welding carts

[MossRoad]

Most people only have one or two systems.

Yep. When I was 18 back in 1979 I bought my torch setup. And soon after that, I bought the Sears AC/DC arc welder. Still have both of them. I used the torch mostly for cutting, heating and brazing, and the arc welder for welding. I took some welding classes at the local vocational school in the early 80s. Up until about 10 years ago, that's all I had. Then I got the little 120v Hobart Handled 140 flux core/MIG. So only two systems for about 30-35 years. Now three. I'm 62.

 

[MossRoad]

As for welding carts, I have the original two-wheeled dolly-type cart for the torches that came with the setup. The Arc welder is stationary in the garage. As I mentioned before, I used to have 50' leads for it, but they were stolen. So now I have just the 15ish foot leads and I have to bring the work to the driveway in front of the garage. I bought a small Hobart brand welding cart from Northern Tool when I bought the 140. As I mentioned before, there is not enough room on the bottom for much. I like your cart setup.

 

[jjeff]

Most people only have one or two systems.

I agree, I had a Lincoln 100 amp flux core for years built or repaired so many things with it, then bought a old AC used Lincoln tombstone. Fortunately for me I now have the room and with the recent switch to lighter digital multifunction inverter based welders retailers were practically giving away decent quality heavier transformer welders. I bought my Hobart lx AC/DC stick and my Hobart 190 amp mig used solely for aluminum with spool gun. For quite a bit less together than what I bought my Hobart 210mvp mig 15 or so years ago. As your thread title says "welding carts" heavier transformer based welders definitely need a way to efficiently move around your shop without busting a nut. In my case it's a concrete slab so I can use casters set on whatever I have to repurpose. Including two homemade welding carts and two cheaper store bought carts.

 

[jjeff]

Repurposed cart for oxy acetylene found on freeway working picking up f.o.d. during downtime when not plowing snow, latching mechanism broken but has served it's purpose well for 10 or so yrs. If I used gas more I'd trust securely putting bigger tanks in it.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Everlast has a new one coming in under NOVA welding supplies. It'll fit a wide range of welders. Maximum welder length will be 25" though it is adjustable. It has heavy duty front locking wheels and over sized rear wheels for easier rolling.

 

[ArlyA]

Everlast has a new one coming in under NOVA welding supplies. It'll fit a wide range of welders. Maximum welder length will be 25" though it is adjustable. It has heavy duty front locking wheels and over sized rear wheels for easier rolling.

I like it! But the one I have seems to have a larger drawer for stroage.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I like it! But the one I have seems to have a larger drawer for stroage.

It has a shelf for foot pedals, etc. It also has a consumable box with shelf.

 

[Runner]

I built two custom carts for mine.

 

[ArlyA]

I built two custom carts for mine.
View attachment 1739589
View attachment 1739590

We have a everlast as well but a different model. If you'd ever need to run your weldings outside, I'd suggest larger wheels.

 

[5030]

I own a pair of Hobart 210 gas MIGS on a HF welding cart and it carries a 120 CuFt 75-25 gas bottle as well but the cart I really like and use is a Vulcan drawered and door'd welding cart. it's the high buck one with big wheels (that swivel and lock) and the top carries not only my TIG welder but a plasma cutter and an Everlast water cooler for the TIG. I run a CK series 2 water cooled TIG torch which really is a requirement for running higher amperage welding Aluminum. The Vulcan carries 2 120 cubic foot argon bottles, one set up for welding, the other is a purge bottle for purging when welding enclosed projects like tanks or stainless exhaust tubing.

The build quality on the Vulcan is top shelf with ball bearing drawer slides and a large lockable storage compartment with a round pin lock.

Of course my O-A setup lives in a commercial welding cart I picked up at a machinery auction. I run a 240 cu ft oxygen bottle and a 120 acetylene bottle and both are very heavy. I own all my gas bottles outright and have them filled at the local Air Gas compressor station. I dislike beat up rental bottles and all my bottles have our company name on them as well. I buy my new filled bottles from Mississippi Welders Supply in Winona. Mn, shipped to the shop via Fed-Ex. Have not bought any in a while as I always have extra filled bottles on hand. Last time I checked a 120 CuFt bottle of Argon or 75-25 for MIG was 365 bucks delivered and full (2500 psi) of shielding gas.

 

[5030]

I have 25 foot lead cables on the TIG machine and water cooler and I also made up a 220-1 extension cord so I can use the machines anywhere in the shop.

Everlast offers a well engineered water cooler btw at a much better price point than a Lincoln Koolmate. Only thing I don't like about it is... it's puke green.

I had a coolmate but sold it when I sold my Lincoln Square Wave TIG machine last spring. The Square wave is a good machine but the new one I purchased is 100% digital whereas the Square wave was mixed digital and analog.

The new one is also solid state HF start versus the usual set of points like the Square wave had plus the new machine 'remembers' my last setting and reverts to that setting upon startup.

 

[WinterDeere]

Another vote for a carts with drawers. Never understood why they don't all have drawers. A deep one for helmet and gloves, and a few shallow for everything else.

 

[Runner]

I really like that Vulcan cart with all the storage

But in the end, decided I wanted the cooler under the TIG unit and also like being able to keep it with the narrow side toward the wall. Wound up with a tool chest with drawers under the table for small stuff and an office supply cabinet against the wall for the rest, all directly behind the table.

100% agree on the 220v extension cord for welders.

 

[Runner]

We have a everlast as well but a different model. If you'd ever need to run your weldings outside, I'd suggest larger wheels.

My welders mostly stay in the shop or on the concrete apron right ouside the door. However, the 211 does get out once in a while to weld a fence post or whatever, but it has a handle and just gets carried to the carryall for transport to remote location.

 

[5030]

I really like that Vulcan cart with all the storage
View attachment 1742092
But in the end, decided I wanted the cooler under the TIG unit and also like being able to keep it with the narrow side toward the wall. Wound up with a tool chest with drawers under the table for small stuff and an office supply cabinet against the wall for the rest, all directly behind the table.

100% agree on the 220v extension cord for welders.

That's me. Have the Evelast water cooler on the end with the TIG next to it (has to be there because of the plumbing and the plasma cutter on the other end and mine is pretty loaded with 2 120 cubic foot bottles on the end.

Interesting story about the cabinet. Bought it, brought it home in the Suburban and put it together (not much assembly, everything fits just fine, HF used jug welded in nuts so it was easy assembly. Anyway, I go to unlock the door and the key don't fit. The serial number on the lock and the keys don't match, so I called the store and the manager told me to bring it back, which I did and they gave me another one in the crate and we made sure the keys matched. Asked the manager what they were going to do with the one i returned and he said mark it down and sell it scratch and dent. Next trip back, it wasn't there. I go to HF a lot. I'm a HF junkie. First time I had an issue or should I say a non issue. I have literally a boatload of HF tools, never had an issue with any of them either, but then, I don't buy their low end tools, ever, but I do wait until they mark them down on the Inside Track Club circular and then buy them. Interestingly, the black rubber tarp straps don't stink anymore. Must have changed suppliers.....lol

 

[5030]

I o0wn a Lincoln Ranger 8, engine drive stick welder for out side welding. I guess you could weld with a flux core MIG but I'd never attempt to weld outside with anything that uses shielding gas, ever. No way could you ever maintain a gas envelope outside and I don't do flux core at all. Only solid wire and shielding gas.

One modification I did do to the cabinet, I added a rubber mat on the top so the welding machines could not slide around. The painted top of the cabinet was slick so I remedied that. Don't know how much it weighs, 3 machines and all the stuff plus 2 120 bottles, has to weigh a bunch but it rolls around with minimal effort. No way could I put the cooler under the TIG machine. The Everlast cooker is pretty tall to begin with. My old, sold Lincoln Coolmate was maybe 1/3 the size of the Everlast.

 

[bcp]

I'm thinking of putting the welder on a two-drawer file cabinet, with wheels.

Bruce

 

[Runner]

I o0wn a Lincoln Ranger 8, engine drive stick welder for out side welding. I guess you could weld with a flux core MIG but I'd never attempt to weld outside with anything that uses shielding gas, ever. No way could you ever maintain a gas envelope outside and I don't do flux core at all. Only solid wire and shielding gas.

One modification I did do to the cabinet, I added a rubber mat on the top so the welding machines could not slide around. The painted top of the cabinet was slick so I remedied that. Don't know how much it weighs, 3 machines and all the stuff plus 2 120 bottles, has to weigh a bunch but it rolls around with minimal effort. No way could I put the cooler under the TIG machine. The Everlast cooker is pretty tall to begin with. My old, sold Lincoln Coolmate was maybe 1/3 the size of the Everlast.

I almost never weld anything outside unless there is no physical way to get it in the shop and normally use stick for outdoor work.

x2 on the rubber mat for the welder cart. I have that on all shelves on mine and it works well. I bought a roll of that black carpet runner (the really thick stuff that is "corrugated" on the top side.

 

[ning]

I have a very lightweight HF cart for my little mig unit, which sits on top of the cart. The cart has a big open area at the bottom and a shelf; a few grinders and miscellany are kept below the welder.

What I like about it: It does what you expect, holds the welder. Was very cheap.
What I don't like about it: It's too light on the bottom, very top heavy, so you can't just tug it around (not necessarily the worst thing, don't pull it around by the gun) but it feels like it's going to "trip" and fall over if it hits the smallest thing on the shop floor, to say nothing about the exposed aggregate driveway right outside the shop. Haven't dumped it yet, but as I said feels uncomfortable moving it around.

 

[5030]

I almost never weld anything outside unless there is no physical way to get it in the shop and normally use stick for outdoor work.

x2 on the rubber mat for the welder cart. I have that on all shelves on mine and it works well. I bought a roll of that black carpet runner (the really thick stuff that is "corrugated" on the top side.

What I did was I took a couple commercial black rubber mudflaps like go on a big truck and a sharp razor knife and cut them to fit, because I had them sitting around doing nothing I guess.