There are two key challenges across most hands-on hobbies and professions: storage and transport.
Finding a place to put everything, and a means to safely move it around, takes up considerable time, money, and effort.
Of course, welding is no different.
We often get asked by readers about welding carts — do they need them? What are the best ones? Can they make one themselves?
So we thought we’d put together a handy guide to help people save some of that time, money, and effort on their next welding cart decision.
A Question From A Reader
Tommy, I have a Hobart 140. Do I need to make my own cart for it, or can I buy one?
If you’re confident in your craftsmanship there is absolutely no reason not to make one if you have the time, resources, and some good blueprints to work off.
Or you could just buy one.
The good news is there are lots of great welding carts on the market. The bad news is there are lots of bad welding carts on the market.
Finding out which is which can be a costly process if you’re not careful.
I went and spent a good half a week researching different welding carts to find the cream of the crop.
Here you’ll find my top 5, which I was left with after cutting out around 80% of the stuff I looked at.
You can thank me later.
How Did I Pick These Products?
I had three criteria for these welding carts. Normally I try to have at least 4, but I had some concerns raised about my usual number one: brand.
Readers were worried that maybe I was favoring brands because of sponsorship, or that choosing brand names meant artificially inflating the price.
So, this time, I’ve done away with a brand as a consideration and gone just for the following:
Reliability: This welding cart is going to store and move your welding gear. It needs to be made sturdy and reliable.
A faulty welding cart will not just result in a broken cart, but broken equipment.
Price: As always, there’s that sweet spot between “paying for quality and reliability” and “getting ripped off”.
That said, I’m always on the lookout for that “too good to be true” option which is, surprisingly, not too good to be true.
Design: Different carts are designed for different welding machines. I tried to get as much of a spread as possible.
It would be easy to do the 5 best TIG welding carts, but I thought I’d spread the love.
And of course, these selections are just as appropriate for the beginner as the seasoned professional. Come one, come all!
What Are The Best Carts For Welding?
Klutch 2 – Tier Locking Welding Cabinet
Klutch is a brand you’ll see twice on this list. Their first entry is a basic compact locking welding cabinet.
Standing at 26” high, it’s designed to comfortably sit under most benches for easy storage.
The sturdy metal gram is designed to hold up to 135lbs.
It has two cable wrap bars for easy cable management and includes two chains to secure your tank to the back for safety.
Underneath the top shelf is a handy storage compartment for your mask and welding kit.
There’s no shelf or drawer in the storage compartment, which may or may not bother you depending on your needs.
Despite the weight rating, some people do report that a fully loaded trolley will buckle in the wheels a bit.
Caster wheels that aren’t properly installed are notorious for not handling full-weight loads in general.
This model will fit the Hobart 190, but the 210 models will not fit.
Tip: Perfect for a home workshop!
Aain Universal MIG Welding Cart
This is a simple, no-frills welding cart. No drawers, no bells or whistles. However, it is one of the most versatile on the list.
Hobart 190 and 210 models, Lincoln 180 and 210 models, and Millermatic 211 models will all be right at home on this cart.
The angle of the top shelf is designed to allow easy viewing of the welding machine controls.
It’ll hold a single-cylinder on the back, chain included. The cart itself is made out of steel with a powder coat finish.
There are some complaints about the telescoping handle — many find it folds down on itself a bit too easy, but this wasn’t an issue I and many others encountered.
It drives well enough for something on castors.
Tip: Finding it hard to steer? Try moving the position of the castors.
Try displacing the castor wheels about 6” back to properly support a load of your gear on heavier sets.
Lincoln Electric Welding Cart
If the Metal Man was “one of the most” versatile on the list, well, here’s the most versatile. This Lincoln Electric welding cart will fit the following models:
- Hobart 140, 190, 210
- Lincoln 140, 180, 210
- Millermatic 211
That said, this is easily the most bare-bones of the lot. There are no drawers, no cabinets, only two shelves, and no tank chain.
Instead, the tank is held in place in a rounded slot through the top shelf. This is arguably just as secure as wrapping the tank with the chain, but some may find it flimsy.
I like the design of this model.
The handle is at the front, so you pull rather than push — definitely better for steering around when fully loaded.
It has the same slanted top-shelf design as the others, meaning you can easily check the controls and setting while you work.
The only thing, I don’t like is that the handle isn’t telescoping, so it may well but up against your benches and make storing it slightly less convenient than other models.
Tip: Lincoln Precision TIG 225 and AHP TIG welder will fit great in this cart.
Klutch 2-Tier Welding Cart
I did say Klutch would be back, and here it is!
While this welding cart won’t hold the widest range of welding machines (Great for Hobart 190s, terrible for 210s), it’s probably the most complete, convenient welding cart on the list.
There are multiple cable tie arms for cable storage. The tank has dedicated chains for security.
There are two shelves, plus a storage locker at the bottom to store extra gear.
If you have a Hobart 190 or a similarly sized unit, this is great. It will store all of your gear in one simple, convenient location.
My only downside to this cart is it’s not more versatile!
Tip: It can hold two machines, or equipment up to 100 lbs.
MIG TIG ARC Welder Plasma Cutter Cart
Rounding off the list we have one of those “too good to be true, but not” models.
At just $40, it’s the cheapest on the list — but incredibly useful for hobbyists and pros alike.
The back of the welding cart is designed to hold a tank, with the usually included chains.
The three shelves can easily store a welding machine, welding gear, and requisite tools. The open design makes accessing stored items incredibly easy.
It also means small, loose items are more likely to fall out if not properly spaced but, hey, you can’t have everything.
Tip: Add some DIY canvas or fabric panels to the side that can easily be pulled aside to access the shelves, while providing security during transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which one is the best welding cart with drawers?
My vote goes to a model that didn’t get on this list, because I can’t actually find it in stock anywhere, but it’s the ZENY portable welding cart.
It has two shelves, and then a four-drawer shelving system on the bottom.
The shelves are locked with a single key, and it has ample storage for a tank as well.
Unfortunately, because it’s currently out of stock at the time of writing this article, I couldn’t recommend it on the list.
Which one is the best welding cart with tank storage?
All of the welding carts on our list come with tank storage! But I actually like the first one on the list — the Klutch Compact Locking Welding Cabinet.
I think the tank storage section has the best support for the tank; it rises fairly high on the back of the cart, and the chain secures the top while the cart secures the bottom.
Some of the other designs only secure the tank at the bottom and middle, which I find a little riskier.
How can I improve the mobility of my welding cart?
All of the carts on this list need to be constructed yourself. The first thing you need to do if you notice issues is to ensure you installed everything properly.
After that, you can try repositioning the castor wheels.
Offsetting them a few inches back along the cart can position them better to support the weight of the welding gear and give you a better driving experience.
Final Thoughts
Welding carts are an incredibly useful way to store and transport your welding gear.
While you could make your own, buying a pre-made one designed specifically for your needs will always be the safest bet.
