Overhead / vertically mounted welder?!

[wortgames]

I have an old Boss Mig welder and it does well really, but I struggle to keep the 5m Binzel line straight around the workshop and it gives me a bit of trouble. I've been planning a new welding cart, and I wondered about the idea of mounting the welder itself at head height with the torch connection pointing straight down.

Seems to me this would all but eliminate the first bend where the line exits the welder, and would pretty much result in nice a gentle parabola wherever I use it. It would make for a substantial cart, but I could incorporate some major tool storage drawers in front of the gas bottle.

I'm not worried about the controls, I could easily transfer them to a new 'front' panel if I felt the need. Alternatively I could tilt the welder back a bit, so that I can still easily access the front panel but retain the benefit of a mostly free hanging line.

Is this a crazy idea?!

 

[rtbcomp]

My biggest concern would be the transformer mounting, at present the weight is sitting on the floor of the machine (at a guess) mounting vertically would mean it would be hanging off its bolts.

 

[Mick B]

Sounds like a brilliant idea to me, but just be very careful with that parabola thing . I had one of of them years ago and the wheels fell off it.

 

[wortgames]

Yeah I wondered about undesirable forces on the innards like circuit boards and heatsinks, but it all looks pretty solid to me. Obviously I wouldn't just sit all the weight on the face panel, I'd secure the base and any suspect internals in the process.

 

[wortgames]

I just went to see what I had that I might be able to modify, and almost tripped over a 2m high steel 19" equipment rack - it even has a mesh top to keep crud out of the cooling fan! A set of casters (on outriggers) would set it up nicely. I might even have some old rack drawers here somewhere...

 

[Kent]

I have an old Boss Mig welder and it does well really, but I struggle to keep the 5m Binzel line straight around the workshop and it gives me a bit of trouble. I've been planning a new welding cart, and I wondered about the idea of mounting the welder itself at head height with the torch connection pointing straight down.

Seems to me this would all but eliminate the first bend where the line exits the welder, and would pretty much result in nice a gentle parabola wherever I use it. It would make for a substantial cart, but I could incorporate some major tool storage drawers in front of the gas bottle.

I'm not worried about the controls, I could easily transfer them to a new 'front' panel if I felt the need. Alternatively I could tilt the welder back a bit, so that I can still easily access the front panel but retain the benefit of a mostly free hanging line.

Is this a crazy idea?!

A small inverter on a gantry will sort that but create a list of its own unique issues. Consider multi plug in points around your shop that's what I did to negate torch line twists and such
It don't fully work but does help
Mig can be a pain for this

 

[Maker]

Would this be any good for you?

 

[wortgames]

Reckon he might have laid a few welds before now! I'm drooling over his table...

I think it proves the concept is sound, I just want to put the whole welder up there rather than just a wire feed. I still want a mobile rig as larger jobs usually end up being done in the driveway, I just like the idea of getting it up out of the way and a consistently smooth feed...

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I had my first MIG (Small 130 hobby MIG) suspended over the bench on a steel cable, long earth lead and gas supply hose going up to ceiling and down the wall back to the bench. As it was on a cable I could adjust the height and also swivel it around to face the side of the bench I was working on.
There was also a hook to hang the torch up out off the way so it kept the bench top clear.
It was a vast improvement over having the welder under the bench.

 

[Maker]

I had my first MIG (Small 130 hobby MIG) suspended over the bench on a steel cable, long earth lead and gas supply hose going up to ceiling and down the wall back to the bench. As it was on a cable I could adjust the height and also swivel it around to face the side of the bench I was working on.
There was also a hook to hang the torch up out off the way so it kept the bench top clear.
It was a vast improvement over having the welder under the bench.

Have you got any pictures of this setup?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Sorry no, it was a good few years ago in my old workshop. I couldn't do it with the replacement welder as it is just too big and heavy.