What size welder for heavy equipment repairs?

[stephen4785]

Im going to be getting a a new service truck and Im looking at welder/generators. Im mainly going to be using it as a generator but will occasionally hard face, repair cracks, and replace broken off teeth. Would I need anything larger than a 225amp machine?

[Matt]

How thick is the material? What type of material? Stick or mig?

[dcs13]

Just get a Miller bobcat 225, you'll be fine. They have skyrocketed in price over the last 10 years though.

http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.com/miller-2012-bobcat-225-kohler-engine-welder-generator-907498001

Usually some deals on craigs. Just watch the hours.

[one slow 5.0]

Should be plenty of lightly used pipeliner machines out there

[sosoe]

How thick is the material? What type of material? Stick or mig?

I'm guessing MIG...

[Tremor14]

that type of work i wouldnt want the hassle of a mig gun. turn and burn!

[bcoop]

Should be plenty of lightly used pipeliner machines out there

The problem is they are all trying to pay off their Raptors with the proceeds of the sale. I've been looking for a Bobcat 225 as well.

[mk5.0]

Red face lincoln..

[stephen4785]

Mainly stick. The most common job I get asked to do is weld teeth back on buckets and hard facing so the material is 1-2"thick. The other stuff is cracks in buckets or cracks in general. Ill also use it to weld lifting bungs onto things I need to pull off/install. I was looking at a Lincoln Ranger 225. Couple hundred cheaper than a bobcat and they have a free torch rebate when you buy a new one. The only thing different I can see in the Miller and Lincoln is that the Miller does ac/dc. But I dont think Iv ever used ac to stick weld anything so Im not sure thats a selling point.
Im approved for a loan on new crane service truck and a welder. But the company I got the loan from wont cut me a check for a machine that an indiviual has. It has to be a business that they can send the check to. I wouldnt mind buying a used machine at all but the ones Iv seen that are in good shape cost around $3000 and for $400 more I can get a brand new machine with warranty. Unless someone knows where a good used one at a company is?

[one slow 5.0]

The problem is they are all trying to pay off their Raptors with the proceeds of the sale. I've been looking for a Bobcat 225 as well.

I've never seen a pipeliner with a raptor. They all have jacked up dually diesel rigs.

[Sean88gt]

Red face lincoln..

That was every guy I had working for me...

[David L. Gary]

Bigger Welder

Those little air cooled welders won't hold up long. Get a 300 amp to do the job right. I spent a decade fixing heavy equipment.