Why Are Welding Carts Angled?

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Why Are Welding Carts Angled?

This is one of the curveball questions that we were asked some time ago and have just around to answering!

Basically, it goes like this: you are a beginner or have been welding for some time and you have noticed that welding carts are angled…but you don’t know why?

There are basically 3 main motives for angled welding carts:

  • Visibility of the welding machine controls
  • It prevents you from overloading the shelf with the myriad of other equipment (we are all guilty of this)
  • It creates a lower center of gravity to prevent the whole cart from falling over

These and other reasons are mainly why welding carts are angled; to help you to create a clean and tidy workshop. When you have a tidy and efficient work shop, you find that you can push on with your projects without the distraction of either busting your knees kneeling down to adjust controls, or simply not spending time looking for tools.

Level welding carts do exist, notably if they have some kind of cabinet underneath, but you will mostly find welding carts with an angled shelf for the reasons noted.

I will attempt to shed a bit more light on the question “why are welding carts angled?”, so that if you are still interested beyond this point; hopefully your lust for this information will be abated!!!

Why Are Welding Carts Angled?

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I will cover the main reasons for the unusual shelf tilt, and then go on to explain in a bit more detail the idea behind it and the benefits associated with angled carts.

The reasons I will cover include:

  • Safety: Having easy access to the controls
  • Visibility: Being able to safely and easily adjust controls
  • Stability: The mass is down low so it keeps the entire cart planted

Benefits Of An Angled Welding Cart


Reachability And Visibility Of Controls

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Maybe the most important reason of all why most welding carts are equipped with an angled top shelf is for promoting reachability and visibility of the welding controls.

When the shelf is set at an angle, the cart makes it possible for you to see the controls from a direct angle. This prevents parallax from occurring.

Parallax is just a term that describes an illusory difference in an object’s apparent position depending on the point of view of the user.

If you change your vantage point after looking at an object from a certain point of view, the object will look like it is in a different position in relation to the objects surrounding it.

Welding carts need to be reachable

For welding, it is essential to overcome this obstacle. You need to be able to accurately see your welding equipment’s gauges and controls.

The welding cart’s angle allows for the right vantage point to make sure you see things accurately. The angle has the added benefit in terms of the controls in that it places the welder in a much better position to easily manipulate the controls.

With a level shelf, you might need to stoop down in order to manipulate and properly see the controls with the accuracy that is needed for this type of sensitive work.

Prevent Tips With Low Center Of Gravity

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Another important benefit of having a welding cart with an angled design is that it lowers the center of gravity of the cart. Although that might not seem very important, if you consider how catastrophic it can be if your cart were to tip over, then you will understand why this is so critical.

Welders are expensive instruments, and if they fall on a concrete floor most likely serious damage will be caused even to very durable equipment.

That is why a lower center of gravity that an angled welding cart created is so important. It significantly lowers the chance that a trip or unforeseen accident will cause your welding cart to tip over.

Before seriously considering a straight-level welding cart this is definitely something you will want to keep in mind.

Prevents Pile-On

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This final point is not as much of an intentional benefit of your welding cart’s angled top shelf. Most likely it is a happy coincidence.

However, if the top shelf on a welding cart is at an angle, it is less likely that you will place things on top of it. There are a few reasons why this is beneficial.

First of all, your work area is kept efficient and clean. Second of all, it will help to prevent too much stuff from piling up on the top of your cart so that you cannot move the cart safely.

Using an Angled Welding Cart is not Absolutely Necessary

In terms of keeping the area clean, having an angled design is definitely useful. You won’t be tempted to set down a beverage on your work surface, which can lead to catastrophic messes such as spills.

You also won’t have as much of a problem with your work environment becoming cluttered. The angled shelf makes it very inconvenient to set unnecessary items close to your welding equipment, and that will keep your important work area clean and ready for use.

In terms of promoting your cart’s mobility, the angled shelf will not allow you to place a number of easy-to-lose or unsupported items on the top of your cart.

When the top shelf is clear of any extra junk or equipment, you will be able to move your cart around freely, without needing to worry about anything falling off of it or your cart tipping over due to extra weight.

It is basically your cart giving you a friendly reminder to keep your work area clear and clean!

Is Using An Angled Welding Cart Necessary?

No, you don’t need to use an angled welding cart. You really don’t need to use any type of welding cart.

However, we have found that the slight angle that most welding carts have is more of a beneficial feature instead of a flaw.

The slanted shelf offers several benefits at once, including effectively preventing unnecessary clutter that can limit your welding equipment and cart’s mobility, creates a lower center of gravity for the cart, offers ideal reachability of the controls, and provides a better vantage point for seeing your equipment.

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