skid for bobcat 250

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I was going to buy a trailer to mount my welder to but the more I think about it the more I am going to just build a simple skid to throw in my truck. I thought there used to be a whole thread on skid builds but I can't seem to find it? I am going to just build a simple one with the welder and oxy torch tanks and maybe two reels for my leads and that is about it I think.Walter
Reply:Here's mine. Shot from the hip with no real plan. Ended up working great. Need to tweak the angle of the removable rack and build another for the other side. I didn't want any panel blocked so it's quick and easy to lift them out. Brett
Reply:That looks good, thanks for the ideas. Haven't exactly decided what I want but hope to start on one next week if I can make it to the steel yard.Walter
Reply:There are some pictures of a mighty nice skid right there! The only thing I think I add is another frame like you have on the bottom about four inches lower so I could grab it with a set of forks maybe from any side without having to get a sling. I just think that would be a little handier for me. I am sure not trying to belittle your fine set up  Mr. Rustyshakelford. That thing looks really good! I just know for how I would use one, I think I would like to handle it that way. That might not have fit your situation.SA-250 TMDSquarewave 200Thunderbolt AC/DC1951 G.E. welder
Reply:Great job on skid.  Is that one of the Harbor Freight trailers?
Reply:Originally Posted by BlockerThere are some pictures of a mighty nice skid right there! The only thing I think I add is another frame like you have on the bottom about four inches lower so I could grab it with a set of forks maybe from any side without having to get a sling. I just think that would be a little handier for me. I am sure not trying to belittle your fine set up  Mr. Rustyshakelford. That thing looks really good! I just know for how I would use one, I think I would like to handle it that way. That might not have fit your situation.
Reply:I had some time this morning to hit the steel yard so I picked up two stick of 2x2 14ga sguare tubing to start on the skid, I have this nice big welding table to lay everything out on and get to work, but thanks to my mechanic I had to lay it out and square it all up and tack it together on the floor.Made do with what I had and got to work. Started with the frame then went back in and added the cross bars to bolt the welder to then one more in the middle. Mounted the welder and marked the holes and where I wanted the vertical bar. Then decided to add another vertical bar and the horizontal one to hold the oxy/acetylene tanks to.Hopefully tomorrow I can finish up most of it. To hold the base of the tank, I thought I had a perfect size pipe that I could cut six inches off and the tanks could set in the base but the pipe id is 8 inches and the tanks od are about 8.25. So I will have to split the pipe and spread it out some. The only thing I am still trying to figure out is what I want to do to hold the top of the tanks, anyone got some ideas? also I am going to build basically a ski for both long sides of the frame so I can drag it around if I need to. Also it will give me about a four inch gap from the bottom of the frame to the skid so I can get it with a forklift. Would you use pipe or square tube to build a ski?More to come tomorrow hopefully.Walter
Reply:Walter[/QUOTE]I think you are going to regret putting that vertical piece next to the access panel for the engine. This will require you to remove the welder from the skid for routine maintenance or repairs. You might want to re-think this before you go much further with this. No need to make simple tasks harder on you than they need to be.
Reply:The oil filter drain and fuel filter are all on the other side. Only time I would need I. That door is for a dead battery. But the post is far enough away I can get the door open enough. Walter
Reply:Don't rule out possibly making some frame sections removable for unit service.  Much lighter material but I made one portion of the framework on my Bobcat 225 running gear that holds my wire feeder removable so that the side panel can be easily removed if needed.  Remove one bolt and the section slips right out.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by wburke2010The oil filter drain and fuel filter are all on the other side. Only time I would need I. That door is for a dead battery. But the post is far enough away I can get the door open enough. Walter
Reply:nice frigin lincoln!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very nice skid as well! simple/sturdy/spacious! Are you happy with 210 mp??VictorPraxairAir LiquideMillerLincoln Electric
Reply:Sometimes you have to block access, it sucks big time, but..............................Every time I need to get to the battery, I feel like shooting myself.This thing is set up for a 3pt mount, and I figured I had to gusset the corner, there was just no way around it.  Everything hangs off that corner...welder, bottles, etc.Last edited by farmersamm; 05-06-2015 at 11:15 AM.Reason: replace picture with text added picture"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by IslandWeldingKidnice frigin lincoln!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very nice skid as well! simple/sturdy/spacious! Are you happy with 210 mp??
Reply:On that side that is blocked I checked and can still get the door off then will be able to get inside and work on the starter or anything I need to by just pulling the oxy tank. More pics coming soon.
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Reply:So all I have left is to decided what to do with the welder leads and the oxy hose If I want to build some reels, buy them, or just wrap them up. Also my main concern is what to do with the lift point right now the shackle is just tacked on. I can't decided if I want to weld it out and add a gusset to the frame or if I just want to get rid of it? Any thoughts on that part?Here it is with the welder and tanks on. Was happy that I got the holes right the first time and had no problem dropping bolts in...
Reply:Looking very nice! I fixed up a bottle rack to go on the back of a 20' fuel trailer that I used to drag behind me all the time. Moving from job to job behind a dirt pan behind another dirt pan behind a 16' wide tractor can lead to all manner of abuse. Just think about running your trailer off the shoulder of the road and back on every time you met another vehicle. Could not see it over my buckets either, out of sight out mind, hope she gets to the field shortly after I do. Anyway , what I built had to be pretty sturdy, so basically I ended up with a verticle piece of something like 1.5" heavy wall pipe welded to a three sided base with a lip bent up around an inch tall with this verticals pipe welded to that sticking straight up the height of the tanks. I then bent two 45 degree angles on four pieces of 4"x0.5" flat bar that would go around the tanks. One of these I welded on the pipe a little lower than the base of the dome on the oxygen bottle, and the next right below the base of the dome on the acetylene bottle. I drilled a hole in the other set of flat bar and stuck a long 3/4" bolt trough it that just pinned the tanks on. 3/4" bolt has the 1 1/8" wrench size that you need to take the regulators on and off the bottles. Worked very nice with a thought. I will draw out a picture for you to see what I am talking about and post it.SA-250 TMDSquarewave 200Thunderbolt AC/DC1951 G.E. welder
Reply:TACH=CONFIG]1100561[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]Don't forget to rotate your exhaust stack so it is not pointing at the torch bottles or acetylene regulator. That could cause big problems in very short order.
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauTACH=CONFIG]1100561[/ATTACH]
Reply:Turning on the exhaust is on the list of things to do. Was just test fitting to make sure everything is going to work.
Reply:Originally Posted by wburke2010So all I have left is to decided what to do with the welder leads and the oxy hose If I want to build some reels, buy them, or just wrap them up. Also my main concern is what to do with the lift point right now the shackle is just tacked on. I can't decided if I want to weld it out and add a gusset to the frame or if I just want to get rid of it? Any thoughts on that part?Here it is with the welder and tanks on. Was happy that I got the holes right the first time and had no problem dropping bolts in...
Reply:I wound up caging the welder to get a good supported lift.  Gotta find the pics."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Wanted something that could be used on the tractors, and used on the trucks.To lift, and balance any weight configuration, I need to be able to move the lifting fixture in either the x, or y, axis.Caged the welder, and used the cage as a set of tracks.  The fixture pinned to the tracks, and was moveable at all points.  Along the track/cage, and along the fixture beam.This allows for just lifting the welder, without torch cart.Or lifting with the torch cart on the skid.Total flexibility in the lifting point."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:A case of beer could be added, and compensated for  Needed room for those consumables back in the dayThen remove the lifting fixture, and hang the skid on back of the tractor."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/Yeah I am still not sure about the lifting point yet, if I am going to change it or reinforce it or what. Got the tank holders done today. The the happiest with it but it will work. The problem I had is the pipe I am using is the biggest I have and it is too small so Split it and make it work, but for the oxy tank I had to add some more to get it to go around the tank and reach the other side. Works great and the tanks are locked in solid as a rock. Other problem is the only way I can cut the 8inch pipe is with the oxy torch and I am not the best at cutting a round pipe perfectly straight free hand. I went ahead and ordered the Chisholm lead reel and it should be here in the morning, have to get a spot made to bolt it, then figure what I am going to do for the torch hose. Probably just make somewhere to wrap them up. Few other little things then paint.Walter
Reply:I wouldn't worry one dam bit about using O/A for some of the cuts.  It works, it fits, and it's good.  I'm sick of this "dog chasing its tail" thing about equipment.  There's always something better out there IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO WASTE ON IT.I built my loader, and a lot of things before, and after, with O/A.  I figure folks can kiss my azz if they don't like it.  It's what I had at the time.  And it's what most of the world had at the time.Looks fine to me what you got going there"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Oh don't get me wrong oa is about one of the best tools for everything I do. Problem is I can cut a straight line free hand without a guide lol. It's defiantly not the tool it's me. I can get nice cuts and everything is great but on this pipe it's not exactly straight. Still works and works great but to me I will always notice the little things since I built it. Walter
Reply:Picked up the reel today and got a mount welded on to bolt it to. Just a few little things left then to paint.Walter
Reply:Rusty, what reels are you using?
Reply:Originally Posted by GlidertowRusty, what reels are you using?