Questions about buying a machine?

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Hey everyone. I've been looking into finally buying a machine for at home but I have some questions on which machine to get out of the ones I'm looking at. I'm in a bit of a predicament. My garage has no 230 power source and wiring one in would be a pain because it's only a 12x20' garage and it's a lot older and not insulated. Not ideal for working in or spending the time to wire. So my options are a couple generator welders but I'm stuck on choosing one. The welder will only be used for home projects(for example building small utility trailers) and practice before my once a year welding test to renew tickets(smaw and TIG). I've been looking at Hobart 145's, Lincoln Outback 185, Miller Wildcat 200, or my last option would be to buy a generator big enough to power a tig machine that I could also stick weld with(example Lincoln 175 square wave). So my question is which way would you go about doing it and obviously price is an option. I'm really considering either the Outback 185 or the generator/tig welder set up, mostly just for portability. Can I TIG with an Outback 185? I would consider the Hobart as well to save money but I feel it would be working a little too hard but I could be wrong. Thanks.
Reply:I would look at Lincoln’s 305-G. A buddy of mine has one, man what a sweet arc! Last year I got him set up with an LN-25, so now he runs Mig, or self shielded flux core.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:if your garage is too cold to work in and not worth wiring, where are you going to use an engine drive welder?Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:I would buy a ranger 250 or bobcat. Something with the power to run your mig and tig off if it. I would purchase a larger used engine drive verses. A  new small outback or wildcat machineSent from my C811 4G using TapatalkVantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:Well my reasons for not going with a ranger or a bobcat were mainly because of price, as well as size and weight. If I want to move a machine that's nearly 500lbs I need help. Where as I can handle the 300lbs machines. As for not having a garage to work in my point was its too small to really do any projects and the fact that it's not insulated/finished means that when the walls are that close fires are a lot more likely. Not that it's too cold lol. I have a driveway and work area in the back that's 3 times the size. It's outside yes but that's why I'm going stick. When j practice tig for tests it won't be often and it will be in the garage.It is easier to find bobcats and rangers tho. But I can't see how I'm going to be able to move it around alone when I want to. Any help on that or some sort of rigging jig to get it in and out of the truck would help.
Reply:Put it on a small tagalong trailer.Sent from my C811 4G using TapatalkVantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:or, wire up your garage, stick a welder in there with really long leads, and just don't weld inside. Unless you are set on an engine drive.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Couple of sheets of sheetrock is cheap! I weld outside in front of my shop or just inside the door as it is usually full of some other projects.
Reply:Here is a welding project for you,  You move it like this Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:I have considered the trailer idea but the issue with that is just parking it. Although I know I could find a way but I've got enough junk around including boat trailers, snowmobiles etc. That would just add one more thing to the yard lol.As for wiring the garage and having longer leads. Yes it is an option that I've considered as well but we are talking quite a bit of extra $$$ and work. That would include digging 24" down from my house to the garage for the conduit which in order to do I would have to remove/lift all of my backyard patio blocks, fire pit, etc. That are all in the way. I've ran across recently at work ESAB MiniArc 161 machines that peak my interest tho. They seem to weld quite well at this job site I'm on and run off both 120v or 220v plug ins. All that is effected is duty cycle. And they arnt very expensive. I may look into one of those. Could do fine for my at home small projects/practicing
Reply:Haha nice video. That is a cool little way to get it around if you need to. Very creative.
Reply:If reasonable care is taken, and you don't have piles of combustible stuff lying around, I see no issues with welding in a smaller garage. My 20 X 22 garage was bare walls for a number of years before I put plywood on the walls and insulated it.The little Miller blue star welders (with the Honda engine) are quite portable and easy to handle. Lincoln makes a little portable like that, there are other brands that do too. I don't think Miller even makes the wildcat anymore. Any of those little machines would do the job. I can understand the work that would be involved in running wire out to the garage. I may be inclined to go the engine drive route too in that case.Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:As for a engine drive, a larger machine will be handy for emergency power too. As for moving it, here's what I did for my Trailblazer which is in my avatar . I have no issues moving it on gravel drive . Besides moving it, just get more lead. You could always use rebar sticks for extending the ground. Make up a double ground clamp , a ground clamp on each end of say a 20' piece of cable. Run the machine ground to the rebar and one ground clamp on the rebar with the other clamp to the work. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ailblazer+cart
Reply:I think I'm going to see what I can find used for now and go from there. If I get an engine drive it has to go outside anyways. Never would I have an engine drive running in a garage. Too much noise and too many fumes. Even if I had an exhaust going outside the noise would be bad in such a small area. I'm going to do research on that ESAB machine as well. I've seen and heard some good things and I'm sure it's very comparable to a Lincoln Tig 175( minus the AC option). And if that machine turns out to be not enough plugged into the 120 then I could always by a 5000w generator and it would still be cheaper then buying a new Outback or even a used Bobcat or Ranger.
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawHere is a welding project for you,  You move it like this
Reply:A cheap engine crane (under $200) would pick up a welder to put on your truck. I bet you could find a used one for under $100. I bought one on sale for $149 several years to pull the engine out of my Cat. You'd need a big generator with clean power to run an electric TIG machine and it would likely cost more than a Bobcat or Ranger.
Reply:Yes an engine crane would do it. But it's one more thing to take up quite a bit of room in the small garage. I dunno what to do, my only good options from what you guys are saying is to wire in the garage or buy a bigger outfit on a trailer. Personally I don't think my garage is worth the time I'd be better off waiting til I can afford to build a new and bigger one and I don't have the room/property size to have much more stuff out there. I don't think I can TIG with an Outback or small engine drive anyways. I'm gunna look more into those ESAB welders or even the new Lincoln square waves. They can both be plugged into 115v outlets with just smaller duty cycles for the time being until I buy a new house or bigger garage.
Reply:FWIW, my first house had a single car garage.  I built a 4x8 trailer inside with no problems using an Airco 225 amp AC machine.