Question on building a cart

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Finally got a welder (Weldpak 100), know it's small, but it was a great deal, and am looking forward to starting on a cart. Quick question though:  Right now it's running flux core, but I want to build the cart to allow for the mig conversion(Maybe later), and was wondering what kind of space to leave on the back of the cart for the bottle.  I know I can overguess, but don't want too much space there wasted.  Biggest bottle I would probably ever get would be a medium sized one, think about 2-3 foot tall, any info would be great.Thanks.
Reply:I started out with 20 CF bottles on my MIG but got a couple of old bottles from a neighbor that are in the 150 CF range.  I still keep the 20's around (Argon and C25) as reserves but the cost advantage of filling the larger bottles won me over.  The 20's are around 5" in diameter, my 155 CF (4 ft tall or so) is right around 7" in diameter.  When I built the cart for my TIG I allowed an 8" long/wide area at the bottom to accomodate the bottle.  Since my TIG is very light I positioned the bottle a little forward of the rear axle to minimize any tendency to tip.Lots of good pictures of carts out there on this and other boards that will give you ideas on construction, hangers, etc.  A search should find 'em.TinkerCentury 135GS, ThermalArc 250GTS
Reply:Thanks for the info, it's just what I was needing.  I am planning on basing my cart on an old convertible dolly I have.  It's not really big enough for much use as a dolly (furniture moving wise), but it should be fine for this, plus its free.  I think with the dolly & a bed frame I have laying around, I am set at least for now.
Reply:WeldPac100 durn fine machine, you WILL enjoy it. You, like me, are wanting to switch to gas and I will need a new cart. I saw one for about $40 at *gasp* HF. it looked pretty good. But here is a pic of one somebody made. I'd give them credit if I knew his/her name. I like this one because it's not too top heavy, but I'd rather have larger wheels because I roll mine in the dirt often. And believe me, the tool box will come in handy. Attached Images
Reply:I agree on the bigger wheels, that's why I thought the convertible dolly would be good.  Just need to do some planning and get a little free time.
Reply:I have the Weld Pack 100 also. Started on a cart for mine a few weeks ago but got about half-way through building it and decided to scrap the idea and start over. My problem was that I was trying to adapt the cart to the scrap material I had on-hand.Anyway. I like the design of the cart pictured above. The toolbox idea is a good one! The main thing that caused me to scrap the one I was building was lack of storage.
Reply:I have found that an old school projector/tv stand makes a great cart for a mig/tig units.  I have a big one (TV sized) and small one for an overhead projector.  I get the most use from my big cart.  I just cut a hole in the back corner and dropped the cylinder in (80cf argon).  No chains needed.  It has three shelves, top for tv, middle for vcr, bottem for who knows what.  Cost...$0.  It was just an older one that was out of style (hospital green from the '50s).  I picked up from the trash from a school.  I could pick up more, they are there all the time.  It's my mobile unit in the shop...not that the cart above is not great.  Nice job, by the way.Last edited by smithboy; 07-28-2005 at 01:17 PM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Smithboy, It truly warms my heart to see that dumpster diving for the sake of recycling and an eye for the possible is alive and well. Where I live good scrap piles are rare, so when I find something good, I can't grab it quick enough. One of my greatest finds was about 80' of 3" pipe that a friend tipped me off to and about 30' of 8" square tube and 8" I-beam from a building demolition that is now my overhead hoist.  Would anyone else like to share their pot 'o gold finds?
Reply:A fairly wealthy friend of mine once, jokingly criticized me for always looking for trash and picking up just any ole thing and thinking it was valuable.  His in-laws sold their 80-90 year old house to a developer who was only going to bulldoze it, so he asked if I wanted to come by an scavenge what ever I could find.  He said what ever I found I could keep.  His words.  Well, while crawling around the basement trying to figure out the logistics of ripping out a huge oil tank for some type of forced air boiler heater(rare for ga).  I grabbed hold of a peice of overhead duct work and yanked it down.  A whole bunch of stuff came out.  Old toys, dirt from years of operation and a 1.4 carrat diamond platinum ring with little saphires all around it.  His inlaws said had been lost in the 1940s by a now deceased grandparent.  The appraised value was (he said) $17,000.  I refused to keep it, but I got a nice reward for that one, in addition to all the other stuff, including the boiler that he then agreed to help me tear out.  Needless to say, I spend several more hours pouring through dirt from the vents.  As a student in grad school at the time, money was really tight, but that bit of diving was a shear pleasure.Last edited by smithboy; 07-28-2005 at 03:36 PM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I cant upload pictures.  What's the deal????it says DCP01494b.jpg:File Too Large. Limits are 800 x 600. Your file is 480 x 640.any ideas???Last edited by smithboy; 08-09-2005 at 11:14 AM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Here is a couple of pictures.  One is my current welding cart.  The second is my old one.  These two are both dumpster diver specials, with a low, low price of $0 down and $0 per month.  As you can see, she aint that pretty, but dont let that fool you.  I have had her in a 4-wheel drift with wheels shimmying like a wal-mart shopping cart and never lost a magnet.  Check the dumpsters at your local college or university for yours today.  Mileage may vary. Attached ImagesSmithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Man That's to funny...  I though I was the only Dumpster Diver, I will jump in it in a minute...  Nice find there...
Reply:Smithboy, glad to see I am not the only one using the old school stuff.   My mothers an assistant principal in carrol county and she gets me the old stuff they are throwing out all the time.  It comes in handy quite a bit.  Nice use of the cart.