Having a a smaller 110v welder in addition to larger units

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How many of you keep a smaller 110volt welder for portabilty in addition to your larger 220v welders? I am average joe jhomeowner and deciding if I should try to snag a second 110v welder for portable jobs..How often do you use the smaller welder and is it worth the investment (tanks, cost of welder, etc..) I figure I could have quite abit tied up in a smaller unit $600 or so..
Reply:I had a 88amp Caentury unit. Once I bought my lincoln 155 Mig pac I never used that Century again. I ended up selling it at a garage sell.
Reply:I find myself using the little guy more and more over the big guy. I have a Lincoln Weldpack 3200 HD  that was bought for it's portability. It's so much easier to drag it into the juice plants and packing houses than the big Miller I have. It also makes it nice that we don't have to use the stick welder on everything. I think the investment was well worth it in my case. DaveI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:I weld off of the pole.  Literally.  I run everything offa an add on box that is coming off of the main panel at the meter on the power pole. ( It's legal here, as long as you don't break the seal on the meter.  Code isn't enforced out in the county.)  Anything beyond that is an AWG #6 drop cable.  Priced cable lately?  I can't remember what my drop cost, but it was one heck of a lot of money for 100 feet. I do my own wiring, so that saves a bundle, but it's still pricey.A small 110 welder is one of the handiest things to have.  Lightweight, truly portable, and ya kin feed the thing with 12ga extension cords.  Only limitation is a 20amp circuit breaker.  No big deal to install in your service panel if you know the downwind wiring in the house/garage will handle the load without overheating.  Ya kin even run the thing off of a generator in the field.  15amp circuit breaker will work, but it will kick once in a while.  Depends on what you're willin' to live with.
Reply:99 percent of the field jobs I do I use the trailblazer, But sometimes, like yesterday, I was on the roof of a 10 story building and I just didnt want to haul leads up from the parking lot.I used our Miller Maxstar plugged into a 110v outlet and ran 3/32 7018. Worked great.I will post pics next week Yup
Reply:I have had one for 20 years.  I bought the SP100 when it first came out. Paid more than $600 for it too.  I still use it for exhaust work and the occasional small job.  I have many welders.  For the small stuff, it can't be beat.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:what type/size welder do you have?  Are you looking for size portability or voltage.   I have a Esab miniarc 150 and a lincoln 180c.  I have no need for a 110 mig.  I have never run the miniarc off 110v.  My generator operated both at 220v.  If you are looking for size, then a 180 series will do all a  110v welder can do and more.By the way there was a company on ebay selling reasonably price 10g extension cords.    I  sold my lincoln 135  a few months ago.  I purchased it for a specific job/extra welder.  Haven't missed it at all.I reread your post I guess you  issue is with size of the welder.Last edited by tapwelder; 08-31-2008 at 12:52 AM.
Reply:I have had 2 different 110 welders. The sp100 and the Miller Maxstar 150. I sold them both to get bigger machines, and now, I am saving up my pennies to get another 2 small units. The mini tig was so good for SS repairs, I was stupid to sell it. My little 110 Lincoln had a better quality arc than my Miller 180 does. Yes, the bigger unit is more powerful. But hey, a 35lb mig unit is very hard to beat. And truthfully, the 11lb maxstar had no equal. I have 2 different machines, and they are both food for thought. My Invertec 205 is a super powerful tig unit for only being 35lb. And it can run on 110 or 220. The other machine I have that is the S, the H, the I, and the T to end all T's is my plasma cutter. A pro cut 25 lincoln. Only 12lb. It runs on 110/220. It's tiny, and will cut straight through 1/4" no problem. It really shines when you have stuff to gouge, like rusted studs and things like that. It won't cut aluminum thicker than 1/8", but I don't mind. It cuts steel and SS very nicely, and pretty fast. That little plasma has amazed a LOT of people on jobsites when I have hauled it up high, plugged it into 110, added the air hose, and cut right through steel that was hardened to the point where a sawzall blade only lasted 10 seconds.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Originally Posted by Rojodiablo....Snip The sp100 ...snip..... My little 110 Lincoln had a better quality arc than my Miller 180 does. more snip..........
Reply:Currently I have a hobart ironman 210 with a 8 guage 50' extension cord...
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderwhat type/size welder do you have?  Are you looking for size portability or voltage.   I have a Esab miniarc 150 and a lincoln 180c.  I have no need for a 110 mig.  I have never run the miniarc off 110v.  My generator operated both at 220v.  If you are looking for size, then a 180 series will do all a  110v welder can do and more.By the way there was a company on ebay selling reasonably price 10g extension cords.    I  sold my lincoln 135  a few months ago.  I purchased it for a specific job/extra welder.  Haven't missed it at all.I reread your post I guess you  issue is with size of the welder.
Reply:I guess its not the 110 mig as much as its the .023 wire and the little mig gun for those really small jobs.  DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I have a Pasport Plus as a small mig for portble work. The little guy is great. In the shop I still prefer the big mig, but in the field for quick repairs the Passport Plus is the tool of choice. The small size works perfectly, and I have even brought it once on a plane with me, then bought a paintball co2 cylinder when I landed. After I was done with the job, drove to the sporting goods store and gave the cylinder to a kid and flew back.
Reply:They have their place.  Honestly mine don;t get alot of work unless it is in plant work.  I have two of them and about the only thing we use them for anymore is handrail work.  in a shop setting I tend to use my PM255's 99% of the time.  However the majority of my work is heavier metal than the little 110V units can handle.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Not me.  If you want to do your part to help the economy, that's fine too.  I don't see the need for an average Joe homeowner.  But who ever said we make all our buying decisions based only on need?WeldingWeb forum--now more sophomoric banter than anything else!
Reply:Originally Posted by goodoleboyHow many of you keep a smaller 110volt welder for portabilty in addition to your larger 220v welders? I am average joe jhomeowner and deciding if I should try to snag a second 110v welder for portable jobs..How often do you use the smaller welder and is it worth the investment (tanks, cost of welder, etc..) I figure I could have quite abit tied up in a smaller unit $600 or so..
Reply:How about having the best of both worlds.I've got a Miller Dynasty 200, and as an inverter, its pretty portable, and it also runs on whatever power I feed it.Most of the time, its plugged into a 30A 220V feed, but I've run it off of a 20A 110V outlet for light work, and it worked just fine.
Reply:Originally Posted by goodoleboyHow many of you keep a smaller 110volt welder for portabilty in addition to your larger 220v welders? I am average joe jhomeowner and deciding if I should try to snag a second 110v welder for portable jobs..How often do you use the smaller welder and is it worth the investment (tanks, cost of welder, etc..) I figure I could have quite abit tied up in a smaller unit $600 or so..
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1What happened to the Lincoln 3200?You return that one too?
Reply:Originally Posted by goodoleboyI sold it to my brother...He had to have one and does not have a 220v outlet .
Reply:Speakin' of low voltage welders.I had the cows get out once up in the haygrazer.  Damn things will eat that stuff to the ground in one day.  Chased 'em down with the Dodge.  Finally got 'em back to the gate, all except for the 2 bulls.  They weren't having any part of that action.Got up behind 'em and kept hittin' the damn things in the butt with the rear bumper.  Worked.  (didn't want to smash the radiator).But......... All that bumpin' loosened the battery hold down.  Bungy cord.Battery shifts, and welds itself to the fender.  Smoke everywhere.  Engine shuts down.  Scared Hell outta the dog.  Off to Wally World next day to buy a new battery.