Suitcase XTreme 8VS feeder and gun ?

admin

Since this issue came up in another thread about a 12VS feeder not being able to feed the smaller diameter flux wires and I am considering buying an 8VS feeder to use with small flux wires, I am asking if this is going to work for me if I buy it.I am interested in using a Suitcase XTreme 8VS feeder with my Bobcat 250NT in DC CV output mode to feed .030", .035" and .045" flux cored wires, mostly E71T-GS, T-11 and NR-232 & -211.  The feeder comes with a Bernard Q300 gun with Centerfire frontend.  The smaller size and weight of the 8VS is more appealing to me than the bigger 12VS since this will be strictly for mobile work and I am used to running 8" 10-lb spools of wire on the truck with the Passport and haven't seen a need to run 12" spools on the truck.  I do mostly repairs and some light fabrication from the truck, no heavy steel structure erection or high volume stuff that uses up a ton of wire in a day.I was thinking of trading in the new gun for a Duraflux gun, since Bernard allows buyers to trade in their brand new, un-used Bernard gun for another Bernard gun if another Bernard gun may be better suited to the purpose.   Not knowing alot of details about the Duraflux, I assume it to be better suited to use with flux cored wire than the Q-Gun.  I have 2 Q-Guns here, a Q300 and a Q400 and have used both for both solid wire and flux cored wire and they work ok with either.  I just thought the Duraflux would be perfectly suited for the job though.Anyways, what do you say about this?   Will the Suitcase Xtreme 8VS be the right feeder for what I intend to use it for?   Will the Duraflux or Q-Gun be the right gun for my intended use?MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I'd like to read the thread you're referring to, the one that talks about the 12VS not handling small FCAW wires.I can only speak to large diameter FCAW, 'cause that's all I weld with.  The 12 VS does just fine on these.  It uses the same standard drive rolls; so I'm struggling to imagine why smaller wires would create a problem?Insofar as guns are concerned.  I weld with both the Duraflux guns and the Q-guns.  I don't use the Q-guns for ss-fcaw; gas-shielded fcaw and metal core only.  The narrow tip and small diameter barrel on the Duraflux gun gives you better access to the bottom of groove welds, and better visibility in some situations.  Taking the duraflux gun neck off every time you change wires is a pain, but I suspect that's not a problem for most welders.  I assume spatter from self shielded wire would quickly build up in a Q-gun nozzle, and this is a non-issue for the duraflux guns.I can't see why the Extreme 8 suitcase wouldn't work for you.  You might get better results with the 8RC, but then you've got to be able to hook up the remote cable.  Not sure if you can do this with your Bobcat.  the VS is definitely compatible with a broader array of power supplies.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:Thanks, A_Dab_Will_do,The discussion I referred to is HEREI am failing to see why it wouldn't work with smaller wires too, but that is what was said in the discussion linked to above, so thought I better ask before spending any money.My Bobcat is not remote control capable.  It has no contactor or 14-pin connection.   I can only use a voltage-sensing device with it, unless I buy the WC-115A weld control with contactor, which costs about $1000.  I don't want to spend any money on that though, since I plan to some day swap the Bobcat with a Trailblazer, which has the contactor and remote connection built in and alot of other attributes I would like to have as well.   The Bobcat has been good and it gets the jobs done and I am happy with it for the time being.  I looked into doing some home-brew modifications a while back to allow me to use my Spoolmatic and Cobramatic feeders with the Bobcat, but decided it is better to just pony up for the Trailblazer and be done with it.  In the meantime, I would like to add a voltage-sensing suitcase type feeder to my truck rig that will work with the Bobcat for now and will also work well with the Trailblazer in the future.  I believe the feeder to best suit my needs to be the 8VS.  I will use it exclusively with flux cored wires and use the Passport exclusively with solid wire and gas.   The Passport is a great machine, but sometimes I need more juice than it can put out.  It is also kinda heavy to lug around alot.   I also don't have alot of extra storage space on the truck to carry another large mig feeder.   The smaller, lighter Suitcase 8 seems attractive in that regard.Thanks for your reply.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:As a matter of curiousity, I would like to know, from those of you who have welded with both the Suitcase VS and Suitcase RC feeders, which one you liked welding with better?   What was different about one or the other?   I have not welded with either of them.   My friend has a Bobcat and a 12VS and he said he is very happy with that combination.   I assume my Bobcat with an 8VS should do just as well as his.The other alternatives would be the Lincoln LN-25 or older Miller SP32 suitcase feeders.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I just got an 8vs for my truck havent really tryed it much other than to make sure it worked (bought used) I looked at the 12vs but I also dont do heavy steel and 12vs loaded with wire out weighs my mm175 so there would be no point in me buying one no probs on my bobcat in cc or cv mode250DXMM251MM175225G plus 251D-1
Reply:Ok, I read the post, and I'd recommend calling MIller, as that seems to have solved the problem for 'itsgottobegreen'.   I'll ask some of the guys I work with and see what their experiences have been as well.  Definitely better to run ss-fcaw on a CV power supply, as someone else noted in the other thread.I use a 12VS with several different power supplies in a shop environment.  It's easier to load wire spools than the lincoln equivalent, and I like the panel display and controls.  The 12VS with a 33lb spool is a bear to move around; I'd rather set it on a hand truck than carry one loaded with a brand new spool.  But it is portable.The Lincoln feeders are indestructible; and reliable, which are their big selling points.  I've had zero problems with the 12VS I use regularly, but I don't subject it to a lot of field abuse.  I like the plastic case, which I think would do a better job of protecting the wire loaded inside from casual contact with moisture.  The lincoln feeder ln-22 or 25 seems more open to the environment.If I were buying a suitcase feeder for my home business, I'd be looking seriously at an 8VS also; assuming that it's performance is comparable to the 12VS I'm accustomed to.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:Last followup,I talked to some of the guys I work with and nobody has any concerns about running small diameter fluxcore with an Extreme 8VS suitcase feeder.  None of us can understand why the problems you mentioned in the other thread were occurring.  Seems to be all wrapped up in the choice of gun, and not anything to do with the feeder itself.  I'd call Bernard and get their take on which gun to use with small diameter fluxcore, just to cover your bases.Let us know how it turns out.-DaveBenson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:I'm running the Miller Pro 300 with the 12vs with .035, 045 wire and it handles either size wire like a champ absolutely no problems
Reply:I know this topic has died awhile ago, but I got around to calling Bernard about running small diameter fluxcore wires in the Duraflux torch and their answer was that the Duraflux gun will only run fluxcore wire in diameters of .062 (1/16") and up.  Thought y'all would want to know that information.Thanks to all of you who participated in the discussion.  The jury is still out on the the VS versus RC Suitcase feeder question but at least the torch question has been solved.  For anyone running alot of fluxcore in a Q-Gun, Bernard does make a special frontend for using fluxcore in that gun that eliminates the gas nozzle and allows full view around the tip, while still using regular Centerfire tips, like the frontend on the Duraflux.  I have this for my Q300/400 torches and it works good.Last edited by DesertRider33; 02-06-2009 at 03:24 PM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I run .035 FC and HW  through both my suitcase 12vs and my LN-25Never had much issue no more than any other feeder.
Reply:I run .035, .045, and .052 in My 12RC all the time. I have run both hard wire and fluxcore with no problems. I had a 12VS and used it for 4-5 years and cant count the rolls of wire it burned. I have had the 12 RC for a year or so, and cant tell alot of difference. The RC seems to feed the wire at a more constant speed, but other than that, I cant tell..............................."Look Good Doing It"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:Thanks Coyote and everybody.Looks like it's pretty well established that all of the Suitcase feeders can feed the smaller flux wires, and just about any wire and the problem with the small wires was with the Duraflux torch.I am leaning to the Suitcase RC versus the Suitcase VS cause now I've thrown the possibility of an XMT into the mix since I found out an XMT and a Suitcase cost about the same as a Trailblazer and a Suitcase and I can get pulse with the XMT and move the XMT from the truck to get more range from an RC feeder than if I was plugging an RC directly into a Trailblazer.   See my other topic HERE for more clarification about that.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op