What to buy (MIG)?

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Need welder for ranch (pipe cattle pens, etc) and odds and ends.  Should I get a small "plug-in" type (Hobart 140 or 187 or Lincoln 180 or Miller, etc.) and a generator to plug it into (how large of generator).  Or, should I buy a friends small welder/generator combo unit (think its a Hobart)?
Reply:I think the first question you should ask is how thick the material is you think you would weld on a regular basis.A little 110v mig would work ok for pipe and light steel, but not have enough power for heavy work. The welder generator would be stick and better for heavier work but harder for the lighter materials. I'm assuming it is a small welder/ gen such as a Miller blue star or hobart champion 4500. If its a larger machine like a Bobcat or Champion 10000, that would be my 1st choice. Even though its stick and harder to do light metals you would have more options in the long run. You could add a wire feeder to do lighter work later.A 220v mig would be a nice compromise but would need a fairly large gen set to run, my guess pushing 10kw.As far as a generator for a 110v mig, I ran mine off a 4500w generator just fine.
Reply:We run a 220v Lincoln weld pack off of a 5500w Coleman with no problems. For general all around work it works well (and a whole lot better than the 110v units). If the engine drive is a Champion 10,000 go with that and get a suitcase wire feeder. The combination is extremely versatile.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:No, my friend's is a Hobart Champion 4500 stick welder (for $900).  I am thinking I would be welding heavier items at the place.  I'm a beginner but know I can figure it out.  Sounds like I should forget thinking about a smaller 110 volt unit.  Then maybe my choice is between my buddie's Hobart Champion 4500 stick welder or a 220 volt unit and a separate generator???
Reply:Any more comments?  Any recommendations on a 220 volt and then on a generator?  What size generator?
Reply:I remeber someone posting about using a hobart 180 240v machine from a 5500w gen set. It was either here or on millers site, I can't remember.It would depend on what the machine would draw say 20amps at 240v and what the gen set would deliver. I have never used the 240v outlet on my gen set so I would not even guess at what the 4500w gen set makes at 240v. I looked at my northern catalouge and I found gen sets with 240v outlets but few that woud list the output amp. The ones I found varried. My guess is that you would need a minimum of 5500w. Some of the larger 15kw sets looked like they would power my big 240v mig. The small 240v welders didn't list any imput requirements. Look at hobarts or millers website and see if they give an input amp.To be honest once you go much past a 5500w gen set and a small 240v mig you will start coming close to the price of a hobart champion 10000 welder gen set. Here's part of the one from millers web it's not the one I was hunting for but it may help."A 5000w genset will run your MM175.Ask around to see if any parent has one- you will need to make a Pigtail cord to go from the MM175 Plug to the genset"Good luck and let us know how it turns out.Last edited by DSW; 04-07-2008 at 11:02 PM.
Reply:I have a lincoln 180c.  I operate it off a generator honda 5000, 4500cont. I have used it with the spool gun to do a couple of Al repairs.I have operated it with both wire speed and voltage at max.  The generator bog but doesn't trip the breaker.I think you want to know what the continuous running wattage is, not just max.  Though, I think both are important.Last edited by tapwelder; 04-08-2008 at 12:17 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by rooster628No, my friend's is a Hobart Champion 4500 stick welder (for $900).  I am thinking I would be welding heavier items at the place.  I'm a beginner but know I can figure it out.  Sounds like I should forget thinking about a smaller 110 volt unit.  Then maybe my choice is between my buddie's Hobart Champion 4500 stick welder or a 220 volt unit and a separate generator???
Reply:The hobart champion 4500 welder you are talking about is AC only and maxes out at 140ish amps.  I have one of these for use as a generator...I got it for a really good price...They weld pretty good, and stick may serve you better on a farm in the field than mig/fluxcore (at least fluxcore from a 110v machine), but you will not have DC...just a thought.Last edited by smithboy; 04-08-2008 at 07:21 AM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.