Hey all,
I have around 3k+ that I intend to buy a welder with. This is just for repairs for people in the area on farm equipment and teaching my kids how to tig/stick and FCAW/GMAW.
I have looked at the various Bobcats online and the Lincoln Rangers. Any differences I should know about.
Thanks
Gerald Austin
You mention doing TIG and FCAW/GMAW, so I think You should be looking at machines that have a contactor and remote capability built in or readily added on. If You want to TIG weld aluminum You want AC capability. I think red or blue is a personal choice, the Hobart doesn't have the above mentioned features, and the Thermal Arc seems to have over it's share of problems from what I have read on this site. Just My opinion.
Asking opinions about miller, hobart or lincoln in a welding forum is like asking which is their favorite brand of beer. My votes on the red boxs.
I really didn't care about the brand differences as much as the features of each machine in that class. The hobart is out of the running.
I appreciate everyones opinion.
This question would probably be better posed before some welding equipment dealers each trying to move one of the two brands.
you really couldnt go wrong with a 305 g if you want a lincoln or trailblazer if you want a miller just pick which colour you like best
If you get a blue machine I would recommend the Trailblazer 302. Not much more than a Bobcat but a better welder. I have not used the newer Trailblazer for aluminum yet but the older versions I had did very well on GTAW,SMAW and al. I have a Thermal Arc and it is OK but not as good as with E6010 on pipe. I have welded with the others but not enough to grade them.
gerald , i have used both , the newer ones are nice and have many features that you need , the old ones we bought didn't have , don't own any now they were rentals , they seemed to do ok for welding intended at the time . the choices i had to make when buying were for availabilty weight and price . surprisingly prices were comparable , our dealer who sells both just had 4 lincoln ones come in , so bought a lincoln flew it along with a drill rig and drilling package to barter island on the arctic coast of alaska . it worked good there it had ac power to run heaters and tools . after we flew it to another site it blew up (extreme arctic conditions ) after 2 months when we returned , i took it back to our dealer and they warrented it 100% , that was in 1983 . we still buy all welding supplies from them , if they don't have it they go out of there way to get it and have been long time friends . they also support our local section aws . i would recommend geting what you need from your best local source , it may help if you have problems , also ask for a free demonstration ours gives them to us and our family has bought several machines thru the years . good luck . willie
Hello Folks,
Please don't tar & feather me but, I am looking for a real inexpensive stick Arc Welder for hobby projects that won't exceed 3/32" and include 4110 steel. Since I am clueless about what I need, I had convinced myself that a Clarke 131E Arc Welder would be just the ticket. This Puppy operates on 120 Volt single phase and is rated to deliver a 130 Amp Output. It sells for about $150.... I forgot to mention that I am retired and every dollar is quite important to me.
I was all set to take the plunge, when I came across an Advertisement for an 80 Amp DC Inverter Arc Welder for $155 from Harbor Freight. I think that most members of this forum are aware that products from Harbor Freight and Northern Tool can be a real hit or miss proposition or a total Crap Shoot. Nevertheless, the Inverter DC Arc Welder was a new concept to me and got me curious as to how a lightweight (8 lbs.) Inverter process could come close to the Clarke (35 lbs). I realize that I am comparing Apples to Oranges with the Clarke AC rated at 130 Amp and the 8 lb DC Inverter rated at 80 Amp Output. Maybe I should have compared the DC Inverter with the Clarke 080 E rated at 90 Amps Output, weighing in at 28 lbs and selling for a very affordable $95.
So Please Guys help me determine what I need and if nothing else, educate me as to how an Inverter works and can weigh only a third as much as a standard AC Output Arc Welder which I'm fairly sure contains a heavy transformer or Two (or Three). Thanks, Geroom the Curious
geroom , don't know where you are located . just gave away a red ac lincoln 225 buz box . don't have any of the inverters now they are nice don't use much power as the old transfofmers did , but there are lots of welders out there you should be able to find one in your price range and would be able to up grade when it's time . what kind of hobby welding are you doing ? be shure to get a good helment and lense , safety glasses that fit good so you wear them with out thinking to save your eyes . enjoy your retirement , i'm enjoying mine . good luck . willie
I have one of the 8 LB inverters and have tig welded and stick welded with 3/32" 6011s. The 5/64 6013's do well also. The machine does start to cut out when it has had enough. It also welds better off of a 120 volt gen than household current.
By Geroom
Date 01-21-2008 03:35
Webbcity and Pipewelder_1999,
I would like to Thank both of you guys for your reply's. I was quite surprised that anyone was willing to reply, considering the Low Dollar welders that I was asking about. I was also quite surprised that both of you were positive about the Lightweight DC Inverter Welders. Even though the AC Transformer type Arc Welders are putting out higher amperage outputs for the dollar, I am intrigued by the lightweight Inverters and your positive comments have helped me a lot!
Webbcity, I meant 4130, not 4110 as I mistakenly typed. My hobby is Building and Flying Ultralight Airplanes and Gyrocopters, although the Gyro's are built primarily of 6061-T6 Aluminum bolted together.
Take Care and Thanks Again, Curious George Geroom@yahoo.com
Geroom: An inverter converts the 60hz current to high frequency and runs it through an inductor. This is much more efficirent than a transformer operating at 60hz, that is why it is smaller, lighter and draws less power. That is the good side. The down side is that instead of having a transformer and perhaps some capacitors which are generally reliable, now You have some rather complicated electronics, transistors & timing circuts etc. which may [or may not] at some time give You problems You cant solve Yourself. The 115 volt transformers often perform poorly, while at least some 115 volt invertors work well. I would suggest thet You get a 230 volt transformer if at all possible, even if You can only afford a used one. The Lincoln 225 "Toombstone", Miller Thunderbolt and similar are reliable and usable machines. I am not familiar with 4110 steel, is that what You meant?
I agree a machine is a machine. Miller Lincon it sounds like a pissing match between Chevy and Ford.
Try to stay away from too much computer crap, I recently had to put my foot in my mouth after blowing not one but two boards in my Ranger, totalling $1500 in repairs. Rather than repair I'm looking for a new machine it might just be a Miller they seem to have less crap to break, and if they do have boards they are sealed way better then a Lincoln.
If I were to show up for a pipeline test or any oil field related project, I'd no more have a miller in back than I would go to a hells angel rally on a Vespa. The only advantage Lincoln has over the Miller is the "pure D.C." machines which looks like only come in 200 amp nowdays. When it comes to burning the 6010, 7010 type rods, pure D.C. is the only way to go. The glass "super green" colored welding lenses with rose tinted glasses under the hood is the ultimate for puddle clarity with the cellulose based fluxes. There are still a lot of Old School types that feel Lincoln belongs in the patch and the patch belongs to Lincoln!!And if your bread and butter depends on the Patch, why would you put your self at a disadvantage by showing up with a miller? "Chance favors the prepared" and a Lincoln (like a Harley) will automatically give you more chances (advantages) than the competition. That all being said, newer Millers do seem to have fewer doctor visits than the newer lincolns...........ever notice in this Forum, there aren't 50 gadzillion threads on refurbishing "a 1969 Big 40"
