An inefficient workman will always blame his tools, while the good one will use convenient welding trolleys to keep their kit neat and organized and transport heavy-duty equipment safely from one to another spot. But choosing a good welders trolley can be a daunting task, especially nowadays when the market offers a plethora of different types. So, if you were about to hit the market and search for a welding trolley, I put together a couple of tips to help you choose the right option.
Dimensions
Welding trolleys aren’t one-size-fits-all equipment, so you should choose with your welding tasks and equipment in mind. The first thing you need to do is to measure the dimensions of your welding machine and make sure it will fit on the trolley shelves without any difficulties. Also, some welders use more than just one type of welding machine. If this is your case, make sure you measure the headspace between shelves, so your trolley can accommodate more than just one welder at once. Finally, if you have a wire welder, don’t forget to choose one with enough room for the wire compartment door so you can easily reload the wires. The door should always be able to clear the lip of the shelf, so make sure you consider a couple of extra centimetres of space.
Gas Bottle Storage
If you’re doing MIG or TIG welding, then it’s best to get a gas welding trolley with enough area at the back so you can keep the gas tank upright and chain it securely at the same time. While a typical gas welding trolley will have space for only one gas bottle, it’s not that hard to find one that will hold two of them so you can easily switch from MIG to TIG. Also, some of these trolleys will feature just one chain, while others can have dual chain systems for extra security.
Welding Machine Angle
When choosing a welder trolley, don’t forget to consider that you should have your welder at a certain angle so the front of it will be tilted upwards. This will help you access all the knobs and settings on your welding machine’s panel, and therefore make the job much easier for you. And while a sloped welder can also be of great help to access these settings, have in mind that welding machines are heavy-duty, and you’ll need to place a small block at the end of your trolley to prevent your welder from hitting the gas cylinder.
Wheels
The main purpose of welder trolleys is to make it easier and more convenient to move heavy-duty welding machines from one spot to another, and you probably know that it would be impossible if your trolley doesn’t feature any wheels. That being said, know that the larger the wheels, the more stable and easier to maneuver the trolley will be. But this can be an issue if you’re welding in a small workplace, so make sure you choose one with a zero-turn radius and four swivel wheels. If not, then it’s best to go for the standard welding trolley featuring two swivelling casters and two larger read wheels. However, regardless of what you choose, make sure you never place the trolley on any sort of incline since you’ll put it at risk to roll away. Also, when wheeling the trolley, don't forget to attach the handle and maneuver with it for extra safety.
Wire Hooks
Working with a welding machine, especially with more than one can sometimes be an issue since you’ll constantly have to deal with a lot of wires. Not only are these wires very annoying once they get tangled, but they can also be a big safety hazard as you could trip over them while you’re working. This is where wire hooks come in handy. They’re usually placed on the side of the trolley and they help you to manage your wires and keep them out of your way to ensure your safety. As much as they’re just a small detail, make sure you don’t skip them.
Load Capacity
As a welder, I'm sure you know that welding machines and gas cylinders are considered heavy and bulky equipment. This is why you should always check their exact weight and see if it matches the load capacity of the trolley you chose, regardless if it’s a trolley for a gas cylinder or welding machine. Also, have in mind that cheaper trolleys are made from thin steel materials, and they aren’t able to support the usual welder’s equipment, such as two welders, a gas cylinder and other necessary tools. So, make sure you choose one made from solid metals, especially if you’re about to carry different types of welding equipment at once.
Storage Room for Tools
As I already mentioned before, welders don’t just use a welding machine and a gas cylinder, since there’re many other smaller tools that can come in handy in many situations. But tossing all those tools around will only make you feel unorganized, chaotic and frustrated if you aren’t able to find what you’re looking for at the moment. This is why you should always choose a convenient welding trolley featuring enough space for additional tools and equipment.
For instance, you can use the bottom shelf to store your welding helmet and the middle shelf to store pliers, wires, a pair of spare gloves etc. On the other hand, welding trolleys featuring drawers can also be very beneficial, since you can use them to organize your workshop and keep the dust off everything. Some of them are even lockable, which means that you’ll be provided with convenient space to store valuable items and protect them while you’re wheeling the cart or when you’re not around. Once you get the right welding trolley for yourself, you’ll see how your occupation becomes easier and way more enjoyable than before.