Another twist on the welding cart/table idea..

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So I wanted, after closing the Hot Rod shop this summer, to have a small setup to fab stuff around the house. I sold the bigger ESAB 300's and wanted a little 110v machine to do cage work and other hot rod things, but in a smaller package. So I came up with the HTP MIG130 as the answer. A friend who does a lot of welding with every brand really likes the company, the service, and the product, so I thought I'd try one. BUT I need a place to set it, and a tank, and some tools like my DeWalt grinder I use a lot and other things like wire brushes, cut-off discs, etc. And My dad's old Kennedy bottom box was just sitting there looking at me, so I had a idea. Why not incorporate it into a new cart/work table!?I had some thick angle, 98" of 2 X 2 .250 thick stuff from a trailer build, and some 1 X 1 .0625 box from a friend I've had for a while now, (Mama is like "When you ever gonna use that stuff?" and I replied today, "NOW!") so I wanted to make something that:1. Would fit through a standard doorway in case I ever needed to take it inside somewhere.2. Would hold my helmet, tools, and general welding stuff without me hiking all over after things. Plus would hold my large gauge extension cord for the welder.3. Would hold a large (Up to 330 cu/ft) tank securely and make changing it fairly easy.4. Have a lot of storage, and a low center of gravity, so moving it about would be easy..5. AND have a work surface built in for small projects and quick fixes....Tall order? Naw, follow along!(The photo's are bad as I forgot my camera in my buddies truck and it is in Miami for a few days! So out comes the crappy camera!)The new welder:And some scrap-I mean waiting to be re-purposed bed frames and such...The Kennedy box with strategic drawer removal for larger storage compartments..And the welder in it's proposed spot next to it:The angle was JUST long enough to make two 49" "runners" to set the box in and have enough room for a tank on one end (9" diameter) and the welder on the other end. Adding some box to make platforms for the tank and welder..Add a little re-enforcement under the tank area. .125 plate will go over it..More leftover stuff..More tomorrow...Last edited by Wookie; 01-11-2011 at 08:56 PM.MarkHammerhead RacingEdgewater Fl.  www.hammerhead1320.com
Reply:OK today was more thinking that doing...I know, a dangerous concept ha!I wanted the top of the "work surface" to be 1/8" thick to be able to hold some weight, so I decided I would re-use some plate I had, but didn't like the idea of the sharp edge it has on it. SOooooo, I decided to use "bed" angle to make a border for the work top, AND serve as a handle and also lift point should I need to pick the thing up to clear whatever or load it into a trailer or truck bed. After toooo much thought, here's what I came up with. Two parts of heavier than normal frame, 2 inch wide angle by .120 wall would be the front and back edge, 48 inches long. An inch shorter than the bottom runners but that's OK..The top should have a handle on the welder end, as the swivel wheels will be on that end. The other end should be open to allow getting the tank in and out, and allow lift points like a wheel barrow, two handles.So.....:I wanted the frame to be flush all the way around, so I grabbed some 1 1/2 angle (I was out of the 2 inch stuff, I will fix the gap when I weld it up, watch!) and 45 cut the ends to make the handle like a picture frame.The other end of the work surface would stop at the end of the toolbox where the tank sets, so I made a piece for there as well by notching another smaller piece of angle. Another shot of the notch to make it set flush...From the back on the tank end...I am designing this to be one piece of metal when finished, like a uni-body car...(Can you tell I'm a car guy and a body man lol) I want this all welded together to make it a permanent thing that will last forever...So I made the uprights that hold the work surface to make it set just above the top of the toolbox, and still have a edge that overlaps the toolbox, making it "Trapped" in between the top and bottom rails. Note that the toolbox is "boxed in" on both ends by the box tubing? That will allow me to weld it all together to allow even weight distribution when lifting the unit to load it. This will be a big heavy solid beast when finished but strong like a bull!!Nothing is welded yet. I will clean all the metal up tomorrow and start welding it all together...And I changed my mind on the color..Got a better idea...Lots less work, still should look cool....MarkHammerhead RacingEdgewater Fl.  www.hammerhead1320.com
Reply:Looks GOOD! I love posts like these! I grew up watchin my dad 're-purpose' junk items... My little hot rod was built from junk... if it lays in the dirt more than a few days its 'fair game' in my world.. As said, looks good! Makes me wanna change up a few of my personal 'work bench's' or at least grind the welds down and paint them.. The first step to having everything you want is to want everything you have.
Reply:OK kids, after a trip to the horse-pistol, I mean Hospital, last week, I have felt like poop!However today was 73 degrees and sunny so I said I gotta get out of the house!Back at it we go...Tank holder end ready to weld..Tacked up with a couple supports to keep the welding gas bottle off the tool box..Add a little paint...Other end where the welder will set..Now I have to figure how to best utilize the leftover 1/8" plate I have left. I need 3 pieces, and don't think i have enough for all three. We'll set down tonight and figure out what gets done first, and what I will need to go get steel for...MarkHammerhead RacingEdgewater Fl.  www.hammerhead1320.com
Reply:Today I cut the 1/8" plate for the work surface and the end plates that would hold the welder and the tank.The welder end..Yes those are my footprints on the plate showing Katie that if it holds my big rear it will hold the 50 lb. welder...Hehehe!The work surface...And the tank end...I wanted a clean end where the work surface stopped and so it would look uniform and not have a sharp edge, so I notched a piece of bed rail to finish off the top like I did the other end...Starting to look like something...Picturing where everything will go...Still got little details to work out and then she'll get finish welded together..MarkHammerhead RacingEdgewater Fl.  www.hammerhead1320.com
Reply:Is that a double or a California King?
Reply:Little bit of this, little bit of that lol...The main rails are big stuff .250 wall angle from a trailer job...That's all I'm worried about as the load bearers...The rest doesn't get much abuse...And it was all free!!MarkHammerhead RacingEdgewater Fl.  www.hammerhead1320.com
Reply:Bed frames are harder metal than most people would think I had to use my chop saw to cut them because I wore out a Milwaukee blade in my recip saw and when using Harbor freight titanium nitride drill bit I dulled it half way thru. So I had an old set (40 + yrs) Sears set and drilled a little slower and got thru. Bed frames can make a lot of stuff.
Reply:Yep bed frames are well worth snagging if you come accross one, I always hang out at our county clean ups and grab all of them I see.
Reply:A really well thought out project.  Probably one of the best uses I've seen for bed frames, other than, well, you know: beds...(Retired) Professional firefighter, amateur everything else I try to do...Oh yeah:  Go Big Red!   (You know: one of the 12 members of the Big 10 cuz we left the 10 members of the Big 12...)
Reply:Got my cart about finished today...Got little things to do but it is functional as is..MarkHammerhead RacingEdgewater Fl.  www.hammerhead1320.com
Reply:looks goodIf you like my stuff you can find me on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/theangryanv...ngryanvilforge