Best Welding Carts to Store and Transport Your Tools
If you’ve ever gone inside a welder’s tool shed, you may have seen one of two things: either the tools were all over the place, and you’d wonder how the owner would remember where everything is, or you’d see just a few tools stored in their designated place, with the rest of them placed on something that looks like a shopping cart.
Well, that shopping cart is called a welding cart, and they can come in handy, greatly improving the efficiency of any craftsman’s workshop.
Given how much easier a welding cart can make your work routine, we’ve decided to do a little research and look for the best ones that you can get in 2021. The items that made it on our list were chosen based on multiple criteria, ranging from price, quality, features, accessories, as well as the reviews made by users that have already tested the products themselves.
Table of Contents
What Is a Welding Cart?
Basically, a welding cart is a cart used by metallurgists, and it features shelves, designated storage compartments, and a set of wheels, all of which allow you to carry around your tools in a much easier manner.
Sure enough, unlike other essential welding tools, a welding cart is not a must-have, although going back and forth between shelves or lockers and your worksite to get the right tools can be time-consuming and annoying, so having a way to keep all of your most important tools at hand seems like the obvious alternative.
Besides, MIG and TIG welders aren’t exactly the lightest pieces of equipment, even if you do buy portable versions, so welding carts can help you keep your tools stored safely, as well as make them much easier to transport around the worksite.
Where Can I Buy a Good Welding Cart?
Welding carts may seem like something new to beginners, but professional welders have been using them for years, so there are plenty of places where such products can be bought.
Sure enough, nothing beats the ability to go to an actual store and see the cart for yourself, but with the rise of technology, online shopping for anything, even something as niche as welding carts, has become a whole lot easier.
However, after we’ve done our research to create this list, we’ve concluded that the best website that you can go ahead and browse for welding carts is Amazon.
Not only do they have an excellent return policy in case something is wrong with the product, but they also have an extensive user review system where you can see exactly what everyone loves or hates about a given product.
Some user reviews may even give you additional information about a product that may not be listed on the page itself, and you may even get to see pictures or even videos of the products and how they work.
Which Are the Best Welding Carts of 2021?
1. Yaheetech 3-Tier Welding Cart
Topping off our list of best welding carts is the Yaheetech 3-Tier Welding Cart, a 3-tiered welding cart that will provide you with all the storage space you will ever need for your tools and accessories, including most MIG, TIG, or ARC welding machines, plasma cutters, etc.
The top shelf is tilted at an angle so that you can access your tools more easily and store your welder in a much safer manner. Not only that, but the rear side comes with a designated area made for storing gas tanks that are equipped with 2 fastening chains so that they don’t fall over.
Each shelf has a different size, as follows:
- The top shelf is 17.7 x 10.8 inches
- The middle shelf is 15 x 11 inches
- The bottom shelf is 27.6 x 11.4 inches
- The rear shelf is 10.2 x 11.6 inches
The overall build of the welding cart is very reliable, as it is constructed using premium metal parts, as well as high-quality PVC wheels, allowing this cart to easily hold 176 pounds (~80 kg) before it even starts denting or bending.
Speaking of the wheels, the 2 front wheels are 360-degree swivel casters for better maneuverability around the workshop, while the 2 rear wheels are much bigger and made out of rubber so that they can provide good stability
Besides, the entire surface of the cart is covered with a protective coat of black paint that not only serves as a decorative feature, but it also protects it from rust and corrosion, ensuring that this welding cart will be with you for a very long time.
All in all, this particular model is great not only for welding workshops but any type of workshop where you need to have your tools at hand, making it an ideal addition to any handyman, sculptor, car repairman, etc.
To check out more details about this product, as well as read up on what other consumers think about it, simply visit the Yaheetech 3-Tier Welding Cart’s Amazon page.
Specs:
- Tiers: 3
- Material: Iron
- Size: 46.06 x 18.9 x 2.36 inches
- Weight: 25.3 pounds
Pros:
- Made using durable metal
- Swivel wheels made out of PVC
- Great for workshops and garages
- Bigger rear wheels made out of rubber
- Can hold loads of up to 176 pounds (~80 kg)
Cons:
- The screws that are used to assemble it could be better
2. Hot Max WC100 Welding Cart
The next entry on our list is yet another 3-tier welding cart called the Hot Max WC100 Welding Cart. In many aspects, it is similar to our first entry, although the main differences can be seen mainly in the materials used in its construction.
For starters, the entire metal framework is made using durable steel instead of iron, and it is also covered in a protective layer of black paint that will ensure you years of use before it even starts looking worn.
Maneuvering this cart will be easy thanks to the easy-pull handle, as well as the 4 wheels that are used to make it mobile. The front 2 are 2.5-inch casters, while the back ones are regular 6-inch wheels, making it very easy to move around.
The back of the welding cart also comes with a designated space for gas cylinders, and you can easily secure them using the two steel chains, so you don’t have to worry about having a high-pressure gas bottle hitting the floor, since that is indeed a hazard.
This welding cart is also the first on our list to come with wire hooks, so storing and transporting electrical equipment on it can be done without worrying about cords and wires getting tangled in the process.
If you do decide to get this welding cart, you must know that you will have to assemble it yourself, although you don’t have to worry about that aspect since it can be done fairly easily. Once you’ve put it together, the final product will stand at around 13 x 33 x 29 inches.
If this product piqued your interest, you can go ahead and check it out for more details and even some very useful user feedback by visiting the Hot Max WC100 Welding Cart’s Amazon page.
Specs:
- Tiers: 3
- Material: Steel
- Size:13 x 33 x 29 inches.
- Weight: 34.7 pounds
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Durable steel build
- Has wire hooks for better cable management
- Dedicated gas tank space with securing chains
- 3 tiers provide enough space for most standard welding equipment
Cons:
- Nuts and bolts attaching the shelves protrude inward, taking up some of the space
3. Klutch 2-Tier Welding Cart
The next item on our list is the Klutch 2-Tier Welding Cart, and it is the first welding cart on our list to feature a closed cabinet for storing tools and accessories, along with 2 shelves that will provide you with enough space for all your basic needs.
Speaking of storage space, the cabinet and the shelves have the following dimensions:
- The storage cabinet is 13.5 x 19.5 x 12 inches
- The top shelf is 13.75 x 18.75 inches
- The middle shelf is 13.75 x 19.75 inches with a 16.5-inch clearance
More so, the cabinet can be locked with a key, so tools that are more dangerous (sharp, pointy, etc), can be stored outside the reach of children.
The overall build of the welding cart is very rugged, thanks to the high-quality steel that makes up the entire metal framework, so investing in this welding cart means you’ll get a product that will last you throughout the years.
It comes with a rear cylinder rack that can hold up a single gas bottle, although it can only do so with a cylinder that is up to 7-inches in diameter.
As far as moving it around goes, this welding cart is easy to push, pull, and rotate, thanks to the front 2-inch swiveling casters and the 2 6-inch back wheels, all for of which are made using durable rubber for extra grip and durability, while also allowing you to move the cart around without making too much noise.
Another neat feature is that this welding cart comes with 4 cable wraps that provide you with some extra cable management, saving you the trouble of untangling cords and protecting you from potentially tripping on wires.
To find out more about the product, as well as what other consumers think about it, simply head over to the Klutch 2-Tier Welding Cart’s Amazon page, and visit the Review section.
Specs:
- Tiers: 2 (+1 cabinet)
- Material: Steel
- Size: 27.25 x 18.75 x 35.75 inches
- Weight: 46 pounds
Pros:
- Rear cylinder rack with fastening chains
- Comes with an enclosed cabinet
- 4 wire and cord hooks
- Rugged steel build
- Easy to maneuver
Cons:
- Because of the small castor size, it works best on smooth surfaces
4. Metal Man 3-Tier MIG Welding Cart
The fourth item on our list is the Metal Man 3-Tier MIG Welding Cart, a typical welding cart that features 3 shelves and a rear cylinder rack so that all your tools and gas bottles can be carried around effortlessly and in an organized manner.
It’s built using high-quality steel, so you don’t have to worry about load capacity, and the entire metal framework is covered with a layer of protective paint that protects it from rust and other types of corrosive materials.
The top shelf is slanted so that you can have better access to your welding tools, while the 2 lower shelves can be used for storing the much smaller tools, parts, and accessories.
The cylinder can rack can hold any gas tank as long as it doesn’t exceed 7 inches in diameter, and you don’t have to worry about it falling over, thanks to the 2 safety chains that will keep everything tight and secured.
Like all other carts, you’ll have to assemble it yourself, and when you’re done, it will measure 31.9 x 16.5 x 19.7 inches and weigh in a bit over 31 pounds.
However, you don’t have to worry if that seems like too much weight for you since the cart can be moved fairly easy thanks to the clever design of the wheels, as it features the typical 2 front swivel casters and 2 rear stable wheel designsthat you’ve seen in all of the other entries.
Users are very pleased with this product, and if you’re curious to see precisely what they have to say, go to the Metal Man 3-Tier MIG Welding Cart’s Amazon page, and visit the review section.
Specs:
- Tiers: 3
- Material: Steel
- Size: 31.9 x 16.5 x 19.7 inches
- Weight: 31 pounds
Pros:
- Slanted top shelf
- Easy to assemble
- Durable steel build
- Handy rear cylinder rack
- Large rear wheels made of rubber
Cons:
- Lacks a handle
5. Performance Tool Universal Welding Cart
One of the first things that users look for, especially beginners, is for simplicity, and you can’t get any simpler in terms of cart design than the Performance Tool Universal Welding Cart.
This compact welding cart features all-steel construction, and it is also painted with a corrosion-resistant black coat which is meant to make it durable for years to come.
One thing you must know about this product is that it is very compact, measuring just 26.9 x 14.17 x 27.95 inches when fully assembled, and while the steel build makes it durable and long-lasting, this particular model isn’t well-suited to carry heavy loads.
It has 2 storage trays where you can keep your equipment and accessories, although since the top one is tiled, that one will be mostly used to keep your MIG and TIG welding machines, you don’t have to worry about whether your tools will fit since this welding cart is designed to fit most manufacturer’s MIG and plasma machines.
Speaking of storage, this welding cart comes with a rear cylinder tray that has 2 safety chains that will keep your gas tanks in place.
Lastly, moving this cart around won’t be hard at all, thanks to the 7.5-inch back wheels and the 3-inch front swivel casters.
If this compact welding cart caught your eye, go to the Performance Tool Universal Welding Cart’s Amazon page, read more about it, and then press Add to Cart.
Specs:
- Tiers: 3
- Material: Steel
- Size: 26.9 x 14.17 x 27.95 inches
- Weight: 17.5 pounds
Pros:
- Made to fit most standard MIG machines and plasma cutters
- 2 safety chains on the cylinder rack
- Very maneuverable
- Easy to assemble
- All-steel design
Cons:
- Not made for heavy loads
How Do I Pick a Good Welding Cart?
After reading about our 5 entries, you may have noticed how we focused on certain criteria more than others, and that’s because there are indeed certain features that you need to look out for more than others.
The next part of our guide will be discussing what exactly you need to look for when buying a new welding cart, or at least what features you should focus on since those will dictate just how useful the cart will be to you.
Size
This criterion is pretty self-explanatory since we are talking about a product that is supposed to streamline your workflow, and what better way to do so than to have a cart that can carry as many tools as possible.
Sure enough, don’t expect welding carts to be too big, but at least make sure that they can at least accommodate your most essential tools, such as the MIG welder or the plasma cutter.
However, always check the maximum load size that a cart can handle, since welding equipment can be very heavy, and you don’t want to bend or even break the cart from overfilling it.
Besides, having some space for some of the smaller tools is a bonus since the more space you have, the more you can carry around without having to fill your actual pockets.
Compartmentalization
While we did talk about size, the way that all that storage space is distributed is also important since a welding cart isn’t just a cart where you stockpile your tools, one on top of the other.
That is why pretty much all welding carts have their storage space compartmentalized using shelves and designated storage cabinets. Not only will each tool have its own designated space, but storing them will be safer and more neatly organized.
One thing to remember, though is that you need to pay attention to the size of the shelves since a welding cart is useless if it has too many small shelves and none of them can store your welder properly.
Build Quality
The build quality of a welding cart is something that may sound very generic at first, but it pretty much dictates every other aspect of the product. For example, if the cart isn’t made from sturdy materials, it may bend and break over time due to the heavy equipment you’ll be storing on it.
More so, if the cabinets aren’t made properly, they can jam, or their respective locks can become broken, effectively rendering them useless.
Another thing you should check out is whether or not the welding cart is made to resist some of the most common chemicals found in a metalworker’s workshop, since spills are always a possibility, and corrosion can be a really serious threat.
Wheels
So your welding cart is big, sturdy, and offers plenty of space and dedicated compartments for all of your tools. If that’s the case, your biggest concern is how hard it will be to maneuver the cart now that it’s full, and that’s where the quality of the wheels plays an important role.
As a general recommendation, we advise that you look for welding carts with rubber wheels, since these tend to last longer, and they are also very quiet.
Another thing to look for is how the wheels are positioned so that you can distribute the weight as evenly as possible when carrying your tools. More so, having swivel wheels can help if you own a much smaller workshop where there’s not much space to allow you to make wide turns.
Price
We know that a product’s price can sometimes be the determining factor when deciding whether it is worth it or not. Fortunately enough, welding carts, in general, aren’t too expensive, with the average prices ranging between $50 and $100.
Sure enough, this criterion is ultimately based on your specific needs, as simpler welding carts (the ones typical users would buy) are always cheaper than the ones that have plenty of features that only professionals will ever take advantage of.
Thus, we don’t recommend that you buy the most expensive welding cart available if you’ll not be using even half of its features, since you’ll just be throwing money out the window.
Optional Features
While certain features have become a standard in building welding carts, some optional features can make your welding cart specifically better at certain tasks, although these features are purely situational.
Wire Hooks
If your welding cart will be filled with plenty of electrical tools, chances are that there will be plenty of power cords and wires hanging around, and having to untangle them can be very annoying, especially when you’re supposed to be welding. Besides, wires and cords just lying on the ground can be a real safety hazard, since you can trip on them.
That’s precisely why some welding carts have wire hooks laced on the side so that you can roll and keep all of the cords and wires organized and untangled.
Ease of Assembly
Welding carts won’t be delivered to you already assembled, as that is something that you will have to do yourself (think IKEA), so one thing you might want to look for is a welding cart that doesn’t look too hard to put together.
Speaking of assembly, once you are done putting everything together, make sure that everything is fastened properly, and that all nuts and bolts are screwed in tightly since you don’t want your welding cart falling apart with expensive equipment on it.
Gas Bottle Storage
Welding machines need gas cylinders, so naturally, they need to be carried around as well. While you could store them in pretty much any welding cart’s compartment (as long as they fit), some welding carts come with dedicated space that will keep gas tanks in an upright position, while also providing you with a means to chain and secure them in place.
On step forward would be to have a welding cart that has two such slots, one for a MIG and one for a TIG gas cylinder, since switching between the two welding methods it’s something you may sometimes need to do.
Should I Make My Own Welding Cart?
With so many criteria to fill out, it’s only natural that some of you may be thinking of creating your very own custom welding cart since that would be the only way to make one that is perfectly suited for your needs.
That’s precisely why one alternative to buying a welding cart is to craft your own. The only problem with this is that, even if you do get the sizes right and make the shelves perfect and place the wheels accordingly, load capacity is something harder to guess, and you may end up creating a welding cart that is perfect in size, but not strong enough when it comes to carrying heavy loads.
That is probably the biggest con of making your own welding cart, so unless you have proper training and know exactly how to calculate load capacity based on the cart’s design and materials it is built from, you’ll be safer sticking with a store-bought option.
Best Welding Carts: Closing Thoughts
Our list of best welding carts has come to an end, and we hope that we’ve made it easier for you to make an informed decision about your next big purchase.
We tried choosing welding carts that will suit a wide variety of tastes, needs, and budgets, as you may have noticed how we included very budget-friendly and simple welding carts, together with more premium but also more specialized alternatives.
More so, we hope that the second half of our article was informative enough and that we managed to give you an idea of what to look for when shopping for the ideal welding cart.
All in all, if you want to check out more top lists featuring the best equipment that any welder should have, leave us some of your suggestions in the comments section below, and we’ll be sure to create a similar guide in no time at all.