Miller 8VS suitcase?

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Local shop has a Miller 8VS suitcase welder for sale, and I am thinking about adding it to the collection.  I don't know much about these machines, other than they are primarily used with gen powered stick machines for portability. Looks like it would be really handy to run .035 flux core wire in the field, but I am not sure how much more useful it would be (for me) than simply running a small inverter stick machine off a portable generator.  That being said, I can probably get the 8VS for around $250, and it looks to be in pretty good condition.  What would be the smallest machine you could use to adequately run the 8VS?
Reply:Buy it.Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:If it works and comes with a gun buy itBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:$250 is a straight up steal in my opinion.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:I'd expect that unit in good working order to bring $650+ on average. Typically older VS style feeders like my Super S32P sell for between $450-650 and newer feeders like the 8vs/12VS can go for quite a bit more depending on condition.Note that these will not run great off small stick machines. To run wire off a CC source, the feeder needs to constantly keep changing the wire speed to mimic CV. Trying to run wire in short arc doesn't do well as the machine really can't make the changes needed fast enough. To run well, you need to get up into spray mode. Small stick machines often don't either have the amps to do this well, or the duty cycle if they can run at those amps for very long. Spray mig is also a fairly hot process, so it's poorly suited for thin material. It's best on stuff 3/16" or thicker. Spray is also a PITA out of position, so vertical and overhead can be tough. Note: DO NOT TRY AND RUN THE FEEDER OFF AN AC STICK MACHINE! You will fry the feeder! They are DC only.Now run off a CV capable engine drive, say like a Bobcat, most of those limitations goes away. Now it will run just like any other mig machine on thick to thin stuff. Some have even adapted units like that to run off standard mig machines as a long reach feeder.I wouldn't hesitate to grab that if I was near by. I'd happily replace my S32P with it and sell my old feeder at a profit on the deal..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:To run well, you need to get up into spray mode. Small stick machines often don't either have the amps to do this well, or the duty cycle if they can run at those amps for very long.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jason280I have a few stick machines right now, two of which are a Lincoln Square Wave TIG 175 and a Lincoln Invertec V-250s.  Any chance either would be able to run the 8VS, or will it simply be an exercise in frustration?Now this definitely has me interested.  There are times when I can't get a project close enough to my MIG welders, and will use stick.  It would be great to be able to adapt 50-100' of cable to my Power MIG 255 and be able to use the feeder out in the yard.  Any more information on this?
Reply:You can run that feeder off that 175 or 250 for flux core very nicely.
Reply:I think CEP here has shown some results of running FC wire off a VS feeder off his Lincoln Invertec. The Squarewave tig you might have to watch the duty cycle.As far as using the feeder as a remote, from what I remember, what they did was pin or jumper the trigger to engage the contactor full time. Then turn off the wire feed motor inside the machine, no problem if the machine is set up with a cut out like mine has for using a spoolgun. Then it probably hooks up just like my spoolgun does. You hook a lead to the positive or negative stud in the machine, and run the lead out to the feeder. You might have to extend the ground lead as well. The only caution I can remember was one of the repair guys mentioning that jumpering the contactor full time might cause overheating issues due to duty cycle as the machine will be "on" pretty much after that. Not a big deal on a bigger cabinet style mig with a reasonable duty cycle. At worst you could probably rig a separate line with an on/off switch for the jumper so you could energize the mig remotely. It's used exactly like you would with a shop style industrial mig power source like an XMT 304 or one of the older style transformer power sources that uses a separate feeder unit. You might find some of the info in this thread on the subject of FC wire with VS feeders of interest.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...CC-powersource.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by Jason280Now I'm definitely interested!Excuse my ignorance, but how do you determine your adjustments?  Is there a certain amount of parasitic loss running off a stick machine, or can you pretty much use standard amperage/wire feed settings for a given thickness?  I guess what I am asking, how complicated is it to get the 8VS set up to weld correctly?
Reply:Here's a bed on 3/8" flatbar.This is .045 Nr211.Running off my Invertec 275, somewhere around 150ams.Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:Awesome, looks like I will be making an offer on the 8VS...I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that its still there!
Reply:Well, the 8VS was still at the shop, so I was able to check it over a little more closely.  Suitcase itself is in pretty good shape, but the gun and voltage clamp have definitely seen some use.  Most of the end of the gun will need to be rebuilt, including the diffuser, nozzle, and tips.  Not sure about the liner, but I would assume its due for a change as well.  Voltage clamp wiring has a nick, but really wouldn't be difficult to fix.I made an offer on the 8VS, but we are about $75 off in price.  They are holding at $350, and I really don't want to go over $250-275.  I figure I will spend at least another $35-50 getting the gun rebuilt, and don't want to put more than $300 into everything.  I know I am probably being a cheap bastard, but maybe they will come down next week.