Newbie needs welder advice

[txdon]

Let me just jump in here with my first post. I need a welder.
My welding experience: very little, - one semester community college (Spring-2005 - oldest one in class award :D ).

I am fixing on moving from the city and retiring to the country. I am seeing metal bonding and metal fabricating projects that are starting to materialize.
Currently I have electricity to the cabin but none to the garage/tractor shed about 50 yards away.

The welding projects I can see in the future include construction of new workshop, garage, and home all about 300 yards from cabin. there will be some metal construction and metal railings, fences decorative doors, etc...
I also have a tractor that I am continually making small attachments and modifications/repairs for.

I prefer MIG.

Here is the basic setup I am considering.

Craftsman generator 5600w/8600w startup with 120V and 240V outlet ($629)
Millermatic Passport
Plasma cutter?

Please, all advise is appreciated for this newbie.

Thanks, Don

[Sberry]

Personally I wouldnt mess with a Craftsman generator. I would spring for something a little better, you could buy a Miller Bluestar 6000 and have a welder and a generator untill you get setup where a feeder would be practical. A Hobart Champ 10000 would be good, great power supply or Miller Bobcat. These are fine welding machines and will still be runnig for that and as a genset when the Sears is long dead and burried.

[hankj]

My guess is that for every ten minutes that I use my wire feeder, I use my O/A rig for twice that long. In the setting you describe, I just can't imagine getting along at all without an O/A setup. I agree with Cary - get an engine driven welder. You'll have standby power for your dwelling and shop, a great welder, and you can always add a wire feeder.

Hank

[txdon]

Sberry, is a wire feeder a complete MIG pluged into the Bluestar or the Bobcat. Can the wire feeder be pluged into 110? Does it use a gas or just flux core wire? - Thanks, Don

[Paul Seaman]

The Passport is a great machine, I would agree about the Craftsman genset, look into a Generac or a Miller welder/generator. A welder/generator will be a stick only welder unless you buy a suitcase feeder additionally. I would say the passport and a good genset is a good choice. Stay clear of the cheaper models as the power output is going to be a bid fluctuative or as the old welders would call it "dirty power" and this will cause varriances in the weld bead.

Age is only years, not ambition.

[burninbriar]

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/enginedriven/bobcat_225/ The Bobcat 225 or 250 would probably be a good choice.

[wb5jhy]

txdon,

I think Sberry is right on this one. I know the Bobcat is a much pricier option than what you were laying out but if anyone ever needed the portability and power options it offers, its you, according to the projects you have planned.

Years down the road when you've got the new estate completed you will still have a great piece of equipment with substantial resale value.


Good luck with your decision.



tjj

[fun4now]

the The Bobcat 225 would be a great choice for out in the woods if power is a concern, at 2,750.00 its not much more than a passport and a generator would be.and you could add what ever ya wanted to to it to get STICK,MIG,or TIG and it would deffenetly run the house for ya. :)

the passport and a good generator would also work well but if you intend to add a plasma cutter you will also need an air compresser (unless ya get the spec.125C) running the plasma cutter and air comp could start to push the limits of a smaller compresser.

if you used 10gage wire and came right off the box you could probly put in a sub pannel in the shed that would have enough juce to run the pasport and a fair amount of shop stuff if that is an option untill you can get a seperate box out there. my shop is around 150-175 ft from my power pole and i run a 80gal 220V comp and all kinds of other stuff as well as my plasma and MIG. i would go that rout then go with the pasport and plasma. to make it the 300yrds you will need a genny of some sort but the garage is doable. how long till you will get power to the new shop could you get the power comp to put ya in a temp power pole for construction. we always got power befor we started to build the house, is that an option there. although a great welder combo the bobcat might be a bit much unless you see future uses or resail value if you will be getting power to the new shop at some point.


the O/A rig is nice but i almost never use mine now that i have plasma , just to heat stufff now and then it uses 60qft tanks and i havent filled them in over a year. my 155qft MIG tank gets filled a lot more. just somthing to think about ;)

[txdon]

Now my head is really spinning.

I was going to get a 110V MIG. Then for just twice the price I could get a Passport, which would be better now on 110V and I could use the 240V later in the new shop and with construction with a new electrical service close to the new home. If I got a generator for Less than $700. I could be portable for about a total of 2K. If I get the Bobcat 225 at $2750 I have a great stick and generator good resale value but no MIG. If I add the Passport the total will go up to 4K. With a couple of cutting tools and plasma with built in air compressor over 5K. Too much, I'm getting nervous, I want to retire not work another year. I know the generator is not the best, I just need something to tie me over for a couple of years till I get all the electricity run. Thanks so far for all the advice, I am reading and rereading all the post trying to figure which way to go. If they only made a Bluestar MIG....but then I am lusting the Passport if everything is correct that I am reading about it. What to do....

[wb5jhy]

txdon,

I'm sure no one here meant to confuse you. There are certainly a lot of options to look at. I guess the best thing to do is to evaluate realistically the jobs you intend to do with the new equipment.

List out some materials and thickness you know you will be using. What kind of repair work would you be doing on the tractor impliments and so on. Fence rails? Pipe?

Then determine the amperage output your going to need. Finally, look closely at the duty cycle ratings of the equipment you are considering. It can get aggrevating to have to stop for your welder to cool down when you have hours of construction ahead of you.

I hope this helps.

tjj

[admweld]

if you intend to flux core wire w/enginedrive
i would go with trailblazer.more cv voltage
for larger .068/- 5/64 wire
use my 300D for bucket shanks,wearbars,sidecutter,hardfacing.
it runs excellent. :)

[HAWK]

TRAILBLAZER 302G (http://millerwelds.com/products/enginedriven/trailblazer_302/) AND THE 12RC SUITCASE FEEDER (http://www.millerwelds.com/products/wire_feeders/suitcase_rc/index.php)

[burninbriar]

I've reread this post several times and beeing that it seems as though you just need generator power until the shop is built, I think Fun4now nailed it.Just run the power line first with a temporary servise box and forget about the generator. I also agree with Sberry in that if you do get a generator, buy a quality unit that wont let you down.

[Manny]

I too am hoping to get a passport for similar reasons, portability, smaller repairs and low power requirements. Sounds like you're just interested in doing steel with the selection of a passport, might be better off with a good oxy/acetylene set up ( I get a LOT of use from my Harris porta-torch set up, weighs less than a Passport, though with a tractor handy I'd get a big set and use the tractor to move it if need be) and a sawzall or grinder & cut off than a plasma. If possible I'd upgrade to a better generator, Honda being my choice.
I'd be nice to get a fancier set up if the budget was bigger, but sometimes you've got to draw the line.
Manny

[fun4now]

a generato is nice to have around but if it is not a regular thing then go with youre first ideal. i have a colman power mate 5000 and it runs my MM135 just fine as well as my house when the power goes out (i live in the midle of no where) so i'm shoure the passport would run nicely off it for that ocashinal quick fix, i would use the 220 part of the genny to run the pasport.i also have the spec125C and think it is great for what i got it to do but keep in mind that its cut capasity is verry limited so if you are looking to use it to make tractor parts you might consider the spec375 if you can provide it with air. another bonis to the spec375 is that it's consumables are less $$$ than the ones for the 125C. the 125C is rated to 3/16th but if not in a hurry you could cut 1/4". i have also found it workd real well at cutting off old welds ;) . all in all the lil 125C is a great lil plasma. i use mine mostly for artsy-fartsy stuff on 10 to 16 gage steel.i have never seen one being sold used on e-bay so i dont know what kind of resail you could get should you later decide you want to go bigger. so it might be a good ideal to put some thought into youre future need and go with the 375 if you forsee larger in the future as it is only $300.00 more to jump from the 125C to the 375.if you need any more info on the 125c let me know i can cut ya some samples of whatever i have to help you decide if it will fit youre needs. :)

[burninbriar]

Txdon ; please correct me if I'm mistaken.
This post kept me thinking all night and it seems that you want the welder and generator to start construction on youre house,garage and shop witch will be 300 yards from the cabin witch now has power to it. If this is the case the small Craftsman generator will not be adequit to run the power tools for construction.
Eventually you will need a power line to these structures so a temporary power line will not be a waste of money so long as you leave enough extra to move it to the permanant service when the buildings are compleated.

[Manny]

Burinbriar,
Not sure what common construction tools you can't run off a 5k genset. I use to work for a construction equipment dealer (John Deere) and a number of folks bought the 5k Honda's we sold, used them to build with, and then kept them for back up power afterwards. They worked fine for motor mixers, saws, etc..
Manny

[txdon]

Wow, thanks for all the replies. I will be looking hard at all the equipment that has been mentioned. You all really have me thinking.

Most of the material that I can see that i will be welding will not be more than 1/4 or and occasional 3/8 during construction or a tractor implement. I spoke with a Miller Tech and he said that a 5k gen would work fine with the Passport. I think I will get another electric pole closes to the new house/garage/workshop area during construction. The current garage is in the opposite direction from the new area and on the opposite side of the cabin. I am hoping I will be able to do some initial welding close to the cabin. I need to build a carport, maybe I also will put in a temp 8x8 fireproof 3 sided work area about 20 feet from the cabin, the garage is full of tractors and tools anyway. With a close temp work area I can connect a HD wire or extension cord. I may not need a generator but it is nice to know that if I get in a bind during building I can run to Sears and grab a 5k generator, or rent one.

This area in Texas is not subject to floods, hurricanes, or snow, just maybe an occasional tornado. The need for a generator for power outage is not here, thank goodness. Now, I do use a a/c window unit 3 months a year and a wood burning stove 3 months of the year. The breeze on the hilltop is perfect the other 6 months.

Rain 252, The place I'm retiring is in Lee County Texas, 50 miles east of Austin, 125 miles west of Houston. I have family ties in this area for over a hundred years. Some of the larger farms are being divided and sold to people from Austin, I hope the growth will continue to be slow for another 30 years.
Between the large oak trees, hilltop views for miles, hills and hills of wildflowers this is a little heaven on earth. (But don't tell anyone). Land is still reasonable 2.5 to 3k per acre depending on the size. (100ac to 30ac) There is no state income tax and property taxes are reasonable. There are only three high schools in the county. You don't mind snakes do you? The copperhead is the only BAD one in the area. The area is mainly cattle ranching. The soil is fertile and gardens grow like crazy. This is an awful place to retire, everyone from up north stay away! ;)

But wait, this is the welding forum not the retirement forum.
So I guess my question now is If I have just 2k to spend should I put the money mostly in a good generator and an inexpensive MIG OR should I get the Passport and the Sears generator if needed?

[fun4now]

hummmm :rolleyes: and to think i retired to New York LOL :p

i would go passport and the sears genny if ya need it. the passport has gotten realy great reviews you should be verry pleased with it.

being in the midle of nowhere i use mine to run the house about 2-5 days a year, and usualy around 5-6 houres per outing with a lil 1 it is important to have power to keep every one buissy ;)

[storts]

Wait till you get the price on steel :( That 2 G's wont go to far,,,,Good Luck, and Happy retirement, :D Jack,PS, How far to your local welding supplier, and Steel supplyer? Just another thing to keep in mind.

[burninbriar]

Burinbriar,
Not sure what common construction tools you can't run off a 5k genset. I use to work for a construction equipment dealer (John Deere) and a number of folks bought the 5k Honda's we sold, used them to build with, and then kept them for back up power afterwards. They worked fine for motor mixers, saws, etc..
Manny
It was the air compressor that gave us the worst trouble when I was in the sign buisness but that was a long time ago and its possible that the generator was smaller than 5k. Just cant remember.

Oh ya. Good luck on the retirement land, it looks really beautiful there.Any good fishing ?

[txdon]

Storts, you are right the price of steel is high, but at least since I know how to weld now I can work on my schedule and I can buy more steel with the money I would have had to paid the weldor. Welding supply is 17 miles away, metal supplier is 30 miles.
Burninbriar, The fishing is no good, the hunting is no good etc... awful place for wildlife. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :D

Thanks, Don

[fun4now]

not trying to ay anything bad about craftsmen but if you are working on a budjet i would go to home depot and get a colman5000 insted mine was like $500.00 insted of $800.00 i have had it for 4 years and it's still firing up every time no problems :) that would get ya the extra $300.00 to go from the spec 125c up to the spec 375 ;)

are you planing on steel fraiming thease new buildings ??? i'm welding up a new shop right now in the yard with my MM135 but it is just a storage shed on the permit, i would think you might need to stick weld for a house or comercial building, somthing you might want to check into for your permit befor you get a welder that THEY wont alow. ya might need to add a maxstar 150 to youre shopping list, it will also run great off the genny and has a sweet burn :)

atached is my shop progress.not the pritty'est but all the steel was free :eek: so all it is caustuing me is flux core wire and my time :D as you can see it will be a bit bigger than the old green shop behind it.

[wb5jhy]

"Burninbriar, The fishing is no good, the hunting is no good etc... awful place for wildlife. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. "


Txdon, Burninbriar,

Sorry Txdon, I grew up in Houston. I know better.

That's known as the Texas hill country... best deer hunting in Texas. Dove and quail too if like like that kinda stuff. :)

Oh, and Lake Belton not far away is a huge, beautiful lake with rock cliffs and lake side restaurants. Loaded with bass, brim, perch and such if you like that kinda stuff. :)

Kinda makes me homesick for Texas now that I think about it. I married a "coonass" and so I'm stuck on the other side of the river for now. :D


tom