First ever project (yup, a cart :)

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Ok, here is my first ever forray in to the welding world.   I am a carpenter and have always wanted to try my hand at the "dark side"    anyway, I picked up a Hobart 187 and some junk I had laying around, old bed frame, some mdf, some pipe, and thought i would make a cart.   Here is the result, let me know what you think.  I do plan on picking up a bottle somewhat soon and obviously play with the machine more to figure out this hobby(for me).  Got the rear wheels at HF and the front casters at GLC.   Brew Attached Images
Reply:cool welcome to the dark sideFlames heat sparks and burns its all good.In metal shop it was tool boxes, 25 years later it's welding carts. TJ
Reply:I can't do wood. If I take too much off I can't put it back on.Your lay out skills are great.  That cart looks a lot better than the go cart I built out of a bed frame when I was a kid.Be careful, its addicting.We need close ups of the welds  David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat Bastardcool welcome to the dark sideFlames heat sparks and burns its all good.In metal shop it was tool boxes, 25 years later it's welding carts. TJ
Reply:Looks decent.Related to 'flames, heat, and sparks', MDF burns and scorches.  If your cart will be around the hot metal you are or will be working with, think of replacing the MDF with sheet metal shelves instead.Also, as another minor tweak, think about bending some strap/strip of metal into an arc for the cable 'hooks' so that the cables have a wider area to rest on.  Like the metal garden-hose shelf/hanger things.Got any close-ups of the welds themselves?  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Looks pretty good to me. Granddad was a master cabinet maker and a farmer and dad was a welder. I am a welder, lol. I never call a carpenter for anything, but I don't know anything about farming. When I asked him about that he told me he was afraid I might want to be one and he wasn't having anything to do with that, lol. I learned everything I could from both of them about their respective trades and what I learned is that the hard part of both is the same. Math and layout. The actual welding is mostly just lots of practice.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseLooks decent.Related to 'flames, heat, and sparks', MDF burns and scorches.  If your cart will be around the hot metal you are or will be working with, think of replacing the MDF with sheet metal shelves instead.Also, as another minor tweak, think about bending some strap/strip of metal into an arc for the cable 'hooks' so that the cables have a wider area to rest on.  Like the metal garden-hose shelf/hanger things.Got any close-ups of the welds themselves?
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerLooks pretty good to me. Granddad was a master cabinet maker and a farmer and dad was a welder. I am a welder, lol. I never call a carpenter for anything, but I don't know anything about farming. When I asked him about that he told me he was afraid I might want to be one and he wasn't having anything to do with that, lol. I learned everything I could from both of them about their respective trades and what I learned is that the hard part of both is the same. Math and layout. The actual welding is mostly just lots of practice.
Reply:Very good cart - simple and operational. And very valid points from MoonRise. You see when MDF catches a fire and you want to put it out - you might accidentaly to forget to cut the power...Also I am not sure that I fully understand how you are going to secure the bottle...Last edited by Nomand; 07-31-2008 at 08:51 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by tsbrewersThat is true, anyone can frame as long as someone lays it out for them.   Really the only two things that make you think when framing is cutting out stairs and framing a roof, besides that it is pretty self explanatory.  I try to shy away from framing now days, and try to stick to the finish carpentry side.   Easier on the body, plus you are out of the elements.   A few years ago when I was young and dumb I built our home.  did pretty much everything except, plumbing, heating and electrical.   Brew
Reply:Originally Posted by NomandVery good cart - simple and operational. And very valid points from MoonRise. You see when MDF catches a fire and you want to put it out - you might accidentaly to forget to cut the power...Also I am not sure that I fully understand how you are going to secure the bottle...
Reply:Just what exactly did you mean by "You built it"? Alone? Crew? How many? How long?Where did you stay all this time? Pricewise - I am not asking for any financial secrets - just an idea: if you bought it already built any financial benefits?I tell you the reason I am asking: I am doing renovation in my house - a door from hallway to garage. I am removing drywall and studs and quality I am observing brings me down to the lowest point For this piece of crap I am suppose to pay mortgage to the rest of my life So, from time to time this idiotic idea of building my own (actually I have steel in mind) attending me from time to time. So, I am looking for some information that would discourage me completely....
Reply:BTW the pictures you posted give very general idea. I'd love to see more detailed stages on basement first. If there is a problem with space on server or else, you could email them to me: [email protected] mean if you have thousands - thousands I would like to see
Reply:Originally Posted by NomandJust what exactly did you mean by "You built it"? Alone? Crew? How many? How long?Where did you stay all this time? Pricewise - I am not asking for any financial secrets - just an idea: if you bought it already built any financial benefits?I tell you the reason I am asking: I am doing renovation in my house - a door from hallway to garage. I am removing drywall and studs and quality I am observing brings me down to the lowest point For this piece of crap I am suppose to pay mortgage to the rest of my life So, from time to time this idiotic idea of building my own (actually I have steel in mind) attending me from time to time. So, I am looking for some information that would discourage me completely....
Reply:Originally Posted by tsbrewersI mean I built it, basically me and the wife helped on weekends.   I had my family help a couple days, her family a couple days.   It took me 10 months start to finish, I built it for $215, it was appraised at $275 at the time.  Now with the economy the way it is, it is probably worth about $240 to $250k.   It is a lot of work, and unless you have some idea what you are doing, IMHO it isn't worth it.  For me, I have been building custom homes for close to 20 years, it was worth it.   If you are going to just general the project and hire subs, you won't save a whole lot.  Many subs will charge quite a bit more if you are not a contractor.   I am at my parents this weekend re-doing their bathroom, but later this weekend, or early next week I will either post more or email them to you.   If you have more direct questions I can help there too.  Brew
Reply:Originally Posted by NomandI'm not sure if I do know what I am doing or not - but the way I see my house built - I would not need drawings to do that. Which is probably was the case with the builder anyway...But about the pricing - doesn't look like such a dramatic difference. Actually I thought it is bigger. So, all the labour to build your house would be $60K while materials $215K at that time? Correct? I'd like to ask more. Here or PM?
Reply:tsbrewers Your welding cart looks great, and when you put the steel in place of the wood you will like it even better. I'd like some advice from you if it's not to much a bother? I was wanting to add a second floor to my garage, could you give me the general idea of stud spacing and such that I'd need etc etc. I've helped build a few Jim Walter homes and done alot of remodeling, but never raise the roof so to speak. Thanks either way you decide.Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Originally Posted by STweldertsbrewers Your welding cart looks great, and when you put the steel in place of the wood you will like it even better. I'd like some advice from you if it's not to much a bother? I was wanting to add a second floor to my garage, could you give me the general idea of stud spacing and such that I'd need etc etc. I've helped build a few Jim Walter homes and done alot of remodeling, but never raise the roof so to speak. Thanks either way you decide.
Reply:tsbrewers Thanks alot for you answer. I will take your advice about the site you frequent and look around.Didn't mean to hijack your thread. And again thanks!Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:My helper was bored so I had him build this. You can stand on it anywhere and it will not flip over. Have since put large argon bottle on. Still needs the cord dillys made round, not square and taller. Rolls good. Why the big base? I took a day off and the mechs had our 440 3 phase welder moved to their bay and proceeded to disconnect the connectors so they could hook it up to a 440 single phase outlet. So This little jewel I did not want them able to tip over. I like your cart. Compact and storage space. Attached ImagesLast edited by GSteve; 08-04-2008 at 03:22 AM.