Gonna purchase a gas-powered welder to use around the farm. Looked like Lincoln, Miller, or Hobart. So far, about $3000 is the best deal I've found for the Hobart 225. Lincoln a little more, Miller a lot more. What do you all think? Advice? Not gonna do a lot of welding. Any reason the Hobart will not do the job.
Gas Welder
- Thread starter jveretto
- Start date
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Are you wanting to use it as a generator as well or just for welding? Stick only? Running a feeder?
I’d consider diesel or LP if only used occasionally, the fuel is far more stable and you can use farm diesel easily.
Is used an option?
I’d go for a used Trailblazer as my first choice, a Bobcat or Ranger second.
Nice thing about a Trailblazer size machine is they make a dynamite home backup generator as well as a killer welder.
I’d consider diesel or LP if only used occasionally, the fuel is far more stable and you can use farm diesel easily.
Is used an option?
I’d go for a used Trailblazer as my first choice, a Bobcat or Ranger second.
Nice thing about a Trailblazer size machine is they make a dynamite home backup generator as well as a killer welder.
sberry
Banned
The Hobart runs sticks just fine. Wouldn't scare me.
sberry
Banned
A TB would be on my short list if I wanted to spend 2x and was headed out to be in the business as a career welder. On the farm it won't make a difference. I have ran a couple Champs, they work well, same as a Bobcat. If I was doing this in this senerio I would also consider a genset and a Maxstar type machine.
This could be done for 1/2 the cost maybe,,, a bonus is you have an electric machine too. When a guy needs gas he does but it's a super pain as an only welder if he has any kind of shop. A second shop unit could be added though, wire feed which is ideal due to the fact so much of the world is getting thinner and lighter. I actually do about 95% of it with a 180 class feeder.
I am a career welder and have other machines, about 10 of them but what I use,,,,, is a small feeder and a DC buzzer a little.
This could be done for 1/2 the cost maybe,,, a bonus is you have an electric machine too. When a guy needs gas he does but it's a super pain as an only welder if he has any kind of shop. A second shop unit could be added though, wire feed which is ideal due to the fact so much of the world is getting thinner and lighter. I actually do about 95% of it with a 180 class feeder.
I am a career welder and have other machines, about 10 of them but what I use,,,,, is a small feeder and a DC buzzer a little.
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Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
If you go with a genny and a inverter welder, not all inverters take happily to gennys. The power is too uneven. They will generally say they can be used with a genny. I guess it takes extra circuits or something.
We had a little gas Miller at work, it was on it's own factory cart. It burned 1/8" 7018 OK. No where near as nice as the Miller transformers , so we only used the gas outside when we had to.
The old Lincoln SA-200 are neat, I've never liked welding with one, I never really knew how to set them up. They are expensive to run, as such weldors have a hard time making a living with them. They should be available used cheap.
We had a little gas Miller at work, it was on it's own factory cart. It burned 1/8" 7018 OK. No where near as nice as the Miller transformers , so we only used the gas outside when we had to.
The old Lincoln SA-200 are neat, I've never liked welding with one, I never really knew how to set them up. They are expensive to run, as such weldors have a hard time making a living with them. They should be available used cheap.
sberry
Banned
The 305 is simple and modern. Its one I don't recall ever getting the chance to use. The big benefit to the 200s and similar is cost. I see some Hobarts of that vintage go cheap also, they run and work well. No AC power but maybe its not a big deal.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I feel like you would be doing yourself a huge dis-service by not getting a generator with AC output.
It can pull double duty as a welder and a basic power generator for tools, your house, whatever.
Whatever you get, I would make sure you can at least plug in some lights and a grinder, as that's what you'll want when you've got a repair to make in the field and its dark out.
It can pull double duty as a welder and a basic power generator for tools, your house, whatever.
Whatever you get, I would make sure you can at least plug in some lights and a grinder, as that's what you'll want when you've got a repair to make in the field and its dark out.