What welder do I buy to take on a road trip ?
Submitted: Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 21:40
ThreadID:
80696
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Member - Johny boy (NSW)
Hi all,
I have just got off the GRR and needed some welding done whilst half way on it,I managed to use 2 batts and stick weld it to get me to a so called pro that charged me for a job that didnt even make it to
Kununurra,my luck is really running at an all time low and I think I will have to trust someone here and not to mention throw away more money that we really dont have so I just want to know if there is a welder that I can buy that will work off my honda 2KVA gen ,a bloke I met in
broome had a little welder that was almost the same size as a cordless drill case I think it was a 120 or 140 amp stick welder and another guy said he had one at home that was a stick/Tig/plasma cutter and they both said that they cost around $300 to $400,I would love to hear from anyone that can steer me in the right direction as in brand size function/capabilities and most of all price ,I still have a long trip ahead and would like to have one just in case and at least I also have one for any other big trips we have in mind,I do have an oxy,mig and even a big stick welder at home and thats why I was thinking of a tig/plasma cutter and stick in one just so I can expand my
tools at home if you all know what I mean I hope to hear from some of you guys and thanks in advance.
Regards john
Reply By: Joe Grace Doomadgee - Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 21:51
Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 21:51
if ya have worked on mines it is called a "caddy"..........
Dont really read it right but if you still have a BIG trip ahead of you and you have big problems now and running short of cash then maybe time to change plans.................
With any welding it probally more the prep put into the job rather than the weld, in a workshop it can be preped
well, in the bush it cant, spend big on the weld not the welder as it will just continue to break ....
And also the more heavy crud you carry more things are gunna break...
Other than that have a good trip.....
AnswerID:
427172
Follow Up By: Member - Johny boy (NSW) - Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:16
Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:16
Hi Joe,
I have never worked on or in mines and I hae never heard of a caddy but by the sound of the name it must be portable,I dont really want to get into the whole thing but I did spend big and it was in the workshop that did do the job its just that he didnt know how to weld and I took off really early the next morning only to find that he did not weld what I asked him to and as for me changing my plans
well thats what Im doing im changing my plans by looking for a welder so if I or any one else I come accross on the road runs into any trouble I will be able to do something about it ,Im a VERY capable welder myself and the only mistake I made was to not buy this welder before our trip I just need some good avice from someone that has one thats all :)
Cheers.
FollowupID:
697778
Follow Up By: Member - Johny boy (NSW) - Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:19
Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:19
sorry about the double post all,its been a long day.
FollowupID:
697780
Follow Up By: Joe Grace Doomadgee - Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:44
Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:44
thats cool John, i have been there before and it sux, where are you heading now, may be of some assistance .....
FollowupID:
697782
Follow Up By: Hairy (NT) - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 00:01
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 00:01
More than likely...the Caddy you talk of is just a name for the new ( last 10 year or so) 240v inverter????
Not something the average bloke could power up off his car?
FollowupID:
697787
Follow Up By: guzzi - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 07:31
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 07:31
Look up ESAB Caddy.
A nice little welder capable of TIG and stick welding on steel, but I believe the newer ones require a 16Amp fuse so probably wont run off a 2 kva genset.
Cheers
FollowupID:
697792
Reply By: Member - bungarra (WA) - Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:33
Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:33
Johnny boy
you wont get a stick welder that will run off your Honda 2kva..........the caddy metioned (I have one at home ) will not run on it either
You can get a Ready Welder MIG that will run off 24 volts and they are excellent............
as you know you can stick weld with 2 batteries quite successfully as
well.........best advice I can give is carry a Ready Welder if you can afford or justify one...........go prepared to stick weld with the batteries as
well........carry "weldall" rods and you will be
well prepared
I carry both and have used both....once for myself and another time to get somone out of trouble
AnswerID:
427178
Reply By: Member - Serendipity(WA) - Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:45
Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:45
Hi John
For welding on the road - as has been said - the preparation is the key element.
The caddy is a small inverter welder that can be slung over the should but is worth around the $2000 for a decent one. You can get a bit cheaper but will always get what you pay for. These of course must be run on 240v generator.
You can as an alternative use the car battery welding like you did before but upgrade to a mig hand piece. These Spool Mig Guns are sold for welding aluminium like when a welder is in the hull of a boat. It means you don't need the rest of the welder but they will work perfectly
well from 24v normal welding or 36v for heavier welding.
Piranah off road gear sell a kit already made up - bit expensive for a welder but does the trick.
Or you could just buy your own Spool Mig Gun and fit some battery clips on it yourself.
David
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AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Serendipity(WA) - Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:50
Friday, Aug 13, 2010 at 22:50
The one sold by Piranah is the Ready welder that Bungarra has. Great unit but a bit expensive - I think from memory around $700 or so.
David
FollowupID:
697783
Follow Up By: Member - Johny boy (NSW) - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 08:40
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 08:40
Hi David ,that looks like it would be great I just worry about how it would travell as the mig I have at home has been a bit tempramental at times hence the reason I would prefere to use a stick on the road and it is a little more than I can afford at the moment but thanks for trying to help mate as I didnt know these existed LOL!
Regards John.
FollowupID:
697805
Reply By: Hairy (NT) - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 00:09
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 00:09
What did you weld?
And did you need to see a "pro " because you cant weld?....or didnt have a welder?
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Johny boy (NSW) - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 08:24
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 08:24
Hairy I already stated that I CAN weld and I already stated that I had to use 2 batts to weld on the side of the road,so do you think that I had a proper welder with me ?.......I had to weld the hangers for the suspention arms so I ran as best a weld as possable with the advice of a fellow traveller that I could get it welded at a place up the road (I wont mention where as its all behind me now) he said he cant let me into the workshop or hire out his welder so my hands were tied and my welds are still hanging on its the side that he did that didnt.
cheers.
FollowupID:
697801
Reply By: Member - Ed C (QLD) - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 01:42
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 01:42
G'day John,
A few months ago, I scored a small (80 Amp) inverter stick welder off ebay for $150 (+ post)...
It is identical to >>
this one here
Powered by my Honda EU20i, this unit will run 2mm GP electrodes with ease ...
With 2.5mm electrodes, one needs to observe the 30% duty cycle to avoid tripping out the genny..
55-65 Amps from the welder is about the maximum that the genny will tolerate.. As stated , with 2mm rods this is more than adequate to run this size rod..
With the 2.5mm rods, of the few that I tested, I found the WIA Austarc 13S to be the one that worked best at low amps.. Some stainless rods that I tried also gave quite pleasing results..
One probably wouldn't want to make a habit of running the genny at max. capacity for too long, or too often, but for emergency track-side repairs, it'll do me ;-)
Works for me, and I'm more than satisfied with the results (YMMV)
Regards, Ed C
:)
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AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Johny boy (NSW) - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 08:36
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 08:36
Hi Ed c,
Thanks for your reply,thats the type of welder and money I was hoping to spend,I did not get any idea of where that seller is located but I will keep looking for this type of deal on Ebay ,thanks once again,this is the type of post I was hoping for .
Regards John.
FollowupID:
697803
Follow Up By: Member - Ed C (QLD) - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 11:38
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 11:38
John, the link above is for 'illustration purposes' only..
The unit I bought was second-hand from a private seller who claimed to have purchased it for a fabrication job "that didn't happen", and that is was "un-used in it's original box"...
As I mentioned in another thread (back in April or thereabouts), I didn't like the supplied leads & handpiece, so I replaced those..
Also, when welding with the generator, I do NOT use the eco-throttle (run 'er at full revs)....
For a 2nd-hand unit (of any brand), besides ebay, you may wish to keep an eye on Cash Converters if there's an outlet near you..
Also, if there's a 'Tender Center' near you, they will turn up there from time to time....
Catch ya later... Ed C
:)
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Reply By: Ray - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 08:54
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 08:54
You used to be able to get an alternator that doubled as a welder a few years ago. I've not seen them for a while and do not know if they are still available.
AnswerID:
427198
Follow Up By: Member - Ed C (QLD) - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 11:44
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 11:44
They're still available >>
UniPower
:)
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Reply By: PeterInSa - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 15:44
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 15:44
Needed a Welding job when out bush, but it waited until I got to a small town and had the job done. Spoke to a mate that bought a small welder from Bunnings from memory, this unit is about 12in long 9 inch high and 5 inches wide. He believes if you use smaller rods and turn down the amperage it should work off my 20i am going to try it when he gets home from his current trip (with his welder)in a month or so. From memory they cost around $295. I would give B a call, for availability.
In my opinion if you reduce the amperage and the 20i cannot take it the overload should kick in (and if it does'nt you could be up for a new 20i.)
Peter
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: PeterInSa - Sunday, Aug 15, 2010 at 12:41
Sunday, Aug 15, 2010 at 12:41
It was a Cigweld unit and cost $395
Peter
FollowupID:
697917
Follow Up By: PeterInSa - Sunday, Aug 15, 2010 at 12:44
Sunday, Aug 15, 2010 at 12:44
But based on harlequin's post re spikes faulty the inverter card, have decided to give the tryout a miss.
Peter
FollowupID:
697918
Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 18:27
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 18:27
I don't kn ow if Alan Grierson is for sale but if he eas I would definitely buy hima nd take him along, that guy could weld two pieces of alfoil togther
AnswerID:
427236
Reply By: harlequin - Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 22:53
Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 at 22:53
been 15 yrs since i was welding for a living but back then we used the esab caddy welders still got one, I was led to believe with inverter type welders were not suited to generators as spikes and troughs from the genset could wreck the electronics card i know we buggered a lincoln caddy with a genset back then.
You could always take the trusty & heavy transformer type welder they handle all sorts of crap current use either satincraft SS 2.0mm rods or wedall which dont come smaller than 2.5mm but both are nickel/chromium base so you can weld a better range of ferrous material, more burn power with the 2.0 mm rods regards andy
AnswerID:
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Reply By: ingo57 - Monday, Aug 16, 2010 at 10:59
Monday, Aug 16, 2010 at 10:59
Gday Johny boy,
Have a look at thread 69010.
I asked the same question a while ago and got some good
feedback.
Hope this helps
Cheers
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Fatso - Monday, Aug 16, 2010 at 17:02
Monday, Aug 16, 2010 at 17:02
This is a different attack on your original problem
John.
Rather than buying & carrying a welder to repair your breaks, why don't you look at what caused the breakage in the first place & try & rectify that?
Remember not all vehicles break.
It may be the type of vehicle or the way it is driven or the load your vehicle carries for the driving conditions. It could be a combination of things.
From your original post it seems like you are not afraid to carry everything you think you might need. Maybe you need to look at a vehicle that has a larger carrying capacity. Or alternatively trim your load down.
AnswerID:
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