Trailblazer 302 EFI for pipeline?

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Just curious, I have a 2010 trailblazer 302efi on my truck. I bought it because it has amazing arc characteristics and a buttload of generator power. I have an opportunity to go make alot of money on a 30" line goin in the ground but a little concerned about having the only Miller on the job.  One guy got run off location for showin up with a bobcat . Im just wondering if I can hold my ground against a crowd of bull headed a-holes that think your not a real welder unless you have a Lincoln.
Reply:If you can weld then you can weld.  If the powers that be don't run you off for bad welds the who cares.  Go take your chances.  If you don't go and try you surely won't get the job.
Reply:Originally Posted by sixIf you can weld then you can weld.  If the powers that be don't run you off for bad welds the who cares.  Go take your chances.  If you don't go and try you surely won't get the job.
Reply:paint it they'll never know.... Attached Images
Reply:Thats what I was thinkin! Paint it Gun Metal Grey just like my truck.
Reply:If you really know how to melt rods with your Trailblazer the trash talkers will quieten down pretty quick.Kevin- Springtown, TexasTruck:Chevy cab/ chassis 1 ton dually, big block and flatbedMiller BobcatVictor cutting rigTool boxes crammed full of stuffShop:Millermatic 250Lincoln 135Lincoln 225AC tombstone
Reply:Some jobsites don't allow anything that burn gasoline no matter what brand or how big.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:The welding shouldn't be a problem.  The constant 8 or more hours a day of listening to that screaming high rpm motor will wear you out though.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33The welding shouldn't be a problem.  The constant 8 or more hours a day of listening to that screaming high rpm motor will wear you out though.
Reply:sometimes i would burn 6011 on ac when i was practicing on my thermalarc 185 because i really liked the sound  it makes  . when i do that with my ranger 8 i dont do that any more..because i cant hear the sound...lol
Reply:I like and own Miller, so Im not a Lincoln snob. Your Trailblazer flat out does not have the all day power for a job like that. If they let you on that job, they will have a pool going on when your welder will burn up.UA Local 598
Reply:WH,Curious,  would the engine or the welder go out first?  I have never pipelined, but I have been with a trailblazer for long hours welding, gouging, and running power tools daily.  I am curious as to what part of the unit would fail.  I know many hold to this line of thinking; I just never thought to ask what it is based upon.
Reply:I dont pipeline, I work in a nuke but am told by the pipeliners in my union that those traileblazers will not last on the big bore pipe. A good friend has used his all day long as well doing 6 and 8 inch schedule 40 pipe and has had no issues. He really likes the trailblazer (so do I) but he bought an SA 200 for pipeline work. I recall it having something to do with the rpm's the machine runs at while welding. I will ask him and post back.UA Local 598
Reply:I love the trailblazer 302 on paper. I love the idea of 3 phase just like you metioned, and it packed with features. I like that you can do AC/DC tig with remote too. The SA200's is all I see on the back of folks welding rigs as well as our 3 company weld rigs as well. But the way I look at it, you buy a brand new TB 302 you have a 3 year parts and labor warantee, if it breaks miller will fix it. If it was my own weld rig, I wouldn't hesitate to put a trailblazer on the back of my truck.
Reply:Originally Posted by SR20steveI love the trailblazer 302 on paper. I love the idea of 3 phase just like you metioned, and it packed with features. I like that you can do AC/DC tig with remote too. The SA200's is all I see on the back of folks welding rigs as well as our 3 company weld rigs as well. But the way I look at it, you buy a brand new TB 302 you have a 3 year parts and labor warantee, if it breaks miller will fix it. If it was my own weld rig, I wouldn't hesitate to put a trailblazer on the back of my truck.
Reply:Originally Posted by Scott YoungWH,Curious,  would the engine or the welder go out first?  I have never pipelined, but I have been with a trailblazer for long hours welding, gouging, and running power tools daily.  I am curious as to what part of the unit would fail.  I know many hold to this line of thinking; I just never thought to ask what it is based upon.
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33My money would be on the brain/eardrums of the operator first, the screaming gas engine second.   If Miller were to put the generator and welder behind a low rpm diesel, I'm sure it would do just fine.  They did essentially that with the Pro 300, which has proven itself in pipeline welding.
Reply:ask yourself if that machine can drag 3/16 5p down that 30" for 10 hrs, it might but for how long? the miller pipe pro is used alot on pipelines (seen and used em, they run a sweet bead) used to be all you seen was the sa-200, but with so many good choices out now you really see both. what about remote choices? the generator is used only to run a grinder, so that should not be the reason for choosing a machine. duty cycle, fuel efficientcy and ability to last are my reasons for getting a machine. my sa is a great machine and handles the big rod great, but fuel consumption is killing me (12-15 gallons a 10 hr day) made my mind to buy a vantage 300, only because the pipe pro was so much more money, and with these machines they can run wire as well! hope this helps
Reply:We have three welders at work 2 bobcats and a ranger for welding 1/2 steel 4by6 steel clips for curtain wall glass and our machines run 8 to 10 hours a day welding steel and they last about 2500 hours before the engines usually fail by that time the machines uaually look like **** from having concrete and spackle dropped on them from other trades. The biggest complant is the noise with the machines since it doesn't matter if you plug a 18volt battery in there to charge it kicks them up to high idle. I think if miller or lincoln could make a machine that could burn 1/8 rods from idle they would sell like hot cakes. That is the main reason I got rid of my bobcat is because of the noise. It welded nice and had pretty decent fuel consumption but sounded like it was going to come apart at high idle. Also on hot days you couldn't touch the sheet metal around the engine because it was so damn hot.Vantage 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:Originally Posted by GmmandanThe biggest complant is the noise with the machines since it doesn't matter if you plug a 18volt battery in there to charge it kicks them up to high idle. I think if miller or lincoln could make a machine that could burn 1/8 rods from idle they would sell like hot cakes. That is the main reason I got rid of my bobcat is because of the noise. It welded nice and had pretty decent fuel consumption but sounded like it was going to come apart at high idle.
Reply:I do like lincoln welders and have had good luck with them.  The welder on my truck is a ranger 305G (I'm not a pipeliner, so for what I do, it works!), however if I were to get a suitcase wirefeeder, it would be a miller.  Sacrilege, but miller wire feeders are so easy to maintain vs their lincoln counterparts.  SMAW, Lincoln...all the way.  Mig?  Miller...but a Miller Killer running a Miller?  Pure awesome!For pipelining though, you would want a low RPM, water cooled machine simply because your machine will be running more than likely 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It's to bad that they don't make water cooled Gas Welders anymore.  They start good in cold weather and you can run them until the cows come home!Then again, while the company I work for isn't pipeline, they ran a ranger 250 constantly using it as a generator, refueling it while it was running in the middle of winter for a month straight.Really, it will depend on the company and your confidence, ability as well as your own kit.  I say, Give em hell, show up and if you get turned down, so what?  At least you tried!Last edited by mb_welder; 11-21-2010 at 08:27 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by WHughesI like and own Miller, so Im not a Lincoln snob. Your Trailblazer flat out does not have the all day power for a job like that. If they let you on that job, they will have a pool going on when your welder will burn up.