Thinking of building a small towable mobile power/welding unit?

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I have these two items sitting in my basement collecting dust which I got for free:Craftsman (Generac-I think) 5000W Surge/4200W Continuous Generator-will supply up to 17.5A @ 240V

Craftsman AC/DC Stick Welder-welding voltage is 30V, input voltage is 230V

Both are in good working order, but I don't use the generator because I have a larger and newer 8500W Surge/6250 Continuous unit that powers my house when needed.  I don't use the welder because I have no easy way to get 240V out to where I would use it the most (my barn, about 150' from the house), and I don't want to drag stuff up to the house when I need to weld.  I was also thinking it would be extremely useful to be able to bring the welder to the work wherever it is-ie: if I break something when I'm out brush hogging, etc...  I was thinking of bolting both of them to an old lawn tractor cart that I could tow behind my quad, that way I could literally bring it anywhere on the property or down the road to my neighbor if he needs it.  I could even throw some lifting rings on it and make it so that I could put it into the back of my pickup when needed.  It would also be handy for running power tools off of the 120V outlets for working on outbuildings, fences, etc...  I have so many good corded tools (drills, circular saws, reciprocating saws, etc...) its hard to justify investing a bunch of money in a whole cordless ecosystem. The two questions I have are:  First-is 5000W Surge/4200W Continuous enough to weld at 80-90 amps with 3/32 6011 rod?  Second-if the answer is "Not sure, you'll just have to try it out," is there a danger of damaging the generator or the welder in the process?  Or should the generator's breaker protect it (and the welder) if it becomes overloaded?  Both machines were free but I'd hate to ruin either of them.
Reply:Typically a stick/tig needs a 9,000 watt generator. The 4,000 watt will run a mig welder.Dave

Originally Posted by Badfish740

I have these two items sitting in my basement collecting dust which I got for free:Craftsman (Generac-I think) 5000W Surge/4200W Continuous Generator-will supply up to 17.5A @ 240V

Craftsman AC/DC Stick Welder-welding voltage is 30V, input voltage is 230V

Both are in good working order, but I don't use the generator because I have a larger and newer 8500W Surge/6250 Continuous unit that powers my house when needed.  I don't use the welder because I have no easy way to get 240V out to where I would use it the most (my barn, about 150' from the house), and I don't want to drag stuff up to the house when I need to weld.  I was also thinking it would be extremely useful to be able to bring the welder to the work wherever it is-ie: if I break something when I'm out brush hogging, etc...  I was thinking of bolting both of them to an old lawn tractor cart that I could tow behind my quad, that way I could literally bring it anywhere on the property or down the road to my neighbor if he needs it.  I could even throw some lifting rings on it and make it so that I could put it into the back of my pickup when needed.  It would also be handy for running power tools off of the 120V outlets for working on outbuildings, fences, etc...  I have so many good corded tools (drills, circular saws, reciprocating saws, etc...) its hard to justify investing a bunch of money in a whole cordless ecosystem. The two questions I have are:  First-is 5000W Surge/4200W Continuous enough to weld at 80-90 amps with 3/32 6011 rod?  Second-if the answer is "Not sure, you'll just have to try it out," is there a danger of damaging the generator or the welder in the process?  Or should the generator's breaker protect it (and the welder) if it becomes overloaded?  Both machines were free but I'd hate to ruin either of them.
Reply:

Originally Posted by smithdoor

Typically a stick/tig needs a 9,000 watt generator.
Reply:It starting ampsBut I would try and see if it works.Dave  

Originally Posted by Badfish740

Even at a fairly low amperage?  I don't expect to be able to utilize the full capability of the machine.  I wouldn't expect to weld at more than 85 or 90A.  Just doing the math if I'm welding at 30V x 90A = 2700W which would seem to be plenty of cushion given the generator is rated at 4200W continuous, but what I don't know is how variables such as the efficiency of the machine, rod thickness, material thickness, etc...factor in.
Reply:

Originally Posted by smithdoor

It starting amps.  But I would try and see works.
Reply:That is a good welder but its not made to run from little gensets.  Do yoursel a favor and buy an Everlast lunchbox. Plug it in. Cost less than fooling with all that.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:So your generator should be good for a 17.5 Amp draw. In my opinion you should be able to run it at 80 A.  If you look up a similar transformer welder (Miller Thunderbolt 225)....at 225 Amps it will typically draw 50A. Having said that, what I would do first is run the welder off of a 240 walloutlet at 80A with an amp meter attached to see amp draw, then you know exactly what your particular machine is capable of.
Reply:FYI I used my mig Chicago 170 mig welder on my Predator 4000Dave

Originally Posted by Badfish740

I have these two items sitting in my basement collecting dust which I got for free:Craftsman (Generac-I think) 5000W Surge/4200W Continuous Generator-will supply up to 17.5A @ 240V

Craftsman AC/DC Stick Welder-welding voltage is 30V, input voltage is 230V

Both are in good working order, but I don't use the generator because I have a larger and newer 8500W Surge/6250 Continuous unit that powers my house when needed.  I don't use the welder because I have no easy way to get 240V out to where I would use it the most (my barn, about 150' from the house), and I don't want to drag stuff up to the house when I need to weld.  I was also thinking it would be extremely useful to be able to bring the welder to the work wherever it is-ie: if I break something when I'm out brush hogging, etc...  I was thinking of bolting both of them to an old lawn tractor cart that I could tow behind my quad, that way I could literally bring it anywhere on the property or down the road to my neighbor if he needs it.  I could even throw some lifting rings on it and make it so that I could put it into the back of my pickup when needed.  It would also be handy for running power tools off of the 120V outlets for working on outbuildings, fences, etc...  I have so many good corded tools (drills, circular saws, reciprocating saws, etc...) its hard to justify investing a bunch of money in a whole cordless ecosystem. The two questions I have are:  First-is 5000W Surge/4200W Continuous enough to weld at 80-90 amps with 3/32 6011 rod?  Second-if the answer is "Not sure, you'll just have to try it out," is there a danger of damaging the generator or the welder in the process?  Or should the generator's breaker protect it (and the welder) if it becomes overloaded?  Both machines were free but I'd hate to ruin either of them.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Weld_

Having said that, what I would do first is run the welder off of a 240 walloutlet at 80A with an amp meter attached to see amp draw, then you know exactly what your particular machine is capable of.
Reply:There you go.............push the welder to the point where you get about 17A Draw....... then you know exactly how far you can go...... let everybody know what your test concludes this way people have a data point for future reference.
Reply:Yes, it is a 50A in machine and runs around 40 on DC with 1/8 lohy  Its not all that much lower with a smaller rod, its the nature of the machine.  But,,,, you could put a convenience outlet somewhere,,, 10 cable will run it to 75 ft quite well. If this was my forever home and wanted to do real work might invest in some number 2 alum and run to the barn. At that distance 60A service from it. You will be done fooling around.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:I have run a stick welder on a 200 foot 12 gauge cord. But it was on a 50 amp circuit. Dave

Originally Posted by Sberry

Yes, it is a 50A in machine and runs around 40 on DC with 1/8 lohy  Its not all that much lower with a smaller rod, its the nature of the machine.  But,,,, you could put a convenience outlet somewhere,,, 10 cable will run it to 75 ft quite well. If this was my forever home and wanted to do real work might invest in some number 2 alum and run to the barn. At that distance 60A service from it. You will be done fooling around.
Reply:I have never tried to run one very far from small wire but have ran them for days on 200 ft of 2 alum. Wouldnt know it wasnt right at the service.  I have ran several at modest length of 10 and same thing.     One time built a whole semi tanker for asphalt in a yard with a buzzer wired to the power pole. Had it out of the weather under a semi trailer.  Box of 6011 and 7014Last edited by Sberry; 17 Hours Ago at 10:27 AM.www.urkafarms.com