Storing TIG rods on your cart?

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Anyone share some pictures of how they store their Tig rod on their cart?I'm in the middle of making my cart and I'm working on the rod holder and it's miserable.I decided to drill 2" holes in 4" x .125 flat stock and I'm gonna use that with PVC somehow but I'm kinda just winging it as I go. The hole is about 1/8" all around too wide to hold the PVC right but it's as close as I could get and drilling the holes on my crappy bench top drill press is nothing short of misery.I think I'm gonna pick up another plate and use it as a stopper on the bottom and be done with it but I figured maybe others would have some good ideas.Was originally going to use conduit hangers but apparently they're not cheap.Here's some pics just so you can share in my pain of making this plate. I really need a full size drill press but don't have the room.Attachment 888061Attachment 888071Attachment 888081www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:God that's a beautiful setup. Well done sir. The only thing I'm running into with my PVC setup is that unless I don't glue on the bottom cap, the pipe/holders can never come off the cart. But I'm sure it would hold fine just pressed on.www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I did mine like this. The round tube came from the scrap yard. Perfect fit with Rod Guard brand tubes. Doing it the way you did works well too, it's just time consuming sawing thru the material if you don't have a mill or larger drill press.Here's the original thread when I built them for the second Syncrowave I had..http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...0DX&highlight=Attachment 888161
Reply:You guys don't have enough tubes.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ubes&p=451344112v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:Drilling though thicker steel can be "easy" if you do what I do. Replace the center bit with a dowel, rounded on the end if you can. Steel dowels work best. Then, before you use the hole saw, use a GOOD steel bit to cut all your centering holes, that normally would be cut with the centering bit on the HS. Then, leave your material unclamped, andas you drill a litte bit, lift the saw back up, and either flip the metal over, or turn it to the side to clear the chips out. Had to cut 20+ holes in 1/2 in steel, and only took about 30 seconds to a minute to kick through all of them using this method. Be aware that you need to pick up a quality hole saw, and that the material can catch and kick. If it happens just let go. Not worth getting hurt. The press should just slip a belt, mine did. I tried keeping it clamped and just boring through, but it took forever to cut the first hole.Using the dowel helps keep your holes centered, because the centering bit doesnt chamfer the hole as the hole saw does its thing. Good luck!
Reply:More or less I did what you are doing and they have worked great for me...Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:With the caps going through the holder how do you remove them if you want to take them out? Doesn't look like the cap fits through the holes.www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:They don't fit through. However, they are only pressed on, so if they need to come out, the caps can come off.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Here is my set up.  I had the same problem...2" holes and slightly smaller PVC pipe...but it works fine Attached Images
Reply:I think I'm gonna order a 10 pack of these for the $10 it will cost me il give it a shot.Hope it's the right size to fit inside 1.5" ID pipe. Online it says common ID of 1.5" is actually 1.60. Il make it fit with some persuasion.http://www.mcmaster.com/#9283k19/=ud2devHonestly I really goofed on my cart design. I should have left the top shelf open and made it so both welder a fit below on the lower shelves. I don't think I made it tall enough to fix it sadly.Last edited by BrooklynBravest; 10-29-2014 at 10:56 AM.
Reply:You could use a strip of uni-strut and strut clamps made for that size pipe.  I can't imagine the clamps could cost much.
Reply:Originally Posted by MikeHaugenYou could use a strip of uni-strut and strut clamps made for that size pipe.  I can't imagine the clamps could cost much.
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55You mean like this?If I were to do it again either the inside or outside row would be larger diameter to accommodate a full tube of MS and SS filler rather than having to split it up.
Reply:That looks a lot better than I expected.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:The conduit hangers are much much less cost effective then making it out of flat stock. It was $17 for the channel and $3 per holder at my Home Depot.www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:Attachment 889531Gotta love McMaster. I literally ordered this stuff at like 2pm last night standard shipping.www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:That's impressiveRegards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:I have to make the bottom plate. Which I'm dreading making. If I had a full size drill press I think I would get through it faster but if I bear down on the bench top press it just stops the hole saw. If I had more torque it would shear it off but right now I'm basically grinding it until it gets through.Side note, I used 1/8" wall material for this and it's extending off the cart free floating by 3". Think I should gusset the sides or il be ok? It's not receiving any weight.www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:Cut everything. Not putting in the caps till I paint it red Attachment 889671www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:If my plasma was running right now, I'd burn them for you for next to nothing.  Drilling sucks.  If you drill a couple 1/4" holes inside your cut, it helps evacuate the chips from the hole saw.Last edited by kazlx; 10-30-2014 at 05:01 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by kazlxIf my plasma was running right now, I'd burn them for you for next to nothing.  Drilling sucks.  If you drill a couple 1/4" holes inside your cut, it helps evacuate the chips from the hole saw.
Reply:They should cut better than that...is that hole saw just dead?  On .125, you should be able to feed that thing pretty good with some cutting fluid.
Reply:Originally Posted by kazlxThey should cut better than that...is that hole saw just dead?  On .125, you should be able to feed that thing pretty good with some cutting fluid.
Reply:I tried running mine with cutting fluid. But ended up doing the rest dry, as they cut fasterand with less load up using the technique I described before.
Reply:Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.comCan't decide if I wanna make the cart black with red tubes or red cart with black tubes...I have a thing for red and black.www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:Here's mine. It's just sheetmetal with dimpled holes big enough for tubes to slide into. Attached ImagesChris Allredwww.UnusualFabrication.com
Reply:Ridiculous how long it has actually taken me to make this cart.Anyway here's the holder.I'm not proud of my welding on this cart whatsoever but it looks nice to the untrained eye.Disregard my painting... Painting PVC is a hassle I'm trying different things with krylon fusion.Attachment 895501Attachment 895511Attachment 895521www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:one more....