Help me buy a welder/generator.

[tuolumne]

I need a generator for my upcoming home construction project. 6 kW would cover air compressor (don't have one) saws and lights. I will also need this for 3-4 times per year multi-day power outages that I can expect where we are building. That said, a generator that will idle down corresponding to the load will save a bunch of fuel.

I would like a welder considering how much I can save making my own attachments over buying them. I don't know much about welders, so please educate me. Does it make any sense to combine this purchase, or am I better off getting a separate (electric) welder. I've built a number of things with a 110V wire feed with and without gas and had good success. 1/8" and 3/16" were OK, but welding a 1/4" reciever on the front of our van was a messy job with this low amperage. Such a welder will not be capable of handling the thicker metals associated with tractor implements. My only experience with sticks was a few hours in a machine shop class. I didn't get the knack then, but I won't rule this out.

$3000 maximum budget.

1.) What minimum welder size should I be looking for to fabricate things up to 3/8" plates/tubes etc?
2.) Is there any economic sense to get a gas (diesel preferred) welder/generator combo?
3.) What brands are reliable?
4.) What accessories should I consider.
5.) What further information can I supply to get more helpful advice.

[George2615]

A couple years ago I needed a new welder to replace my 30 plus year old Sears buzz box and I needed a bigger generator to replace my 5K (6250 surge) unit. I sold my 5K to my neighbor and gave the buzz box away. Then shopped around and bought a factory reconditioned Miller Bobcat 225NT welder / generator rated at 10K with 19 hours on it and a 2 year warranty. List price at the time was about $2900. but got the whole package for under $2400 including 80' of welding cable with ground clamp and electrode holder. It does AC/DC welding and will run my whole house and garage when the power is out. I bought it from a local welding supply company. Northern Tool also has a Hobart 10K generator but only does DC welding for about $2800 new. Hobart and Miller are about the best you can get in my opinion. All you'd need is a helmet, gloves, leathers, and rod and of course a pigtail with the proper plug to run your house power..

[Soundguy]

At work we have a 10kw hobart / stick welder.

Nice unit.. 'tool-ess' oil change and all. Runs great .. nearry a problem with it. it burns rods better that a lincols 225/180 ac/dc unit by a WIDE margin.. and I consider the lincoln tombstone as a 'gold standard' when compairing arc welders.

Soundguy

Originally Posted by tuolumne

I need a generator for my upcoming home construction project. 6 kW would cover air compressor (don't have one) saws and lights. I will also need this for 3-4 times per year multi-day power outages that I can expect where we are building. That said, a generator that will idle down corresponding to the load will save a bunch of fuel.

I would like a welder considering how much I can save making my own attachments over buying them. I don't know much about welders, so please educate me. Does it make any sense to combine this purchase, or am I better off getting a separate (electric) welder. I've built a number of things with a 110V wire feed with and without gas and had good success. 1/8" and 3/16" were OK, but welding a 1/4" reciever on the front of our van was a messy job with this low amperage. Such a welder will not be capable of handling the thicker metals associated with tractor implements. My only experience with sticks was a few hours in a machine shop class. I didn't get the knack then, but I won't rule this out.

$3000 maximum budget.

1.) What minimum welder size should I be looking for to fabricate things up to 3/8" plates/tubes etc?
2.) Is there any economic sense to get a gas (diesel preferred) welder/generator combo?
3.) What brands are reliable?
4.) What accessories should I consider.
5.) What further information can I supply to get more helpful advice.

[weldingisfun]

Eight months ago I bought a Hobart Champion 10K welder generator Hobart Champion™ 10,000 Engine-Driven Welding Generator at TSC with one of their discount, "Preferred Customer" offers. With the discount I was able to add a small 4'X8' two-wheeled trailer and still come in for under $2800. I will mount the 10K on the trailer once I finish building it up to where I want it.
I had never done any stick welding before but I wanted the generator for basically the same reasons as yours. I'm getting better with my stick welding, but I'm not going to brag about any of it yet. It can weld up to 3/8" mild steel. Can't do that with my little 110v wire feed welder, 3/16" is as far as it will go.

[thingy]

you can get a 10,000 watt generator/welder,hobart,off of northern for under 3,000,its stick,,dc,,,you don't need ac for stick[you don't want ac for stick if you got dc] ,,its big enough you would be able to plug your mig into it.
As far as how big a michine you need to weld 3/8th inch,,you don't need a big one,,as far as stick goes,100 amps and 50-60 percent duty cycle would handle that no problem,,course you gotta know how to stick weld and multipass.
Yeah,its just as cheap to get a welder/generator as a generator,when you start talking 5-6,000 watts.
Now,moving this machine won't be easy,,weighs over 400 lbs,,they sell running gear for these,,
Miller makes one,[I got it],called a bluestar 185,,it weighs 315 lbs, battery start,got a wheel kit on it,,puts out 6,000 watts peak and 5,500 continous watts,dc output on the welding,about 75 percent duty cycle at 120 amps,,all you need to burn a 1/8 rod all day,,it will power my water pump,tv,few lights and furnace all at same time,[what else does a man really need on a cold day].Good welder,smooth,,seems like it was under 2500 with running gear,,,its light enough you can move it by yourself with the running gear on it.

Now if you want more generator power,you gotta go bigger.thingy

[RedRocker]

Originally Posted by George2615

A couple years ago I needed a new welder to replace my 30 plus year old Sears buzz box and I needed a bigger generator to replace my 5K (6250 surge) unit. I sold my 5K to my neighbor and gave the buzz box away. Then shopped around and bought a factory reconditioned Miller Bobcat 225NT welder / generator rated at 10K with 19 hours on it and a 2 year warranty. List price at the time was about $2900. but got the whole package for under $2400 including 80' of welding cable with ground clamp and electrode holder. It does AC/DC welding and will run my whole house and garage when the power is out. I bought it from a local welding supply company. Northern Tool also has a Hobart 10K generator but only does DC welding for about $2800 new. Hobart and Miller are about the best you can get in my opinion. All you'd need is a helmet, gloves, leathers, and rod and of course a pigtail with the proper plug to run your house power..

George, I have one of those, but I don't think it idles down with a light load on it. Seems like anytime a load is applied it's running full blast.

[tuolumne]

Idleing down is important, I don't want to fill the tank every few hours when the power is out. What is the cost of materials for stick welding vs. wire feed? What about ease of use and quality of weld for a novice? What about AC vs. DC?

I can pick a stand-alone generator. I would probably spend around $1500. What should I look for in a welder for the above-described tasks?

Thanks for all the input thus far.

[Soundguy]

When using it as a generator.. you don't want it to idle down... generators run at a constant rpm to keep power at the correct frequency.

If you are worried about fuel consumption.. turn the generator off when you don't need the power.

Soundguy

[tuolumne]

Good point, I am used to construction site use where loads are intermittent. I see that wire feed welders are significantly more expensive than stick for similar capabilities. Are materials more expensive as well? I trust I can figure out successful stick welding with some practice. Any thoughts on this unit FREE SHIPPING — Hobart Kohler Welder/Generator Champ — 230 Amp DC, 10,000 Watts, Model# 500434 | Welder/Generators | Northern Tool + Equipment
I have Kohler engines in my 1971 and 1972 garden tractors, so they were reliable back then.

[Soundguy]

Also keep in mind.. fuel consumption is based on electrical load.

Running for 1 hr at 1/2 load uses less fuel than running 1 hour at full load.

In any case.. on a non inverter system.storage battery/small genny based system.. you can't idle down and still make power.

Soundguy