Iron worker cart from junk

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I needed a way of moving a 55 ton Edwards around in the shop due to space limitations.Being of thrifty nature I looked in my hoard of junk and found some 3 x3 x1/4 angle iron that came from header lintels above the windows of a brick house that had the brick torn off of it before the house was moved off the lot.   The angle was pretty rusty and had some paint and calking on it but it was free.   I also found a piece of plate that was part of the end of a 45,000 gallon storage tank and 8 caster 4 being 4 inch and 4 being 6 inch that I purchased some time ago by the pound  from a scrap yard.   I think I gave $20.00 for all eight of the casters.   The first couple of photos shows the rusty angle iron and the plates and guessets to mount the casters on.  I decided to use the 4 inch swivel casters first thinking that I could roll around the 2000 lb iron worker with them.After building the cart and placing the iron worker on it I found that I could not move the iron worker with out having a lot of help.   Well back to the drawing board.   I decided to remove the iron worker from the cart and try the 6 inch casters . Shown is the cart standing on its side as I bolted the 6 inch casters on with the used bolts and nuts that came with the casters.  After placing the iron worker back on the cart  I found that one could roll it around pretty good.Note that the total cost so far as shown is $12.00 for one set of used casters plus welding wire and a little 75/25 gas.The coners of the plates where the casters are mounted will have to have radius cut in them to keep from ruining my ankles.I also have to figure out a way to clean out the rusty angle iron.  I have already tried a wire brush on a 9 inch grinder and boy is that a slow job and not very efficient.   Once I figure out the best way to clean the angle iron frame I will have to get a quart of paint and some primer to finish the job.Well its not very pretty but it does work and I have very little in it.   Does anyone know anything about  TEXAS BLASTERS? (company that sells small pressure sand blasters)I thought about getting one of those or some muriatic acid to clean the free angle iron.Any constructive or destructive criticism.  richey Attached Images
Reply:cart frame with 4 inch caster Attached Images
Reply:components of the angle iron , guesset and plate Attached Images
Reply:Adding 6 inch casters to frame Attached Images
Reply:Cart on side as I added 6 inch casters.  Notice how rusty and old paint on the angle iron Attached Images
Reply:Trying to figure out how to rotate the photos.  richey
Reply:Well I think i am getting closer at turning my photo from my I phone.   This is finished cart for the iron worker with the exception of cleaning, grinding off the sharp corners and painting.   Should have less than $40.00 in the project. richey Attached Images
Reply:You could have saved yourself a bunch of work and just bolted the casters to the fork pockets.My name's not Jim....
Reply:That would be much better than cantilever mounts, a weak point.
Reply:At first glance I was expecting you made a cart to move a 55 ton machine. The cart is fifty anyway. I use to make a lot of carts for my equipment... then I bought a pallet jack... best money I ever spent. Good casters are so expensive. Storing carts is a pain. I now use pallets. Stuff that get's moved now and again like the press is on skids... slide the pallet jack under... pump it up... and go.A few years ago, when I was in my casters on everything phase, I did some fea tests on some offset casters... I doubt your machine is heavy enough to have any issues. I would have used a piece of c-channel but your design clearly works. Proof is always in the function.  I like the wide stance of your cart because the iron worker is likely a bit top heavy. What does it weigh? Is this cart just for transport or will the machine live on the cart?
Reply:Thanks for the replys.   The brackers for the casters are 1/2 plate with heavey guesset welded to the 3 x3 1/4 angle.The unit is top heavy and I decided I wanted a little wider footprint than using the thin 6 x6  1/8 wall tubing feet supplied with the machine,i.e. that seems a little narrow if I raised the machine another 6 inches.I will probably leave the machne on the cart since it serves the present need that I have.I like the idea of the pallet jack for moving items,sold the one I had several years ago,  should have kept it. I  think the machine weights about 2300 lb with the attachments on it at the present.I do appreciate your response .  Some good ideas that you folks have.Hey nobody responed to the Texas Sand Blaster question.  How do you guys clean your materials?  Reason is I have several thousand pounds of tubing, angle,channel and plate with various stages of surface rust in the shed.
Reply:Is the Texas Blasters the same as the BAD BOY blasters. I think it is. I have one. Unit works pretty good, as with all pressure blasters you need a compressor with a lot of volume. I use fine black beauty for my media. I tried medium grit and all it did was clog the nozzle up. I blasted radiators, snow plows, rusty c-channel, etc. Blasting is not fun though.T.J.www.tjsperformance.comDynasty 300 DXHTP 240HTP Microcut 380Hyperthem 85JD2 Hyd Bender and HF Hyd Ring Roller all in one =(Frankenbender)Bpt. Mill/DRO4' x 8' CNC Plasma TableInstagram: tjsperformanceYT: TJS Welding and Fabrication
Reply:Originally Posted by richeyHey nobody responded to the Texas Sand Blaster question.  How do you guys clean your materials?  Reason is I have several thousand pounds of tubing, angle,channel and plate with various stages of surface rust in the shed.
Reply:I found a set of machine movers. The low profile type with 3" rollers about 6" long three rollers per caster. I got them from a pawn shop for $80 for the whole set. I leave them under the machine all the time and it takes some effort but it moves out the 4 or so feet that I need to store it. Same Edwards 55 Jaws IV.
Reply:For the cheap among us (me specifically) Home Depot and other big box stores have "Fine Sand" in 50 pound bags for cheap.  Like $5 last time I bought some.  Works great in my pressure blaster Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Thanks for the tips on the fine sand,and making sure I paint after blasting( If I do buy a blaster) I gotta check my old compressor for the cfms that I may need.  By the way good score at the pawn shop on the rollers.  I check those places out too.  To adress my use of using the old junk I had or found at scrap yard.  I was brought up during the generation / time when we were told:  Use it up, Do without , or Wear it out. Improvise,Adapt or Overcome.  (My uncle was a retired Marine)   We didnt have Lowes,Tractor Supply or Home Depo where I was raised.  If we needed bolts and nuts or pieces of metal we went to the county dump and believe me there was anything from old cars, refigerators, plows and about anything anyone used in several counties that they didnt want or needed carried to the open desiginated area and dumped out.   Thats were we found a lot of our materials for our repairs or projects. Now as you all know everything goes to scrap yard or to a desiginated landfield.   As they saying goes one mans junk is another mans treasure.  However I wounder sometimes if it would be cost effective to just purchase new and not have to worry about scrounging around for some of the stuff or cleaning it up.  By the way I do purchase new for some projects etc but it sure is fun to see how much one can save.    Project that I am saving materials for is a 72 inch Hydraulic Press Brake such as the one tractorguy and besrk have posted on pirates 4x4 forum.
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireI use to make a lot of carts for my equipment... then I bought a pallet jack... best money I ever spent. Good casters are so expensive. Storing carts is a pain. I now use pallets. Stuff that get's moved now and again like the press is on skids... slide the pallet jack under... pump it up... and go.
Reply:Originally Posted by richeyProject that I am saving materials for is a 72 inch Hydraulic Press Brake such as the one tractorguy and besrk have posted on pirates 4x4 forum.
Reply:Make sure you're using a resporator if you're using the fine sand better to have a forced air set up from a remote location. It will have silica in it. VERY bad to breath.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:forehire   Thanks for the input.   For my homebrew press brake my plans are as followsI want to use the extra hydraulic tap from the iron worker for the hydraulics.  It has quick connects for remote beyond power for a pipe bender or press that Edwards sells.   I can have 2600 psi at 3.5 gallon per minute for remote work.  Thus I have obtained a 5.25 diameter cylinder at 24 inch stroke in great shape off a piece of military surplus equipment that is rated to operate at 3000 psi with bursting test of 6000psi.   I gave 15 cents a lb for it and I already have a rebuild kit at $49.00.   I found two pieces of 2.5 in thick plate in my hoard of scrap that is 40 inches square that I am planning on using by welding together to make the 72 inch wide piece  to hold my bottom press brake die.   Now I gotta find some 8 x10 inch tubing for my uprights and some plate for holding the top punch and to build the pivot system out of.   I want to pattern the  72 inch press brake tractorguy as I mentioned earlier on the pirates forum. I found in a stack of metalthat I have  various size hydraulic ram up to 3.5 inches diameter that I think I can anneal and then saw for my pins.  gotta find something for the pin bosses.Back to the sand blasting.  Just got back from tractor supply and they had someone return a $149.00  pressure pot with the short hose and all attachments  had it in the clearance stuff for $75.00 .  Against my better judgement I broke down and shelled out the cash.   Lady said that the customer said it wouldnt blow the sand out . Still had some in it.   Im thinking that may be he had too small a compressor, wet sand, maybe purchased to do a project and returned an or it may be just junk.  Label said do not use sand .  Use blasting media!!!!!  I bought a $7.50 bag of blasting media from them to try.   If It works I will clean up the cart for the iron worker . If not I will wait on something like the TX Blaster I mentioned.   ThorsHammer thanks for the warning on the breathing  . richey