Looking for small engine drive welder near central Texas

[rexcormack]

I am needing to build a couple hundred feet of pipe ranch fence.
I'm looking for something like a Lincoln Ranger or Miller Blue Star.
Somewhere around 150 amps and something I can load in and out of my pickup bed.
Auxiliary power is a must and ac is preferable.
I don't need 400 amps and 250 feet of leads!
I also don't need 100% duty cycle! At this point in my life I can't work that hard!
I am very flexible as far as a machine that may need a little work.
What I don't need is "I have one that needs a little work" only to find out that half the sheetmetal is missing
and it has been sitting out in the rain for 10 years!!

Thanks to everyone that reads this post!

Rex

[MinnesotaDave]

Sounds like it'll be light duty - a 6500 watt generator and an inexpensive inverter stick welder would do the job for you.

I've run inverter stick welders off my old crappy Generac 5500/6250 but I bet it would be even better off a slightly larger unit.

[rexcormack]

Sounds like it'll be light duty - a 6500 watt generator and an inexpensive inverter stick welder would do the job for you.

I've run inverter stick welders off my old crappy Generac 5500/6250 but I bet it would be even better off a slightly larger unit.

I've read about that and was actually considering it.
That would give me an excuse to buy a generator!
Thanks for responding.

[MinnesotaDave]

I've read about that and was actually considering it.
That would give me an excuse to buy a generator!
Thanks for responding.

Generators are handy and you can use the inverter for other welding

I've run my inverter off the Bobcat 225nt on a 100' extension cord to weld in a basement. Worked way nicer than going up and changing stuff on the Bobcat

[Oscar]

I'm not selling anything, but if you need help, I'm available for hire. I have my own generator and my own welder, and I'm on vacation until August 1st.

[rexcormack]

I'm not selling anything, but if you need help, I'm available for hire. I have my own generator and my own welder, and I'm on vacation until August 1st.

Oscar, thanks for responding.
I'm still working but 3 12's so I have a lot of time on my hands! Not a bad thing in my case!
I was raised to do everything myself and I'm bad about asking for help/hiring things done but
I will keep you in mind!

[rexcormack]

I am VERY seriously considering these because I would never weld enough to "wear them out":

https://www.harborfreight.com/weldin...der-64978.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/engine...iii-63085.html

The electric start on the generator is attractive because both my shoulders are jacked up!

[thegary]

I am VERY seriously considering these because I would never weld enough to "wear them out":

https://www.harborfreight.com/weldin...der-64978.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/engine...iii-63085.html

The electric start on the generator is attractive because both my shoulders are jacked up!

For the about the same money you can get a generator that has less than 5% distortion. That is much better for any electronics and would be better for an inverter welder. I know Northern tool sells one . I know nothing about the HF stick welder. I am sure it could do the job but again for a few dollars more Everlast makes a 200 amp stick welder that has a 6010 port and I know people that have them and like them alot. One guy is a retired pipe fitter welder. He loves the machine and can not say enough good about it.

https://www.everlastgenerators.com/p...owerarc-200sti

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...4810_200664810

[Oscar]

For the about the same money you can get a generator that has less than 5% distortion. That is much better for any electronics and would be better for an inverter welder. I know Northern tool sells one . I know nothing about the HF stick welder. I am sure it could do the job but again for a few dollars more Everlast makes a 200 amp stick welder that has a 6010 port and I know people that have them and like them alot. One guy is a retired pipe fitter welder. He loves the machine and can not say enough good about it.

https://www.everlastgenerators.com/p...owerarc-200sti

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...4810_200664810

Completely agree on the Northern Tool generator. You can also shop around for a Troy-Bilt 7000xp. As per Briggs & Stratton, the ones who make this gen for Troy-Bilt, it has <6% THD, and I have used it to power my inverter stick/MIG/TIG welders on more than a few occasions. Just have to keep the hot-start to a sane level to avoid bogging down the generator upon arc-strike. I'm sure the generator will thank you in the long run.

[Oscar]

Oscar, thanks for responding.
I'm still working but 3 12's so I have a lot of time on my hands! Not a bad thing in my case!
I was raised to do everything myself and I'm bad about asking for help/hiring things done but
I will keep you in mind!

No problem, let me know. I am rented/hired very cheap! Plus you could even use one of my machines to use as a free bonus, lol. Most of the time they just collect indoor dust until they go through the rotation

[Rondo]

Completely agree on the Northern Tool generator. You can also shop around for a Troy-Bilt 7000xp. As per Briggs & Stratton, the ones who make this gen for Troy-Bilt, it has <6% THD, and I have used it to power my inverter stick/MIG/TIG welders on more than a few occasions. Just have to keep the hot-start to a sane level to avoid bogging down the generator upon arc-strike. I'm sure the generator will thank you in the long run.

Interesting on the hot start. Makes sense. What about Arc Force is that and issue and have you ever done any AC tig off a generator? I'm also in the market for a clean one.

[Oscar]

Interesting on the hot start. Makes sense. What about Arc Force is that and issue and have you ever done any AC tig off a generator? I'm also in the market for a clean one.

The hot start can be problematic on smaller generators simply because it it can bog down the generator quite a bit initially, depending on the welding amperage and the hot-start together. It's hard enough for a small generator to keep up with normal loads, let alone huge spikes in power demand. Arc force is a lot easier to deal with because it is only slight increase while the arc is already lit, and the generator's motor has already reached a 'steady state' to sustain that electrical load on the alternator.

I haven't done any AC TIG off my generator, but I have no doubt there would not be any issues either. The alternator doesn't know if you are drawing power for a DC stick welder, or an AC TIG welder. Now as for the welder, it better have a robust power supply that doesn't go home crying to mommy. Some just can't handle "generator power".

[rexcormack]

For the about the same money you can get a generator that has less than 5% distortion. That is much better for any electronics and would be better for an inverter welder. I know Northern tool sells one . I know nothing about the HF stick welder. I am sure it could do the job but again for a few dollars more Everlast makes a 200 amp stick welder that has a 6010 port and I know people that have them and like them alot. One guy is a retired pipe fitter welder. He loves the machine and can not say enough good about it.

https://www.everlastgenerators.com/p...owerarc-200sti

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...4810_200664810

I sent an email to Harbor Freight customer service about the Total Harmonic Distortion of their generators.
This is their response:

[Oscar]

Yup, definitely not clean power generators, lol.