What engine driven wlder

[Believer]

I need to get an engine driven welder to build some steel pipe fence. I'm just wondering what you'd recommend. I don't want to spend a whole lot but I don't want junk.

 

[cowski]

lincoln

 

[yomax4]

Engine Drive options are few. Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. All are good units. I have an old Lincoln Ranger 8 that has served very well but you would get the same with the others. There's no real junk out there in engine drives.

 

[deereman75]

Engine Drive options are few. Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. All are good units. I have an old Lincoln Ranger 8 that has served very well but you would get the same with the others. There's no real junk out there in engine drives.

except possibly the northern industrial amp arc.... I vote lincoln. No experence, just a big lincoln fan.

 

[Sockwell]

This can basically turn into a Ford vs. Chevy, John Deere vs. Kubota type question. Most of my personal welding machines and our company welding machines are blue (Miller). The exception to this is an old Lincoln Idealarc 250that welds really well.

When I was trying to decide on Ranger (Lincoln) versus Bobcat (Miller) for the farm, I watched all the service trucks going up and down the highway. For the smaller (gas engine) models, I noticed there was about a 5-to-1 ration of Miller's over Lincoln's. The mechanical contractors that come into our plant all use Millers in the gas engine models. I don't know how much of a conclusion you can draw from this, but it means something that folks relying on their machines for their living were going Miller in this size range. This goes the other way when you get into the diesel machines. They were almost 100% Lincoln SA's.

Dealer service wasn't an issue since the same guy sells both. I bought a Miller Bobcat 250. I don't use it a lot. But, when it needed, it always starts and welds really well. I plan to welding bucket hooks on this afternoon. I started it yesterday for the first time in 2 or 3 months and it fired right up.

 

[Shield Arc]

I vote lincoln. No experence, just a big lincoln fan.

I guess I' am too. :laughing:

 

[CJONE]

I guess I' am too. :laughing:

+2 For portable machines Lincoln is hard to beat. CJ

 

[yomax4]

I think it's 5 to 1 miller on small machines because the the guys like the color blue better than red. Once you get into the industrial grey lincolns, No more millers.

 

[yomax4]

except possibly the northern industrial amp arc.... I vote lincoln. No experence, just a big lincoln fan.

Industrial Amp Arc ? Never heard of. That would have to be even less heard of than the Thermal Arc Preditor Pro. ( 1st one with Honda Engine )

 

[Shield Arc]

I haven't done any price comparison in quite some time, but years ago generally Millers were cheaper. If you walked onto a construction site and seen all Miller machines, you could bet your bottom dollar some purchasing agent was ordering the machines, not anybody who actually ran them for a living.

 

[deereman75]

Industrial Amp Arc ? Never heard of. That would have to be even less heard of than the Thermal Arc Preditor Pro. ( 1st one with Honda Engine )

Its northern tools house brand (northern industrial) engine drive. A chinese engine drive, similar in specs to the lincoln outback, with a little less amperage, and a bit more genset wattage. Heres a link.
Northern Industrial Welders Amp Arc 7000 DC Arc Welder/AC Generator — 170 Amp DC Welding Output, 6000 Watt Power Output | Welders + Generators | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[JoelD]

I like my miller.

another option would be a buz box and a generator, I bet all in you'd maybe be even or less than engine driven and you'd have a dedicated generator in the end.

I have a bluestar, if I had to do it again I would've just gotten a nice used buz box and ran it off of my generator, I have no issues with transporting both machine for the infrequent times I need portable.

Joel

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I've done a fair amount of welding, most of it with Lincoln rigs. Never had a problem with any of them. The thought of using a generator with a buzz box is interesting...lots of the small Lincoln boxes out there.....

 

[weldermike]

Im looking into a miller wildcat as we speak. Gonna wait a few wks till my LWS has there annual trade show, deals galore, plus job discount, and I personally know the owner. Only weighs 250lbs and has pneumatic tire running gear. Can easily adapt it to pull around with a atv. I was told miller is no longer gonna make this model, due to its portability they sold like mad and got abused to death. Too much warranty issues. Welding companies bought em up and would run 5/32 for ten twelve hrs a day through them. Research it on the net for all the info. Perfect for my needs, light enuff to get in my truck or drag around anywhere for about $2400.

 

[RPW]

I upgrade an olderMiller 225nt last year to their 250, love it.

 

[CJONE]

I haven't done any price comparison in quite some time, but years ago generally Millers were cheaper. If you walked onto a construction site and seen all Miller machines, you could bet your bottom dollar some purchasing agent was ordering the machines, not anybody who actually ran them for a living.

+1 and more than a few pipeline companys would not let you on location with anything but a Lincoln. CJ

 

[Sockwell]

Yep, Ford versus Chevy. If I were doing pipe work or other construction work all day, every day, I'd run a Lincoln diesel. But I understood the OP's situation as building a fence, then general maintenance and other occasional work around the farm. In that case, either Miller or Lincoln will be fine. And wasn't price one of the OP's concerns?

 

[Believer]

I have a chance to get a Hobart Champion Elite with 5 hours on it for $1500. It's about 3 years old, has been outside so it shows some weather. It isn't the new enclosed model nor the 11KW; it's 10KW. 75 foot leads. Needs a battery. Seems like a reasonable deal.

 

[sequoyah101]

I agree. I'm welder poor but if I had it all to do again I'd get a good gen set and an inverter welder to go with it.

A friend bought a welder from this outfit. it goes against my grain to buy Chinese but if the U.S. vendors are just rebranding and of course some aren't there isn't much difference. He bought a combination of inverter welder and plasma cutter for a great price. The customer service has been great and the thing welds and cuts really really well.

I'm rigging up a welding trailer around a 20KW diesel gen set with all plug in welders, plasma cutter and torch. It doubles as a whole house gen set in a pinch, field welder, field shop with tools, drill press, chop saw etc. I've rigged it up for shore power while parked in the shop where I plug it into 50A service, collapse the tongue and push it up against the wall... welding table and tool room in the shop.

Maine Diesel is a good place for the gen set.

I have a Hobart 10KW that lost a card at less than 100 hours. It was out of warranty on time and cost me $750 to fix. Had to fix it since it was worthless otherwise.

 

[robphillips00]

Trailblazer, Bobcat, or Ranger welder in the Miller and Lincoln series. All have 10K generator power.
Sounds like you are just going to use it for various projects for yourself. Since you are not going into the pipeline business I would look at the above machines.
Many contractors use these machines in structural and boiler construction. Lots of code work done with them.