More welder generator questions

[Robbie260]

hi all

Yes I'm on this topic again, having failed to find a lister petter within a reasonable distance from where I live, I am resorting back to the idea of getting a small welder generator.

So far I have seen good comments about of a few all of which come at reasonable prices. They are the Harrington spitfire 200 DC, the pramac Honda w200, the Smc weldpac 220 and the MHM mighty midget 2/175.

Apart from the mighty midget I have not been able to find detailed specifications of any of the other above welders on the manufacture websites or even after emailing them. So dose any one know the open circuit voltage produced by the Harrington, parmac and Smc. Also dose anyone know if the Harrington and Smc have variable current output and if so what is the lowest amperage they produce, I can't find this detail any where.

I am assuming this low in the price range there is no infinitely variable control and they have a stepped system in stead if so what are the steps most likely to be?

And looking at the Smc it has a 400v plug which I am scratching my head at what it could be used for given theses generators usually only produce 2-3kw.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Kent]

Just consider hire rather than buying. Most of us do precisely this as they get nicked a lot, cost a lot and are difficult to store.
Imo to actually lash out the cash you want to be using it a heck of a lot
Forget hss etc. Phone around welding suppliers or get a recommendation from guys doing the job in your area

 

[Robbie260]

Just consider hire rather than buying. Most of us do precisely this as they get nicked a lot, cost a lot and are difficult to store.
Imo to actually lash out the cash you want to be using it a heck of a lot
Forget hss etc. Phone around welding suppliers or get a recommendation from guys doing the job in your area

I would do that but will be doing welding jobs on off over a prolonged period of 3 years doing car restoration work. Also nobody that hires welding equipment anywhere near me apart from a few guys I have delt with in the past and I really, really don't trust an inch as they have screwed me/a few of my friends over in the past. Storage isn't an issue I have plenty of space and i have guaranteed odd jobs from a few friends that will cover some of the expense.

 

[Kent]

I would do that but will be doing welding jobs on off over a prolonged period of 3 years doing car restoration work. Also nobody that hires welding equipment anywhere near me apart from a few guys I have delt with in the past and I really, really don't trust an inch as they have screwed me/a few of my friends over in the past. Storage isn't an issue I have plenty of space and i have guaranteed odd jobs from a few friends that will cover some of the expense.

Genny welding plants are not really what you might use on car restoration. More a nice single phase mig and some good extensions

 

[wyn]

I have recently bought a mighty midget 3/175. I went with the 3/ as i didn't think the 2/ would run a 9" grinder.
Light enough to lift about and into a vehicle.

 

[Jim Davey]

I can get you the info on the Harrington tomorrow, but as Kent says, it wouldn't be my first choice of machine for vehicle restoration.

 

[Robbie260]

Genny welding plants are not really what you might use on car restoration. More a nice single phase mig and some good extensions

I Agree it is not my first choice of machine either but, i am working out of a council garage no where near a power source so I am limited on options and welder generators are far cheaper than a welder and a generator. Even if I get a scratch tig set for it. The majority of the work is going on on a Land Rover chassis so it is quite heavy duty stuff, and I know I could just by galvanised but I always thought that ruined the point of restoring a vehicle making it like triggers broom.

I can get you the info on the Harrington tomorrow, but as Kent says, it wouldn't be my first choice of machine for vehicle restoration.

Thanks for the information that would be great.

 

[Kent]

I Agree it is not my first choice of machine either but, i am working out of a council garage no where near a power source so I am limited on options and welder generators are far cheaper than a welder and a generator. Even if I get a scratch tig set for it. The majority of the work is going on on a Land Rover chassis so it is quite heavy duty stuff, and I know I could just by galvanised but I always thought that ruined the point of restoring a vehicle making it like triggers broom.




Thanks for the information that would be great.

After having done work to landrover chassis with mma I have to say with rusty 14 swg as used in the series models " you will need to be more than a bit good". Bulkheads? Heck honestly I wouldn't start that job in anything but a get me outta jail thing in the field, not with a paying client. No I should look at a nice little mig plant and a suitable arv Genny 7 kva up depending on the set requirements

If you haven't done a wealth of stick welding on rusty thin stuff cramped into contorted positions don't waste your cash.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Welder generators are much, much better than a welder and generator. However, for car restorations you need a MIG - throw the thought of MMA out the window as it just isn't suitable. Better to buy a cheap transformer based MIG and a half decent generator (probably about 6kva for the amps you'll be using).

 

[Robbie260]

Welder generators are much, much better than a welder and generator. However, for car restorations you need a MIG - throw the thought of MMA out the window as it just isn't suitable. Better to buy a cheap transformer based MIG and a half decent generator (probably about 6kva for the amps you'll be using).

I was looking at buying a ready welder mig welder to go with it to get round that problem, if you buy the right one it can be used with batteries, and dc cv and cc welders including welder generators.

I might be better of just buying the ready welder but it only works in pretty big steps ie 6v if you use golf cart batteries. I would just buy one of these but want to be able to run some basic power tools as well.

 

[cocker]

We use them spitfire 200dc all the time at work , abused every day . They last between 3 & 5 years before them diodes go .
Unless they run out of oil first , funny that some of the seized ones are full of brand new clean oil ?

 

[Bill Edwards]

We use them spitfire 200dc all the time at work , abused every day . They last between 3 & 5 years before them diodes go .
Unless they run out of oil first , funny that some of the seized ones are full of brand new clean oil ?

When attending a failed engine breakdown begin by looking in a nearby hedge and behind the seats etc for a new (empty) bottle of oil!