Buy or build your own welding cart?

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I am ordering a Lincoln 225 Tig this weekend and was wondering if I should get the cart with it or make my own?  What are most of you guys doing and why?  I also have a Lincoln Pro-Cut 25 if it matters. The Tig will not leave my garage.  Any pics would be great.Thanks,Dave
Reply:Back when I was looking at buying the Lincoln Precision 225 I was going to buy it with the Lincoln cart since it was only an extra $60 or so. Now that I bought a Thermal Arc 185, I am building my own since I want the machine at ahigher level."Common sense is not very common"http://www.tahoekeyshome.com
Reply:I don't have enough time so I bought one for my TIG. My small MIG came with one as a package deal, so I was happy. The cart for my TIG is actually a modified heavy duty HF tool cart. I think it's the 300 or 500 lb. unit. It's long enough to fit the TIG and I cut out the back to fit a 180 bottle. So, it has 3 shelves of TIG stuff including plenty of Tungsten, 3 types of gloves, assorted poundages of wire, my cut TIG wire in a SMAW stick holder, etc, etc. Very handy.EDIT: this is the unit - http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=6650Also got it on sale. Last edited by MicroZone; 02-01-2007 at 08:52 PM.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Micro-Zone, do you have a pic of your cart. I think I have the same cart but it doesn't look like the TIG would even come close to fitting in it.  I had my MIG on the top shelf and it bent the shelf.  The TIG must weigh twice as much.Thanks, Dave
Reply:I don't have one handy but I can take a pic. My TIG is only the Miller Econo so it's only about 130 lbs. I'm not sure how much the Lincoln 225 weighs. Do you have the exact cart ?EDIT: just checked, your new Lincoln Precision TIG 225 weighs 212 pounds. If you have the same cart and it fits, you might be able to put it on top using cross bracing side to side. I used thick wood on mine. The other option is cut out the top and set it on the middle. Still having the top there gives the entire unit rigidity. I did this with my bottle, I'll take a pic later. It's quite the Rube Goldberg. Nah, it's actually quite functional and compact.Last edited by MicroZone; 02-01-2007 at 09:23 PM.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Originally Posted by sin-city-customsI am ordering a Lincoln 225 Tig this weekend and was wondering if I should get the cart with it or make my own?  What are most of you guys doing and why?  I also have a Lincoln Pro-Cut 25 if it matters. The Tig will not leave my garage.  Any pics would be great.Thanks,Dave
Reply:I would say go ahead and build one suitable to your liking, ie: height, space and accessories. There are alot of post for welding carts around here.  Here's mine where I wanted to keep the cords cleaned up and space for my plasma..The factory one didn't give me the room to do that.http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread...t=welding+cartHobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:Problem with the P225 is that it is so big it would have to be at the bottom of any cart. That is why I would go with the factory cart. Only problem is that you really should have ordered it with the welder to get a decent price. At this stage I would make one but you will have to consider it's size in how high off the ground you will want it."Common sense is not very common"http://www.tahoekeyshome.com
Reply:I think $60 would be a decent price for a cart and then you could modify it to your liking.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Built it !  What a great first project for your new welder ! It was the first thing I build with my Econo Tig. Only thing I screwed up on was not getting quality wheels, they tend to flat spot when the set still very long (semi-pneumatic)Not a beginner, not a pro !
Reply:Yeah... build one.  It was the first thing I used my PT185 for.  I stick welded a cart with E6011 and some old angle iron while the welder was still bolted to the wooden pallet that it came on.  A little black Rustoleum and I was all set.  It rolls around a lot easier now.   Mine sits considerably higher than the factory running gear.Work HARDER, not smarter! ------------------------ Miller Bobcat 250Millermatic 251Lincoln Precision TIG 185Hypertherm PM 600Hobart 135 HandlerOxweld 400 FlameMaster
Reply:yeah, i would defenetly say build it, i built mine and i couldnt be happier with it.
Reply:yep build your own cart your a welder we don't buy what we can make plus it gives you braggin rights  and you get what you want setup the way you want Creative metal Creative metal Facebook
Reply:Originally Posted by sin-city-customsI am ordering a Lincoln 225 Tig this weekend and was wondering if I should get the cart with it or make my own?  What are most of you guys doing and why?  I also have a Lincoln Pro-Cut 25 if it matters. The Tig will not leave my garage.  Any pics would be great.
Reply:This pic is for sin-city as he asked. I would have liked to build my cart, even something close to the one in the above post but having no time puts a big NO stamp on that. As stated, I integrated the bottle into the unit so it travels as one. Adapted and finished as my TIG cart, so I did a little work...not much.   Attached ImagesJohn -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:The top shelf is cut on the bottom and back, the middle shelf has just a circle cut and the back is intact. This middle shelfacts as the retaining device nicely. Here is how the bottle fits in the back: Attached ImagesJohn -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Thanks for the pic, I do have the same cart.  It just doesn't seem heavy-duty enough for as much as the TIG weighs, 225lbs.
Reply:Build your own.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I agree, the cart is rated for much more but it would be VERY top heavy with your TIG. John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:That 225 is a pretty big machine, you allmost only need a 4 wheel dolly to set it on, but what would really be cool...Is if you built your water cooler into the 4 wheel dolley and set the welder on top of that,  heh.  And have you seen the welds on those HF carts!  Im gonna call osha on em I swear.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:I'd say build your own, unless the stock cart is exactly what you want, or you just don't have the time. Handy things to add, aside from bottle brackets, are tool tray, torch parts tray/drawer, cable hangers, wrench hanger (wrench for changing bottles), bracket to hang the regulator/flowgauge on when changing tanks, maybe a couple hooks or brackets for grinders, outlet block for plugging in tools, tubes for filler rod, etc.One of the ones I built a few years ago for work has a power outlet block and air mainifold on it (chicago in, chicago and several quick connects out).