Use of a welder/generator as only welder

[tommu56]

Do you really need the kick and duty cycle of the bobcat as a novice welder?

Ive been welding for years had a buzz box for like 20 years
I graduated to a miller max star 150
for the non power I use a Hobart champion 4500

It is a buzz box with an engine runs fine fine no problems and a lot cheaper
just the duty factor is lower.
The down side both of them are noisy!

get some long leads

tom

 

[HCJtractor]

Just tossing around some ideas. Most of you seem to think welding inside this warehouse with a Bobcat isn't a great idea. Buying long leads would be pretty expensive and hard to handle. I can see how sitting next to this generator may not be pleasant!

How about buying a large good quality generator (need a home backup unit anyway) and then using a Miller Maxstar 200 or Lincoln Invetec. That way I could (when I need 230 v power) place my generator far away and use a good long extension cord. I could also use it on the available 120V at my home or elsewhere. Pricewise, this solution would be the same or even less than a bobcat. For implement fabrication (using 3/8 or 1/2 steel) wouldn't this Miller have plenty of power? How would the welding capabilities compare to the Bobcat 225? Do any of you have any comments on the Miller Maxstar. I guess I could also go with the Everlast that Mark sells.

 

[tommu56]

I have a Maxstar 150 and the duty cycle is a little light at times but it will tell you it needs to cool down the fan is controlled by the heat sink temperature

Unless you are doing alot of continues welding you should be ok I'm usually fitting then welding fitting and welding and it works fine

tom

 

[accordionman]

HELLO,
if you can afford it, i would suggest you buy
the next size up. a miller bobcat 250. it has more
options, and a little more power. i know, because
i have one. i have used it to power my house, when
the electric was off for several hours.
good luck to all.
accordionman
wlbrown

 

[RPW]

The bobcat 225 is a good machine and can be bought used for about $2k depending on hours. I use 50' leads and that gets me far enough away from the noise to not notice it much. Inside a warehouse is going to have a lot of echo and could be a problem. Hearing protection in this senario is a must. I kind of lean against using a separate generator and welder because of the intemittent current draw from the welder to the generator to where the generator will not be able to keep up with the changes and the govener on the generator going nuts. Could cause premature failure of the welder and or the generator. I'd do it in a pinch if I didn't have a choice but.....

Good luck.

 

[IslandTractor]

If you already own a 220v Miller MIG then why not just buy a 10-12,000 watt gas generator for about a grand and be done it with? The Bobcat 225 seems like overkill if you already own a MIG capable of doing half inch steel.

Don't get an auto idle generator as those are bad for the welder circuits.

 

[HCJtractor]

If you already own a 220v Miller MIG then why not just buy a 10-12,000 watt gas generator for about a grand and be done it with? The Bobcat 225 seems like overkill if you already own a MIG capable of doing half inch steel.

Don't get an auto idle generator as those are bad for the welder circuits.

Good advice. I decided to go with a Everlast powerarc 200 (I really want to learn stick, and can use it outside, and it's so cheap) and a good Northstar 13000 W generator. Still cheaper that a Bobcat and lots smaller and easier to store. And I can play with the stick at my home without waking up the neighborhood with a generator running.

 

[BOBBYROGERS]

if it ain't to late save a little more and get a miller trailblazer 302 i just got one a couple of months ago it is the best thing i bought yet plenty of power to do what ever you want and big enough that you will not have to up grade latter once you get into it more. also by looking around they seem to have good resale later and my favorite part made in the USA

 

[HCJtractor]

I know this is an older thread, but I finally got my welder going. After much thought and reading, I decided to buy a Everlast PA 200 and a 13,000 W Northstar/Honda genny. I figured I could use it as a power source for my Miller 211 MIG and for my Everlast, and as a backup home generator. Only thing I did not figure was that this newly designed generator from Northern frankly s--ks. It just worked very poorly. Not sure if it had auto idle, but definitely had no way to bypass it if it did. Good news is Northern refunded my money ($2700) and I did what I should have done to begin with.

Just bought a new Miller Bobcat 250. Mounted it permanently on a small trailer, and it purrs. Used it for stick and also used it to power my 211. Simply works perfectly. And I have confidence that I can find local support if I have problems with it, or for regular maintenance. So I am now set. I am finally happy and ready to weld at home with my Everlast, but at my farm or in this big warehouse with the Bobcat. And if the power goes out, I can wheel it in my carport and power up my home. Just nobody tell my wife what all this cost!

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks for posting the follow up. I guess these auto idle circuits on generators are an issue for welding. Bummer. I'd imagine that except for the specific welding generators made by Miller and Lincoln etc that virtually all other 10,000 plus watt generators are going to have that feature as it is a benefit for most other purposes.