Cold/Hot bed suggestion on lead reels

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Ok I am in the process of finishing a welding trailer. I will post some pics in a couple days wen I have it complete. Anyway After dealeing with 2 knee surgeries and coming up on a third it was getting too hard to get in and out of the truck bed to get tools and materials. I had the welder within reach but needed a better solution so I put my Trailblazer 275 on a trailer I built up and have the machines small ground that suppose to protectthe machine grounded to the trailer. Also I added a welding table. Here comes the issue at times I am sure I will not be welding off the trailer I may need to use the vise or table to weld things. I Usually always wound my leads up and threw them in the tool box however I have got some reels I just finshed up from a kit. Do I want to make the bed (in this case trailer) hot or cold. I can insulate it from the trailer frame or I can bolt it direct . Whats the best option. Any Benefits one way or the other?EquipmentLincoln 200SATrailBlazer 275MillerMatic 252Hypertherm Powermax 600
Reply:To the best of my knowledge, everyone keeps the reels insulated from the bed. I can't think of a single reason why anyone would want a hot bed?Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:Now this is a dual reel setup so the stinger reel is insulated but I think I am going to insulate the ground upright holding the reels anyhowEquipmentLincoln 200SATrailBlazer 275MillerMatic 252Hypertherm Powermax 600
Reply:I understood you were talking about the ground, but I think there would be problems down the line (bearings, etc.) if they weren't both insulated. I could be way off base, and if I am i'm sure I'll be corrected. I pretty sure everyone insulates both sides from the bed. The ones I've paid attention to were. I've seen wood and rubber belting used, but the one I liked best used a white plastic cutting board about 1/2" thick. He cut it with a band saw and drilled holes in it. Worked good and looked good too.Last edited by gizzardgutz; 06-26-2009 at 02:34 PM.Reason: addOnly when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:The cutting board idea is great have all the tools in the shop now if I can sneak it past the wife.  Anyway I decided today thats they way I am going to do it is insulate it anywayEquipmentLincoln 200SATrailBlazer 275MillerMatic 252Hypertherm Powermax 600
Reply:You will notice that most recent literature calls it the workpiece connection and workpiece cable and avoids completely the term "ground".  It is good practice to AVOID workpiece connections touching frames or electrical grounds.
Reply:I wondered about that also. Since my trailer will not be used as a stand alone income source I don't have to have reels and can just disconnect the leads and roll them up and put them in a lock box.My plan is to use the plugs that are used on electric forklifts to connect the charger to the forklift. They are 350V and 600 amp connectors. I happen to have three mating sets of male and female plugs. I plan to wire to them and mount one on each side of the trailer and one on the back. All under lockable box covers.This way I can plug into the side that is closest to the work.I have three of the 350A versions from this site:http://www.newbatterycharger.com/chargerplugs/
Reply:I have homemade roll ups on my truck. I built them over twenty years ago and they have held up fine. The ground is bolted straight to the bed. The hot is insulated with cutting board. The holes through the base and cutting board are larger than the bolts and have a piece of 1/2" plastic gas line through the holes and then the bolts go through the gas line. If you don't do this the bolt can ground through.I grounded the ground spool to the bed so if I have the stinger up a couple floors or through a barn and need to weld at the truck, I can plug another stinger in at the machine and don't have to worry about the ground. It hasn't ever given any troubles at all.
Reply:Originally Posted by BobI have homemade roll ups on my truck. I built them over twenty years ago and they have held up fine. The ground is bolted straight to the bed. The hot is insulated with cutting board. The holes through the base and cutting board are larger than the bolts and have a piece of 1/2" plastic gas line through the holes and then the bolts go through the gas line. If you don't do this the bolt can ground through.I grounded the ground spool to the bed so if I have the stinger up a couple floors or through a barn and need to weld at the truck, I can plug another stinger in at the machine and don't have to worry about the ground. It hasn't ever given any troubles at all.
Reply:I did insulate with the cutting board however I have a short ground clamp now setup with a quick connect if I need it its in the tool box.EquipmentLincoln 200SATrailBlazer 275MillerMatic 252Hypertherm Powermax 600