Welder/generator, any drawbacks?

[crystallake]

Miller Bobcats are great tools. They are loud and mine drinks a gallon per hour. There are better gen choices, but not better gen/welder choices. However, it is a stick only machine ac and dc. I use mine weekly as my hunting cabin/shop is off the grid but i mainly use it to power a MIG machine. For small fabrication a MIG is just much more useful to me. My mig unit is a Miller Vintage which is an older transformer machine 200amps and works great on gen power.

 

[prichard]

Disclaimer: I have very little welding experience.

Thought that came to me was do you want to have to fire up the gen set for every little welding job? What if you're working in your shop? Welder outside and cables to inside? Go back out side to turn off or adjust?

I like the idea of both in one but those seemed like possible drawbacks. Perhaps they are unfounded and just my ignorance.

 

[HCJtractor]

I had the same thoughts. I bought a Miller bobcat 250 and mounted it on a small trailer . Wired my house so I could pull up in my driveway and plug it in and quickly get it running. I also use it at remote sites for welding and to power up 220 or 110 tools. Been very happy. Also think resale is good for these vs a standard generator I also run my miller 211 mig off it when I'd rather use MIG

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[bdog]

The only downside is the welder/generators are high rpm, loud, and use a lot of fuel. They will certainly do the job but there are better choices for a dedicated generator. It would not be a bad choice for the versatility if you were only using it for power outages and such. I use a 10,000 watt generator for work about 80 hrs a week a couple of weeks per month. I got a diesel unit. I have a trailblazer 302 welder/generator and did not think it would be well suited for this application.

 

[Teachu2]

I had the same thoughts. I bought a Miller bobcat 250 and mounted it on a small trailer . Wired my house so I could pull up in my driveway and plug it in and quickly get it running. I also use it at remote sites for welding and to power up 220 or 110 tools. Been very happy. Also think resale is good for these vs a standard generator I also run my miller 211 mig off it when I'd rather use MIG

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I have a very similar setup. I bought a Bobcat 250 and mounted it to a small HF trailer - lots cheaper than the Miller trailer or even the Miller wheel kit. Kept it that way until I ran across a bargain on CL, a utility trailer made from a 6' pickup utility bed. Lots of tool storage and even a ladder/pipe rack. Powers my MM210 just fine, so I can Mig anywhere. If we have a power outage, I just park it outside the garage and use extension cords to feed the fridges, freezer, and a light or two. We heat with wood, and rarely need the a/c, so it's not been necessary to install a transfer switch setup. Every couple of years I have to replace the fuel pump, as it dries out and quits.

 

[Teachu2]

I had the same thoughts. I bought a Miller bobcat 250 and mounted it on a small trailer . Wired my house so I could pull up in my driveway and plug it in and quickly get it running. I also use it at remote sites for welding and to power up 220 or 110 tools. Been very happy. Also think resale is good for these vs a standard generator I also run my miller 211 mig off it when I'd rather use MIG

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[ModMech]

We had a Hobart Champion 10,000 w/Onan, essentially the same as an older Bobcat 225. As others have correctly pointed out, they are LOUD and THIRSTY for generator use, for a homeowner/farmer not what I would suggest at all. For a Ranch, or larger property where remote welding is often needed, or even construction where there is no power and a 5k gen won't do, they would be great.

Having owned one for a number of years, if you need a generator, get one dedicated to that. If you need an engine driven welder, get one dedicated to that. If you do not NEED either and do not mind the significant trade offs of high weight, noise and fuel burn; then a combination unit is a good compromise. If I ever get an engine driver welder again, I will get a small <160A DC suitcase stick welder and run it off a 3Kva generator in the field. I *could* even get a larger generator and run my Miller 225 AC-DC stick off it, but then the fuel burn is a problem when the power goes out.

A decent inverter generator will burn less than 0.5 GPH at 5.5Kva output, much less under part load. A welder-generator will be OVER 1 GPH, almost regardless of load, ours would drink 1.5GPH under welding loads and more as shore-power to the house