ZENA welding system.

[Shield Arc]

I've been helping a guy make a career change from a Mig weldor, (body & fender) to a structural / pipe weldor. He asked my opinion on these welders, but I've never seen one, does anyone here have any experience with these?

Portable / Mobile DC Welding Equipment Designed for Use in Remote Locations

 

[grizzlydave]

I've had a premier power welder for about 5 years , seems to be the same concept , alternator driven system . No complaints with mine , saved my butt more times than i care to mention :laughing:

 

[Combustix]

I thought zena was the warrior princess? Lol

 

[Gary Fowler]

The alternator driven systems have been around for several decades. This one looks like a complete system and good idea. Depending on the price, it might be ok for emergencies or even field repair welder work but I think that I would prefer a miller bobcat in the back of my truck rather than wearing out my engine doing a lot of welding with it.
I doubt it would be fuel efficient running your truck motor at high rpm to produce the power compared to a properly sized engine but I could be wrong on that. Automobile engine may be more fuel efficient than small carb engines.

 

[deereman75]

What about just getting an old lincoln SA-200. Might be better then that thing. The zena looks more suited to mechanic rigs.

 

[cowski]

if you are using it to make a living,you will be running it a lot.i would rather be wearing out a $3000 gas welder than a $50000 truck.

 

[grizzlydave]

yOU CAN RIG IT UP TO A SMALL GAS MOTOR OR EVEN A BELT DRIVEN AIR COMPRESSOR , NEVER DONE IT BUT SHOULDNT BE THAT HARD !

 

[Shield Arc]

Well he's been eye balling my SA-200s:laughing:. He plans on hitting the oil patch in North & South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah soon as he passes his 6-G certification, with SMAW, and Tig.
He bought that Home Study Kit, the 100K welder. Anybody ever see this?
The 100k Welder Course Video - YouTube

 

[monckywrench]

He plans on hitting the oil patch in North & South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah soon as he passes his 6-G certification, with SMAW, and Tig.

You already know the proven answer to THAT question and it's older than any of us!

Set the man up with a solid Shield Arc 200, perhaps with a second alternator and large inverter for power tool use if he has anything that doesn't like DC, and school him in its care and feeding. :thumbsup:

It would be cruel to set anyone up with gear that's not proven and accepted on the line.

That old gray thing in your avatar would do fine. It ain't even got a cover over most of it! :laughing:

 

[Shield Arc]

The way I met this guy, he bought my old V350-Pro. I suggested he call Lincoln and ask them what size generator he'd need to run the V350-Pro. As of right now he can't tell what line of welding he is going for. I finely convinced him that doing aluminum Tig with the V350-Pro was going to be quite the challenge. No remote, and DC only.
Yesterday I cut, and beveled 42 6-inch sch 40 pipe coupons for him to practice his 6-G with. That should keep him busy for a day or two. :laughing:

 

[Kioti guy]

I remember reading an article about those welders in a 4x4/Jeep rock crawler magazine. I did a quick search and couldn't find it. I do remember them giving the welders high praise for that application.
If it was me that was setting up a rig to go pipelining though I would want a good heavy duty stand alone welder ,like others have mentioned it is a lot cheaper to get a good used engine drive then it is to get a good new diesel service truck, and really in this economy with so many businesses failing there is no shortage of good used equipment out there available for sale.
Just my two cents worth.......probably over valued.....Craig

 

[Shield Arc]

I haven't been on a pipe line since I was a kid, my dad was a pipe line welding inspector. My understanding of pipeliners is, your equipment better be gray, you might get by with blue.

 

[deereman75]

If he has got the cash, he could get a lincoln classic 300D. It uses the same style head as the SA-200, so I bet it has a real nice arc. I would rather have a redface SA-200 though.

 

[Shield Arc]

You should have seen the look on his face when I told him I paid $200.00 for this old thing. :laughing:

 

[monckywrench]

You should have seen the look on his face when I told him I paid $200.00 for this old thing.

Take three hunnerd for it? Just trying to help you out! :thumbsup:

He can check welding forums for examples of current pipeline rig trucks.

 

[Shield Arc]

Take three hunnerd for it? Just trying to help you out! :thumbsup:

Who pays shipping?

 

[monckywrench]

Who pays shipping?

Location? Condition? That's mighty cheep and I LIKE mighty cheep.

I was joking but if it's near to "middle South Carolina" then I ain't joking. SAs are nice machines and worth more than that most anywhere. I'd keep it since I've always wanted one. I'm primarily a mechanic (and retired) but life is too short not to use professional equipment.

If it's too far for me (I'm a cheap ba$tid) to drive you could throw it up on Weldingweb etc and likely move it quickly for much more money.

If your bud wants to hit the oil patch he needs to hand you da money "yesterday" and get it set up to work. That's a "core price" for sure and he could have a nice machine for a modest investment (especially since he's got a lot more stuff to buy if he wants to rig weld!).

A Zena isn't remotely an alternative to an SA and he'd likely get laughed off the jobsite instantly.

Yesterday I cut, and beveled 42 6-inch sch 40 pipe coupons for him to practice his 6-G with. That should keep him busy for a day or two.

You sure don't play when it comes to training! He is fortunate to have such assistance and that will keep him burning instead of prepping. :thumbsup:

Got a press you can bend coupons with? That'll give him steady feedback.

Testing fun:
When we used a hydraulic jack-style press for bending student coupons, we had the student pump the jack. My bud used to tell 'em "pump faster or it'll crack quicker" and they'd go at it with impressive speed.

 

[Shield Arc]

I was kidding about who pays shipping. Couple years ago I turned down $3,700.00 for that machine.

Do a search on my user name, I've done several tests, and shown the results, here's one.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/211592-6013-test-results.html

 

[monckywrench]

Nice bend test rig. Your trainee is in good hands.

 

[Shield Arc]

Thank you! I've helped several people over the years pass the AWS D1.1 unlimited test, and the state welding tests. I don't think this guy believes he needs my help to learn how to weld, he bought that home study kit. But I'm not sure you can learn to weld from a DVD. Times are different now from when I learned how to weld. Geez I remember when I was impressed with a microwave oven. :laughing: