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[Project]Workshop Improvements - MIG Cart

9652 Views 126 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  CattleRustler, 
CattleRustler
This is a quick utility project to make a cart for my new MIG machine. I will be using 1" angle iron, some flat steel bar (3/4"), and a set of 2" locking casters. The seel thickness will be 1/8". The angle iron will be leg up with 45 degree fitted corners, with the flat bar spanning the width in two sections where the welding machine's feet will rest. The dimension of the machine is 10x18" but the cart will be roughly 11x28". The extra length will be in the back to accomodate a gas tank for when I eventually add a c25 tank for mig(gmaw). There will be a set of uprights in the front of the cart, with a span across the top, to form a pull handle for it, and to that I will weld two pieces of round bar I have (one on each side) to form tabs that will let me wrap and hang the gun and ground wires, etc. The back area under the gas will either have a mesh bottom or be open, but will have flat bar to support the tank weight. Everything will be set on to the 4 casters, which I plan to weld to the bottom of the unit. The machine weighs over 60 lbs when wire loaded and since I have no where to properly store it (too tall for my shelving, and a bit too heavy) I figured I'd make a fun little cart for it, and gain some more mig(fcaw) experience along the way.

I am going to home deepblow today (hopefully dont need to visit all three in my area) to pick up the steel, and a couple other odds and ends that I need. I plan to commence the build tomr afternoon.

should be a fun, quick and dirty project. when its done, if the temps hold out above 50F, I will try get it cleaned up and primed, before the cold winter strikes and basically shuts down my operations


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CattleRustler
Workshop Improvements - MIG Cart

MIG Cart - Day 01 - cut steel & tack base frame perimeter
MIG Cart - Day 02 - base frame welding - it ain't pretty
MIG Cart - Day 03 - final frame weld-up
MIG Cart - Day 04 - functional finale'
MIG Cart - Day 05 - tank uprights 01
MIG Cart - Day 06 - fun with welding and nostalgia
MIG Cart - Day 07 - tank uprights 02 + GP welding + tank uprights top crossmember
MIG Cart - Day 08 - tank brace
MIG Cart - Day 09 - not sure what I ate, but it gave me GAS
MIG Cart - Day 10 - MIG Rig fab complete
MIG Cart - Day 11 - C25 gas setup and GMAW tests
MIG Cart - Day 12 - final weld tests & frame prime
MIG Cart - Day 14 - cart paint
MIG Cart - Day 15 - final reassembly
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CattleRustler
MIGCart - Day 01 - cut steel & tack base frame perimeter

stopped off at Home Depot (which actually impressed me today by having everything I needed, minus the MIG Utility Pliers (but I didnt expect them to)) and picked up some supplies.

Rigid 12 AWG extension cord so as not to burn my house down, stainless steel brushes, a welding vice grip clamp, casters, some dremel stuff, a spare 4" spool of FCAW wire (would hate to run out in the middle of a project) and some steel, baby


theres the 12 AWG. its still rated for 15 amps but bite my arsicle, if the 14 didnt fry, 12 wont

1/8" steel angle, 5 pieces of 48" 1-1/4 and a 48" bar of 3/16 thick by 1-1/2"

thats my old 14 awg cord (sorry blurry)

I began cutting steel and was trying to 45 angle the corners. after 4 cuts and realizing that the task was going to be hell, and time consuming because I can't place or rotate the bars in my chop saw without constantly using 10 jigs or resetting the angle setting, I decided to give up on the 45d angles and go with original design with all 90D cuts

I cut this steel in record time (for me)
thats all the base frame parts and the two front uprights

front uprights removed for pic, just base frame parts

test layout and fitment



clamped an upright for perspective

enough silliness, lets weld.
beefy clamp makes an appearance

got the two halves tacked up (did I mention I love MIG ?)

got the two halves together with tacks

took measurements and found that she was square and true so I prepped to run bottom lap joint welds, so she'd be secure - permanent style

(did I mention I love MIG ?)

welded all four lap joints in like 0.03 seconds. OK, not that fast, but literally in like 5 mins. And I swear the welder setting is giving out more power since I changed the cord, bu I cant say since this material is new to me (Ill test tomr on 1/8" square tube)

perimeter all tacked and bottom welds done. tomr I will tack in all the crossmembers, then full weld the whole f'er up


welding is fun, you should try it if you havent
more tomr

thanks for watching



* This Worklog post was generated using WorklogCreator - Version: 1.0.1.7
* Free Download: http://www.mod2software.com/worklogc...logcreator.zip
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mmparkskier
Quote:

Originally Posted by CattleRustler View Post
welding is fun, you should try it if you havent
more tomr
It's great. I loved Metals class! Have you ever taken a class or had a mentor to follow?
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CattleRustler
nah, I am my own mentor - thats my problem

I have been stick welding for about 8 months and just recently switched to MIG - infinitely easier and more productive
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radodrill
Nice; CR made the switch to a wire feed welder


Quote:

Originally Posted by CattleRustler View Post
did I mention I love MIG ?
I must correct you; you are currently doing FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding), though your welder itself is set up for MIG (Metal Inert Gas; synonymous with GMAW), which entails the use of a shield gas (typically argon)
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T
Lookin' good.


Now work faster.
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Lord Xeb
Cool! That damn thing is heavy as hell so having a nice coaster will be nice.
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Fletcher Carnaby
Quote:


welding is fun, you should try it if you haven't

Denied a welder at both of my shops. (Well I could at one but I'd have to file for a hot work permit every time I fired up)


Vicarious welding will have to do for a few more years... so thanks for the show!


Subscribed.
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Blitz6804
Seriously you got the SMAW 8 months ago? Time flies! (And so does your modding apparently; wow, a whole base put together in one update.)
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FireMarshallBill
Modding that helps you mod
I like it!
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oliverw92
Om nom nom nom nom

That is all
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sizeak
Quote:

Originally Posted by oliverw92 View Post
Om nom nom nom nom

That is all
This.
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CattleRustler
thanks for the posts guys
more updates this evening

Rado, MIG is a general term which covers the types FCAW and GMAW, they are both processes of MIG welding. There is a FCAW (flux core) that requires gas, so theres fcaw and fcaw-ss (self shielding)

Does 100% argon alu welding with MIG have its own designation too? or is it considered GMAW also?

then to be fancy we could add in polarity

MIG - FCAW - DCEN (dc electrode negative)
MIG - GMAW - DCEP (dc electrode positive)
MIG - alu? - DCEP

as far as gas, steel gmaw is typically 100% CO2 or 75/25 mix argon/co2. 100% argon is typically for alu welding
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Junado
14 gauge wire is rated for 5.9 amps in power transmission uses, while 12 gauge bumps that number up to 9.3 amps, nearly 60% higher. I'm not sure how many conductors there are in your extension cord, but the resistance per feet should be a lot lower, so it might make a small difference. I'm no electrician, so this is guessed upon the best of my knowledge though.

That was a fast first day, you got a lot done! Subbed, I'll be around when this thread turns into an analysis of how many cars you could stack on your frame (I can't wait!)
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CattleRustler
there are different categories of "power transmission" uses, something about open air vs closed circuit CU something or other (I was looking at charts yesterday) At the end of the day, in AWG standards for indoor use extension cords and wall wiring, 14g can safely carry 15 amps, where as 12g can handle 20 amps. I am fairly confident this 12g wire is suitable for my application even tho it says its rated for "15 amps".

lol at car stacking. this frame wont have that shape, and will be limited by the casters (rated at 125 lbs * 4 (load spread)) so it can safely load 500 lbs max.

Cant wait to fcaw-some-more later
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C
You needed a frame for the welder....but you needed the welder for the frame. Coincidence? I think not!! Looking good CR, I would like to learn welding, and I thought I had a chance to get into it because my uncle in law died a few years ago (RIP Dave) and now his wife is moving in with her sister, my mother in law, and we have to clean out his garage, which has over 12 years worth of car parts and equipment in it. He had a welding setup, and an awsome huge air compressor setup that ran over the whole garage. I'm no handyman however, and my wife's various family members came and took all the stuff they wanted & already know how to use...so no welder for me
Oh well, someday maybe!
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CattleRustler
sorry CH.
welding is addictive imho, because it opens up so many possiblilities to build stuff
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Tator Tot
Showin my love
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radodrill
Quote:

Originally Posted by CattleRustler View Post
thanks for the posts guys
more updates this evening

Rado, MIG is a general term which covers the types FCAW and GMAW, they are both processes of MIG welding. There is a FCAW (flux core) that requires gas, so theres fcaw and fcaw-ss (self shielding)

Does 100% argon alu welding with MIG have its own designation too? or is it considered GMAW also?

then to be fancy we could add in polarity

MIG - FCAW - DCEN (dc electrode negative)
MIG - GMAW - DCEP (dc electrode positive)
MIG - alu? - DCEP

as far as gas, steel gmaw is typically 100% CO2 or 75/25 mix argon/co2. 100% argon is typically for alu welding
All the research I've done shows that MIG and MAG (Metal Active Gas) are subtypes of GMAW. Traditional FCAW is similar to SMAW in that it produces it's own shield as the flux is heated. Using a flux-cored wire feed with a shield gas, known as "dual shield," is in effect a combination of FCAW and GMAW that (especially in closed-shop environments) typically produces better/more consistent welds than GMAW or SMAW.

For welding aluminum, you really should be going to GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) also known as TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) Welding.

I could go on; but I won't and for simplicity sake just say good job with your wire-feed welding (pics of the welder itself please).
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