Container Weld Shop build -

[BukitCase]

Last diagonal brace welded in, welder side support rails welded in - anybody wanna share a method of bottle retention that can be tightened in place? Not a fan of keyholes and chains, but a chain could work with a different way to tighten - I looked at toggle clamps, but seems like they're all either twice as big or half as big as I'd need... Steve

 

[Big Barn]

“bottle retention”: here’s a few of mine, but you’ve prob seen these before Steve.

 

[Big Barn]

Oh forgot this “toggle” one

 

[BukitCase]

Oh cool, Terry took the bait

Seriously, thanks for those - and you're right, I probably have at least SOME of those saved in my "Terry" folder, but it's so BIG by now I wuz too lazy to LOOK

That type of thing is EXACTLY what I'd hoped for, looks like I can adapt one to my "run what ya brung" design - might hafta get a new tool to fab 'em, but that just makes it a WIN/WIN ...Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

"How many hours was budgeted for this weld cart anyways, I'm thinking this project is getting way behind schedule and over budget" - That's how I know I'm gonna be HAPPY with a project :laughing: 'sides that, I'm RETIRED; it's done when it's DONE :drink:

Already GOT a woodstove, ain't quite portable enough for my "porta-shed" but the 6kw 240 volt heater plugs into a weld outlet just fine - it at least keeps my FEET thawed out, but tarps ain't much fer insulation.

Just finished supper, might work a bit more (and get a couple more pics) before I put stuff to bed - meantime, here's a (hopefully) better markup of the pic you mentioned. Dunno if you've discovered this yet, but if you right click on the small pic you can choose "open in a new tab" - then click THAT tab, your mouse pointer will show a "+" Click again to see full-size picture... Steve

I did know that right but forgot, but when I just use the left click, your pictures zoom right in so I can see the writing you did. I also forgot how you do that to, my daughter showed me last spring and I already forgot, have to wait for her on my younger son to show up and I'll use your picture for reference and have show me again how you're doing those drawings and writings, and according to your writings, I pictured your welder backwards, I should've known that to be of how the door opens on the welder.

Murphy got bored at my place cause I'm not making anything right now so I sent out to give you a hand, you're welcome. I like it when someone else makes a mistake for a change, "(Thank God for thin slicer disks)" me to I cant make anything without those.

" it wouldn't be a big deal, but I MUST have a minimum of 7-1/2" clearance on the BOTTLE side or it won't FIT"<<<<<Now where did I read that all welding gas bottles are going to be increase in size to 8-1/12" next year............ Thanks for taking time posting all these pictures, I like um.

 

[Oldpath05]

“bottle retention”: here’s a few of mine, but you’ve prob seen these before Steve.


View attachment 531161View attachment 531162View attachment 531163View attachment 531164View attachment 531165

I haven't, I dont get to see all threads so I miss stuff, where'd you get those buckles? Sort of like a logbinder thing, I'm still using the drop chain thingy which would not work Steve's weld cart

 

[Big Barn]

I haven't, I dont get to see all threads so I miss stuff, where'd you get those buckles? Sort of like a logbinder thing, I'm still using the drop chain thingy which would not work Steve's weld cart

Those are "Big Barn massaged" over center LPG tank clamps for forklifts, manlifts etc.

Being old and cranky, I don't have much tolerance for tanks rattling around

 

[BukitCase]

Thanks again Terry, I'd looked at that type of toggle but my "fertile" brain (AKA, FULL OF poopoo) hasn't come up with a way to keep it from sticking out too far on this cart (yet) - Still, that last one makes things come out right; we all KNOW that things go better with a SIX-pack

"Now where did I read that all welding gas bottles are going to be increase in size to 8-1/12" next year" - Ya probably read it in the checkout line, right next to the stories about UFO babies, the Kennedy assasination story NOT being a pack of bald-faced lies, etc :laughing: - for ONE thing, there are still bottles floating around the system with the **** emblems on 'em, which tells me a change like that would cost more than obama spent in the 8 years I'd like to forget...

Didn't get much done on the cart today, went shopping for DURABLE self-stick rubber for the welder to sit on - found it at Lowes (I won't shop at Homeless Despot anymore since they decided I'm only a veteran 2 days a year, at most) - stuff I found at Lowes is black EPDM rubber (same material, different shape as what they use on shipping container doors so it oughta hold up).

Did get a piece of 1/4x2 FB cut and clamped front-to-back, even with the middle tube on the welder side and parallel to it - - it'll get one side of a pair of 100 lb. full suspension drawer glides I'm fairly sure I know the location of (yeah, sure) -

I'll need all THAT stuff done so I know what size drawer to fab. If I get REALLY reckless I might make the (much) smaller UPPER area (under the tilted welder) into a small drawer instead of just a shelf.

Whichever way I go, I need to be able to "batten down the hatches" for the Offroad mode. Think I got some "suitcase" latches somewhere, be nice if I wuz even further along the "place fer everything and nothing in its place" mode

Massaging pics - I'm still using my ancient Windows XP machine, so what I do might NOT work for you - Seems like I've read somewhere that Micro-Slop did away with their "Paint" program in newer versions of windows. That's all I use - I preview pics from my digital camera in "windows picture and fax viewer" - there's a button across the bottom that lets you "edit picture in Paint" - when you do that, you can put text, arrows, lines, basically anything that's available in Paint, ANYWHERE in that pic and at whatever size you want - Then, for simplicity I just save the EDITED version as the same file name, but add a "b" before the .jpg file extension. That way I still have the original AND the edited version.

I don't know (yet) whether Micro-Slop did indeed leave out half of the things I use most, or which VERSION they did it in so what I do might not work for you. Sounds like your kids can show you; maybe THIS time have 'em type out directions and save 'em on your desktop screen... Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

And I thought you'd be going around the country side measuring and asking about those 8-1/2" gas bottles, guess I cant get nothing by you, looks like your back on schedule with the weld cart.

Remind me again why the welding machine shelf is not level? For me making that cart with the welder at an angle adds more confusing work for making shelving underneath.

"I preview pics from my digital camera"<<<You're not using a smartphone?, This winter I'll be updating my flipper to a smartphone just so I can take better pictures and send them to my gmail.

 

[BukitCase]

"guess I cant get nothing by you" - you probably could, but might hafta work at it; I don't remember even DRIVING a turnip truck, much less FALLING OFF of one :laughing:

"Remind me again why the welding machine shelf is not level?"

Don't think I ever mentioned why - 2 reasons; one, the welder will sit just above table height and I'm taller than that - so I'll usually be looking straight on at the display/controls, makes for better "ergonomics" - and two, the new version of the MM211 has a stronger drive system that's rated to handle the longer guns I prefer, but it's also angled DOWN a bit - my "offroad" needs (check the previous pics for the odd-ball lead hangers) works out better for keeping the leads up out of the mud and neater. I don't mind paying for stuff ONCE, but at $165 for a 15' gun, the second time tends to piss me off :thumbdown:

And yeah, that DOES make the drawer thing a bit trickier but I'm (usually) a tricky sum-*****; I'll deal with it...

"You're not using a smartphone?"

I am, and I LOVE it - mine's Android, I originally got it for "show and tell" pics on projects, but I've found free apps for electrical engineering, machine shop calcs, levels, ballistics, stopwatch, miller weld calculators (all of 'em), drill charts, email compatible note pad, scientific calculator, wireless DRO for my mill, wireless remote for the TV (really irritates the wife when she thinks SHE has the remote ), span calculator, guitar tuner, and code scanner for the vehicles -

BUT - dunno if I mentioned it in my "resume", but I've done a fair bit of photography/videography, some professionally - started in 1967 when I went to England to teach the Limeys how to use our stuff (expansion of cold war efforts, STILL classified) - anyway, decided then I needed a "real" camera to bring back better pics than the old "instamatic" could do - next thing I know, I'm moving up to Nikon 35mm's and Mamiya medium format, setting up a darkroom, printing 4 x 6 FOOT murals, etc...

Long story even longer - even tho my phone cam does 13 megapixels, it does NOT let me choose resolution/file size, multiple metering modes, aperture OR shutter speed priority, selective focus, a separate ARTICULATED view screen, etc - all the things my Nikon digital DOES do, and has me hooked on - Soooo, about the only time I use the phone cam is when I DON'T have the REAL one with...

There, ain't you sorry you asked ??!? :laughing: ...Steve

 

[farm boy00]

For the bottle tensioner. Why not just a 1in ratchet strap??

 

[Big Barn]

For the bottle tensioner. Why not just a 1in ratchet strap??

I'm pretty sure Steve is looking for "form" as well as FUNCTION.

I've always been of the mindset that attitudes like. "Why date a supermodel when the girl next door will do?" hinders one in life.

 

[BukitCase]

"I'm pretty sure Steve is looking for "form" as well as FUNCTION."

Farmboy, Terry's right - due to considerable "off-forum" conversations, he's well aware of my OCD side(s) - which is why one of his LESS mean nicknames for me is "Shiny Steve" :laughing:

And thanks for the ratchet strap idea, it's one I'd considered til I found a "shinier" way, but I don't like long tails to find a way to tie up and don't really wanna cut one to solve THAT problem if it's only gonna be temporary -

Between Terry's pics, my NON-availability of cheap/free forklift take-offs and the way this "non-planned" project is shaping up, I'm thinking I'm gonna modify a barn door hinge for the corner post, weld a piece of 1/8"x2" flat bar on that, shape the bar around the tank, bend the END of that bar 90*, drill a hole there, weld a nut on, then weld a piece of angle for the OTHER anchor point, drill a hole thru THAT, and insert a bolt thru to take up the slack -

Not as elegant as Terry's way(s) but I'll only hafta deal with it when changing bottles, and since I traded in my 80 CuFt bottle for a 150 that's only gonna happen every few months. The upside is this plan won't have ANYTHING sticking out to get ripped off or accidentally loosened, EXCEPT for the brief moment while changing tanks - I ALSO won't have anything FLAMMABLE within 10-12 feet of the "sparky thang"... Steve

 

[Oldpath05]

"There, ain't you sorry you asked ??!?" ...Steve<<<<<<<NO, you have interesting stories, and most likely pictures to go with them since you're a simi part time professional camera guy........

"guess I cant get nothing by you" - you probably could, but might hafta work at it;<<<<Great, I like a challenge, give me enough time I should come up with sometning.....

 

[Oldpath05]

I'm pretty sure Steve is looking for "form" as well as FUNCTION.

I've always been of the mindset that attitudes like. "Why date a supermodel when the girl next door will do?" hinders one in life.

I know I would be, I like the way you have your gas bottles clamped, easy on easy off just by moving one lever and holds tight.

 

[Big Barn]

Steve you are right about the handle of a toggle clamp STICKING OUT. As you can see it's not TOO critical in my application, but I don't particularly like it.

 

[BukitCase]

Went looking and found a "slightly used" barn door hinge that'll do for the one end of the tank strap - it'll get "MMM'd" (Mashed, Maimed, Mutilated) and "SS'd" (ShinySteve'd) and painted with the "NQMB" (NotQuiteMillerBlue) paint, so it's all good - grabbed a 3/8 bolt/nut/washer for the tightener;

After lunch I'll cut a piece of 1/8x2 strap, drill a hole in one end, bend a 90* there, weld a nut over the hole, clamp a couple long 5/8 bolts in the vise and "incrementally" bend the strap into a precise 7.5" diameter half-circle, weld the NON-bent end of that to the barn hinge, chop off all but an inch of the OTHER leaf of the hinge, weld the hinge to the corner upright (maybe), then cut a short piece of angle for the OTHER anchor point - if I kin keep it to less than 3 or 4 "do-overs" I might have it done by supper (it's good to have dreams )

Sorry Terry, I REALLY like your bottle clamps; just not enough to spend THAT much time fabbing one from SCRATCH when my feet get numb quicker than the job gets done

Story time - I'd use my slip roll to bend that strap, but it's not back together totally yet - it was a CL find, guy selling it was the SON of the guy that built it for the company I worked for my last 25 years; he built it about 20 years before I worked there.

They used it to roll rings out of 1" thick steel, 14" wide and 48" diameter.
When I worked there they had farmed out THAT part of the job - but I ended up making a Safety Video of the CORRECT process after one of our "dumb and proud of it" weldors screwed that job up and lost his leg from the knee down...

The son of the guy that BUILT the slip roll ran a 3 foot wide piece of 1/4 plate thru it when I wuz looking at it, came out about the same curve as those hose hangers in one of my pics, and the roll didn't even slow down or groan. Probably 'cause that gearbox below the drive roll is 171:1 IIRC - and the motor and gearbox pulleys gear THAT down ANOTHER 3:1...

I didn't like the strange base he had on it so changed it to be compatible with either forks or a pallet jack- but the electrical was kinda funky, so before it goes back together completely I'll need to get a new reversing lathe-type switch - also need to change the top roll for easy on/off.

Still, 18 gauge powered ones that width (50") go for about $6 grand new, so $400 didn't make me cry much :thumbsup: ... Steve

Oh, the driven roll ALSO drives a ring roller that mounts on the far end - has 5-6 dies for that too -

 

[BukitCase]

"Steve you are right about the handle of a toggle clamp STICKING OUT" - Yeah, I haven't found a way around that YET - they do offer some that mount at "right angles", and I would have mounted the toggle the opposite way as your pic, but it STILL didn't "turn my crank" - If my words (on the NEW plan) don't make sense (to me either, sometimes) hopefully pics will (later)... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

OK, finally horsed the tank up on the table to check out the possibilities for the solid lockdown... - and promptly watched every one of my ideas drift off in smoke

Except for PART of ONE...
The brackets are leftovers from a different project, I'll probably do holes a bit closer to the corners, drilled for 3/8" bolts - 'bout 4" long, heads cut off, unthreaded parts welded lengthwise at each end of a 14" long piece of 14 ga. 2" wide, so that the threaded parts stick out the ends - the two bracket locations - side - And front -

This will be flexible enough I can sneak it thru the 1/4" of space between the frame and bottle (did I mention it wuz gonna be a snug fit??!?

Ain't gonna happen tonite tho, once my feet thaw out I'm gonna watch some TV and try again manana - one or two more add-ons and it'll be time to get it down on the floor so I can work on the upper handles, etc... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

This part of the "plan" is actually coming together :thumbsup: as I mentioned before, those two angle brackets are leftovers from a previous project, so the vertical parts will get re-drilled LOWER, and the excess cut off (along with the overhangs on the horizontal legs) - I decided on 16 ga. 1-1/4" wide for the strap, plenty strong enough and easier (possible) to shape to the bottle. Welded 3/8" coupler nuts to the strap instead of bolts, it'll keep a less cluttered look and less snags.

Might get around to the cut/drill/weld part after supper, but at least I know it's gonna WORK - one step closer to puttin' the wheels on and getting it down off the table, then comes handles, hitches, etc... Steve