Welding cart

[anthrax323]

Just thought I'd share my last little project. I picked up a Miller 211 a few weeks ago and decided I'd design a stupid-complex welding cart/table combo:

Then, I realized I was an idiot, and just winged the build from there (using 2x1x0.125" rectangular tube, along with 13ga 1/2" expanded steel and some other miscellaneous tubing sizes for various parts).

The bottle rack hasn't been done yet, as I need to decide what size I want... I currently have a 20 cu ft bottle as a "starter", as well as for the sake of potability. For the cart, though, I'm torn between a #3 and #4 cylinder (80 and 125 cu ft, respectively).

The #3 will fit on the cart without further modifications, but I'm tempted to go ahead and extend the handles rearward a bit (and get rid of the poorly-planned clamp hanger in front of the push handle) in order to fit a #4.

Oh, and hose hangers haven't been done quite yet... Still working on getting some hours on the cart to get a better idea of what I want.

 

[markw]

Get a 125CF.

 

[xcm]

Cart looks great, the original design rendering was over complicated for what it is IMHO`.

If your the type to fabricate late at night, or on the weekends, get the biggest bottle you can work around. It really sucks being cut short due to lack of gas.

 

[GrimmJeeper]

it sounds to me like you're planning on running the big bottle behind the rear wheels, unless im reading this wrong (probably). if so i'd like to advise against it as it will make your cart back heavy and more likely to tip unless you put a foot pedestal under that tank support.

other than that good on you for building your own cart man, why buy when you can burn metal!

 

[anthrax323]

markw, xcm - I agree 100%... I called Praxair, Airgas, etc, trying to find a deal on a filled C25 #4, but the prices were all between $320 and $350 out-the-door.

In the end, I went with Northern Tool's tank program because they're open by 9 AM on Sunday, which is when I'd likely realize I'm out of gas in the future. Total out-the-door price was $350 + tax ($300 cylinder, with $50 fills). Not the cheapest out there, but it's a convenience tax I'm willing to pay.

Grimm - you are correct, but I think its final CoM should be just fine.

The rear axle centerline is approximately 4" behind the back edge of the welder (75 lbs), and the cart itself is a fat pig (probably about 80 lbs). The cylinder itself weights about 61 lbs (add a pound or so for the regulator), and its center of mass will be 3.5" behind the rear axle centerline.

I don't remember the formulas, but I'm fairly certain that should leave the cart's loaded center of mass at least 10" in front of the rear axle. This will actually be nice, because I plan to add a kick bar of sorts to the bottom cylinder support to allow me to more easily rock the cart back to clear the lip of the garage slab whenever I need to wheel it out into the driveway.

My HT Powermax45 arrives on Wednesday, and I'm hoping to first put it to use on extending the upper handles of the cart to clear the cylinder. Now I just need to go buy weldable hinges and matching-width steel strap for the cylinder straps... Should have plenty of other steel to do the rest of it (I have more 3/4" square 14ga than I know what to do with).