New member looking for some advice from the seasoned veterans

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Hey everyone,  I have been reading the boards on here for some time, but am new to posting.  I have to say that i have found the help on here to be extremely valuable as I have continued to learn and progress in this trade.My day job is as a welder and assembler for a saw mill manufacturer, but I have slowly been building a growing a side repair business running a mobile welding unit that I rigged off a small utility body trailer I modified.  Its been great for me to work on the side business slowly pulling a consistent paycheck allows me to be selective in the work I take on, as well as allow better means for capital investment.I mostly do heavy equipment repairs and farm fixes.  This is mainly due to the fact that arc welding is the main machine I have in the mobile rig.I run a Ranger 250 xlt and the machine has been good to me thus far. I am looking to invest in a new smaller machine, and was hoping for some advice.I find that I turn down a lot of thinner material and aluminum fixes because it simply cant be achieved cleanly stick welding.  I have access to someones shop with more machine options that I pay an hourly rate too, but don't have my own.  This also is a situation I don't like to overuse, and honestly I want to make my mobile rig more versatile. My main criteria for a new machine is as follows:-ability to run off the Ranger hassle free (key factor)-mig primary medium with aluminum spool for added option.- somewhat light weight and easy to move-not opposed to tig, would like a unit that does both really. But my tig is not up to par where I would use often.  Practice would be the big advantage to having this though.I have looked into both the mig and tig modules supplied by lincoln specifically for the Ranger, but honestly the budget is half what these machines cost.I was wondering what machines would work running off the ranger.  What voltage I can shop, and what to be cautious of.I appreciate any help/advice you all can give. thanks.
Reply:You could throw a tig torch on your unit and go to town with scratch start!The whole investment would be around $200 plus argon tank. Later you could add the goodies that make life easier like a foot pedal or pulse box.I'm not real familiar with the 250 xlt. How about some specs on output and capabilityReal welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:Sounds like you're in the market for a suitcase feeder. Or you could run a standalone mig  plugged into one of your 220 outlets
Reply:Originally Posted by Dantheharleyman99You could throw a tig torch on your unit and go to town with scratch start!The whole investment would be around $200 plus argon tank. Later you could add the goodies that make life easier like a foot pedal or pulse box.I'm not real familiar with the 250 xlt. How about some specs on output and capability
Reply:From the looks of it the powermig only has a 20 amp input and your unit has about 40 amps of 240 power available
Reply:This is where I have zero knowledge. So I could realistically go for a larger machine? Again how do I calculate amps needed? Is it as easy as finding a machine with an input of 40 amps or less?
Reply:Originally Posted by bicoastalnhThis is where I have zero knowledge. So I could realistically go for a larger machine? Again how do I calculate amps needed? Is it as easy as finding a machine with an input of 40 amps or less?
Reply:My machine is supplying 50amps and say the 180 powermig has an input of 20amps. Is the lopsided input going to possibly damage the attachment machine? Or is it only going to draw the 20amps it needs?Portability is a factor. And choosing something that will exceed my needs is important too. Multi purpose machines may be an option as well.
Reply:Derp never mind. Reread first post and found my input not helpful.Last edited by MrLeadMan; 08-16-2014 at 06:22 PM.Ranger 250 GXTSmith Gas Axe
Reply:Originally Posted by bicoastalnhMy machine is supplying 50amps and say the 180 powermig has an input of 20amps. Is the lopsided input going to possibly damage the attachment machine? Or is it only going to draw the 20amps it needs?Portability is a factor. And choosing something that will exceed my needs is important too. Multi purpose machines may be an option as well.
Reply:get a suitcase. they are made for engine drives... a mig that is the same size will not have near as much capability. You can tig off of your welder now...- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com
Reply:Has anyone used the tig strike arc way of doing things with the engine driven machine? I picked up a torch of CL for nearly nothing, but never hooked it up. Seems like a simple hook up. Need to acquire the argon first I guess.Would love to hear some opinions.
Reply:Originally Posted by camjeep3get a suitcase. they are made for engine drives... a mig that is the same size will not have near as much capability. You can tig off of your welder now...
Reply:I second the suitcase feeder option. For tig you can scratch start, or get a HF box. I'm pretty sure I will catch some flak for this, . Your 250 engine drive is ready for anything you want to hook to it. Ask around on here and see if you can get a wire feeder or HF box for a good price. Someone has an extra lying around they don't use.Thermal arc 211iCk flex-loc 150 & 130Clamps, saws & grindersHarbor freight 80 amp inverter
Reply:Miller Super 32p. CCCV. Used Ebay bout $500.Arcon Workhorse 300MSPowcon 400SMTPowcon SM400 x 2Powcon SM3001968 SA200 Redface1978 SA250 DieselMiller Super 32P FeederPre 1927 American 14" High Duty LatheK&T Milwaukee 2H Horizontal MillBryan
Reply:Bico,Look at this thread for tighttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-Welder-PeoplePretty simple setup.As for mig, a suitcase feeder all the way-this is assuming your machine has CV output.  Adding a full machine is like adding a middle man in a sale.  You're gonna lose a little more energy from the deal.  An LN-25 would be perfect for you, brand specific, and you can get a decent used one for $5-600 on eBay.  I sold a cream puff last year for $600.If your machine is CC only, then you'd have to add another machine to get true short circuit mig.  The feeders can adjust the wire speed fast enough to mimic it in CC voltage sensing mode.  Apparently it works OK with flux core and dual shield heavy wire, but that's not what you're looking to accomplish here.
Reply:If it fits in your budget, the Thermal Arc 252i with a spool gun sounds like a good fit. Reasonably portable, powerful enough to use as a shop machine, can do lift-start TIG (DC only) if you get a torch and a pedal.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:I agree on the three in one TA machine, they work well. However they are not easy to move, and might not fair so well in the bed of a truck driving on the farm. I own a 211i and it weighs around 100 lbs with wire, gun, torch, gas bottle etc. your in a tough situation, your wanting wire feed and aluminum capabilities. Do you need AC tig capabilities? Or would a spool gun take care of your needs? Maybe a feeder with a push pull gun would work.Thermal arc 211iCk flex-loc 150 & 130Clamps, saws & grindersHarbor freight 80 amp inverter
Reply:My aluminum fixes are few and far between, but this is mostly due to not having the capabilities to pull them off with the current mobile rig.  I plan to get the tig module down the road, once it makes sense for me to throw down the money on it. I like to grow my machine and tools as the customer base predicts;-) that said a spool gun would get me by till that investment is needed.I have looked at the thermal arc machine as an option, and have been watching a lot of reviews on the machine. Seems like a good fit b/c it could also graduate to a shop spot eventually, if and when I get one.As far as The wire feeder suitcase...can I load aluminum wire? How's it do with thinner stock?Thanks so much.
Reply:A suitcase will be a bear to run aluminum wire through. With the suitcase your amperage is set on your engine drive so you have the full range of your machines adjustment. And you can run different size wires for different thickness of material as well.Ranger 250 GXTSmith Gas Axe
Reply:Originally Posted by MrLeadManA suitcase will be a bear to run aluminum wire through. With the suitcase your amperage is set on your engine drive so you have the full range of your machines adjustment. And you can run different size wires for different thickness of material as well.
Reply:Yeah aluminum with the suitcase will be difficult,unless you can run bigger wire like 1/16". I'm not sure how well that would do though. As long as you can hit spray transfer it should work. A push pull gun would work with the smaller wire,they are expensive though. Push pull is like a spool gun without the spool on the gun, so you can run bigger wire spools.Thermal arc 211iCk flex-loc 150 & 130Clamps, saws & grindersHarbor freight 80 amp inverter