Harbor Freight + Home Depot For The Win!

Welding is hard and trying to find all your gear can be even tougher. From what I’ve seen most welding carts are open frame and don’t provide a lot of storage. Well for me storage has become more and more important. I decided that a midsize tool box would be my best bet. So I modified a 46”x 24.5” Husky tool box to hold 2 welding tanks and all my gear. On top of that I’m using a Vulcan Omnipro 220. This is a 110v/220v multiprocess (TIG, Stick, MIG) machine that leaves lots of room for learning and building my skills. I started with a Craftsman stick welder and quickly sold that in favor of my Lincoln Handy MIG machine. Looking back and knowing what I know now I wish I had waited/saved up for a multiprocess machine like the Vulcan. I have found for me I am able to produce better welds with and without gas. It’s given me the opportunity to learn how to TIG without a dedicated machine and has worked flawlessly for about a year now.
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Tools/Hardware I used:
Extension Cord--amzn.to/3CoDKJe
Mig Torch- amzn.to/3IGrZlx
2 Gauge Power Wire-amzn.to/3CnyNQG
Welding Quick Connect-amzn.to/3ikrhiN amzn.to/3HzWibu
Welding Tank Clamps- amzn.to/3GXgmVL
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Iphone 14pro
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Editing Software-
Davinci Resolve Studio 18.1
Editing Talent-
Almost none. Hope to build that with time :-)
TAGS- #Welding, #TIG, #MIG, #Stick, #welder, #BeginnerWelder, #harborfreight, #Lincoln, #Millermatic, #Omnipro, #Ominpro220, #Vulcan, #VulcanOmnipro220, #titanium
Side note- This DIY is not intended as instructional content. It is merely entertainment for you to do what you wish with. I’m just a guy with an awesome beard playing in his garage/house.

[@mmmhhhwaffles4785]

hey man appreciate the video, im picking up a welder towards the end of the year. never welded in my life but I'm looking at the Vulcan.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Right on! I really don’t know what I’m doing still, but so far this welder has worked out great. The ease of adjusting and switching between processes has been really helpful for me to try new things. Best of luck😊

[@Cory._.]

Great overview!

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Thanks! Really appreciate it.

[@DailyBrewGarage]

Well done. I am hoping to start teaching myself to weld at some point and the HF equipment is likely the way I will go. I will say that duty cycle is often overlooked and is one of the big differences between "pro" and "entry level" gear. A 20% duty cycle likely would never be an issue for me tinkering in my garage, but I can see how a professional would be really frustrated by it.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

You’re totally right. I was worried about duty cycle up front, but lacked the knowledge in application. Currently my most intense welding project with the Vulcan was my roll cage and I didn’t hit the duty cycle. With the Lincoln it was building some 1/4” legs for a fire pit. I realize that was over the capacity of the welder but I did hit the duty cycle with it well before I thought I would.

[@stephenreade6433]

You mentioned in the video the ground cable connection as a 35-70 quick fitting, but the link you provided is for a 35-50 quick fitting.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

You are correct. They are technically the same size (male end) it's the cable gauge that's different. The 70 accepts a larger diameter cable. I added a second link for reference.

[@williamwade7059]

The welder comparison was cool. Didn't give a flying rats ass about the cart.

[@DrivingForwardBuilds]

Cool

[@adollarshort1573]

I started watching your video to find out about the Omnipro and found your cart mods more interesting! I'm doing a similar thing on an old tool cart. I was gonna use large fixed wheels on an axle to carry the weight of the 2 tanks but your video of your nice maneuverable cart has got me second-guessing myself!
Great vid and clever cart mods!
Your son's gonna be one welding savage someday!