As I said earlier I am amazed at how much work can be accomplished with simple tools. It is actually possible to cut all of the metal in this entire project with a simple hack saw. Of course it is also possible to mow your yard with a pair of scissors. One way to look at the purchase of a new piece of equipment is taking into account what other jobs or projects it can be used for. So a Band Saw is not an absolute must but neither is a ratchet wrench. But they can make the work go much faster as well as efficiently. One source that I use for good reasonably priced tools is Northern Tool. Most of their tools are inexpensive (although not cheap as in "ain't no good.") Here is a nice little Band Saw that is a great addition to any garage workshop.

It will cut up to 4 1/2" diameter round stock, has a 3/4 horsepower motor, will cut horizontal and vertical cuts, and sells for around $225.00.

An alternative tool which can also work equally well for most metal cutting jobs is a chop saw. It is capable of cutting most strait cuts as well as angle cuts and in some ways it is easier to set up than a Band Saw. Since you would be cutting metal this is the time that it is worth paying a little more for the additional horse power. Here is a good choice for a chop saw.

This is a Milwaukee 14" Northern Tool model 6180-20. It has a cutting capacity of 5 3/8" Round stock or 5" Square stock. It sells for approx. $200.00.

You will also need a 14" abrasive cutting blade to cut metal. You can try using a wood cutting blade but it would kind of be like trying to use your wife's good sewing scissors to cut chicken wire. Here is a picture of the kind of blade you need. It is a Norton chop saw blade 14" Model 076607-89399-4.

Here is a cheap lawnmower.

Who is Joey? This is a question I often ask myself because, uh, I am Joey. Shakespear says, "To be or not to be?" That is a question alright. But what does that have to do with tools?
Good tools are like comfort food. The best of both worlds is having good tools and comfort food. I get a good warm feeling when I go to the hardware store. I get a specially warm feeling when I go to the ACE Hardware store near my house. They have free Popcorn. So here is my point. In a sense, a certain part of us is defined by the tools we posses. We like to showcase our tools with pride regardless of how humble or inexpensive. I am fortunate to have tools I have inherited from my Father and Granfather. I have Grandpas plumbing tools, and a railroad stave. Dad gave me his heavy duty ratchet set he used for working on the tractors at the farm. I am amazed at how much work can be accomplished with very simple tools. Of course it helps to have some skill as well. But isn't that part of the reason for attempting a project like this, to learn some new skills as well as create something functional and useful. So as with everything else, when it comes to quality and functionality you get what you pay for. Most all of us have the basic screw drivers, wrenches, hack saws, and drills. But in order to build a Go Cart it will take some aditional equipment. Since this project will require metal fabrication, you will need some items not found in the ordinary home garage. The following is a list of the main items.
1. Band Saw
2. 4 1/2" Angle Grinder
3. Pipe Bender
4. chop saw
5. Welding Machine
All of these items can be found in costs ranging from modest to rediculouse. I will attempt to give you the options for each item and the minimum performance capabilities required for this project.

Do I really want to do this? It is best to proceed in a logical manner. Some may say logic shmogic. Let's just gitter done. That is what I said when I started my latest project of assembling a Victorian Doll House with about 1000 pieces not counting the shingles. And believe me it is much easier to shingle a real house than a doll house albeit a little more dangerous. This is something I really wanted to do and I have been doodling on it for a year. But the point is that we will always feel better about things if we finish what we start. I will feel better mostly not getting the gentle reminders to finish the stupid Doll House already. So first of all we need to know what we need. Count the cost so to speak. Because good tools do cost money. But let's start with what kind of work space is required to build a Go Cart. I can tell you now that if all you have is the kitchen table then you may want to just consider the Doll house Project. A good place for fabricating metal is a covered port or garage. Something to protect against the elements. An ideal place is an enclosed garage with adequate ventilation. If you are like a lot of people then you don't have room in the garage for a car let alone some kind of project. But it really does not take a lot of space. All I have to do is finish up this Doll house and I am good to go.

Next you need to be aware of the tools that are required. I will make a list of what is needed and then give detailed suggestions on ways to go. As in most things there are many different ways to go about something. I do not profess to know the best way to do anything. There is good, better and best. I am aquainted with good and better. I was once introduced to best but he turned out to be an imposter. There is also "ain't no good" and unfortunately we will all run into him every once in a while. But the point is to learn to recognize him and run the other way. So here is how it works. There needs to be respect. Few among us know everything. My skills may appear elementary compared to yours. But if you will respect my less than perfect ways of doing things then I will refrain from making comments about your mother. But if there is any disrespect then whether or not your momma wears army boots will be the least of her worries. Fair enough?

Hello and welcome to Joeys Go Cart Paige. And yes that is the way I meant to spell Paige. Paige is my oldest grand daughter and I promised to build a cart for her and younger sister Ashlyn. If you are like me then you will see something that gives you an idea that you would like to try even though you are not sure it is within your capabilities. A similar thing happened to me several years ago. I saw an advertisement for a set of plans to build a backhoe you could tow behind your truck. http://ubuilditplans.com/webpage4_page2.htm It looked really useful. Sure! I told my wife, we have plenty of uses for it like, like, well maybe not so many. But it was very interesting and fun and I learned to weld and form steel and mill parts... more on that later. But here is the deal. I wanted to see if it is possible for me to give a step by step tutorial on building a motorized Go Cart that does not take for granted that we know anything. One of the frustrations I have when trying to follow instructions is just plain not understanding the wording or the graphics or whatever. I am amazed by the intricacies of the English language. I often misspell words or get them backwards. Did I misspell mispell. I don't know. Sometimes I will be at a loss to think of a very simple word that would convey the thought I am trying to, uh convey. At that point I may use ten unnecessary words.To make it worse I have poor hearing. I may belabor points that would seem of no significance to others. For instance, is it Go Kart or Go Cart. I could waste a lot of time wondering. I choose to spell it with a C. I am not a good speller. But I notice that the F key is located
just one space up above the C key on the key board. Just one slip of the finger and we could be talking about an intirely different project. It may be the minor details that throw me off. I can perform some task that seems to me to be fairly intricate and then miss something seemingly very simple. I can catch on to things really quick sometimes but then sometimes it may take a while. The first time I used the mouse on the computer it really didn't take me that long to learn you could just lift it up and reposition it when you get to the end of the pad. But I was really getting nervouse. There is a red line under that last word so lets try nervous. But that's what I mean. What would the detailed instructions look like to build a simple Go Cart. How many pages of detailed specs, drawings and instructions would it take. Could it be accomplished in a lifetime? I think it may be time to find out.

Oh yes and I must issue this disclaimer. Here it is. "Safety First". However a free society and a "risk" free society cannot coexist. There is a certain amount of inherent danger in fabrication. That means that some unintended harmful consequences may occur during normal ( I am trying to find the right word) doing of stuff. (Yeah that sounded really good). I, along with countless others can attest to this, sometimes with bodily scars as reminders. But that is just the way it is. When you put solid sharp things together with heat, gasses, splinters, electricity and pinch points then the stage is set for success as well as tragedy. Sometimes one may wreak more havoc dancing about the work space sporting a hot chunk of slag burning a hole in a wool sock that was not supposed to be exposed in the first place. But sometimes you learn a great deal more by being allowed to make a mistake or two. It is about learning what "not" to do as well as what to do. If you want more of a sure thing then perhaps you should stick with building a doll house. More on that later.