My 12vs fitting cart

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Now that I've got a shop feeder I wanted a cart for the 12vs suitcase feeder. It is currently on a standard tool cart which is way too big and since it has shelves, seems to attract bits of scrap metal and tools. My goal was to build something just big enough for the feeder with no bottle.I was at my favorite surplus store today (when am I not on a Saturday morning ) and they had a bunch of heavy socket weld fittings for sale. Walked around there for a long time thinking how I could make them work and still look pretty cool and this is the start of it. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:First step is to machine some reducing bushings to go from the 3" tee to 2" 45's. Cut up some solid bar and machined to fit both fittings while keeping it as short as possible. I really don't want the cart more than double the width of the feeder. There will be another 45 attached to the two on the tee to bring the wheels behind it and keep them parallel. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:The second set of 45-s need tapped plugs to bolt the wheel to. Went to harbor freight to find some large flat free tires and they were sold out of everything except for 10" x 2.5" solid tires with a 5/8" axle hole for $6.99. Guess that will have to work for now. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:I'm liking where this is going.  Looking forward to seeing the finished cart.KevKevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio
Reply:Tacked in all the bushings and realized the ones for the tires were in backwardsCut two short pieces of 2" sch80 pipe to attach both sets of 45's together.Today was the first time using my new S-54D feeder on the XMT and it runs awesome. (Great job Steve ) Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Next step was to cut holes for the front axle pipe. Used my Flange Wizard centering head to mark center on the top and bottom of the pipe. Loaded up a hole saw in the mill and used the centering head to align the punch mark parallel to the mill.After the holes were cut it was time to attach the rear tires to get an idea of how high the front casters needed to be. I marked center on the 3" plug along with the tapped hole and leveled the assembly in the vise. Set up a laser level on a tripod and used it to get the tapped hole dead center with the 3" tee. It worked pretty good although I'm sure there was an easier way. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:The suitcase is going to be "locked" into a cradle built out of 1"x1" square tube because it fits perfectly into the slots that are on the outside. That cradle will attach to the two 45's sticking out of the top of the 3" pipe. It's just sitting in there for now because I'm not sure how tall I want it yet. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Looks good so far. Certainly heavy duty.
Reply:It's gonna look like Alien Pretty cool Chris!Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Last night I cut the front caster brackets out of 3/16" plate. Got them all tacked up and when I placed them on the front axle pipe noticed it was 1/8" higher on one side than the other. It must have happened when aligning the two holes on the mill.No big deal as the 3" pipe was only tacked to the tee. Cut it apart and leveled it out. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Also cut out some caps for the 3" and 2" pipes. Unfortunately everything was tacked together so I couldn't use the rotary to make a nice bead on the caps, a flap wheel made it an "acceptable" weld. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Tonight I cut all the material for the feeder cradle. 1"x1" square tube sits perfectly in the back of the case. To make sure it would fit I tacked the tubes while they were sitting in the ridges. Had an excuse to play with a dynasty 200 that a friend loaned to me for a "demo", however that fancy machine did not make me better at tigThe cradle is designed so the feeder can sit vertical or horizontal because I don't know which way I like better. I set it on top of the pipe to see how it would look and I think it's pretty cool. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Finally got everything finished tonight except for paint. I'm not sure I like the gun hanger so good thing it's removable. If you look close at the cradle the vertical bars are not 90deg to the horizontal ones. This is why I tacked it together while they were in the rails on the suitcase. When the suitcase is removed, it looks like I really screwed up on using a square but there was no way around that to keep the case level. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Here is how the feeder "locks" into the cradle. I still need to attach a hook and wing nut that will go through the suitcase handle and tighten it to the cradle just in case. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Cool little cart. I think you'll lose the "Look" if you paint it. All the fittings will run together.
Reply:Guys at the shop figured my alien cart would work better as a shop stool , might have to find some more fittings and make a new tig stool. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Originally Posted by rdop2001Cool little cart. I think you'll lose the "Look" if you paint it. All the fittings will run together.
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris T.Guys at the shop figured my alien cart would work better as a shop stool , might have to find some more fittings and make a new tig stool.
Reply:Wire brush and clear coat.I love it chris!!Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:I've been thinking about the finish all day and clear coat will be the way to go, just need to make sure nobody gets close enough to see the welds.Is there something at lowes or hd that would work or should I try to get an automotive finish on it?TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:For what you're doing, a gloss clear in the can would work fine.Automotive is the best tho. Next to clear powder coatExpert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Thanks, I'll see what the paint shop gets but I'm sure they will be outrageous so rattle can clear it will be.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:You can buy some single stage clear from a paint store and add a catalyst (hardener) to it. I know Doug used Shop Line products to paint his MM 200 and he's down there in Fl. It's a lower cost PPG product and great for doing welders and stuff.As a matter of fact, I think I might have some. If you got a paint gun. I'll see if it's still around and send it to you Monday.Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749You can buy some single stage clear from a paint store and add a catalyst (hardener) to it. I know Doug used Shop Line products to paint his MM 200 and he's down there in Fl. It's a lower cost PPG product and great for doing welders and stuff.As a matter of fact, I think I might have some. If you got a paint gun. I'll see if it's still around and send it to you Monday.
Reply:I'll see if it's still in the garage.Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948