Average Welding Time

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Hello all, For a school project I have to come up with a product to sell. We are selling a shopping cart with a metal bag dispenser on it. We figured that welding the metal bag dispenser to the shopping cart would be the best option. I was wondering if anyone would know approximately how long it would take to get this job done. The bag dispenser surface that would be welded on is 12" by 4". I appreciate your response.
Reply:What the hell, I'll take a shot at this..........I assume you're meaning a plastic grocery type bag dispenser. Sorta works like a Kleenex box, yes?  Just to weld the box to the cart, if the cart is prep'd( weld area cleaned) and the box is go to go, I'd say 2 minutes. But it depends on how you're holding the box in place. If your measuring and marking the spot on the cart, then holding the box in position by hand and then using clamps to secure it, you will be much longer farting around with all that set up. However, if you make a jig to just drop the box in place, ready to weld, then just the couple minutes. Box of bags isn't that heavy so won't need much more than a pair of 1/2" welds. ( the above is based on an assumption that you're taking about your run of the mill, steel rod shopping buggy)Bueno?200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Somewhat beyond the original question, but something to think about on projects like this. I'd probably make the box so it's easy to install with nuts and bolts or tabs rather than welds. In the event the box is damaged ( and we all know shoping carts never get smashed by cars..) it would be easy to remove and replace, or just remove. Look at the way those little ad placards go on most carts. Also keep in mind usually the back of the cart folds flat so they can nest for storage. That will probably limit you to putting the box at the very front of the cart rather than near the back where you push. Also the ability to easily addapt the box to other brands of carts will improove your chances of marketability. You can sell these to stores that already have plenty of carts and they don't have to go thru the expense of getting all new ones.Most design classes usually concentrate on things like this from the consumers point of view in crits. If you can show that you have thought out all these items in advance, it usually means a higher grade than someone with a better general idea, but who just didn't take the time to look at it from the perspective of the buyer. I had to do enough of these sorts of crits when I studied Architecture. Great sweeping ideas usually lost out to the person who figured out that round rooms with curved vertical walls are a poor choice for the client to put furniture in and just run up building costs, regardless how great they look on paper..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Are you sure you want to weld it?  I'd consider designing some kind of push/lock clip as part of the dispenser so assembly only requires it to be pre-positioned and then the clips would engage the wire grid as it was pushed into place.  In that case it could be installed in 15-20 seconds.  In the case of welding, you'll want it to be self-positioning . . . so you'll include some kind of tab to align it to the cart.  Making that a clip will eliminate the secondary operation and damage to the plating on the cart.Dynasty 300DXSmith He/Ar gas mixerMM350PHobart Handler 120Smith LW7, MW5, AW1A
Reply:I agree with the bolt idea. simple and interchangeableI don't mean to bash your idea, but what is the point? I mean when you are shopping, there is no point in pre-bagging your items before you checkout. unless the application is not shopping or a different market model of course
Reply:opps, double post
Reply:One other thing to think about is that most shopping carts are made from welded steel wire and then the whole cart basket is chrome plated after it is built, then the other pieces, some of which are also chromed, are assembled to the basket.  The welding will burn off the chrome plating.  Then, you have to figure out how to protect the welded area from rust, while at the same time make it look nice, like it was made as part of the cart originally.  This will be tough to do unless you intend to re-chrome the whole cart after welding.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33One other thing to think about is that most shopping carts are made from welded steel wire and then the whole cart basket is chrome plated after it is built, then the other pieces, some of which are also chromed, are assembled to the basket.  The welding will burn off the chrome plating.  Then, you have to figure out how to protect the welded area from rust, while at the same time make it look nice, like it was made as part of the cart originally.  This will be tough to do unless you intend to re-chrome the whole cart after welding.