Engine-driven welders for the semi-pro

[Trent Combs]

I'm considering buying a portable unit to allow me to weld gates, pipe fences and other ornamental/non-critical projects. May have need (eventually) for light structural, but no pipelines for me. Since I am looking at this as a secondary income as well as a hobby, there is the distinct possibility that I will find that paying jobs are few and far between - and since I live in oil country, there may be too much competition from moonlighting pros to justify owning the machine - so resale is a factor. I'm really just looking for the personal satisfaction of fabricating projects, with the possibility of offsetting the cost of equipment with the occasional side job. I already know I can make more $/hr teaching night school - but I enjoy welding. I have the capability to transport a full-size welder. While the Bluestar 6000 is attractively compact, lightweight, and probably enough machine for my immediate needs, they run ~$2200. For a few (ok, hundred) dollars more, I could have a 10K machine. Of course, if a smokin' deal comes up on a used unit, I'd probably jump on it, but let's just consider new. Lincoln Ranger 10000, Hobart Champion 10000, and Miller Bobcat all come to mind as possibilities - with Lincoln leading the pack based on local resale.

Your thoughts and opinions?

[dda52]

All three are almost equal. The only exception would be the Hobart is DC only. The arc quality is the same on all three. Any of the three would be a good buy.

[Mike W]

Trent, I just realized we are in the same location. Do you need a fitter? (just kidding). I will keep my eyes open for a machine for you. I have seen quite a few in the paper from time to time.

[Tx Firefighter]

I was in the exact same situation as you are. I wanted an engine drive to do some side work with. I bought a Bobcat 225, which was 2515 bucks out the door. It great, no complaints, I'd buy it again without hesitation.

In my area, Miller welders are dominant in the engine drive class. There's very few Lincolns here in Texas that aren't mounted to a pipeliner's truck. I probably see 20 or more Millers in trucks in my little town every day.

As far as resale, the guy at my welding supply looked for a used machine for me for awhile. We never saw a Bobcat with less than 2k hours for sale and none of the machines with over 2k hours sold for less than 1800 bucks. I finally just gave up, and bought new.

[Zrexxer]

As far as resale, the guy at my welding supply looked for a used machine for me for awhile. We never saw a Bobcat with less than 2k hours for sale and none of the machines with over 2k hours sold for less than 1800 bucks. I finally just gave up, and bought new.

I've noticed the same thing around Austin; even the machines that have been beat to an almost unrecognizable pulp are bringing 70-80% of new prices. It's worthwhile just to find a good price on a new one and buy that instead.

[dulknife]

i have a champion 10,000 i build things out of drill stem and really like the hobart. ken

[dda52]

Same thing in San Antonio. Probably 85% are Miller. The others are pipe welders with SA's. There are a few more of the smaller red machines, but the word was that the heat was killing the electronics, which the bigger Rangers ( 250 & 305 ) have plenty of. I'm not sure if they've found a solution for that yet.

Used machines are top dollar and are going very quick. Not sure why a friend of my wife's can't get rid of his machine. When I was kicking the idea around about whether or not to rebuild my Bobcat, I asked about the used market around here. Airgas told me to give them a pic and details, and they'd probably have it sold for me in two or three days! I have since decided to keep it. I could probably get around $1800 for it I'm told and it is 16 years old! Like they said, go new. It will be better in the long run.

[Sberry]

Like has been mentioned there are a lot of choices. With these kind of welders remember that they are also an excellent genset. The Bluestar is nice, but I am not sure it has 230V recept for aux power, it is half the weight, but if thats not an issue I think I would tend to go with a bigger machine. If you are stricktly stick welding steel the Champ will do the trick. I see in the OM for my Spectrum it suggests not to use the Champ as the power supply. Bobcat is ok,, anyone know why? Different waveform? The Ranger and Bobcat are similar and will run small wirefeeds, thats an advantage of those although if I was considering mobile feeders I would want a bigger machine anyway. Considering the cost I am not sure how I would feel about the Bluestar and if I was doing much work for hire a bigger machine is certainly going to look more pro. The Blue may be fine for a guy who primarily shop fabs and has to do a little field install. I am not sure what I would get if I was starting over. Ha, very helpful huh? For me likely a 301

[legend]

Just a few words of my own opinion.

If I was considering on buying a high rpm engine like you I would buy a bobcat 225 or 250 ac/dc or instead of miller a ac/dc ranger since your probaly more into lincoln.

If I had the need for another one I would buy another lincoln classic engine drive because the only welder I would spend time using is a low rpm diesel copper wound lincoln generator because nothing comes close to those welders.

Nowadays on todays service trucks usally around my area around south texas it's usually a miller ac/dc gasoline although i would never use one because i hate the high rpm on those things because even on idle those things are just irritating but they are really reasonable and cheap.


Good Luck on your journey of finding one.Mobile welding is always real convienent if you are setup with the right vehicle or perhaps if you have a trailer to attatch it to.I have my lincoln on the back of an old flatbed truck with an emglo engine driven compressor and big tool box that I drive when I go and do mobile work every now and then.

[slaghand]

I paid 2500 for a brand new M 250 NT 6-7 months ago, put a 3545 spool gun on with it for my mobile work and wouldn't do it any different if i had a second chance at it again. I also looked for a used engine drive for about 6 months. New was the best route after i saw the junk that was out there. I'm happy!

[Sberry]

I agree that if I was renting it out on a job the diesel would make sense, but for small job use gas works well. It takes a long time for the avg guy to put a hundred hours on a machine doing odd jobs. I have one that had 42 hrs on it untill I make electric with it for a week or 2.

[Trent Combs]

I understand that bigger is better, but I don't want to weld pipeline - ever. Overkill is fine, over budget isn't....

My neighbor is a weldor/fabricator of the highest order. He's pretty well respected in this area, and was solicited by the local rep to run a blue machine on his truck. Unfortunately, his experience has been less than satisfactory - but Miller has stood behind the machine well, replacing major components and even the entire machine. I don't know which machine it is, but it was ~$10,000. He'd sure like to get more than 1200 hours between major failures.

Some of the local rental yards are using Hobart 10000s. I'll be getting their feedback soon.

[diesel]

If your outside jobs are limited to pipe fence and odd jobs like small building frames. Then I'd go with the champ. You won't need a/c and spool guns work best inside. I use an old sa200 (mfd '67) for fences its prolly worth $1000-leads. With that machine I have 150' leads and burn 3/16 5p. I can park it in the middle of an arena, turn up the V's and melt metal like nobody's business. Its a good ol'e machine. Check the gas, clean the plugs and fill the oil.

If you want to save money go with a champ that's about as small as I'd go. I have one and the only thing I don't like is that it only goes down to about 60 amps. If you buy a used welder like an old pipeliner and I think the old pre bobcat you need to remember that all your tools you power off it have to be the more expensive ac/dc. I have seen many fans and saws and battery chargers and lights, smoke their last from a plug off of a pipeliner .
byron

[Trent Combs]

Well-used 60s models SA200s sell for $1500-2500 all the time around here. It's bigger and heavier than I want to go, and I don't want to replace all my tools...

[Sberry]

I saw a new Champ on a truck going down the ro0ad the other day, looked nice sitting there. For general steel work it would certainly be fine. I still want to know about the power supply though, maybe I will start a new thread.