Confused on Suitcases and Feeders

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I finally found the XMT I was looking for last weekend.  My biggest problem with tools is space.  I've bought so many, I'm running out of it.I currently have a MM200 with a Q300 gun and a 250 bottle.  Now that I have the XMT, I was wondering if adding a feeder or suitcase to it would be more portable than what I have.  I figure I can keep the tank separate and just hook things up when I want to mig.  I'd have a 400 amp mig welder that takes up less space.There's alot of suitcases out there.  I'm interested in one that will let me use gas, the 12" spool isn't necessary for me.  I know I don't need a VS one, as I have CV and will be able to do short circuit MIG.The last issue is cost.  I don't want to spend a ton on it, so I want to buy a used one.  I'm a hobby welder and don't make my living from it.  I believe in buying good quality once, so I would like to stick with Miller or TA brands for it.  I figure I could get close to $1000 for my MM200.   It's in great condition, has two guns, multiple drive gears, tips, a full 12" roll of 70S6 and a working Spoolmatic 1.So what do you think?  Keep what I have, or get a suitcase?  If so, which one?Thanks for the advice.Last edited by Drf255; 01-18-2013 at 05:15 AM.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Find a feeder on CL or EvilBay, that XMT will run anything you can find. I got 2 Hobart Hefty(suitcase) feeders for a song years ago and use them everyday. Keep the MM200 it is bullet proof and is nice to have around. Infro runs an LN-7 off his with his bore welder and it runs nice Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:So if i get a WC, i can run my spoolmatic right from the XMT?So if I mig infrequently, I could just use the ridiculously ackward SP1 as my mig welder on on its own?TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:With a WC-1 you can run the old spoolgun on damn near anything.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I will add a vote for an ESAB 300AVS wire feeder. I love mine and the big advantage of a suitcase is that most will run whatever duty cycle the power source can put out.  300 or 400 amps? no problem.  I ran that setup with a Powcon  400smt for a quite a while and worked very well.  If you really do not do much MIG welding and want aluminum spool gun capability, get a Goweld or Ready welder.   that way you get MIG, FCAW, Spoolgun and a portable unit that can run well from just a couple of car batteries...    the only limit is 4" spools.   Weldingsupply.com sells 4" spools of all wire pretty cheap... I just so happen to have a Goweld for sale too..  warranty and all  PM if interested...  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:If you will ever need portability and/or only want to buy one feeder, I would go with a suitcase. I have two of them, and I can use them in a shop or out in the field."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:Originally Posted by Stick-manIf you will ever need portability and/or only want to buy one feeder, I would go with a suitcase. I have two of them, and I can use them in a shop or out in the field.
Reply:If u ever get an engine driven welder such as a Lincoln weldandpower or ranger , TA Predator, Miller Bobcat/TB etc you will be set for mobile MIG and FCAW.    I don't know millers but the others already include a CV mode for mig...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:Suitcases are for ship building.  Feeders are for shops.  Feeders don't like to push wire through long runs or around many bends so the suitcase is for getting deep in the bowels of boats or tanks.  If you're welding from the outside, feeders are the way to go.  If you're inside whatever you're welding suitcases are the bee's knees.
Reply:My two cents worth is go for a suitcase feeder. That XMT304 will run a LN-25, S-32P,and 12VS or just about any suitcase feeder.Back in 2003 bought a Trailblazer 301G, it came with a 12 VS suitcase with Ironmate FC1260 gun.At first did not use the suitcase feeder, because of the FC1260 gun. Then figured you can use about any gun that fits Miller Mig welders. So got a Roughneck C-series gun C-3015. With this Gun  you  run about any wire, from FC or dualshield to solid wire.Have a project which calls for  Hardsurface wire, one wire for build up and the other for hardsurface. Looked on CL for another feeder and scored a working LN-25 and two non-working S-32P. Cleaned the LN-25 and it works great. The S-32P, they are not built as well as the LN-25 and the 12VS. The S-32P problem is the contactor does not have much shielding against metal filings and no jog switch. Cleaned up the magnetic contactors and bought another contactor on Ebay. Now all suitcase feeders work.Once you get that Suitcase feeder set up, they work great using the correct wire for the application. They can be used to weld in the shop/garage or out on top of a combine . From thin sheetmetal to 3/4" plate.
Reply:in my opinion you cant go wrong with an LN-25Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by Dualiein my opinion you cant go wrong with an LN-25
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPX2I've seen them take 40-feet falls, break the case all to he!!, but still run perfect!
Reply:I bought a used S-32P for my bobcat, but I am having trouble dialing it in. With FCAW (.035") it seems to sound like it always surges.  The wire seems to be feeding consistantly when looking at the spool, and the beads look good.
Reply:Blackbart, self shielded, or dual shield? Some self shielded wire is very picky about it's sweet spot in the voltage range, check the manufactures spec on the wire.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:self shielded ( I'll have to get the exact number later), I have played with the dial on the bobcat and suitcase while another welder is running a bead. I can't find a good sounding sweet spot, although the beads look good.  I have never tried dual shield. I tried MIG with the suitcase, but honestly can't remember if it had the same problem.  Most of my guy's prefer to run a lighter MIG off the generator portion of the bobcat rather than set up the suitcase. However, it is new to them. A welder repairman told me the suitcase is really almost too much of a load for a bobcat.  That doesn't make sense to me because the settings are not even close to Max.
Reply:Slow your wire speed down until it stops surging. This also reduces the current load on the welder. seen this with smaller engine drives. I used an xmt304 and it welded perfect. Moved the suit case feeder over to an engine drive and tried to use the same settings. It surged real bad. slowed wire speed from 130 to 100ipm and it welded fine.Some wires just surge. but playing with the wire speed a little will make a big difference.