Any problems with this (awesome) setup??

admin

Hey guys!I'm planning a welder setup that I think is awesome (but rather expensive), here are the specs:a $585 Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 through Home Depota $2600 Generac 17500 Watt generator through electricgeneratorsdirect.com-OR- a $2300 Generac 15000 Watt generator through same ^^ sitewith a grand total of $3,185 OR $2,885, I'd have a powerful stick welder that is entirely portable   but better than motor-driven welders I want this because I would hate to go through all the trouble of installing a safe 50amp 220v source in my house  and having to do every weld ever in my dumb garage.Also, the second I graduate college, I plan on joining an off-the-grid community, or starting one of my own, and a portable generator of this size makes living off-grid easy-peasy  not to mention the importance of having a portable heavyduty welder that essentially runs off gasoline in the life of a sustenance farmer's life The expense isn't much of a problem. My food/water/shelter is paid for by my parents, as I am still in highschool  I've had a high-paying job at my local grocery store for a while, and I predict I will be able to make these purchases by the end of March  and it makes me proud to think that while most teens (my age) save up money for stupid stuff like nice-looking cars or drugs and alcohol, I will be spending my hard-earned cash on an awesome portable welder setup im goin a little crazy with these smilies Welder:http://www.google.com/products/catal...tle#scoring=tp15000w generator: http://www.google.com/products/catal...tle#scoring=tp17500w generator:http://www.google.com/products/catal...tle#scoring=tp
Reply:Save some more money and get a new Miller Bobcat or, better yet, a new Trailblazer or Lincoln's equivalent.  A whole lot better setup."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:Originally Posted by SvenskenHey guys!I'm planning a welder setup that I think is awesome (but rather expensive), here are the specs:with a grand total of $3,185 OR $2,885, I'd have a powerful stick welder that is entirely portable   but better than motor-driven welders
Reply:I say forget welding, and learn how to live off the land first.Can you skin a buck and run a trout line?A country boy can survive.When you can do these things, you are ready to join metal.
Reply:I'll second what DSW said and add......I don't think living "off grid" means **** when you have to keep running to the gas station.My name's not Jim....
Reply:"high paying job at a grocery store" "awesome setup"I smell a sarcastic troll.
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmI'll second what DSW said and add......I don't think living "off grid" means **** when you have to keep running to the gas station.
Reply:Originally Posted by i4sillypwr"high paying job at a grocery store" "awesome setup"I smell a sarcastic troll.
Reply:What are you planning on using this setup for?  Seems like a lot of money when it isn't going towards what you do for a living.
Reply:WOw you guys, Just because he is wrong about "Awesome Setup" doesnt mean you have to badger him like that. calm down, He comes here for your help, He respects you but you cant respect him back because your Better than him, Calm down and answer questions with respect not "Dissing" every word he says.Age:17Machine: Lincoln AC 225v Arc WelderMotive: TO learn everything i can about weldin
Reply:whats up with these wierdo people that want to live off the landand $hit and come on a welding web?  are these like some kinda of new age hippies fascinated with welding? I've seen a few of these stoopid a$$ post, it must be the same dude, remember that crazy thread not to long agohttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=38356&  http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=36833wonder if svenskn is from the same ip address as jht5fd?
Reply:ok guys, all irrelevant opinions aside;can i reliably run a 40amp-225volt welder on a 17500watt Generac portable generator? this generator is rated with 63 amps @ 240 volts, i would hope that this is plenty enough to handle the load from this welder?
Reply:To have a truly (awesome) off the grid setup, your welder must run off of windmill power or hemp fiber.
Reply:Really we were teenagers once too. Sure the gen set can power that welder but there are much better options for the same or less money. It's not that hard to find a good used bobcat or ranger for under 2 grand ,often they can be had for$1000-1500. And that usually includes at least a 50 set of leads. While the AC225 is the industry standard entry level machine it still is entry level machine. On the DC side it just barely has the balls to  run 1/8" 7018 an won't run it more than a few sticks  before it hits it's duty cycle limit. While it's the near useless leads can be upgraded that's even more money you have to throw in this sinking ship. If you're still dead set on running a buzz box off of a gen set one from a garage sale or a pawn shop. I got a monkey wards buzz box from a pawn shop back in 1987, it had to be 10 to 15 years old back then. It's still going strong, it is very rare for a buzz box to go bad. I keep it around so the newbies can learn to weld on it rather than wasting gas and hours on the bobcat 250.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:One word of direction for off the grid living... it is not gasoline or diesel it is SOLAR. ?  if I were going to live off the grid I'd be looking for a girl who would like that life? The welding would come laterenjoyLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:If you really want to live "off grid" .... living "green" so to speak...Don't bother with gas powered welders. GO SOLAR!Here is an example of what can be done with a Magnifying glass and some thin mig wire. Attached ImagesMiller 211Hypertherm PM 451961 Lincoln Idealarc 250HTP 221  True Wisdom only comes from Pain.
Reply:May I chime in here?  I'm an old welder, new to forums.  Here's what I see.  A teenager who wants to be a welder.  Great.  Unless you have unlimited room on your truck, in your car, or wherever your going to put this generator and welder, remember all of the pariphials that go with a portable set-up.If your just stick welding buy a beginners portable welder/generator, preferably 8kw-10kw.  You can get one at Atwoods for about 3K.  Now days you can buy a air cooled machine with ac/dc/cc/cv pretty cheap.  If you can really weld, you will need a remote control capable machine upgradable.  That generator is going to take up way more room than your going to want to give up.  Not to mention the extra weight.  You will have to have your oxy/acy bottles.  Jack stands. Leads, and extra leads, a tool box with grinders and handtools.  After you have done some jobs, your going to want a wirefeeder that you can hook up.Another thing that concerns me about taking a shop welder and putting it on a truck is weather proof!  What are you going to do when it's raining and you need to finish up a job?  Don't do anything stupid like get yourself exectrocuted!  The portable welders are made with safety apperatus installed to prevent this to some extent.I guess what I'm trying to say here is, that is not an awsome set-up!  You need to do some research through all the different venues available to you, including talking to your LWS; local welding supply, salesman for some really serious counsiling.I hope you can realize your dream of being a welder, but be smart about it!Take CareSteve
Reply:Originally Posted by PapaLionOne word of direction for off the grid living... it is not gasoline or diesel it is SOLAR. ?  if I were going to live off the grid I'd be looking for a girl who would like that life? The welding would come laterenjoy
Reply:This was interesting.....Goodbye!UA Local 598
Reply:Originally Posted by daddyI say forget welding, and learn how to live off the land first.Can you skin a buck and run a trout line?A country boy can survive.When you can do these things, you are ready to join metal.
Reply:Get a designated welder generator. It'll last longer and you'll look more professional. People wont take you seriously when they see you unloading a buzz box and generator off your truck.
Reply:Originally Posted by regularfellaWith all due respect, that's "trot" line. Maybe the song sounds a little different in "Steeler" country but I'm a true redneck and couldn't let that slide. As to the subject of this thread, I 2nd the Bobcat or Trailblazer options as the better choice.P.S. I still have my "Mean Joe Green" poster BTW
Reply:I have to agree w/ the majority here. I admire you wanting to live"off the grid", but a portable welder will serve you longer and have 1/2 the weight of two separate machines.If you figure the gen. to power your humble abode full time, electricity from the grid will be much cheaper than buying all that gasoline. I think you should look into solar or wind power w/ a bank of batteries and an inverter for home power. If you're just trolling, then go ahead and troll on down the river. We have an abundance of BS on here w/o your $.02.                      MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Originally Posted by WHughesThis was interesting.....Goodbye!
Reply:lol...If you put any stock, and you should, in the combined experience here that is not and awesome setup. Most of us , as you are, were once young and I bet most, I know I did, started with a " Tombstone" I used to run a cord from my mothers kitchen stove outlet to power it, She was not happy. A decent machine to start, Not a road machine. Save yourself a lot of money, and aggravation and go to craigslist and find a nice, not to old, gas drive with CV. You will find out if welding is for you and you will have a machine that will last for years or will retain enough value if you choose to sell it. Good Luck and keep us posted."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:Originally Posted by Svenskenok guys, all irrelevant opinions aside;can i reliably run a 40amp-225volt welder on a 17500watt Generac portable generator? this generator is rated with 63 amps @ 240 volts, i would hope that this is plenty enough to handle the load from this welder?
Reply:I recommend growing beans "off the grid," and then converting a generator to run on methane.
Reply:oooooh methane!Drink a Guinness Draught....Millermatic 140Do you still rememberDecember's foggy freeze --when the ice thatclings on to your beard isscreaming agony.
Reply:I have a lincoln ranger 8 with 600 hours on it that I picked up used for $1300.00 that runs great and can use to weld any wear. Then I got lazy and didn't what to lay out 50-75ft of leads for a 10 or 20min job so I bought a miller maxstar 150 STL for 850.00 used. So know I have 1 cord going a 100ft and I can ajust my ampage right next to me vs walking 50-100ft back to the truck or down the ladder. The best thing is that maxstar will run off 110/220 and is 15 lbs and if other power is there I just wire a pig tail in and use it. I do about 90% of my stick welding with the maxstar. So for $2150.00 bucks I have a nice seat up for me. I would like to have a miller trailblazer 302 airpak some day but for now this is it. hope this helps some.
Reply:If you're going off the grid and need to weld then you should look at O/A welders.  Save the wear and tear on the generator for other things....and by the way, you don't need to weld or have electricity if you're going off the grid.Last edited by halfmoa; 03-14-2010 at 10:44 PM.
Reply:I bought my first welder when I was 16 tho I has already working in a trade part time. But then again I still saved my money for trucks and car tho. I think it is cool he wants to weld but I think running a buzz box off a gen. is gonna be less then ideal for him.2-Lincoln idealarc 250/250, lincoln 225 ac/dc welder, lincweld ac 180c, hobart handler 210, hobart stickmate lx 235/160, Hypertherm Powermax30local 26 I.B.E.W Electrician
Reply:good news!i took the cheaper/more suitable route and did away with AC altogether, and got a Maxstar 150 STL, because i dont need anything more than 220v DC  and i can go as small as i want, plus i can make a TIG upgrade down the road when i get good enough!
Reply:Originally Posted by daddyThank you for the correction!Can you elaborate a bit more so a northern redneck knows what the he!! he's talking about?
Reply:Svensken you don't seem to be in that much of a hurry to make a purchase.I was at the LWS today and they were talking about the new Lincoln coming out this fall. I thought of you wanting to be off the grid.  It is a super new semiconductor technology. They say this new one uses so little power that it could be powered from the smiles of little children.
Reply:Wow peer pressure.Going through the latest AWS zine I ran across an article about a school using solar for its welding program.  By day the program runs off the solar and the school is off the grid and by night it goes back on the grid, I'll have to get the article out of the van and look into it further to find out the size and amount of the panels as well as the size of the battery bank and whether they went with traditional rigid panels or the flexible thin film photovoltaics.