Good welders with generators

[ericsarratt]

What are some good welders with generators?

I have been looking at the Miller Legend AEAD-200 and I have heard good things about the Miller Bobcat.

I would like something to do stick welding with and maybe some tig.

Thanks for the help.

[smithdoor]

I have never used one
But I known a few that have and they like welder
I have own a lot of Miller welders and they work great. Both gas and electric.

Dave

What are some good welders with generators?

I have been looking at the Miller Legend AEAD-200 and I have heard good things about the Miller Bobcat.

I would like something to do stick welding with and maybe some tig.

Thanks for the help.

[Sberry]

Its old.

[smithdoor]

They started making that welder around 1970.
It is time proven welder.

Dave

Its old.

[welding1]

Its not the welder (machine) its the weldor (you)! a good weldor can run any machine. basically buy any Miller or Lincoln that you can afford and practice.

[Welder Dave]

I wouldn't say any Miller or Lincoln. They made some AC only engine drives. It would be very helpful to know your budget?

[Sberry]

A lot to consider,,, what environment its been in etc. Old and outside a lot = a lot of little stuff, simple wires etc. So,,, is it a good machine, fundamentally yes and more useful than a 400SAE.
Now, maybe this applies, I read a couple 3 forums and do it fast so forgive if I dont remember everyones list of details but this involves questions of this nature,,,, is this good,,, is it the best, is this a good deal? All relative and good for some, not so much for others.
I got a bud, brilliant, figures he gonna retire up north and have diy hobbies. He was an exec, drank and golfed well but couldnt build a fire if he was starving. Point being, some guys well suited to buying used, I have some help, I can get lucky once in a while and its a cap on a genset I bought but I know guys, even smart dandy welders should have scraped it up to buy 1 good new machine and have a boneyard of broke **** they gonna "fix" and cost 10X.
This doesnt mean dont scoop a good deal if it comes your way but if you aint well suited to handling some disappointment or need to depend on it get something decent instead of some fixer uppers unless you got a clue about such stuff.
Dave makes some good points on this front and I am inclined to agree that unless I was going to make an all out assault on the welding biz would be thinking real hard about some new economical equipment and if there was a chance you really did use it a lot the fuel alone would make it free in short order.
I got 4 engine drives and if I add up the real hors on them would 1/2 wear out 1,,, really. Different than a pipeline guy or Freebird or Pops,,,, wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy different. I got another bud got a 330 in his shop, got a Bobcat had 23 hrs in 25 years on it. They needed it when they needed it a few times and their crew didnt like field work, was insurance. I have done other work as a genset but its the kind of crap most people dont really do and most real use in the field is a simple circuit for a tool. So,, there would have to be some compelling reason for me to not consider cheaper way new of doing this and if a guy can manage to wear it out has made some jack or should have to replace it. I remember the worry when I bought a comp way back,,, guy said,,,, look, we never see them in for service, if you could really manage to wear out it you should be able to afford a new one, still works like new, put 2% of the hours I envision when I bought it.
Takes the non pro or a seriouys project to put more than a few hours on a welder and these new boxes will run 5/32 lo hy and really nice little unit that isnt expensive by todays standards and does it all but the dishes and oral sex is that Esab, cost what I paid for my Max 15 yrs ago and will burn rod a size bigger.

[Sberry]

There is a lot of emphasis on computer technology but nerds and even mechanics often past their tool buying prime dont realize how revolutionary the cost and improvement in tool technology has come. the 50$ battery drill I use today is 2x and maybe more better than the 150$ one I bou8ght in 91. The Esab I mention above, thats slick, blue has held its pricing up but that is absolutely fabulous and wasnt even a wet dream when I was a kid and would have cost 10K if it did. As always you can spend as much as yo0u want, noit a problem but real work,,, and real welding was born about economics and still driven by it today.
The welding machines were value driven due to quality and now we got a huge factor with world implications that now real price is a factor. Can burn a 1/8 welding rod on DC for 150$. Double that and the quality can go way up,,, this cost 800 15 yrs ago and today can throw tig in for free.
I could feel well betting the Chinaman or the Thai can build a nuke with them. Now can do it more efficient at 1/3 the tool cost. When I started anything not brand name was junk and didnt work, could bend the jaw on a flea market 12 inch adjustable. Not today,,, why spend 5 or 6 on that when at 8 or 19 flea and even 12 to 15 retail get a world class reliable lifetime tool.

[smithdoor]

I like keeping computer technology out welding aka Bells and Whistles.
I can turn two knob on welder.
I do not need a keyboard for welding.
They also a pain to work on and seems like always need repair.
If forget to keep fresh batteries the display dies never to work again.

Computer technology is great for a lot things but not welding machines.

I have own a Computer control cutting torch work great. But it hard to train so one run torch and typically I had to standby as they used the five torches at one time.

Dave

There is a lot of emphasis on computer technology but nerds and even mechanics often past their tool buying prime dont realize how revolutionary the cost and improvement in tool technology has come. the 50$ battery drill I use today is 2x and maybe more better than the 150$ one I bou8ght in 91. The Esab I mention above, thats slick, blue has held its pricing up but that is absolutely fabulous and wasnt even a wet dream when I was a kid and would have cost 10K if it did. As always you can spend as much as yo0u want, noit a problem but real work,,, and real welding was born about economics and still driven by it today.
The welding machines were value driven due to quality and now we got a huge factor with world implications that now real price is a factor. Can burn a 1/8 welding rod on DC for 150$. Double that and the quality can go way up,,, this cost 800 15 yrs ago and today can throw tig in for free.
I could feel well betting the Chinaman or the Thai can build a nuke with them. Now can do it more efficient at 1/3 the tool cost. When I started anything not brand name was junk and didnt work, could bend the jaw on a flea market 12 inch adjustable. Not today,,, why spend 5 or 6 on that when at 8 or 19 flea and even 12 to 15 retail get a world class reliable lifetime tool.

[Welder Dave]

I like keeping computer technology out welding aka Bells and Whistles.
I can turn two knob on welder.
I do not need a keyboard for welding.
They also a pain to work on and seems like always need repair.
If forget to keep fresh batteries the display dies never to work again.

Computer technology is great for a lot things but not welding machines.

I have own a Computer control cutting torch work great. But it hard to train so one run torch and typically I had to standby as they used the five torches at one time.

Dave

That completely contradicts the reasons you are on this forum!

[Sberry]

I wasn't talking about computers in welding but simply cost to do this work has went down if a guy wants to take advantage of it. Similar to computer memory.

[12V71]

I like keeping computer technology out welding aka Bells and Whistles.
I can turn two knob on welder.
I do not need a keyboard for welding.
They also a pain to work on and seems like always need repair.
If forget to keep fresh batteries the display dies never to work again.

Computer technology is great for a lot things but not welding machines.

I have own a Computer control cutting torch work great. But it hard to train so one run torch and typically I had to standby as they used the five torches at one time.

Dave

What is this machine you keep babbling about that needs batteries for the display? And some proof that if the batteries die the display is dead forever?

[smithdoor]

Most the displays on tool uses a RAM memory and needs a battery to keep the program for display. Some companies are using a battery you replace and need to the equipment on from time to time to keep the battery charged. The battery looks like a capacitor so hard to find.

Dave

What is this machine you keep babbling about that needs batteries for the display? And some proof that if the batteries die the display is dead forever?

[12V71]

most the displays on tool uses a ram memory and needs a battery to keep the program for display. Some companies are using a battery you replace and need to the equipment on from time to time to keep the battery charged. The battery looks like a capacitor so hard to find.

Dave

which manufacturer???

[smithdoor]

The lower cost machines.
Maybe high end too.
I have had to follow the schematic to find the batteries unless the photo of board shows a battery.
They do not print that data so hard find out.

Dave

which manufacturer???

[Freebirdwelds]

My 330MPX has a digital user interface, a digital display, No touch screen, No battery.

[nickel_city_fab]

We have a Hobart Champion 10k at work, it provides 10kW of 110/220 power in addition to 225 Amps of DC welding. You can buy them brand new for about 4500. We use it for heavy equipment repair, never a problem with it. It also provides power during the occasional outage just for the shop lights and computer and alarm system.

[smithdoor]

As long as use the welder once a week you never know.

I should make that part clearer to all.

I have digital displays on some things.
I just have to turn them on from time to time because I can not find if they have a battery type memory.

A lot of low end manufacturers like that as they know will sell more electronics and fill up dumps for $1.00 battery

Dave

My 330MPX has a digital user interface, a digital display, No touch screen, No battery.

[smithdoor]

If you remember the tube radios.
Some manufacturers would use a wax capacitor. The wax would slowly melt out and would last around 5 years

So electronic manufacturing has been doing for a long time making dump fillers. 🤔

Dave

What is this machine you keep babbling about that needs batteries for the display? And some proof that if the batteries die the display is dead forever?

[scsmith42]

What are some good welders with generators?

I have been looking at the Miller Legend AEAD-200 and I have heard good things about the Miller Bobcat.

I would like something to do stick welding with and maybe some tig.

Thanks for the help.

Most engine drive welding machines are designed for one specific type of welding. The Miller Trailblazer Pro line is designed for fabricators that will need to use multiple processes. Mine has a 10kw generator, and can power stick. MIG, and TIG.

[Broccoli1]

What are some good welders with generators?

I have been looking at the Miller Legend AEAD-200 and I have heard good things about the Miller Bobcat.

I would like something to do stick welding with and maybe some tig.

Thanks for the help.

let's start with your budget first.

[Sberry]

That is a bit what my ramble is about. If it doesnt matter what it costs, its a hobby, time is or isnt an issue all kinds of factors go with engine drive. I have a portable pressure washer, once I did a few catch up jobs it sits most of the time. Engine drives like that, once the fence is built the diy type runs out of use quickly or ages out.
Smith has a lot of stuff, uses it regular and sitting on anpother couple large as well as the initial investment is not a huge deal. Got room for it all, already insured etc. The TB is a one shot deal.

[Sberry]

stick welding with and maybe some tig.

I can see field mig with so much sheet in the world but start simple and get a grip on sticks. I understand specialists,,, but I am as general as it can get and got no use for that. At first glance maybe its brainstorm but do it a time or 2 and carrying the crap around gets old fast. I stick if I can once I got to head out the door.

[Sberry]

Small hard wire in the shop to start off with and sticks for the field till a guy gets sure of himself. Not only thayt,, truth be told that will do most problems in the world. I am sure in a perfect world a guy would tig a pinhole in a hyd line bu8t first did them braze back in the day but then wire feed, even small stuff. My ideal shop has 2 or 3 feeders, can skip the tig,,, 023 030 and 045 Almost any DC stick welder when I got to drag leads out the door.

[Welder Dave]

Is the OP still here? What's your budget and the biggest size of rods you plan to use (or thickest steel you plan to weld)?