Portable Welder/Generator

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I went to the LWS today and had a long conversation with one of the salesmen.  I am looking for a mobile rig.  The work I do is small stuff that the other guys either don't have time to mess with, or can't afford to do the small stuff.  But, I do 4x4 mods, bumpers, fences, cages, automotive, ornamental, I have 18 McDonalds that I maintain the dumpster gates, things like that.  What I have now is a 6800w generator, and a tombstone, and a FC machine, 110v AC buzz box, and many hand tools, grinders, and such.So I want to get a generator/welder.  My arrangement I am working with now works, but, the tombstone needs a 50amp breaker on the 220 line.  My gen only has a 30.  So, the highest I can go is 75 amps, and 3/32 rod before I start tripping the breaker.  So I am looking at a:(1) Miller Blue Star 185:  Nice machine, DC stick 55-185 amp, and very expensive.  (2) Lincoln Power Arc 5500:  4000w gen, AC stick 70-125 amp, very affordable.  (3) Lincoln Outback 185:  Very nice, 5200w gen, DC stick 50-185 amp.  (4) Hobart Champion 4500:  4000w gen, AC stick 60-140 amp.I like the idea of having DC.  I see many advantages to having DC.  But, would I be loosing anything by NOT having ac?  Given what work I do, do I need both AC/DC?  I know I would really like to have a TrailBlazer or a Bobcat, but I think it would be overkill for what I do.  I really think that anything higher than the stats on the above machines would be outside of what I would be qualified to do any way.So I am asking...  Thoughts on the above machines, Would DC alone be ok for what I do?It's not what you can buy, it's what you can build.
Reply:for primary stick welding I don;t think you would miss the AC unless you work with drill stem at times.  Some of that stuff gets magnetized, and on DC arc blow can be unreal.  If I run into that I switch to AC and go from there.  I personally would recommend saving your cash and buying a 225-250 amp machine.  As your business grows you will wish you had the bigger machine.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Get a small DC inverter , like a miller 150, esab 150  or lincoln... and keep your 6800watt generator.        I would agree same your money for  a larger machine.   However that tombstone apparently Is just sucking too much power and an inverter or 180 series mig will give you full power from you generator.I have had a Zena underhood welder for about 4 yrs.  It has worked well for me.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Ditto. For what you will spend on a smaller machine, you might as well pony up & get something you can grow into. Think about a used machine with moderately low hours & in good condition. Deals are out there & a good used later model Trailblazer or Ranger with less than 500 hours can be found for under $1800 in many cases. I have bought a few of them in the $1500-1800 range & made a nice little profit after I cleaned them up. The Miller TB & later Lincoln Ranger machines have good aux AC output power & true CC/CV AC/DC remote weld current output. They will do it "all" fairly well for a relatively small investment....
Reply:Just my .02 worth.  Take it for what it's worth.There's a big difference in showing up at a buddies house to help him "weld up" his lawnmower deck, and showing up at a commercial establishment to do maintenance repairs.  Nothing screams "inexperienced rookie" quite like a pickup truck full of a hodgepodge of equipment.  We all know it's not the machine but the welder who produces the work, but not having the right equipment sends the wrong signal.None of the welding machines you've shown above meets the criterion for what I would recommend for a "mobile welding business".The "minimum" I would recommend would be a Bobcat class machine, but preferably a Trailblazer.  Field work often requires extensive prep so the available AC (to also run a portable air compressor) would be a great feature.  A suitcase wirefeeder would be a nice option also.Buying the "proper equipment" is an investment, not an expense.  Good tools make the job go quicker and result in a better finished product.  I don't know many sucessful businesses that make it for the long term doing things on the "cheap".General Observations:JC, based on your many questions/comments thus far, I have to question your experience to be doing welding "for hire".  You mentioned in a previous post that you "had another full time job".  Sounds like you're trying to take on jobs that you neither have the equipment or experience to do properly.  An old saying comes to mind, "A smart man knows his limitations, and operates within them".Frankly, and you probably haven't quite figured this out yet, I bet you're really "well liked" by the "professional welders" (NOT) in the area.  Around here, couple of the "good ol boys" would have probably gotten together and burned your garage down by now.I'm not against anyone trying to better themselves in life (their own business), but there's a right way and a wrong way to go about doing it.  I don't think you've found the "right" way yet.  You seem very dependent on "internet input" rather than personal experience to make business decisions.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by JC'sWeldingI went to the LWS today and had a long conversation with one of the salesmen.  I am looking for a mobile rig.  The work I do is small stuff that the other guys either don't have time to mess with, or can't afford to do the small stuff.  But, I do 4x4 mods, bumpers, fences, cages, automotive, ornamental, I have 18 McDonalds that I maintain the dumpster gates, things like that.  What I have now is a 6800w generator, and a tombstone, and a FC machine, 110v AC buzz box, and many hand tools, grinders, and such.So I want to get a generator/welder.  My arrangement I am working with now works, but, the tombstone needs a 50amp breaker on the 220 line.  My gen only has a 30.  So, the highest I can go is 75 amps, and 3/32 rod before I start tripping the breaker.  So I am looking at a:(1) Miller Blue Star 185:  Nice machine, DC stick 55-185 amp, and very expensive.  (2) Lincoln Power Arc 5500:  4000w gen, AC stick 70-125 amp, very affordable.  (3) Lincoln Outback 185:  Very nice, 5200w gen, DC stick 50-185 amp.  (4) Hobart Champion 4500:  4000w gen, AC stick 60-140 amp.I like the idea of having DC.  I see many advantages to having DC.  But, would I be loosing anything by NOT having ac?  Given what work I do, do I need both AC/DC?  I know I would really like to have a TrailBlazer or a Bobcat, but I think it would be overkill for what I do.  I really think that anything higher than the stats on the above machines would be outside of what I would be qualified to do any way.So I am asking...  Thoughts on the above machines, Would DC alone be ok for what I do?
Reply:Originally Posted by roadkillbobbbuy the machine that you can afford NOW not on what you might or might not make later, if you buy from a lws you can trade back and up grade later or sell off the machine to someone else or keep it as a back up, a small working machine is better than a big broken one, dont put yourself in a hole by getting a big machine you dont need, and you can have a million dollars worth of tools and cant fix $hit, your reputation for quality work will far OUTSHINE that big brand new expesive welder in the back of your truck..if you have big money then buy all the fancy crap..if you dont follow your own gut feeling and not what others talk you into, when the monthly payment comes its only you thats gonna be paying..a clean neat truck and good customer service makes a business grow not fancy look the part tools..
Reply:hobart is a good machine I would be careful using ac when wet. The miller is a great machine likes to drink gas but can run 5/32 all day. never used the other 2 machines.  Just doing mild steel?
Reply:Originally Posted by ahoronhobart is a good machine I would be careful using ac when wet. The miller is a great machine likes to drink gas but can run 5/32 all day. never used the other 2 machines.  Just doing mild steel?
Reply:I like the Bluestar, but it is way expensive!  Is that just Miller?  I found a Trailblazer down on the coast, but the welder portion doesn't work, gonna stay away from that.  I found a Ranger 8 in Slidell.  About 2 hour drive from me.  He wants $1700, no leads.It's not what you can buy, it's what you can build.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I sure didn't mean to get off track with your OP, I just like to keep my options open & encourage others to do the same.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIJust my .02 worth.  Take it for what it's worth.There's a big difference in showing up at a buddies house to help him "weld up" his lawnmower deck, and showing up at a commercial establishment to do maintenance repairs.  Nothing screams "inexperienced rookie" quite like a pickup truck full of a hodgepodge of equipment.  We all know it's not the machine but the welder who produces the work, but not having the right equipment sends the wrong signal.None of the welding machines you've shown above meets the criterion for what I would recommend for a "mobile welding business".The "minimum" I would recommend would be a Bobcat class machine, but preferably a Trailblazer.  Field work often requires extensive prep so the available AC (to also run a portable air compressor) would be a great feature.  A suitcase wirefeeder would be a nice option also.Buying the "proper equipment" is an investment, not an expense.  Good tools make the job go quicker and result in a better finished product.  I don't know many sucessful businesses that make it for the long term doing things on the "cheap".General Observations:JC, based on your many questions/comments thus far, I have to question your experience to be doing welding "for hire".  You mentioned in a previous post that you "had another full time job".  Sounds like you're trying to take on jobs that you neither have the equipment or experience to do properly.  An old saying comes to mind, "A smart man knows his limitations, and operates within them".Frankly, and you probably haven't quite figured this out yet, I bet you're really "well liked" by the "professional welders" (NOT) in the area.  Around here, couple of the "good ol boys" would have probably gotten together and burned your garage down by now.I'm not against anyone trying to better themselves in life (their own business), but there's a right way and a wrong way to go about doing it.  I don't think you've found the "right" way yet.  You seem very dependent on "internet input" rather than personal experience to make business decisions.