what kit do mobile welders use?

[BrokenBiker]

with regards to mobile welders that turn up in a van to weld cars for mot or repair gates etc, what kit would be best?

would it be better to use a small mig and a decent genny, or a genset stick welder, or is there a genset mig?

the only time I have welded away from a mains power source was on a farm where they had a massive genny on a trailer so just towed that out to me.

I have been asked twice now to weld up cars in lockups where there is no power, and my mig needs a minimum of 5kVA genny, but ive tried it on gennies and it wont run on anything less than 7, which is pricey.

now I know arc welders aren't great for cars but I have seen it being done, I had a fiesta that needed 2 full outer sills for mot and the garage did them with an old oil cooled stick set, and I have welded 1mm with mine with a 1.6 rod

 

[Robotstar5]

You have to ask yourself if the work would be there to justify the investment costs. (Or do you just want another toy? )

 

[BrokenBiker]

well, the work may not be there to justify buying anything like a genny run mig, but there is an increasing amount of stick work on the farm. He is attempting to tidy the place up so anything he come across that's broken. He rings me. But it would be nice when people say, oh you can weld, hows about you do my car, then when i agree and find out the car is in the middle if nowhere i have to turn to job down

 

[the snooper]

stay clear of arc welders for car its not the way to go, I used arc on cars for years and I would never use one on a car again

 

[wheresmejumper]

A decent welder generator, and a voltage sensing wirefeeder would cover a lot of needs

 

[Windy Miller]

I worked for years as a mobile car mechanic/welder and I used a little ESAB Compact 125 mig. It was the same price as a whole load of bigger welders, but they were all too big and heavy to get in and out of the van. Paying the extra seems to have paid dividends, as I bought it in the 90's and it's still going strong! I used to carry a beaten up old Cebora 140 buzz box too (also still going strong!), but I rarely used it. I guess I was lucky in that there always seemed to be power available where I was working, although I nearly always needed to use a big fat extension lead.

The ESAB was perfect for doing cars and vans, but it would have been vastly underpowered for anything over about 3mm without plenty of edge prep. If I were doing it again, I'd use my ESAB 200 Caddy, and the old Cebora for heavier stuff. If the material was too thick for the stick welder, I'd probably pass on the job as I've very limited experience with stuff over about 8 or 10 mm.

 

[BrokenBiker]

think i will just stuck to welding where there is power then

 

[ben8vgte]

I recently got hold of a little Mosa msg201 (ignoring the problems from the seller), it's not the best engine driven arc set in world. But for the size and price I've been finding it very handy on site fitting shutters and fixing gates, certainly paid for itself on it's first job with the time saved in running around and hire cost to get a genny for the inverter. I'd not want to run it on a car really, but other thicker stuff it's fine and lays down a nice bead.

If you spent 300-400 on a old engine welder that's only 1 or 2 jobs and it's paid for, over the course of a year or two with a fair few jobs the profit would buy something much better if you so wished. But most importantly mine will run my 110v kettle on site!

 

[norlander]

I once had to use an italian made 2stroke driven set, it was light, compact and suprisingly good-only downside was it was like welding with a Lambretta revving up next to you.
I think it was a MOSA, and I expect that they are not that cheap but it was a go anywhere set up.
I just googled and I think this is it http://www.mosa.it/index.php?id=780&L=1&tx_mosa_pi1[showUid]=351&cHash=34e7b50bd0 it ran all day and every joint needed V up on one face which had to be ground off flush as they were guide rails for forklift trucks and it handled all that no probs.

 

[norlander]

"But most importantly mine will run my 110v kettle on site! "

top man!!