just wondering?..does everyone useing gas powered welders do welding as work?

admin

I see a lot of post on Hobart/Lincoln/miller engine driven welders. I kind of want one but seems not realistic if I'm not a welder by trade but rather enjoy occasional week-end welding and fabricating. If I had one it would be under tarp for now. Maybe shed later date. I do all my projects out of garage for now. Does anybody own these just for kicks or are most used for their line of work? or for antique machine shows? just for home use?
Reply:it is a necessity for what i do. some jobs have no power available, most jobs have little power available.they really aren't practical for home use. i would say either of the ones i use average under 1 gph under moderate use (welding grinding with 120 amp average weld output)most of what i do is more like 90 amps and its about 1/2 gallon per houreven still, its much cheaper to buy electricity from the utility company than it is to make your own from the corner gas station.bosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:I am not a weldor by trade. I mainly do it for my own benefit, on my equipment, build my own skid steer attachments.........  2014 I probably had less than one hour of arc time. I also do side jobs when I can. I will be doing more of them soon. Lookin to put together a Kenworth T300 welding truck, soon.But I own a Lincoln Commander 500, 575 amp diesel - Lincoln SA200, gasser - Lincoln SA250, diesel - four Lincoln Tig 300/300's -  Lincoln Idealarc 250 -  Lincoln Invertec V130-S - two Lincoln LN-25 wire feeders - Miller Shopmaster 300, AC/DC CC/CV welder - Miller Suitcase Extreme 8VS, wire feeder - Miller Super S32-P, wire feeder - Hypertherm Powermax 600 - 350lb Phoenix rod oven - two 50lb Phoenix rod ovens, Ingersoll-Rand 175 CFM diesel air compressor, and a whole slew of gang boxes, tools and everything else!!!It is an obsession!!!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:My Bobcat cost $1200. A new standby generator hooked up costs north of $4000. I use mine where the cord won't reach. In industrial electrical work it has more to do with convenience than necessity. We delved into the power supply in the mechanics shop last week. about 300 feet of #6 powers a 100 amp breaker panel from a dry transformer. A plug in welder better be an inverter, and auto line, adjusting itself to varying voltage to work well. The Bobcat doesn't care how far it is from power. I have one building with no power supply. It was damaged in a flood, generator power rebuilt it.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:I bought mine to work on my own equipment.  I have a fairly large woodlot, so I find I'm always welding something.  I also do not have power at my woodlot, so my welder backs as a generator.  If I'm building something large at my home in town. I usually just tack it up with my 110 tig, and then bring the piece out to the bush, where I can be as loud as I want and let the sparks fly, without waking the the neighbours.Interprovincial RedSeal Welder and SteamfitterMiller Maxstar STL 110vMiller Blue Star DX 185Lincoln 180
Reply:My Trailblazer does some traveling work. As stated it is a great stand by generator and will run almost a whole house. Depending on your weather it could e handy as a generator. It will cost more to run but you can weld too.
Reply:For me I live in a older house with limited juice we are also prone hurricane power outages at the time the ranger 250 made just as much power as the same price honda generator that I can't weld with. Killed two birds with one stone I have aux power for the house and plenty of amps to weld with, that's what got this addiction going.Ranger 250 thick stuffHobart Handler 140 not thick stuffthe pane and oxy setup
Reply:Once you get into the 10,000 watt range of generators, it is about the same price to buy a Bobcat or Trailblazer.  I own both and use them as much for aux power as I do for welding. I don't use them a lot for welding, maybe 40-80 hours a year.  But we run a recreation area, the main store has $5000-$8000 worth of just ice cream on a busy weekend.  One weekend without power pays for a welder/generator.  I have 3 -5 cheaper 5000 watt generators to keep individual wells running. It's just an insurance investment and I get the benefit of a good welder. You need the 10,000 watt size to run a stand alone tig or plasma, the 8000 watt Bobcat doesn't quite do it.Last edited by blackbart; 01-05-2015 at 10:31 PM.
Reply:to add to my previous post, a plug in welder is a much better investment than an engine drive, if you will always have a place to plug it in.a used old engine drive is just that. used and old. the generator, and the motor, could die at any moment. lots of moving parts.a good ol transformer plug in might look like crap, be missing dials and buttons, but, a dust-off of the inside and it will likely run good as new.bosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:We use our Bobcat 225 G for aux power and some welding in the field away from the barn.
Reply:Like everything else, I buy it new, and keep it forever.  Used.................not an engine drive, unless you have the moola to make it rightNow trucks, on the other hand, bring on the old worn out crap, I'm a sucker for an old truck"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I took an old weldanpower 225 Lincoln in trade for a $100 bicycle I had for sale, put a hundred dollars in it and it runs and looks like new now, it was my first stick welder and mostly just practice weld with it, It has a good strong 5500 watt generator, kinda hanging on to it for the generator, only took it out on one real job. Like others have said its an addiction, I quit racing motorcycles last year and this really fills the void. You would really  get a lot more use from a plug in welder, if its a choice thing one or the other.Thermal Arc 210 - Tweco 211I - Cutmaster 52
Reply:I would rather use a plug in welder when I can.  My Trailblazer 301G welds great but I hate the noise.  Long leads, ear plugs and point the exhuast away from where I am working helps.  Several farmers I work for have plugins for their lincold AC buz boxes.  I will have them get close to the building that has the power and use my XMT 304 with long leads.  I have cord adapters to fit between the various 220v outlet styles.I am sure an 1800 rpm machine would make a lot less noise but require a larger eingine.  I do like the sound of a SA 200 working but don't really need one for what I do.Dan D.Dan D.Manipulator Of Metal
Reply:I had that same uncertainty of an engine driven welder as the original poster.   In fact a friend had purchased a new Bobcat 250 to use at a job site, and when that job was over it sat unused in his garage for a few years.   His wife finally wanted it gone, and was willing to give it to me.   I wanted to give them $1000 for it so I wouldn't feel guilty.   I think the 100 foot leads alone were worth that????In the end I decided it would be a waste to take it and use it less than a few hours a year.    That was before I joined this forum and awakened the old welding bug within me.  Now I am kicking myself for not buying that Bobcat 250.
Reply:I run a TB302, the reason I bought is is most jobsites I work on don't have enough juice for a 240 welder, and it's a multiprocess machine, I.e. I can run my MIG welder, stick TIG and spoolgun off of one machineMiller Spoolmate 200 w/t S-52 WirefeederMM 211'09 Miller Trailblazer 302
Reply:Originally Posted by GenoI see a lot of post on Hobart/Lincoln/miller engine driven welders. I kind of want one but seems not realistic if I'm not a welder by trade but rather enjoy occasional week-end welding and fabricating. If I had one it would be under tarp for now. Maybe shed later date. I do all my projects out of garage for now. Does anybody own these just for kicks or are most used for their line of work? or for antique machine shows? just for home use?
Reply:All my welders are solely for my entertainment only. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Absolutely, After my Boyfriend bout his MIG and TIG machine, i was captivated. HE bought them for him solely had no Job purpose for them. but after i started getting him to show me and really see the outcome of his work, I wanted to make stuff and learn myself. So i am in school now and havean apprenticeship at a Chopper shop. never saw me doing itbut if it had not been for his Hobby at home, i would have never knew what i really wanted in life  hahaSo i think its a great idea to have for your home and soley for you projects... you never know what will come of it“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” ― Herman Melville“Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand.” ― Kurt Vonnegut
Reply:Hobbyist only, with a Bobcat 225g. Regularly used for auxiliary power, occasionally for portable welding. Much prefer to drag/roll/haul something back to the shop, but not always possible. Also have a smaller portable generator, its fine for some work lights and power tools. For bigger stuff or powering the house, the Bobcat is a better choice. Living in the country, power outages occur a little too frequently. With only a dozen houses on the main line, they sometimes take their time getting it repaired. Bobcat will handle lights, refrigerator, freezer, water pump, etc. Nice when you need it.You mentioned "tarp for now, shed later". Is security a consideration? Its a tempting target, out-of-sight-out-of-mind is ideal. The plus side, you can find decent machines at a reasonable price. Once you have it, you'll find "uses" for it.Hobbyist - At what point is a "hobby" out-of-control?
Reply:My old bluestar 2E doesn't get used a ton. It was inexpensive to buy and it runs, welds and makes power like a top. It sure is handy when I do get a call to do a mobile weld repair though.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Sometimes... Kinda vague answer I reckon.  Grew up pipelining. LITERALLY.  Started learning to operate backhoes at about 6, trackhoes at 8, dozer about 10 yrs old, and sidebooms at 12.  Not hydraulic booms, D-7 Cat with live draworks.  Also started actually learning to weld around 12.  Over the years, mainly operated, then running crew and operating, then running company after my dad died in 1992.  I was 20 at the time.  Pipelined full time until about 1997, then downsized to more general excavation.  Moved back up into utilities over the last 15 years or so, now getting back into pipeline.  Over the years, we always had rig welders when we were pipelining, so I never rigged up and tested. (Dad wanted me to in 1990, but at the time I'd rather sit comfortably on my trackhoe, or drive my haul truck than lay in mud welding on natural gas pipelines...)  That being said, I did finally rig a truck up in '96, and over the years have welded some pipe, control fittings, weld-o-lets and taps for a small local gas company.  Getting back into pipeline, I went ahead and rigged my new truck up.  All of the jobs we've done so far have been Poly pipe, but I've been welding the casing for our road bores.  I do intend to go ahead and get my state card, as my intentions are to get back into the bigger stuff.  Still have all my sidebooms, big trencher, tapping equipment, bevelers and such to handle the task...  Machine is a 1976 SA200 that my dad bought new.-------------------------Chemetron AC/DC 300 HFSnap-On MM300L Lincoln SP140 Lincoln AC/DC 225g Lincoln SA200 Lincoln SA200 Miller Bobcat 225GVictor torchesH&M and Mathey beveling machinesMcElroy Plastic pipe fusion
Reply:I am strictly a hobby welder.  I learned to weld at a community college 30 years ago. I always enjoyed doing it and had a used TM300 in my shop until last spring. I stumbled upon a IdealArc 250 at a flea market. I bought it and restored it then about a month later I was told about a farmer with a Lincoln portable for sale. I contacted the farmer and in the back of his barn under years of dust I found a 1966 Redface. I bought it and within 24 hours of taking it home I had it running and welding. The only reason I have the engine drive is my own amusement, it was cheap and a fun educational project. And what red blooded American man doesn't love to hear the little flathead purr at idle and roar under load? Sent from my iPad using TapatalkSteveLincoln IdealArc 250Lincoln SA200 1966 RedfaceSteveMiller Dialarc 250 (1990)Miller Maxstar 140 STR (2003)Lincoln SA200 Redface Pipeliner (1966)Lincoln MP210 (2015)Victor and MECO torches