Project 1 from Youngnstudly. Category: Welding cart
This is a 16 gauge shelving system that was going to be thrown out, so I decided to turn it into a welding cart. After buying my Everlast welder during the 2013 presale (an impulse buy), I realized that not having a welding cart for the welder made setup a time consuming hassle. Although I'm happy with the outcome, nearly everything about this cart is one afterthought piled onto another ("Oakified"), so I intend to refine a lot of it's design later. The cost so far is less then $40 (casters, fasteners, and PVC caps/straps for the filler rod storage). Keep in mind I had to beg, borrow, and (practically) steal, or at least ask around nicely for the things I didn't have already on hand. Friends were more then willing to donate.
The main shelving system was used to store automotive grade paint in a body shop, and later, greasy engine parts. Everything was scrubbed and washed and scuffed before paint was applied. I scrounged enough 3/4 plywood from any source I could for support on the top and bottom sides of each shelf. I used every scrap of toolbox drawer matting, galvanized paint (on all inside surfaces), and Gray satin paint (on the outside) that I could get my hands on, and there are as many metric fasteners on this cart as standard fasteners (my father is a traditional hot rodder while I'm a vintage VW guy).
The Argon cylinder rack was made from rusty scrap .065" wall 1.5" square tubing, 1" square tubing, 3/4" square tubing, and 1.5" trade size EMT conduit. Once I TIG welded a few sample miters to try out my new welder, I decided to miter and weld the part where the bottle would sit (just being creative, I guess).
The rest is pretty straight forward, except for the part when I ran out of 1.5" Square tube. I jumped into using some 1.5" EMT scraps that were just long enough once I squared the ends up. I had to squish them into an oval shape using the vise to make them fit the 1.5" sq. tubing (trade size 1.5" EMT measures out to 1.75" actual OD). I still have to finish welding up the corners of the doors, which my previous employer helped me form up from 20ga. galvanized sheet metal on his lunch break. He also donated a couple EZ-rod inserts (with hardware) so I was able to bend the 1/2" conduit handle and simply bolt it in place (no welding).
I still have to make latches and handles for the doors (once I mount them), and a few hooks for my leads and cables to hang from. Overall, the cart is around 4' long, 38" tall, and 15" wide. I plan to build an angle iron frame (later on) to set the cart and bottle holder into, so only 2 swivel casters and one pair of wheels on an axle are utilized. I'm actually surprised at how stable this cart is. The bottom shelf will be empty when everything is said and done, so that's an added bonus. I'm getting used to my new welder too.
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