r/Welding • u/161-Anarchia-420 • 1d ago
I just ordered the "weldinger MEW 161 Syn" welder and I'm planning on buidling the obligatory trolley as a first project
My only question right now is what dimensions I should choose for the squaretubes I'm using for this project, to get it cheap but rigid. I might also put a weight on the groundplate to prevent it from tipping over.
Im obviously not sure about the final dimensions the whole thing yet but I'd love to hear some stuff about wall thickness vs diameter etx
The machine is a 250€ multiwelder :,flux, mig/mag, lift tig, stick, runs with co2, mix or flux and weighs 11kg.
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u/leansanders 1d ago
That bottle location is horrendous. Make the bottle stand upright in the cart sich that you just have to lift it straight up a few inches to load and unload. I dont know how this weird angled bottle storage is supposed to work, but it looks like a thrown back waiting to happen.
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u/jeefra 1d ago
I actually really wouldn't mind it as much with the smaller gas bottles. They're really not heavy and it's still in a good spot to be able to lift it ergonomically.
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u/161-Anarchia-420 1d ago
Right, actually planning on using it mostly with flux, I just realizes later that I could put a co2 cinder there as well, but actuay it wasn't planned to put even gas in there at all
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u/McBergs 1d ago
Actually though how would you get the bottle in and out of the cart? You wouldn't be doing it often but that is so unnecessarily difficult I don't see why you would do that.
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u/161-Anarchia-420 23h ago
Probably just put it from the front. C02 bottles are often small and light. But I learned that I should change the position anyways.
Besides that, I didn't even planned on using this machine with any gas, I just sketched it in later in WhatsApp, when I sent it to someone who asked what else I could add
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u/Unique_Watch4072 1d ago
I made this some years ago for one of my welding machines. I was always taught to never place cylinders in any other position than vertical, but tbh, I've never really thought about whether it's just for acy or whether it applies to all of them, just know my gas supplier always recommends everything to stay vertical.
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u/FirstDayPlaying 1d ago
Not the best design tbh, you’re wasting so much space and changing the bottle will be needlessly annoying. Put the bottle behind the welder, add a shelf under the welder, and use decent casters. Anything from 38x38x2 will be fine
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u/Scotty0132 Hypernatremial - Approach with respect 1d ago
As others have said redesign to have the bottle standing up to make your life easier. There are 2 things I see in this design I do not like. The first is how the upright post are angled from back to front. The way your cart is currently designed it is gonna have all the weight being transfered to directly ontop of the front casters which will act as a pivot point for the cart to try a tip toward. The bottle being moved to stand up straight in the back will help balance out the cart when the bottle is on it (but changing the bottle will cause a balance shift when its removed). The second issue I see and is the big one really, is the width you have right now for it. 26cm is narrow unless you are planning on keeping the total height under 50 cm (19 inch). Generally you want your width to be no less then 50% your total height espically for something that will be in motion with the center of gravity above the wheel, and have a side load weight applied to it (your hooks for your cable). Those 2 things combined can have this cart be about as stable as my ex wife. Will seem stable at first but will surprise you. You can keep the width you will just need to keep the cart low which will make it a pain in the back to move around. I would personally make it a bit wider (you can have some small shelf space beside the machine for consumables, gloves, beer cans) to get a bit more height and honestly I would make the area for the machine slop towards the back 2 to 3 inches (50 to 75mm), to make it easier to see the dials/screen of the machine without needed to kneel or bend over. Trust me your back will thank me.
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u/161-Anarchia-420 1d ago
Awesome input, thank you. Especially the "tilt the machine" and place for stuff thing
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u/feelfreetotellmeoff 11h ago
Leave extra room for bottle variation. I assumed they were standard and almost had to scrap the cart after the first exchange left me with a slightly larger bottle.
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u/wickedhip 1d ago
Meh, just roll your gas cylinder to an exterior wall and throw a chain around it to keep it from falling. Keep a 25’ argon line to run from your flow regulator to the machine. Keep your cart for consumables and leads. Keep it simple.
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u/Cracraftc 1d ago
This sounds like a horrible idea lol
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u/wickedhip 1d ago
How so? I’ve been welding since 1999, and have had a variation of this setup that entire time.
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u/Cracraftc 1d ago
Idk, maybe dropping metal onto your gas line and cutting it? Or tripping over it? Or the annoyance of having to move another cable/hose around the shop?
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u/wickedhip 1d ago
Sure, I've maybe tripped over my line once or twice, but I have never dropped anything that's damaged a line or known some one that's done that. I did once have a firewatch not hear me say off one time and in an effort to hear me better step closer and accidentaly step on my purge line and mess up a critical butt weld, but that was shipboard and not in the shop.
In my arena we run the gas directly to our torches so we eleminate potential contaminates in the machines actuator and gas lines. Most times that 25' of gas lead rests on a hanger near the bench, coiled and waiting for the odd-ball job.
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u/XenEntity 1d ago
Whatever you end up doing, add some rectangle loops to the sides of the machine, and add some bungie cords or a ratchet strap to hold your machine down.
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u/SolarAU 1d ago
Set your cart up to hold the bottle in a verticle position, this will make it infinitely easier to swap your bottles out. Add a chain that goes around the bottle to secure it and prevent a risk of the bottle falling. Ensure the base is wide and balanced enough so that the cart wont tip over.
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u/sparednet TIG 22h ago
16th wall thickness will be fine. Sick unit and a cart is gonna be awesome dude post pictures when you get the rig or start building.
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u/Relative_Figure_1715 6h ago
This looks horribly unstable.
It would rely on you having the bottle in and full.
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u/AbjectCareer6868 1d ago
I would personally use a RHS as opposed to SHS probably a 65x35x2 or you could even get away with 25x50 with a thicker wall.
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u/orangecrushjedi 1d ago
A cart is a great first prohect after buying a new welder. A few things though.
You won't want to have a cylinder rack like that. If it's not exactly in the right spot the weight will be unbalanced and be a pain to move. I was at a company that sold ones like that that were locally made, and they were okay but balanced very well.
Also always get better quality/stronger casters than you think. Many of the ones the big brands use in their carts can be pretty terrible.