Ya I used to have a miller bobcat 225 400' of ground and lead. It is a generator model with 110 and 220 plug in on it. If you bought the attachments it would do any kind of welding I didn't use it much. In fact I used it more for the generator during power outages than welding. I ended up trading it off for an ATV.

I wore that atv out but that welder is still in use.

I'm leaning toward a miller or Lincoln stick that will run off 110 or 220 and is a small unit I can put up out of the way. But a generator model while more $ could double for a house generator when the power is out so may be worth it for that alone.

Wire feed would be nice for thin stuff and dual shield was the easiest thing I ever certified on. Like 30 min or less to run 1" vertical and overhead test plates. But it needs to be in a shop environment without wind.


Decisions decisions. Most likely I won't make a decision and will get side tracked and spend the money on something else like ever other time in the last 10 years.

I want my weld to sound like I am frying bacon! JMO

Dirty Dog, a two piece pole with a coupler, that's a great idea!

Providence, a big generator type would certainly be cool and would definitely be something to ponder. In the meantime, go buy a rinky dink one for $150. You'll be surprised at what it can do.

I fry a LOT of bacon for the family. Wood smoke and bacon grease smell makes me think of bear camp. Now i'll be thinking of welding too!

Ears and Eyes.

Watch the puddle and manipulate it. Learn to ignore the "spark and bright"

Listen for Bacon frying or Popcorn popping sounds.

Also check your owners Manual for setting guidelines. Some Welders even have them on the box near the controls.

This is my favorite one to use small easy to use can either use it 110 or 220. I use 220. Perfect welder for any trapping related welding.

Looks like an awesome machine, Gary. Maybe when my businesses finally stabilize post pandemic!

dirtydog - what's the chain and second washer on your deep end? I did 2 four-footers like that to haul on my ATV, worked slick.

I’d say you a did pretty dang job just starting out with flux core. It’s got a lot more spatter but does ok. I e got a cheap one also and it comes in handy quite a bit. Good luck.

Just like most things in life, every time you do it, it should get better.

There is a reason name brand weld machines are expensive, because most are trust worthy to not fail when your using them
and the large industrial ones have 100 percent duty cycles , meaning you cannot wear them down welding with them. They have parts support in case of failure as well, unlike most inexpensive low duty cycle outfits, most always graduate to a longer term duty cycle welder after finding they want to make larger or more structural doings.

Power supplies are a bit different than a set welding machine process, they have different wiring setups inside for different process's of welding, you select by turning a switch, handy if like me you do many types of different process's for different materials and projects.

Won't be long before you are known to be a handy welder and projects will flood your door, always happens when you are proficient, it's amazing what a little spot of weld will fix for other people !!

A band saw mill in the making is my current little welding project.



Next week I have to change the setup back to aluminum and weld a outboard bracket back onto a pontoon boat for a customer. Then set the thing back up for stick welding this project.

I just half an hour ago dropped the hammer on a plasma cutter after setting my wedding tackle on fire a few times with the use of that infernal machine known as an angle grinder. I want to build a new deck for my brush hog. I have a design in mind but do not want to cut that all out with a zip disk. So I went the plasma cutter route. I'll still save money in the end as a new brush hog that I would want to change a bit would set me back a lot more than some plate and angle iron.

For occasional welding projects, flux core is fine. If your really going to get into welding, get a unit that is capable of using gas too. Your welds will look much better and it's just a nicer process all together.

Using flux core does not mean you don't have a gas shielding on it, depends on the flux wire your going to use, people should learn about welding a lot more before making comments like that, it can confuse people learning on their own !

Grit guy, point taken regarding spending the money on an investment type machine. The question I have before spending miller/Lincoln money is - would I want a mig/flux machine or a multi process that does stick and Tig too. Hard to know that as a newbie, makes me hesitate to invest.

Scuba that's no small project. Cool share!

You should become proficient in what welding your doing now before worrying about investing in a power box !
Most power box come dedicated to stick and mig, Tig is usually extra cost because of the high frequency circuit for Tig

You can do a lot of varied welding with just stick and a wire feed ( mig ) before most even need to consider Tig work

How ever if you ever plan on doing light duty or aluminum work or exotic steels a Tig is much better suited in this work !
If you have the funds then certainly buy that power box, other wise you can get by with smaller wire on the mig for lighter work

Washxc, here’s something else you can do with your new toy and save a couple dollars by making them your self. Chained earth anchors. I used number 3 chain so it matched my traps chain. You’ll save even more if you use number 2. I always check f&t monthly specials, when there number 3 chain is on special I’ll buy 100 or last time I bought 200 ft. Buy 100 anchors and a 100 heavy duty S hooks. You can make a 100 chained earth anchors for a lot less then it costs to buy a 100. All you gotta do is cut your chain length, attach your anchor and weld the S hook shut.

I know how to weld using a few processes. Thanks though.

I’d say you’re doing pretty good there, but before you start looking into multiprocess welders, figure out what you have for electrical power and see if you can go with some type of older stick an example would be a Lincoln buzz box a person can find them pretty cheap, so it would be a cheap way to learn the stick process.

You guys trying to teach him how to weld with a frying pan?haha.references to food have no business in the welding trade lol. Only sound a weld should make is the slag falling off and hitting the ground when you raise your hood up to look at it.