to town for a bit of rod.


Just some old bed frame.


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4824558719_23a3d6fc1b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4825176146_420c83d20e.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4824579041_36b386ddf6.jpg

I still need to snap a photo of the less than great welds, but all of them on the bed rail were done with 3/32 7018, other stuff with 1/8 6011


The tires and wheels were given to me by a friend a couple of years ago.

Still need to add a floor to the bottom shelf. I'm thinking about holding out until I can find some expanded metal for free. There will also be a taller shelf, along with a place to wind up the leads, store some other goodies, like the fire extinguisher in the background.

Before I do all that, I have to cut the axle off the cart and move it back half an inch. The positive lead rubs on the tire in the current position. During fit up, I knew there was something I was missing...

Oh well, once I'm finished, I'll have less than $10 in the cart.

[dumb as a stump]

Just a thought .. the last time I needed a axle that size for a project (a pressure washer cart) I used 2 bolts and nuts. I then drilled and cotter pinned them thru the nut and its worked great for 4 years so far.

[Rowdius]

Just a thought .. the last time I needed a axle that size for a project (a pressure washer cart) I used 2 bolts and nuts. I then drilled and cotter pinned them thru the nut and its worked great for 4 years so far.

I had thought hard about that, and looked at bolts while I was at the store, but in the end I felt better with a full rod across the bottom. I'm not sure exactly how much crap I'm going to pile on this cart yet. I might add my little 120volt mig to a top shelf later.


It was a pain moving that axle though. At least I know that I got fusion though. :rolleyes:


Also found bit of expanded metal lying on the bottom of my scrap pile, and now the bottom shelf is mostly finished.

[jreynoldswelding]

I think I would have out the handle on the other side.

[Rowdius]

I think I would have out the handle on the other side.

Why is that?

[jman]

Pretty simple and effective and love the usage of INEXPENSIVE metal!... Question though...

I wonder if maybe the handle should have been bent or welded at a 30 degree or better angle (about 3/4 the way up) or something so that you don't have to 'pick it up' as much, thus making it with more 'appropriate fulcrum' resulting in more of a 'Tilt and Go' kinda' thing... It looks a bit awkward from the photo... perhaps it's just the photo?

Cheers,

[Hammerwelder]

some of that bed frame material you really have to watch. i used some one time as a stop for a tool box that rolled out from under my welder in my truck. well it welded up nice, but i rolled out the box one time and it hit the angle from the bed frame and went right through it like it wasnt there. after the cussing and screaming from having to pick up my box off the ground, i looked at the bed frame crap i used and it had busted right next to the weld, in the HAZ, but what got me was the fact it looked like cast. i took that peice and cut it and welded it back together and slammed it down on the table. it was like doing the same thing with a dead tree branch, broke right off, and the real screwed up thing was that the weld itself actually broke off from both peices. i guess it was the best steel china had to offer us....lol... i though it might have been cast, but it was in a break, and holes formed with a die. one that still screws with my head

[Rowdius]

Pretty simple and effective and love the usage of INEXPENSIVE metal!... Question though...

I wonder if maybe the handle should have been bent or welded at a 30 degree or better angle (about 3/4 the way up) or something so that you don't have to 'pick it up' as much, thus making it with more 'appropriate fulcrum' resulting in more of a 'Tilt and Go' kinda' thing... It looks a bit awkward from the photo... perhaps it's just the photo?

Cheers,

No, not just the photo. I'm afraid it was a bit of compromise. Unfortunately, with much more angle on the handle, it would be in the way when stored against the wall, so I only put it at about 80 degrees. It is actually fairly well balanced right now and easy to move, but I will have to be careful to maintain that balance as I stick more crap on it. I'm hoping to add some front wheels to it when I can find some that are big enough and free enough.
HF has some large casters that would work, but I enjoy trying to cobble together things out of used/found items, so I'll probably just wait.


For most of my welding, I just run the leads outside the shop, but can get an extra four or five feet of reach if I move the welder to the doorway. If I need to now, I can drag the entire thing outside up to 20 feet. Up to this point I have been dragging out the 4/0 leads to my old AC welder if I needed to work too far out. Working out of a 12x16 mostly wood shed is a pain. Once I finally finish the pipe fence across the front of the place I'm going to throw up a 10x16 pipe shed next to the shop for my welding area.

[Rowdius]

some of that bed frame material you really have to watch. i used some one time as a stop for a tool box that rolled out from under my welder in my truck. well it welded up nice, but i rolled out the box one time and it hit the angle from the bed frame and went right through it like it wasnt there. after the cussing and screaming from having to pick up my box off the ground, i looked at the bed frame crap i used and it had busted right next to the weld, in the HAZ, but what got me was the fact it looked like cast. i took that peice and cut it and welded it back together and slammed it down on the table. it was like doing the same thing with a dead tree branch, broke right off, and the real screwed up thing was that the weld itself actually broke off from both peices. i guess it was the best steel china had to offer us....lol... i though it might have been cast, but it was in a break, and holes formed with a die. one that still screws with my head

Most bedframe is a very high carbon steel, like rerolled railroad rail. I've only done a few projects with it, but I have found using 7018 prevents the weld from cracking that others have reported, and using a bit of post heat will help the HAZ from being quite so brittle.

This latest batch of bed frame I have, I welded two bits together and took the BFH to it after a bit of post heat. It finally cracked in the HAZ, but only after I bent the metal completely over. Though as much as I sweat yesterday, I'm not sure the post heat was really needed. :blob2:

[Rowdius]

Went out and did a weld without post heat, but with 7018. I should have set it up differently, but two bits of bed rail, back to back. Put the hammer to it, and got cracking in the HAZ, but only after starting to bend it one direction, and then the other. Took quite a few blows. I was able to bend it nearly all the way over before the cracking began. The metal had the brittle look, but not as bad as I expected.

Later today I'll do a butt weld with and without post heat.

Either way, I'm satisfied with the results so far. I'm not afraid to use bedframe in projects that will not have that type of beating done to them. Of course I'd never use it something that would see that type of stress, like a trailer, or ladder, etc.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4826717675_4cc71789c0.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4827341454_247235e8de.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4827336162_7821a811b7.jpg

[Rick V]

Rowdius, that looks 'top heavy' to me. I know that particular welder has it's heavy transformer about 2/3 way up inside the box - making the welder a 'bitc?' to pick up and handle by hand. I have a vision of you trundling the card along and attempting to ride up over even a small curb... and the welder flipping off the back of the cart!!! :realmad:

Have you thought maybe adding a strap to hold/tie the welder down to the frame?

[Sandy]

Put the handle on the other end where the wheels are and the welder is??? Tilt it back like a standard dolly.

[Rowdius]

Rowdius, that looks 'top heavy' to me. I know that particular welder has it's heavy transformer about 2/3 way up inside the box - making the welder a 'bitc?' to pick up and handle by hand. I have a vision of you trundling the card along and attempting to ride up over even a small curb... and the welder flipping off the back of the cart!!! :realmad:

Have you thought maybe adding a strap to hold/tie the welder down to the frame?

I was a bit worried about that too, esp since I have no idea when I'll find front wheels for it. So, I put it together so the welder fits on the snug side. I haven't tested on a curb ( I live at least 15 miles from the nearest sidewalk) but it rolls over rocks and scrap black pipe in the driveway okay. Once I design and build the top shelf I may have to work in some type of strap to further secure the welder.


Put the handle on the other end where the wheels are and the welder is??? Tilt it back like a standard dolly.


That makes a lot of sense, and would make it easier to move around if I never put front wheels on it. I'll have to think on that. My extension cord is only about 20 feet long, so it is not like I will have to drag it very far anyway though.


I've come across some more metal, so I might get it "finished" tomorrow.

[weldbead]

i learned from the wheelbarrow..put the handles on stuff low so when you straighten your legs your arms are extended and the thing is off the ground so you are not lifting it with muscles..this thing weighs more than 200pounds, rolls easy(i have heavy steel wheels to put on it today..the 16 " lawnmower wheels in the foto are tooo light ..

[weldbead]

i learned from the wheelbarrow..put the handles on stuff low so when you straighten your legs your arms are extended and the thing is off the ground so you are not lifting it with muscles..this thing weighs more than 200pounds, rolls easy(i have heavy steel wheels to put on it today..the 16 " lawnmower wheels in the foto are tooo light ..

[Rowdius]

i learned from the wheelbarrow..put the handles on stuff low so when you straighten your legs your arms are extended and the thing is off the ground so you are not lifting it with muscles..this thing weighs more than 200pounds, rolls easy(i have heavy steel wheels to put on it today..the 16 " lawnmower wheels in the foto are tooo light ..

I like the supports on the firebox, very nice lines. And you're right, those plastic wheels look like they're about to taco.

[weldbead]

those supports are 8" pipe clamps..i put the steel wheels on it yesterday...thanks for the comment, didnt mean to hijack yer thread..

[Rowdius]

those supports are 8" pipe clamps..i put the steel wheels on it yesterday...thanks for the comment, didnt mean to hijack yer thread..

No worries, I always love to see what other people are doing. Is that rebar you used for the handle?

[weldbead]

yes..i try to not buy anything unless its something speceial...