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[Webby the Bear]

So then chaps, now I am home I can share my plans with you 

Please be gentle as I'm not used to drawing up plans and I've simply taken the dimensions of the welder and drawn the plans with the idea that the welder sits on the bottom section and I have a tray up top for welding stuff I.e. Magnets, tips, nozzles, wire spools, clamps etc. etc.

Steel to be used: 25mm square tube.

As a note before we start the dimensions of the MIG welder are:

L 500MM
W 280MM
H 420MM

So here's the base...

Although not included in the drawing I will put a few cross bracing lengths of steel tube to make it sturdy and to give the welder a place to sit obviously.


Once the base is made I can then build upwards...


The castors I am getting from an abandoned and destroyed shopping trolley. I would have gone with NickW's idea of using the complete bottom section of the trolley but whilst that is an excellent idea I really want to build it myself so I'm going with the above plans.

Is anything you've seen here fundamentally floored? Is the steel thick enough? What id you think?

 

[tidla]

If you want the cart to look remotely attractive and not like you have just fished it out the nearest brook, castors are available from here.

http://www.alwayse.co.uk/Catalogue1/General_Information.htm

[Webby the Bear]

Lol thanks Tidla. I'm thinking they'll be fine after a little black gloss 

[Nick W]

Make the top and bottom frames of 25mm angle facing up like this 'L', and  panel them with decking/MDF/blockboard/ply/whatever you have handy. Glue it in with Sikaflex if not using single, fitted pieces. Use 25mm tube for the uprights and diagonals. The diagonals need to run from the top right corner to the bottom left to be of any use.


It's useless for a MIG unless you have somewhere to firmly attach a proper gas cylinder. Which, as I've said before, should be your next acquisition.

[Webby the Bear]

Make the top and bottom frames of 25mm angle facing up like this 'L', and  panel them with decking/MDF/blockboard/ply/whatever you have handy. Glue it in with Sikaflex if not using single, fitted pieces. Use 25mm tube for the uprights and diagonals. The diagonals need to run from the top right corner to the bottom left to be of any use.

It's useless for a MIG unless you have somewhere to firmly attach a proper gas cylinder. Which, as I've said before, should be your next acquisition.

Thanks Nick, really helpful as ever.

The reason i didnt want to run from top right hand corner to bottom left was so i had access to the door of the welder (access to the wire, tensioners etc) but if you reckon i need to from a structural point of view then ill do that.

As for the gas......

Every single person has said i need a proper cyc;inder cos the hobby ones last 2 minutes. Why then have i done a few hours of trigger time now and im still on my first one? And thats normal capacity.... the next ones i have to use are double capacity! lol

Anyways its not a problem as i can extend the cart at the back should i decide i need a big pub cylinder 

[Nick W]

As for the gas......

Every single person has said i need a proper cylinder cos the hobby ones last 2 minutes. Why then have i done a few hours of trigger time now and I'm still on my first one? And that's normal capacity.... the next ones I have to use are double capacity! lol

Anyways its not a problem as i can extend the cart at the back should i decide i need a big pub cylinder 

I can't explain your gas cylinder, as what you report isn't possible. Are you certain it's still supplying gas? A proper cylinder isn't just about the cost saving, but a more reliable supply as well.


As for modifying the cart later, why make work for yourself? It's bad design, and a waste of your time and materials. Won't be as strong either. Increase the length of the cart by 1.5 times the diameter of a cylinder, and weld the uprights that distance from one end of the base frame.

[Webby the Bear]

As for the gas......

Every single person has said i need a proper cylinder cos the hobby ones last 2 minutes. Why then have i done a few hours of trigger time now and I'm still on my first one? And that's normal capacity.... the next ones I have to use are double capacity! lol

Anyways its not a problem as i can extend the cart at the back should i decide i need a big pub cylinder 

I can't explain your gas cylinder, as what you report isn't possible. Are you certain it's still supplying gas? A proper cylinder isn't just about the cost saving, but a more reliable supply as well.


As for modifying the cart later, why make work for yourself? It's bad design, and a waste of your time and materials. Won't be as strong either. Increase the length of the cart by 1.5 times the diameter of a cylinder, and weld the uprights that distance from one end of the base frame.

Yup. 100%. i check it every time i weld and i'm welding at 3psi which appears to just be enough.

[Webby the Bear]

ps re the design.....

I found this and if I make it exactly likethis but with front supports also then ill have room for a big cylinderin future

[Nick W]

The gas cylinder goes at the back; the opposite end to the handle, and is strapped to a bar across the uprights.
And as I keep saying, build it with the angle section the other way up!!! This constrains whatever you use to panel the decks, and requires no further work or fixings.

[andyc]

I would put your welder on top otherwise your bending down all the time to make any adjustments, you'll have you mask on and it will keep falling off, will also make it easier when putting a new reel of wire in.

As for larger gas bottles

http://www.adamsgas.co.uk/

http://www.sgsgases.co.uk/

SGS do alot via motor factors, there is a listing on the site

Andy

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks Andy,

Reason for putting it on the bottom........... I'm not yet 100% confident about my welds as I'm only new to this 

[andyc]

Best thing to do then it build it and dump a couple of bags of cement on to and leave it over night, if they are still there in the morning you know your welds are good enough, if not start again

Oh heres another link you might like, not used them myself though

http://weldingsuperstore.co.uk/

Cheers
Andy

[Webby the Bear]

That's a great idea! thanks for that andy and the links 

[Nick W]

Are you testing your welds?
All it takes is a vise and a hammer.
If the surrounding metal breaks before the weld then you're doing OK.

[Webby the Bear]

Are you testing your welds?
All it takes is a vise and a hammer.
If the surrounding metal breaks before the weld then you're doing OK.

I have tested 6 of my welds so far.....only one broke at the weld so that's got to be good.... I think its cos I've been uber conscious of penetration thus haven't welded anything critical until I knew my welds were sound.

however. still as imnew to this im stil a bit scared (wonders when that feeling will go away lol)