generator for 220v setup

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I was thinking of buying a 110 v unit as i do not have a ready plug in for 220.I do have a generator for 220 at 6250 watts max and 500 watts continuous duty.Is this big enough to run a 220 v welder for auto repair and fab work?
Reply:What type of welding are you going to be doing?  Do you already have a welder in mind, model?  Out of all electrical tools out there welder are going to pull the most amps.
Reply:The first objective is heavy guage sheet metal repair of some rusted strut towers on a Nissan Pathfinder.The second objective would be Ford Ranger bumper fab of 1/8" round tube or max 3/16" square tube.
Reply:If you were to get a mig welder in the 180 amp range mathematically the welder would match the generator but then you have to look at the reality of efficiency, heat and resistence, then its a no go.  Your better off seeing what it would take to get a 220v circuit installed.
Reply:Seems like every conceivable company is in the business of selling a "home generator" anymore. It's really hard to say with any degree of certainty just what a "5000 watt" generator may or may not do now days. I've noticed some of these things start to pulling pretty hard and dropping rpm when you start getting close to their rated maximum. You expect one to go through its little stall-rev-level phases when you first put a big load on it but not pull down and stay down. That's okay if you're running a saw, pump and non critical loads but not a mig or an iron lung. Competition does nice things for consumer pricing but it has a tendency to play heck with quality and some of those operating standards we ***umed would always be there. I doubt most of the outfits build anything any way. A lot of them sub out for packages that then get pieced together with components from the lowest bidder. I suppose they figure the consumer doesn't care as long as it meets the requirements of a "5kw generator" and it's cheap.  It's like Coleman selling half ton trucks built for them by Ford with parts from Chevy, China or Korea or any body else that has components that will fit in a generic chasis and at the lowest cost of the season. They can always label it "built by Ford". We can't ***ume a lot anymore. Buy it, try it and hope for the best. Generac, those are good ones."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:My Millermatic 175 would run off that genny without problems.I agree, Generac's are great.  I like my little 4000XL.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I'm workin on a Military surplus one right now....  The specs:Output:31.2 amperes, AC,120volts, single-phase; 15.6 amperes, AC, 240 volts, single-phase 18 amperes, AC, 120 volts, 3-phase;10.4 amperes, AC, 120/208 volts, 3-phase.Power Output: 3 kilowattsPower : 0.8 percentFrequency: 60 hertz (Hz)Speed:3600rpmI'm looking at possibly getting a 5kw unit next.
Reply:3KW is pretty skinny.  5KW works fine though.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I'm only using it for emergency power.....   I'm keeping an eye out of a 5kw though.  3kw is only a lowered power rating anyway since it's built for the military, based on higher altitudes and crappy fuel,the actual output is closer to 4.3kw......Surplus places seel these for about 900-1100 bucks....  I've got all of about 300 into it...  Just need to make sure it runs....  ( the chances with the surplus auctions)