Cart Build

[its_34]

I bought my 200DX almost a year ago and "temporarily" set it on top my bench until I built a cart. Last week I started bending some leftover 1.5" tubing into some 180's.







Going for a shopping cart-style arrangement.

[youngnstudly]

That's a great start and I really like the design so far! What wall thickness is that tubing, what brand of tubing bender are you using, and how are you fish mouthing (notching) the ends of the tube? I'd love to see the cart when it's finished. You've got some nice equipment in your shop/garage and I'm sorta jealous!

[its_34]

That's a great start and I really like the design so far! What wall thickness is that tubing, what brand of tubing bender are you using, and how are you fish mouthing (notching) the ends of the tube? I'd love to see the cart when it's finished. You've got some nice equipment in your shop/garage and I'm sorta jealous!

Thanks. I'm using a hole saw notcher. It's one of the cheap ones (no ball bearings, stamped steel guides) but it works for light use. It took quite a bit of shimming to get it to cut on center.



I made some more progress today and will post some more pics later.

[its_34]

Here are some more pics. I added a couple of 3/16"x6" plates to hold the bottle and some 2" strips to suppor the shelves.



I made an axle from some 5/8" bar with the ends turned down to 1/2" and put some small casters on the front. Added a short ring of 10" pipe on the lower plate to hold the bottle captive.

[Rambozo]

Looks cool. Now I see what you mean by the shopping cart design.

[youngnstudly]

Thanks. I'm using a hole saw notcher. It's one of the cheap ones (no ball bearings, stamped steel guides) but it works for light use. It took quite a bit of shimming to get it to cut on center.



I made some more progress today and will post some more pics later.

I've been seriously considering buying one of those cheaper holesaw notchers like you have, just so I have a complete tool that I can then modify as I see fit. I full well expect it to be light duty and inaccurate, but I still can't convince myself to buy one. I have almost all the materials to make my own, but do I really want one that bad? I have (and use quite often) a wood doweling jig that is a cheapy HF brand item, and yes, it's not centered either. But in all reality, once I figured that out, shimming it isn't really an issue anymore...and it has gotten me out of some tight jams in the past. Another $10 well spent.

[breakneckmot]

Good looking cart build. I really like how it looks. What size cylinder are you going to be using with it?

[its_34]

I've been seriously considering buying one of those cheaper holesaw notchers like you have, just so I have a complete tool that I can then modify as I see fit. I full well expect it to be light duty and inaccurate, but I still can't convince myself to buy one. I have almost all the materials to make my own, but do I really want one that bad? I have (and use quite often) a wood doweling jig that is a cheapy HF brand item, and yes, it's not centered either. But in all reality, once I figured that out, shimming it isn't really an issue anymore...and it has gotten me out of some tight jams in the past. Another $10 well spent.

It was probably $30-40 and I'd consider it well spent. As much as I've used it, I probably should have just spent $300 on a well-made one.

[its_34]

Good looking cart build. I really like how it looks. What size cylinder are you going to be using with it?

Thanks. I don't know my bottle sizes well- I think it's a "K" (250cf or so?).

[its_34]

I'm about finished with this thing. I put a post on one side that will serve as a bottle support and a hanger for my extension cord.
I'm using some 0.080" aluminum for the shelves but didn't have a long enough piece for the bottom. The holes on the side will hold some PVC filler tubes.



There are two short pieces of tube extended that will serve as hangers for the torch and ground leads.

[youngnstudly]

It was probably $30-40 and I'd consider it well spent. As much as I've used it, I probably should have just spent $300 on a well-made one.

That's about the same price as what I've been looking at lately. For the few misc. jobs that I have to finish (which require the notcher), I 'm thinking that the cheap version will work for now. By the time it doesn't work anymore, I should have all the needed materials to build a nice one.

I'm about finished with this thing. I put a post on one side that will serve as a bottle support and a hanger for my extension cord.
I'm using some 0.080" aluminum for the shelves but didn't have a long enough piece for the bottom. The holes on the side will hold some PVC filler tubes.

There are two short pieces of tube extended that will serve as hangers for the torch and ground leads.

The overall finished look is great! The hangers will come in very handy, especially the one you did for an extension cord. Those PVC tubes are another good addition for sticking your store bought filler tubes into. I keep all of the "alike" filler in the same 1 pound tube (regardless of it's diameter) and by doing that, I can cram almost 3 pounds into a single 1 pound tube. If you plan to have a removable end cap on the PVC, either slice the cap's sides or sand the heck out of both the cap and PVC that it slips onto.

I didn't even push the cap on all the way at the hardware store (just enough to hold the end cap so it would get lost during the drive home) and when I went to remove it, that sucker was almost impossible to get off! I felt like a dope, but the store didn't give me a bag to put the 2 loose end caps into! A thread on cap would be the best plan IMO.

So what color are you going to paint your cart? If your bottle is the 250CF size, that should last quite a long time...I wish I had the room (and muscles) to keep a larger cylinder around. The 150CF is really handy for moving around by yourself (plus moving it through the shop, the front garage, and up/over the porch steps...before I can even get it to the tailgate of the truck). I really need to get a stout hand truck to make the big cylinder easier to move.

[redbeard]

That's about the same price as what I've been looking at lately. For the few misc. jobs that I have to finish (which require the notcher), I 'm thinking that the cheap version will work for now. By the time it doesn't work anymore, I should have all the needed materials to build a nice one.

Even 30 is more than I can justify for a notcher at the moment. Did just pick up a set of the HF hole saws though. I hope the good jiggableness of my drill press will be enough to do the few things needed.

That is a good stout looking cart, should be quite bulletproof!

[Rambozo]

Did just pick up a set of the HF hole saws though. I hope the good jiggableness of my drill press will be enough to do the few things needed.

Which ones did you get? I've never found that HF does well with anything with a cutting edge. The tools seem to work fine, but I always get good quality blades or bits for them. I see they now have their version of bi-metal hole saws, but I'll have to hear your experience before I give them another chance.

[DaveO]

I'd like to hear a review of their hole saws too. I always pick them up, remember their reputation, and put them back down.

[its_34]

... I've never found that HF does well with anything with a cutting edge. ...

I learned this lesson with a bandsaw blade. If it has teeth, I'll buy Milwaukee or Blu-Mol. Hopefully HF has changed their formula you will have a better experience.

[Jason]

I too would like to see some feedback regarding the quality as I may be looking at getting some in the near future and generally don't go with the HF stuff like these.

[youngnstudly]

Which ones did you get? I've never found that HF does well with anything with a cutting edge. The tools seem to work fine, but I always get good quality blades or bits for them. I see they now have their version of bi-metal hole saws, but I'll have to hear your experience before I give them another chance.

Actually I have had good luck with their drill bits (believe it or not!). I don't think their "new stuff" is the quality of what their products from 10+ years ago were though. I still have over half of the 115 pc. Titanium Nitride (gold color) bits that I purchased in the late 90's and they see a lot of hard use (small ones can break easy, but everything else will sharpen up well in the drill doctor when needed). I don't think twice (or even once, for that matter) about drilling anything with those bits. I buy the expensive bits in sizes that need replacing, but the remaining HF bits work great!

My Dad just bought the other 115pc. set of Cobalt (black) bits that HF carries within the past 6 months (I think he spent $59 with coupon and a store sale) and they seem to cut well too....except for the (once again) few smallest bits which he doesn't know I broke. Most of the bits from 3/16" up are what I use for drilling heavy steel on a regular basis (Angle iron, channel, thick wall square tube), even stainless on occasion with good success. The 3/32" and 5/32" are what I broke from his set (drilling stainless rivets out).

That being said, I'd still be leery of buying hole saws from them... Along with its_34, Milwaukee and Blu-mol brands are what I use for hole saws. I buy Milwaukee one at a time (as needed) from the hardware store and they work really well. The mandrels are what cost money!

[its_34]

I emptied a can of semi-flat black on it and swapped out the wheels for something with a bearing in it. Hopefully I'll pick up another sheet of aluminum this weekend and finish off the bottom shelf.

[redbeard]

Which ones did you get? I've never found that HF does well with anything with a cutting edge. The tools seem to work fine, but I always get good quality blades or bits for them. I see they now have their version of bi-metal hole saws, but I'll have to hear your experience before I give them another chance.

This set http://www.harborfreight.com/14-piec...set-68113.html got good reviews (hope they aren't shills), so I decided to try them. Not sure if there is much if any difference in the "Warrior" brand http://www.harborfreight.com/14-piec...set-68990.html , but that is what I wound up with from the store.

If I had thought back to previous experiences, I might have passed; the oscillating saw blades have been so-so and the sawzall blades REALLY REALLY REALLY sucked. I have had good luck with the diamond coated stuff, at least the dremel sized ones.

Don't know how soon I'll get around to using them, but I'll post up a review when I do. I will say for starters that the blades appear quite heavy and well made and the mandrels seem OK.

[Jason]

Any concern that you will pile too much wait towards the front of the top shelf?