welding carts---why the rearward tilt?

[Bob98SR5]

I got some bed frame material for pretty cheap and I'm going to spend a little time researching and drawing out my weld cart before building. One question that has perplexed me: why do so many weld cart designs have the welder on a rearward tilt?

Bob

[Cebby]

I suspect that's so it doesn't fall off - in actuality, those things are so heavy that they'd never just slip off.

[waskillywabbit]

Typically the dials/controls are on the front and they are easier to see/adjust on the fly if the cart is titled rearward. :D

:guitar:

[Robinhood4x4]

Yeah, so you can see the dials easier.

[slosurfer]

Aha! I was right. :thumbup:

Can't wait to see your cart with tilt table technology. :D

[Robinhood4x4]

But Bob's so short he doesn't need to tilt it.

:flipoff:

[slosurfer]

But Bob's so short he doesn't need to tilt it.

:flipoff:


Haha, that's why he's making it so it can tilt forward and rearward. :laugh:

[4x4mike]

On Monday, when I get to my work computer, I'll post up some cart pictures. I've been wanting to build one but the materials are hard to come by cheap. I was going to scavenge an old metal shopping cart and make one out of that but haven't gotten around to it.

I think my final design will be a small welding table/cart. Small because a nice thick surface in any big size is expensive. My plan is to build it short enough I can weld while sitting on the stool I have in the garage. This height will be just right so I can roll it under my work bench when not in use. The welder and my milk crate of welding stuff will store under the top.

Anyways, I find pictures during the day at work and save them.

[Bob98SR5]

mike,

great idea re small enough to roll under a work bench. like you, i do my welding sitting down w/ the work piece on the ground as i dont have a welding table. also, most of my welding last year was on my back when i was repairing the biodiesel benz's floor.

problem for me though, is that i have a tall bottle. i may just get a smaller one to make your idea work.

yeah, definitely post up some pics. i have a bunch of them on my computer now, but more ideas would be nice

bob

[Robinhood4x4]

Pics of mine.

http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=3305.0

[Bob98SR5]

Alright, so after viewing about a dozne different designs, I'm gonna keep it simple:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/3346485308_e909888f6d.jpg?v=0

Question: I want to build a small welding table on top. To start, its gonna be wood until I can rustle up some money. If I have additional funds, I'd like to build a fold out portion that will expand the table a bit.

what gauge metal is sufficient enough for a welding table?

[Robinhood4x4]

Does your welder have a side door that opens up from the top? If so, a table on top will get in the way of opening it. I know I open mine up all the time to look at the chart.

[4x4mike]

Looks good Bob. I like the hinge design. I couldn't find all the pictures I was talking about, they might be on an older computer at home now that I think about it. I do like the one I attached though, just smaller.

As far a a top you have to go big. Most people use super thick pieces that they always seem to score for free. Something like, they were getting rid of it at work or it was just sitting in my neighbors sideyard. I would go thick because you don't want it warping and you'll want to be able to grind off slag and what not. I've also seen people weld bolts and other pieces to the top to use as jigs and holding points. When the project is done they grind them off. You'd need something thick for that.

[Bob98SR5]

Does your welder have a side door that opens up from the top? If so, a table on top will get in the way of opening it. I know I open mine up all the time to look at the chart.


Steve,

Yeah, thats why I'm putting the table on the other side.

Mike,

Ok, go big it is! I'll have to go with Lance to find some metal that thick.

Bob

[4x4mike]

Going big as in thick. I like the table I posted but my version would only have a top thats 4'X5'.

I have seen tables that use thrench plates as tops. Like the tench plates cars drive over. Those are some big mothers, not to mention heavy. I'm not sure how people come across those but it would be nice to get a chunk of one of those.

[4runnerchevy]

As mentioned before go thick with the weld table. I would say 1/2" minimum. Leave at least 4" of overhange for clamps and such. We have a couple that are 1" thick which is perfect. With a thick table, it will absorb heat, keep stuff from warping, and you can tack, back brake, and bend.

[Bob98SR5]

Ok, I'm about 90% done. So it started with a bed frame:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3431/3393813525_5683cf4ce7.jpg?v=0

And fab'd this up over two weeks. Here's the cart with nothing on it:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3393813305_2d77b81a43.jpg?v=0

And a front shot:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3426/3393813399_ed2f9b6822.jpg?v=0

I need to gusset up the front outriggers, add some cable hooks, some flooring, and a welding table on top. I am also considering adding some arms that surround the tank that will act as a push cart and to also secure the tank too. But for now, it does the job. Oh, I may paint it as well, but damn, I'm so done with this!

[Scuba]

daymn, Mine looks like crap compared to that...


:bling:

[Seanz0rz]

So THATS what you were doing with the bed frame... I remembering you posting about it but didn't connect it to this project. Looks awesome! What are you going to use for the top?

[DHC6twinotter]

I would have never thought about using an old bed frame. Brilliant! http://images.ih8mud.com/images/smilies/idea.gif

[CJM]

You guys have no MacGyver in ya or something? I practically steal bed frames whenever I find one, people throw the things out like mad. Use them for anything you can think of and the steel is STRONG and THICK!

[Bob98SR5]

scuba,

believe me, this did not start out this way. there was a lot of trial and error. i'll post up dimensions later. im actually forcing myself to learn google sketchup b/c i think if i drew it out better, i probably would've caught my errors, namely, making it too tippy w/ the wheels right underneath.

this was definitely a fun project. i could make the same one in about 1/2 the time now. i still have left over material too. i am going to make a battery box out of one when I get a moment.

[Scuba]

Where/ what did the back wheels come off of ?

[Seanz0rz]

looks like a lawn mower?

[Bob98SR5]

scuba,

from HF, part # 98950. brand is "Haul Master", 6" Semi-solid wheel. i just eyeballed what i thought would be adequate for my cart and it looks alright. fyi: there's nothing fancy I did when I attached the axle (so to speak) to the cart. all i did was position it squarely on the bottom side, made my marks, grinded the metal for a nice bare welding surface, and then welded the axle to the bottom side on both sides of the 1/2" solid rod. i've seen alot of designs where people drilled a hole through the cart, but i thought "why go through all the effort?"

bob

[Obi..]

*Non pneumatic tires, little wider axle width w/ better bracing for the weight, and a second level below for the helmet/etc and tube sections for the hammer and brush to sit in...coolest school shop project I ever did! I wish I had a pic of it somewhere...thing was stolen from the shop this year. :( Thing could be dragged wherever and actually was used for a couple trips through Dusy so we could just strap it down in the back then wheel it over to whoever needed it. :D

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/143322_lg.jpg

[CJM]

Ah the garden cart, works well as you found out.

YOu can nab them online for cheap :)

[Bob98SR5]

i was really overthinking this one. I've seen most carts have u-shaped hooks as cable holders. Since I welded on the bed frame tabs, I wanted to utilize them. I found a piece of scrap that i cut out of one side of the bed frame that I was going to throw out, but lo and behold, it got used. I just simply cut it in half, cleaned the metal, and welded them on. They work just fine and not to mention, keep the cables up front!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3396343339_11547b696c.jpg?v=0

Regarding pneumatic tires, I decided against it b/c I dont want anything tipping over b/c of a puncture. All it takes is rolling over a hot and/or sharp piece of metal and there goes your tire(s).

Bob

[2ndGen]

I didn't need a stink'n welder cart, my weler is a cart.

[Scuba]

scuba,

from HF, part # 98950. brand is "Haul Master",. i've seen alot of designs where people drilled a hole through the cart, but i thought "why go through all the effort?"


bob




Thank You, And yes that would be rediculous to dill through...

:bling:

[Bob98SR5]

Ok, put a coat of red paint on it last weekend. here's two shots:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3416/3436580791_ac23bfa3ec.jpg?v=0

and here is its home:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3437388060_1e3b9aae4a.jpg?v=0

Just gotta get a top on it.

all in all, it was a worthwhile project. i definitely learned that all plans go to hell once you start welding---well, things did not go perfectly as planned once I got the wheels on :D

after i painted it, i sorta had "painter's remorse" the next day. that is to say, there was something cool and kind of rustic (maybe thats not the right word) about something that obviously looked like I chopped up scrap, welded it together, and stuck some wheels on it!

[Bob98SR5]

Ok, got the top welded on. It's not quite a welding table, not thick enough. But good enough for what I need it to do. Thanks to Lance for letting me cut this piece at his place:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/3605912197_bc7f7a9d96.jpg?v=0

Here's the overhang for clamping whatever:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3606732480_d05497aacd.jpg?v=0

Tack welded on all 4 corners and finally done

[4x4mike]

Cool beans man. I used my table this weekend and love it. I especially love having everything where I need it.

[Bob98SR5]

oh yeah, its nice to wheel something over as opposed to dragging both sumsabeotches over to what you want to weld!

[CJM]

I say you use triangular reinforcements for the front wheels. This way they have a bit more support.