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Picked up a new welder to add to the toolbox back in January - a Dynasty 280 DX. I wanted to make a nice cart for it, a 330 CF Bottle, and a custom DIY water cooler all in one package. It is not something I plan to load into the truck (heavy) but if I even need to be more mobile with it I will make a more compact version out of aluminum.
This was built using primarily 2" square tube 304L 7 gauge - it did not need to be this heavy at all, but I get access to a lot of drops from work, and some of the longer pieces I picked up on my own to complete it. The wheels and casters are from Tractor Supply. The welder tray angle is 30 degrees - a little more than I needed in hindsight but I am over 6 ft tall so the angle and height puts it at a good spot for my access & viewing.
I have a Marathon Electric AC motor, a Procon pump, and have an assortment of fittings, strainer, etc en route from McMaster to finish the plumbing. I plan to get fancy with it and plumb it with 1/2" stainless tubing. The reservoir is an 18" drop piece of 6" stainless tubing that I will cap, weld the appropriate bungs for supply/return/fill/drain/sight glass.
I picked up an appropriate connector to wire the electric motor to receive power from the CPS port on the Dynasty rear (looks like a PC power supply type connector).
Dang, that's a bit large eh? I am interested in how you are going to finish it off and utilize all that extra space. What size tanks do you plan on running? Holy ****, I didn't realize they finally released the 280!!! ********!!! I had my order in on one a few years ago and it kept getting put on back order and then they dropped it like it never existed. It was even in all their catalogs LOL... Looks like I am going to have to hit YouTube up for some videos!
1) How did you bend the steel tubing? I can bend small diameter SS tubing just fine with various benders, but when I step up to 3/8 and 1/2" it all goes to hell. I can do AL/Copper just fine though.
2) How exactly does your water cooler function? I see a pump (which by the way looks ridiculously oversized) and the water reservoir, but I do not see a heat exchanger anywhere?
A tubing bender designed for stainless tubing. Similar in design as the cheaper ones for aluminum or copper, but built better and with longer handles.
As for the pump, it is a standard procon pump that miller and Bernard use - the coupled electric motor is no different than the one in the miller coolmate 4.
Currently no heat exchanger. With a 2 gallon capacity, and the amount of welding I do I may not need one right away but I do have a thermometer in the reservoir to see how it performs. I will likely install a bar and plate cooler (transmission/oil cooler type) at some point between the pump discharge and torch connection.
04-06-2015, 02:09 PM
Another welder cart build...
