Engine Driven Welders

_RaT_ · Nov 17, 2003

Do any of you folks know much about the engine driven welder/generators like the Lincoln or Miller Bobcat in roughly the 20 HP size? I've been looking specifically at the Miller 301G Trailblazer and the Lincoln Ranger. Rat...

cowboydoc · Nov 17, 2003

We've got a lincoln and love it. It's mounted on a trailer and when something breaks down we just haul it out to the equipment. Saves alot of time and hassle.

Egon · Nov 17, 2003

In the oilfield engine driven Lincolns mounted on 3500 series trucks are the norm.

Egon

Taylortractornut · Nov 17, 2003

I have a 225 Bobcat I bought after the first lay off around march. I gave a 1200 for it with 60 hours on it. I paid for it in 2 months on the side. I havent mounted it on my truck yet, I wanted a Trail blazer they seem to weld better but Im now used to its welding. I like Lincoln Ranger 8s to but Im a Miller man. I think a newBobcat is 2800 plus tax here. I like a Pipeliner but they are sorta buly for me. All the pipeline welders here have mostly gone to the BobCat welder with the 100 percent duty cycle. When I worked for Huffman When it was too wet to dig Id hitch up their pipeliner and go to the other job or weld around their sites. I grew to like it but the DC output on the 110 is rough on grinders with brushes.

wroughtn_harv · Nov 17, 2003

I have the Trailblazer on Lucy, 251 model.

The advantage of the Trailblazer line is the three phase power to the weld circuit. It just welds better. If you don't think so then go in and weld with a single phase machine and they try a three phase one. There is noticeable difference.

If I had my druthers I'd buy the new 301 D. It has a three cylinder Kubota with an idle lockdown. With the idle locked down you can still pull a hundred and seventy amps and ten thousand watts of auxillary power. With the idle lockdown deactivated you can pull three hundred amps.

I have nothing against Lincoln. But I've had nothing but good luck with the Miller gas drives.

_RaT_ · Nov 18, 2003

I have heard the same thing about the 3 phase units. When I was certifying for pipe, some guys actually hauled in their own welders to certify. Different welders do make a difference, sometimes a huge difference. The 301 D looks like a very nice unit. Amazing how much that Kubota diesel adds to the cost of the machine. Almost double.

The 301G Legend offers the same 3 phase welding, no AC Tig, but runs a 5500 watt generator at only 1800 RPM. That compares to the Trailblazers 10,000 at 3600 RPMSounds interesting and quiet. I'm not familiar with Tig either AC Tig for Aluminum or DC Tig for other metals. It looks very interesting to try. All my time is with Stick 6010 and 7018, Mig and last and least, Flux Core.

Taylortractornut · Nov 18, 2003

im the same way with my welder I wont weld a thing if I cant get used to a new welder or have mine present. I cant just get one machine then go to another. Iwished my welder had the 3 phase option on it to run my poratbale borings hydraulic unit.

wroughtn_harv · Nov 18, 2003

I wasn't aware of the Legend's three phase capability. I had a Legend before the Trailblazer. The quiet generator is nice. But it's a pain to have to stop welding to use any electrical tools without brushes. You can use a grinder etc with brushes on the DC ciruit while welding though.

The Legend was acting up a bit. So I called my supplier to see if they had one in stock that I could buy and put the other one in for repair. They didn't have a Legend but they did have a Trailblazer. It was about to go on sale nationally. If I bought that week I could save three hundred off the sale. If I waited until the sale I had to pay that price. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

It was a simple lift the old one off and bolt down the new. I went back to the job. I was welding in a four inch pipe security rail around the perimeter of a Chevrolet dealership.

I laid down about an inch of bead and then stopped to check if I'd changed rods by accident. There was that much difference.

Are you a grey rod sixty tenner or a red one?

I'm a 5P+ man.

_RaT_ · Nov 18, 2003

The (New) Legend uses a separate generator for the 120/240V. I am not sure of the mechanics of it. Since it runs at only 1800 RPM and no welding occurs at that speed, I would guess that it would require flipping a switch. 2400 watts and 120V is available at all speeds. Welding happens at two different RPM's depending on Amps required.

I use the Fleetweld 5P, not tried the 5P+. I understand it has a better appearance given the same operator. Thanks for the information, Rat...

Taylortractornut · Nov 18, 2003

Harv whats 5P rod, Most of the things we build like boat houses and a few log road gates are welded with 7018. I have a fella the buys bulk rods and get a 50 pound box of 7018's for 20 dollars a box. Most of the welding I do is truck and equipment repair mainly.
My friend william has a Kubota powered Miller that sips fuel and is more pleasant inside a building. Im looking to buy a welder generator this spring big enough to run a plasma cutter to help us on a few of the boat houses we are going to build.