Welding casters to a "shop crane" base

I have a Harbor Freight shop crane

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=35915

The casters that it came with were quite lousy. I found some
inexpensive Peerless 900 lbs rated 6" by 2" casters (the seller is 5
miles from me)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280020380023

and I think that they would work better on this crane. I would like to
just weld them to the legs of the crane. I hope that it would make the
crane very mobile for moving loads around.

I have basically three questions

1. I am assuming that TIG welding casters to the far ends of the legs
is not going to make this crane any weaker (possibly due to heat
stress). The legs are probably made of ordinary mild steel and are
unlikely to be carrying anything close to critical stress around the
ends. The original casters were attached with 6mm or so metric bolts.

Is that a sensible assumption?

2. How far away from the weld area should I go to remove powder
coating prior to welding.

3. After welding is done (TIG), what's a good simple way to paint
it. I have some oil based tractor paint in a spray can, would be be a
good application of it. I usually store this crane outdoors.

I would be unlikely to lift more than 1,000-1,500 lbs with this crane.

i

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Welding casters to a "shop crane" base
    ... The casters that it came with were quite lousy. ... and I think that they would work better on this crane. ... I am assuming that TIG welding casters to the far ends of the legs ... How far away from the weld area should I go to remove powder ...
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    (rec.crafts.metalworking)