New gas welder

[eric12]

Hi I'm looking at getting a new gas welder and I was just wondering what to look for and if I should make sure it's at least so big. Any suggestions would be great thanks.

 

[RayF]

Give us some more info on what you want to use it for?

 

[eric12]

I was thinking of the miller trailblazer 325. It's fuel injected instead of carbureted and gets more use per gallon because of that and it doesn't run as fast when it doesn't need to. I have an older Hobart now and I'd use it for fixing brackets broken off of machines, hard facing buckets, welding snow boxes, welding hooks to machines ect... I can't justify spending 10-15000 on a diesel and I want enough of a welder if I decided to need to air arc gouge something.

 

[willie59]

A trailblazer 325 would do pretty much any of the field repairs you mentioned with no issues. As for the gouger process, that's not really a heavy load process as it's not constant duty cycle. You'd put more duty cycle load on a welder doing hard facing. However, if you want to do air arc gouger in the field, the welding unit isn't the issue, the air compressor is, it takes a good bit of CFM of air to do air arc and not carburize the metal being removed.

 

[TozziWelding]

I don't know what you will be using it for but I would go for the Trailblazer, I have a 301G on my service truck and I do everything with it. I can run a wire feeder, gouge, TIG aluminum, stick, and run my whole house off it for power. If you don't need the AC weld output, and want to save 2 grand the Lincoln 305G is another good machine. My buddy has the Lincoln, does little to no maintenance to it and it is still going strong. The other thing to consider these days is that a top of the line Miller Trailblazer 325 all decked out is over 7 grand due to the new emission standard crap. You can get a gently used BigBlue Pro 300 or a Lincoln Vantage 300/400 for the same money and have 10 times the machine of that little air cooled one.

 

[OCR]

Another one to take a look at... I sure like the one we have.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/assets/en_US/Products/K2382-5/e696.pdf

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._GXT_Front.jpg/644px-Ranger_250_GXT_Front.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_welding#Power_supplies



OCR

 

[Lee-online]

Heres one I can sell you cheap.





Just kidding, the insurance company took it.

 

[FSERVICE]

im partial to lincoln brand equipment. look around on craigslist,ebay,& truck sale paper. lots of welders are for sale for alot less than new. the vantage 400 is a great welder, thats whats on my truck

 

[TozziWelding]

Lee, if that still ran and welded I would just put it in another case. I hope the insurance company paid you well. I see 12-14 grand sitting there in a mangled pile.

 

[FSERVICE]

lee did it fall off the truck?? or just get hit by it??

 

[Lee-online]

The service truck was in a roll over accident. The truck and welder were totaled. We were going to buy it back from the insurance co but it wasn't worth it.

Not to go off topic but here is a news pic of it from a few years ago.

 

[Randy88]

Before you decide on models and brands, make sure you have local parts/tech support for whatever you buy, the best welder in the world, does you no good if you can't get parts or service locally for it. I have bobcat myself I bought used with only about 150 hours on it. First thing I'd do is set a budget you want to spend and go from there, if not you'll fall in love with the 10k diesel somewhere used and then not be able to buy it anyhow, remember each model is only a little more than the last, before long your into twice the price range you can afford or even more. Every model and price range has its abilities and drawbacks its up to you to figure out what "you" need and drawbacks you can live with.

As for air gouging, Willie is right, I air gouge with my bobcat and the limiting factor has always been the air supply, not the welder, yes there are welders that do it better and faster, but most will do it.

As for used machines, I've been down that road and most are far overpriced with many problems to contend with compared to new machines, when you compare used to new and hour life expectancy, unless you can find that one good deal, new is almost always the better way to go, then you know what you have and how its been taken care of and its history into the future.

 

[smittysrepair]

This is just my opinion but unless you are going to be welding non stop every day I would consider a Miller 250 Bobcat over a larger machine. They are very versatile and dependable. I bought one of them for my service truck. However when I bought it I was a little hesitant to get the one with the fuel injected engine, but after thinking about it I went ahead and decided to give it a try. And that was the right choice for me, it has done everything I ask it to do perfectly. I use it to arc gouge, hard surface, weld aluminum and stainless. But it is mainly used to stick weld or to power my Miller Xtreme 12VS wire feeder with .045 dual shield wire for general welding. I have been using it for about 3 years now without any problems or regrets! But that is just my opinion, however no matter what you get unless you already have one I would recommend getting a suite case wire feeder to go with it. That has been one of my best investments yet!!

 

[theironoracle]

i have had 4 gas drive millers over the last 5 years, all trailblazers, all ac/dc/cc/cv, for the air arc i think the 302 is perfect, the 250 is a tiny bit small for how i like to work, both run the suitcase with 045 the same, i don't do any tig work at all, i bought my 2 new 302's off ebay, both were just over $4000 free delivery to the door, can't beat that!!......................theironoracle

 

[wheezy]

bought a miller 225 welds good will run a fluxcore box

 

[Mike L]

just bought a new Lincoln ranger 225. they're offering a pretty good deal til the end of the year. $3300 with a $200 rebate or $540 worth of accessories.

 

[KevD815]

I found a deal on a pre EFI Trailblazer 302. Paid $4600 out the door about a year ago. I'm very happy with it. Just under 600 pounds, 11000 watts of AC, and a kick ass duty cycle. Its nice being able to stick weld a hitch on a trailer while my helper welds up fenders using a MIG running off the generator side of the machine...

 

[gusbratz]

I bought a Hobart champion 10000 2 or 3 years ago and have about 150 hours on it now; it works good but it super noisy and uses a lot of fuel. It has the 2 cyl Kohler command engine. I go thought the full 10 gallon tank in about 8 or 9 hours. It is jetted so lean you have to use the choke to start it no matter what temp it is outside or even if you just shut it down. The hood offers no protection from the elements so if out doors it would need a cover. Of course right after I bought mine I was in the store the next week and it was on sale for 1000 less because they were putting the new "elite" out on the floor which is ac/dc. If I had it to do over again I would have found a good used bigger machine. I have had the hood off the Hobart to clean some contacts and the internal parts actually say miller on them which is funny.

 

[alco]

Yeah Gus, Hobarts are made by Miller, so that would explain it. I hope it works well for you.