Guncarts of the not so rich nor nearly that famous

[Mark Flint]

Thought I would share my work in progress with you fine folks and Wallaby :)

I'll post an update if I ever get off my *** and do anymore evilb:

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

ah ha... very nice, I like the hand cart base...:tban

[Mark Flint]

It is a welding cart from Harbor Freight

31.99 and the tires are 20" pneumatics!

Handle is detachable, too


Early stages

Here is the gun retention system

[Ponderosa Starr]

Wow.. This is looking great! On 3/2/06 I posted a pic of the welding cart that was found at Harbor Frieght (see the thread "I love My Shot Gun- and look under the topic "My New Gun Cart") a friend of mine found this and told me about it - he said he can make a gun cart for less than $100.. I am glad to see someone starting it and posting the pics already.. It will surely make a great cart!!!

[Mark Flint]

I started a thread over on the wire first, but it seems a case of parallel evolution. Great minds think alike, apparently so do we! :D

(In case you missed it I am trying to be charming-sometimes it just comes off as a bit trying)

[Wallaby Jack]

"Thought I would share my work in progress with you fine folks and Wallaby :)"

Smile when you say that !!!
........ oh, I see that you did ;)

...In that case,..... I resemble that remark :):):)


:2:wallaby:2:wallaby:2

[Mark Flint]

Folded the cart is compact. I left the handle up for now as I am still contemplating replacing it with something less industrial looking.

that is likely it for a few days I am going to have my boys here and we are going to hang out-any construction projects will likely be cages for them. ;)

[NoGunz Kay]

Mr. Mark, can you give us some dimensions on that cart?? Also, are you going to have a box that sits at the front of the tray? And what dimensions will it be? I really like the idea of using the welder's dolly, especially since there is one of those stores closeby. And about how much do you think it weighs??? The reason I ask that is can it be put up in the back of a pick up easily by a woman??? Remember all us unescorted Lady Shooters that load and unload by ourselves.

But Thanks, Mr. Mark, you are performing a great service to us novice shooters who are just now realizing how many paychecks its taking to get outfitted for this new sport we have gotten into.

NGK (who has now gotten to shoot in three matches)

:gf

[Lady Fleur]

I have a question? How much do gun carts cost?

[Kid Sopris]

As A matter of fact I do:

http://www.guncarts.com

http://www.kansascas.com/gun_carts.htm

http://www.stoneycreekltd.com

If you don't like any of those go to 'Google' and type Gun carts, and hit search.

[Mark Flint]

Starting price for guncarts from most manufactures is a bit over $200.00 and can soar up to 500.00 or even more. The reason I am building is to get a cart that will fit compactly in my vehicle and will meet my particular needs completely. I like to travel and don't want a cart to take up a lot of space.

Kay-I'll be happy to give you more details as I figure out exactly what I am going to do. The base of the cart is longer than I would suggest for someone else, but I am considering the possibility of making a 4 wheel cart out of this some day.

Currently it is light enough to handle even for a small person. The large box is mostly cypress that I planed down to 3/4 and the bottom is 1/2 cabinet grade plywood.

[BayouBlessings]

I thought the welding cart was a great idea, and now, I see it come to pass! Mark Flint, it looks great and appears to be easy to maneuver and such. Though I love my gun cart, a vintage baby carriage, I am not sure how it is going to maneuver in gravel, grass or dirt. She'll be goin' for a test drive this SATURDAY!! *YEE-HAW*

~BB

[Chihuahua Floyd]

BB,
Be sure to let us know if the horns keep everybody out of your way.


Mark,
Looks good so far. I'm going to try one of Rolan Kraps designs when I get over the flu.
CF

[Wallaby Jack]

"when I get over the flu."

I thought it was............. "1 flew over the...."

Ya musta watched a diff'ent movie.....



:wallaby:w2:wallaby

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Wallaby,
So now, not only am I a monkey (other thread) but a cuckoo monkey as well? I can live with that.
CF

[Chantry]

Lacking the necessary skills and the fact that I am not allowed to play with power tools, I ordered an unfinished cart from Cal Graf in oak. While the cart is very well made and I am happy with the quality and it's performance, it is also quite heavy (that's what I get for ordering it in oak) and takes about 10 minutes to put together or take apart to fit in my trunk. Which is why once the season starts up here in CT (this Sunday, yee hah!) I tend to leave the cart in the trunk through out the season instead of trying to carry it to the basement of my condo. I considering trying to make a smaller, lighter cart for 1 day shoots and save the Cal Graf for the multi day shoots.

[Mark Flint]

I had a Cal Graf Simple cart in Oak as well and it was WAY TOO HEAVY!

but until this one is done and in use I will withold comparisons.

[Ponderosa Starr]

I started a thread over on the wire first, but it seems a case of parallel evolution. Great minds think alike, apparently so do we! :D

(In case you missed it I am trying to be charming-sometimes it just comes off as a bit trying)


I think it is great Mark - I can't wait to see it finished. It is going to be a while before I will get mine done.
And yes I did read your post on the SASS wire - I just can't help but think the welding cart will get the job done, and done well..

Keep us posted!! :gf

[Macon McLeod O'Smoke]

Now, who is going to develop a gun cart that suddenly appears out of thin air at the back of your vehicle when you get to the match and get ready to get your guns out, and then disappears after the match is over and the guns are loaded into the vehicle? Of course the cart will reappear again at the next cowboy match. Everybody would want one so the person who does this would become rich and famous, maybe even infamous. This would be about the only gun cart I could use. Living in an apartment sucks. Absolutely no room.

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Macon,
Thats why your shooting buddies are called Pards. Iron Ed and I shoot out of the same cart for a long time. I have seen as many as 6 people share a cart.
CF
plus there are some that fold very small.

[Wallaby Jack]

I use a cart that comes apart into 9 pieces of plywood, an axle and 2 wheels....

It will carry 6 long-guns and has a box for bits an' ammo that can be sat on, an' a small bench at tha back (at workin' height) fer chargin' yer C'n'Bs

It's a snap to assemble and has 2 bolts an' 2 long retainin' pins an' 4 "R" clips.

'Tother day I pulled it outa ma van an' then assembled it. A fella walked past an' asked if i made it outa "that li'l pile o' firewood"...... :)

Because each piece is separate when disassembled it can be stored in a "spread out" fashion...

I can help ya if ya want....

It started with a "Rolan Krapps" design, an' got modified some...

......s'pose I should take some pitchers.....

:wallaby:):wallaby

[Chihuahua Floyd]

I am currently working on Rolan Krap's Fort White Folder cart.
Still need to buy some of the hardward. May use the wheels from my gunbarrow. Little larger than what Rolan's design calles for but I can make it work.
CF

[NoGunz Kay]

Well, Mr. Mark, you have inspired me to get going on my gun cart, so here are the handles which I cut out today, the platform bottom, and some of the cross boards that will be used and one will be further shaped for the barrel rest. I am loosely using Rolan Krepp's folding gun cart plans.

NGK :gf

[Mark Flint]

Nice job on the handle! very nice

I got sidetracked and built a walnut table and saddle stand but will be back at it soon.

[NoGunz Kay]

Ok, ya'll here is my next installment of work on my new gun cart. I bought the wheels today at Northern Tools, $15 each, hardware was $5 or so.

NGK :gf

[Nellie Blue]

Looking good! :tban :tban :tban

[Iron Ed]

Ok, ya'll here is my next installment of work on my new gun cart. ...
NoGunz Kay.. You are talented!

[Wallaby Jack]

Wow Mr.Flint,..... most folks sometimes make a seat on their guncart, ain't never see'd one with a walnut table or a saddle stand fitted.......:goofy


Real nice job Ma'am :)

[Mark Flint]

Funny WJ-just for that you might!

Kay-looks good, you are obviously someone who can follow instructions!

I did a bit more work last night adding leather to the gun rests and retainer and getting a divider installed in the lower box and a support cleat made for the back. I have a lid panel glued up and waiting when I get home this evening for final fitting and installation, then I need to start thinking about an upper box and if I am going to make my own handles or use the big metal one. . . decisions, decisions, decisions . . .

[Mark Flint]

Time for some new pics

Here they come

First a picture of the box and lid on the cart

[Mark Flint]

Now a picture of the leather lined gunrest

[Mark Flint]

Now just how big is that thing?

Well there are 550 rounds of 38-40 and a hundred rounds of 12 ga in the lower box in this photo and lots of room left!

[Mark Flint]

It holds more long guns than I have these days! (not really if I get my 92 from the smith)

[Mark Flint]

and for the screw up--I added a cleat or weight bearing board to the back and ended up making the lower box 1/2" too long to nest properly!


Simple solution is I will be lifting the gunrest up and additional 3/4 of an inch on riser blocks. Thankfully no big whoop!

[Nellie Blue]

Wow! I'm impressed! Looks great!

[Kid Sopris]

Mark, What holds the box to the frame of the cart?

[Mark Flint]

a single 3/4bolt and wing nut and the cleat on the backrides up against the bottom of the axle to bear weight when the whole thing is tilted back.

but more importantly. . .

Where have all the good girls gone? More importantly where are all the bad ones? evilb:

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

Well I think it looks great...Hubbie has been watching with intrest...but I am not letting him rebuild the gun cart again! I finally got it just the way "i" like it and well thats what is important right?? LOL


Beautiful work Mark!!

[Chihuahua Floyd]

but more importantly. . .

Where have all the good girls gone? More importantly where are all the bad ones? evilb:

I'm married to one of them!

Cart looks great and if your oops is fixable that easily, you done real good.
CF

[Coffee Em]

Mark, that's a peach of a cart, good-looking and compact both. Nice, nice work.

You could cover the metal tubing with leather, either wrapped or with cut sections laced on...

Cheers,
Coffee Em

[Mark Flint]

Yep, covering the tubing with leather has been a thought-also may use canvas panels that are stitched to fit and snap into place so they can be washed.

But for now I am going to get this sucker usable, then put some finish on it, then go back and dress it up a bit at a time

[Coffee Em]

Canvas panels--I like that. It would help keep dust off the guns.

My folks told El Husband and me, "Don't remodel your house until you've lived in it for a year. Everything you think you want at first will change." Wonder if it's sort of like that with gun carts? If so, a good argument for putting it to work now and refining later.

Cheers,
Coffee Em

[Wallaby Jack]

Paint tha whole thing to match.....
....fire-engine red.

You ain't gonna have a lot of trouble finding it in tha "parkin' lot".... ;)


:wallaby:w2:wallaby

[Mark Flint]

Okay, in the old west "nesters" was not a nice term, but in the guncart design business I hope it has a better connotation!

I lifted the rack 3/4 of an inh and things fit nicely now.

remember the wheels come off with two pins and the handle is still going to be replaced with something a bit less industrial as soon as I figure out exactly what that will be!

[Mark Flint]

and as a decorative touch on the top you can see the partially finished hand made latch and some artwork I intend to apply permenantly.

[Mark Flint]

oh and Coffee Em- the problem with putting them to work before completing the refinements is the likelyhood that I will have a great idea and start another cart and never make the refinements! I am going to work on doing better with that sort of thing.

[Mark Flint]

Made the upper box and it holds in place with the turn of a window sash lock-well I believe it is going to work anyway!

Here is the cart with the box in place

[Mark Flint]

Here is a view from the front

[Mark Flint]

so you can see how the box stays in place, here is a picture with it out.

The wedge shaped pieces hold the box down.

the cross bar kepps it from falling backwards, and the crossbar on the handles will attach to the other crossbar with a sash lock tomorrow evening.

[Mark Flint]

Here's the box alone to make more sense out of this

[Fannie Kikinshoot]

That is looking great!!

[Mark Flint]

and the final detail is it will nest nicely as shown below for a compact and easy to store and assemble cart. Currently I still need to so a bit more work on the handle to make it easier to put on/take off, but that is for another day.

[Annie Gunneldoo]

Hey Mark,
The cart is looking great. When can I put in my order for a J. Mark Flint custom Heck on Wheels Gun Cart? :gf

[Mark Flint]

Thanks Fannie, I was posting when you said so, but I really appreciate it.

I am reluctant to predict the final weight, but right now the entire cart weighs
53 pounds fully assembled. and all it lacks is some sanding, a hinge, a window sash lock, finish and an upper box latch, so I think total weight will be 55 pounds or under pretty easily.

That is for a cart that holds 6 long guns and enough ammo for two shooters to shoot a 12 stage match and some side matches along with room for black pwder cleaning supplies. This is turning out better than I anticipated!

[Mark Flint]

Hey Annie! Send me an email with what you think your needs are and what you are going to transport it in and I will build you a cart for the cost of the supplies.
Be glad to do it and to make you something truly unique-just like you.

[Mark Flint]

I almost forgot! The gunbutt dividers are going to be canvas stitched to form the dividers and fitted on a foam base so my guns won't rattle around!

In Honor of the Belle Alley I have to use my sewing machine!

[Annie Gunneldoo]

Hey Annie! Send me an email with what you think your needs are and what you are going to transport it in and I will build you a cart for the cost of the supplies.
Be glad to do it and to make you something truly unique-just like you.

Thanks Mark,
Way Cool!!! :99
I'll be scoping out the other carts until the Bust Out. If you get a free minute during that weekend, I'm sure we can come up with something really "unique." :wallaby

[Mark Flint]

okay, here are the teasers for now

The retention system for the upper box was less than sucessful, so a simple bolt and wing nut will have to do the job.

[Mark Flint]

and the box hinge is leather!

The finish is drying as we speak and with a little luck you may see some more pictures tonight!

[Annie Gunneldoo]

Hey Mark!
Along with everything else, I really love the leather hinges.
Can we do that on mine? In black?
Can we? Huh? Huh? Can we?

[Mark Flint]

Sure Lorrie, I can see that you are the black leather type! I also got a request for a price quote for a cart similar to mine tonight. I suppose I could go into business if I had more time more space and a desire to turn my hobby into my nightmare!

It looks like more pictures will be waiting till tomorrow as the finish is drying, but it won't go any faster than it wants to! Besides, I am bushed and am going to turn in early tonight.

Gonna go now, see y'all later!

[Annie Gunneldoo]

Sure Lorrie, I can see that you are the black leather type!
:rofl :rofl :wallaby

[Mark Flint]

Well it is tomorrow and here are some pictures!

I trimmed the front leg to save a bit of weight (easier than dieting) That necessitated relocating the Brass Winchester nameplate to the front of the upper box. The interior was finished after the pictures and is now drying.

I like the look of the cypress with a shellac and then varnish finish I decided not to cover the top with the metal winchester sign so it is now the underside of the lid.

I won't say it is done, cause I have a few more modifications to the handle attachment and one or two remaining ideas that I'm planning, but it is furrther along anyway.

[Mark Flint]

I really like the look of the walnut on the upper box and retention system, I love the contrast of the woods. THere is no stain of any type folks, that is all the wood and clear finish.

[Mark Flint]

just in case you wondered here is the winchester sign.

total weight is currently 52 pounds. The bare cart weighs 24 pounds.

I believe total cost was in the neighborhood of 130.00 worth of materials and about 16 hours build and finish time so far. I think I need a few more hours to finish up some details though.

[Kitty Phann]

It looks very nice, you done good!

[Mark Flint]

Thank you. It isn't done, but it has been fun!

[Mark Flint]

One important note for any builders using the harbor freight welding cart as a frame. The side rails tilt inward as they go up so that the amount of space at the top is nearly an inch smaller than at the bottom. If you are building a box to nest you need to account for this with an undersized box or one that is not square(or rectangular).

I opted for a lower box 17" wide x24" long and that is 7 1/2 deep. The next cart I build on this design will probably use 17" x 20 dimensions

My upper box is 15 3/4"x7 1/2 x 7 1/2 deep

the gun rest is 20 3/8 x 5 1/2 x3/4 and is oak as opposed tot the main cart's cypress construction.

Special thanks are due to the Belles fo the hosting of this thread and to PMS for the donation of the leather I used in this and some other projects as well.

Stay tuned for the Saturday evening report of the cart in action.

[Pretty Mean Shawme]

Looks Great! You are very welcome for the leather, anytime!

Love ya!

[Coffee Em]

Okay, that cart is now too handsome to take to the range. Better start another one.

I'm kind of bummed to hear that the wooden-wedge retention system didn't work out; that seemed especially classy. Sigh. But wingnuts are our friends (and before anyone else says it, yes, most of my friends are wingnuts).

Yeah, probably shortening the box by four inches is a good plan--saves a little space in a crowd, and reduces weight. Now, hmmm, where to hang the canteen?

Cheers,
Coffee Em

[Garnet Rose]

But wingnuts are our friends (and before anyone else says it, yes, most of my friends are wingnuts).

Cheers,
Coffee Em

The story of my life -- Always the Em friend, never the Em! :coffee em

[Mark Flint]

actually, the wood wedge part of the retention system works flawlwssly, it was the using a window latch to hold it together that was the problem.

The wingnut will be eliminated from the cart though as I found a 3/8 clinc pin with a spring loaded ball bearing near the end. I am mounting a block of wood to the top of the pin to adjust the length and instead of bolting the box in place, the pin will just push into place and hold without having to use a wingnut at all. Change over will take a few minutes tonight, and I am drilling the handles for t bolts anyway. While the handle is off off I may cover it with some denim or something similar.

Stay tuned for more . . . heck I don't know what!

and I have a new cart plan in my head and heading to paper, if I wasn't shooting Saturday I''d build it!

[NoGunz Kay]

Okay, Mr. Mark, here it is, sans finish. And I have a box to be mounted somewhere that will hold a coozy filled refreshment, along with other neccessities, I just am not sure where it would best to put it.




NoGunz Kay :gf

[NoGunz Kay]

Hubbie broke the box lid by knocking it off where it was sitting, otherwise, it would look better. Here is the side view.

NoGunz Kay :gf

[Kid Sopris]

Damn Kay, That's a real nice cart!!!!!!!:)

[Mark Flint]

looks eally nice and easy to deal with. Rolan makes some interesting plans just don't emulate him and use the saw on your own fingers okay?

[Coffee Em]

The story of my life -- Always the Em friend, never the Em! :coffee em

Chica, I am the mac daddy (mommy? auntie?) wingnut of my acquaintance. I have to be worthy of my pals, don't I? :D

Cheers,
Coffee Em

[Nellie Blue]

WOW!!!!

Kay, That's great!!! :dc :dc :dc

[Garnet Rose]

Chica, I am the mac daddy (mommy? auntie?) wingnut of my acquaintance. I have to be worthy of my pals, don't I? :D

Cheers,
Coffee Em

And you are!

Garnet (a wingnut -- better than having a screw loose!) Rose

[Sweet Violet]

Wow!!! Those are truely works of art. I am very impressed and stand in awe of anyone who can do woodworking!! If I tried it I would cut something off, and not a piece of wook. Think I'll stick to sewing and leave the wood craft to you talented people!!

Sweet Violet

[BayouBlessings]

Kay your cart looks great! I am impressed girl!! It must feel good to accomplish something like that. :D We've got a gal in our gun club who made her cart and it turn out great.

May it serve you well Kay!

[Annie Gunneldoo]

Really great cart Kay!!!
Congrats on a job well done. :tban

[Mark Flint]

Final mods prior to the first use are done, Handles secure with t sheped knobs and the upper box pins into place. Umbrella is mounted if the weather so dictates.

[Mark Flint]

and tempting fate. . .

[Coffee Em]

Umbrella--yes! (I keep forgetting about them, but in Arizona, no guncart should be without one. Keep that UV exposure to a minimum.)

Cheers,
Coffee Em

[Annie Gunneldoo]

Final mods prior to the first use are done, Handles secure with t sheped knobs and the upper box pins into place. Umbrella is mounted if the weather so dictates.
Sir Flint, Master Guncart Builder, :bow
I love the umbrella mount. You are giving me so many ideas for our "unique" gun cart. I can't wait to see yours at the Bust Out. You are bringin' her aren't ya? :wallaby

[Mark Flint]

Cart performed beautifully today een with 5 long guns and plenty of extra ammo.

Minimal tweaking will be necessary on the front leg, but otherwise she performed as good as I did. I was 1 shot off from a clean match and I shot fast fr a duelist with stages ageraging 42 seconds!

[Annie Gunneldoo]

Mark,
Cograts on the guncart :99
and
The Match. :gf

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

Well that turned out beautifully...So glad to hear it works like a charm as well, Kudos on the great match today!

GG

[Coffee Em]

Darn, no fooling on the congratulations. Maybe you shot better because those large-diameter wheels made it easier to get around the range, and your arms didn't get tired!

Cheers,
Coffee Em

[Mark Flint]

Thanks. The cart was heavily loaded to give it a good test and the only flaw I found was in the front foot attachment. It was a little bit too flexible, but I already have a fix in the works that will make it rock solid and will require no additional hardware or assembly steps. Best of all it will cost nothing an take me a few minutes at most.

Umbrella mount is only okay as the umbrella needs to be moved to move the cart, but the cart really rolls so easily that moving it most places with one hand is easy enough.

The cleat on the back is unnecessary and actually just gets in the way during set up, so I'll cut it off and refinish the back. I don't think I can get it under 50 pounds, but it is awful close.

[NoGunz Kay]

Well folkes, my guncart turned pink! I bought burgundy and its pink, but now it goes with the umbrella daughter picked out for it. We got it a couple of weeks ago before seeing the paint colour. Also don't have a place just yet to install it anyway, but did leave room in the planning stages so now need to do a modification for it.

NoGunz (what now has a pink guncart and umbrella to match) Kay

:gf

[NoGunz Kay]

It also needs a few more coats of paint, but had to put it back together so I could use it today. The box on the front will be stained, and the pretty plywood, I just used polyurethane on to seal it for now.

NoGunz Kay :gf

[Mark Flint]

It looks great Kay.

I am working on a cart for Annie Gunneldo and it is turning out to be really cool!

I can't tell you the wood, the design or any details cause I am enjoying the tormenting that goes along with the building for someone without their participation.

I do have the major sections of the cart built and awaiting sanding, hinges some decorative routing, finish etc. but it is already the coolest cart I have ever built.

[Coffee Em]

Kay, that's a peach--I love the colors!

Cheers,
Coffee Em

[Annie Gunneldoo]

Great Cart Kay,
Now you'll hafta get some gun grips for your revolvers to match it. :gf
I know Ajax makes pink and burgundy pearlite ones.
I also love the fact that it matches the chair in the background of the picture.
Keep us updated on your progress. :ss

[Allie Mo]

Great Cart Kay,
Now you'll hafta get some gun grips for your revolvers to match it. :gf .. Maybe I should paint my gun cart to match my grips.:gg They're the color of Kay's cart.

I love the color and umbrella. I'm always searching for mine in the sea of brown carts.

Regards,

Allie Mo

[Chihuahua Floyd]

I love the color and umbrella. I'm always searching for mine in the sea of brown carts.
Allie Mo
Allie Mo,
Paint away.
Thats why I never stain or paint a gun cart brown. Course my current cart don't look like any other I ever seen anyhow.
CF

[Allie Mo]

Allie Mo,
Paint away.
Thats why I never stain or paint a gun cart brown. Course my current cart don't look like any other I ever seen anyhow.CFOkay Pappa C,

Those are postin' words! ;)

Let's see yer cart. :waiting :tap

Regards,

Allie Mo
who is hoping he didn't already post it, so no one calls her out for not reading the entire thread :eek: :go

[Iron Ed]

Nice job, Kay! Gonna put your alias on the front of the box in bright purple? :)

Like the hinged rifle rack too. Havn't noticed that on a cart before. Until you get more long guns you 'could' leave the umbrella where it is, just find something to keep it from blowing out of the notch.

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Allie Mo,
I don't have the picts any longer since the puter got wiped. I have posted them somewhere. Don't remember where.
I'll try to get more this weekend and post.
Iron Ed, do youmember where those picts are?
Don't got a gun cart, gotta gun barrow.
I'll have it at the "Bust Out".
CF

[Nellie Blue]

CF...is this it?http://www.carolinabelles.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=3262&stc=1&d=1139537125

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Nellie,
Yes, that is it. Thanks
CF

[Mark Flint]

Cart is still working great, but there have been a few changes since the beginning. I did a little routing on the edges to add some detail, I pinstriped it :D, I made a soft pad for the gun butts to rest on and I wrapped the handle with some deerskin scraps.

I figured out that assembly with the t nuts alternating sides of the handle was faster and that's about it.

I'll give an updated picture in a few days.

[Mark Flint]

Had a request for another picture and thought I'd bring this to the top. I'll add a picture this evening. The cart has served me well through a busy fall shooting schedule and I think it has made 15 or 16 shoots so far this year with only the need to use different screws to strengthen the box top. Never did fix the wobbly front foot, but I promise I might :)