Metal Drawers and welding lead reels

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I'm about to start my welding cart and can't find a tool box is like to incorporate into the cart.. So I figured I'd just build a couple metal drawers instead. Have any ideas and pictures for drawers and slides? I have a few just like to see what other people have built.Sorry I didn't do two threads but both questions pertain to one project. Does any one have ideas for welding lead reels? I can't see paying 250 a reel just for a shop cart. Mainly lolling at using one for my ground lead, not going to be doing a whole lot of stick mainly TIG and MIG
Reply:I am staying here since I am pretty much in the same boat. I want to put a drawer in my welding cart and I am debating between having it slide over two pieces of angle iron o go try to find some suitable slides for it. First option is cheaper and ready in my shop. Second option will require to have some additional hardware purchased (slides).Regarding the reels for the welding leads... it doesn't make much sense to me. If you are making a cart is because you want the welder and required accesories (say, bottle of gas), mobile. What's the point of having the welder on a cart and then setting up some reels like those guys who need to work far away from their truck mounted engine drives? I think you will be better off getting a decent extension cord and keeping your leads short. For the short lengts you can just coil them over some hangers. There are some nice designs out there using half of a steel rim for a small tire.Mikel
Reply:lead reels:Have had great sucess with a couple of air hose reels that have handles to manually roll up the cables...over 100' on each reel.  Not as sexy as the real welding automatic reels, but the cost about 10%  and they have lasted a couple of years so far, however I'm just a hobby welder and don't use them everyday.
Reply:I used a small filing cabinet I found at a thrift store for $25. It works great for storing 11 pound spools and small tools.Here's the complete build on the cart.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...art&highlight=
Reply:The problem with adapting hose/cable reels be they manual or coil spring retractable style, is the danged ends that has to connect to the welder. The reason true welding lead reels are so expensive is they employ hi amp wiper rings that allow you to connect welding leads to welder and then wind and unwind cables as needed....Air hose reels use a pipe center mount and o ring seals that the reel spool spins on and hose gets it's air from reel spool, so hose is always connected to reel at that hose end, and it's a simple matter to just yank or crank the reel.Best bet to save money is just use old fashioned cable wrap hangers where cables remained connected to welder. You can get really creative making cable hangers fabbed up from sections of scrap pipe and thin plate.
Reply:My leads are just tied off prior to the air hose reel, keeps me from pulling on the welder connection too hard and/or dislodging the lead from the reel.   Unreeling is easy, reeling back up takes a little time/care and works ok, but not as good as the expensive ones.
Reply:Originally Posted by USADMy leads are just tied off prior to the air hose reel, keeps me from pulling on the welder connection too hard and/or dislodging the lead from the reel.   Unreeling is easy, reeling back up takes a little time/care and works ok, but not as good as the expensive ones.
Reply:The cart with the file cabinet looks real nice great job on it. I like the small husky/ craftsman roll around tool box but not the price for the application. As for having the cables easy to remove is not an issue with me most of what I will be welding will be in my shop or out side the door. I like a reel setup so I can keep a neater looking cart but if I cant come up with a logical way then ill go with hanger wraps. My idea for the drawers was to get 14ga metal and lay out the size of drawers then bend  and weld the edges. For drawer slides I was thinking of taking some small bearings and using them as wheels to glide along angel iron and make stops on the back side of drawers so the can come all the way out. When mounting in the cart put on a 10 degree angel so when rolling around the shop has less of a chance on opening up. Id also like to see how a hose reel can be used to store leads and still hook to welding machine.Last edited by Tolly; 03-15-2015 at 07:46 PM.
Reply:Other home made style reels that I have seen were made from a spindle and hub set up off a trailer, not a bad idea but then the reel becomes charged and if metal were to lay across the 2 by accident would arc all over the place.  I do remember seeing a tig on here where a fella had taken two hose reels from northern tool and used as welding lead reel. But don't remember how he fixed it up..
Reply:Originally Posted by Tolly...For drawer slides I was thinking of taking some small bearings and using them as wheels to glide along angel iron and make stops on the back side of drawers so the can come all the way out...
Reply:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...eel&highlight= Been working great since building them.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Another option instead of buying slides and fabbing the drawers is use a service cart. My wife found one on Craiglist for like $30 and I turned it into my welding cart. As a bonus it came with the extra side box on it. 2 drawers inside and bottom holds extra wire and my lid. I think it is just a Harbor Freight one but holds up fine. The cord hangers are simple used wire spools screwed on the back side. [URL=http://s1238.photobucket.com/user/Idafrog/media/IMG_0630_zps29620b56.jpg.html][/URL
Reply:great write up on the reel started working on it at work today, depending on the next few days it might take awhile. I was thinking the same on the drawer slides just haven't been to the store yet. For the use of them I really don't plan on loading them down ( easy to say now!!) hahaha like the CL score iv been looking here in Houston haven't found to much. But the cart will be to small for me. The plan is to put a Powcon, Miller 12vs, 100XL plasma cutter, Thermal arc 400, and store Thermal Arc 160TS, Lincoln flux core 110V, and possible 2 other Powcon's..Ow and two bottles.. Buddy built one wish I had pics to post but it turned out really nice, I have something similar in mind..