Topic: Portable Welder

[Jeffy]

Anyone use one of these?  Expensive but looks like a pretty cool package.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/battery-powered/trek180/

Trek 180
Weld anywhere with this battery-powered welding package!
The Trek® 180 battery-powered wire welder is the first professional system on the market for MIG welding “off the power grid.” No matter where your hobby or job takes you, the Trek® delivers heavy duty weld power to fabricate or repair 24 ga. up to 5/16 in. mild steel in a single pass. Powered by two internal sealed lead-acid batteries, the high-purity energy storage technology enables the Trek® to be charged complete in about 90 minutes and quickly recharged in about 20 minutes. The integrated charging system is powered by standard 115 volt household current and can operate while plugged in or completely cordless. The Trek delivers 180 amps (approx. 12% duty cycle) on 115 volt standard power … a weld output which, until Trek®, has been limited to 230 volt welders. The unit is capable of using both self-shielded flux-cored and solid gas-shielded wires from .024 to the .035 diameter.

[FourbangerYJ]

Looks pretty cool. But for the price I would do a Ready Welder.

[Jeffy]

Looks pretty cool. But for the price I would do a Ready Welder.

Except the Trex is self-contained and packable.

[FourbangerYJ]

Except the Trex is self-contained and packable.

True. But the RW comes in a smaller package. Just need to hook up the batteries. I am sure it weighs less too since there is no batteries.

If I read the review looks like the Trex can be plugged in to a 110V and ran that way? If that is the case that is a plus if you want a welder for home and the trail.

The RW is way cheaper. You can buy a couple of deep cycle batteries and a couple of chargers and have a home welder. That is what I did. Used it for a few years around the house before the Lincoln showed up.

[Jeffy]

True. But the RW comes in a smaller package. Just need to hook up the batteries. I am sure it weighs less too since there is no batteries.

If I read the review looks like the Trex can be plugged in to a 110V and ran that way? If that is the case that is a plus if you want a welder for home and the trail.

The RW is way cheaper. You can buy a couple of deep cycle batteries and a couple of chargers and have a home welder. That is what I did. Used it for a few years around the house before the Lincoln showed up.

It's only ligher because it doesn't have batteries but then it's a working standalone box.  You can't be lugging two or three batteries around with you.

Yes, you can use 110-120v as well.  I thought the RW had a 110-120v adapter available as well?

[FourbangerYJ]

If your wheeling you shouldn't be alone.  So you should have at least 2 batteries in the group.
I would toss my batteries in the Jeep to go to friends house to do welding. It's not that bad.

RW has a few models. I have not looked to see if they have one that will work on 110v. I know they have one that can work off of a stick welder in a shop.
If your thinking of a Trex for mostly home then bringing it wheeling it would be a fine machine. But the size of the unit and the extra weight for wheeling in a Jeep, I'd rather have the RW.

It's only ligher because it doesn't have batteries but then it's a working standalone box.  You can't be lugging two or three batteries around with you.

Yes, you can use 110-120v as well.  I thought the RW had a 110-120v adapter available as well?

[Jeffy]

If your wheeling you shouldn't be alone.  So you should have at least 2 batteries in the group.
I would toss my batteries in the Jeep to go to friends house to do welding. It's not that bad.

RW has a few models. I have not looked to see if they have one that will work on 110v. I know they have one that can work off of a stick welder in a shop.
If your thinking of a Trex for mostly home then bringing it wheeling it would be a fine machine. But the size of the unit and the extra weight for wheeling in a Jeep, I'd rather have the RW.

Nope, I don't think I'll get one but thought I would share.  I want a Millermatic first, I think.  Then maybe something for the Jeep, maybe.

[FourbangerYJ]

Nope, I don't think I'll get one but thought I would share.  I want a Millermatic first, I think.  Then maybe something for the Jeep, maybe.

For the money they are asking you can get a Miller 140 and a RW.

[Jeffy]

For the money they are asking you can get a Miller 140 and a RW.

I'd probably get the Millermatic 180 since I have 230v.  I hate getting something and then having to upgrade later.  I'd rather spend more up front.  One of these days, I'll buy one...

Thought it was interesting to see a completely portable welder available though.  Would be good for fixing stuff in remote areas or locations when you can't be dragging around 3 batteries behind you.

I was looking at the prices for the Premier Welder and those are expensive.  I think I saw they were around $1000.  More compact then a Ready Welder but that's just nuts.  There's also the Zena Welder but I've never come across anyone with one.

[neale_rs]

But isn't the Premier Power Welder just a DC power source with idle speed control?  You still end up stick welding, which could be done straight from a couple of  batteries.

[sharpxmen]

you can get a spool gun and have the same thing as a RW, only difference is that it doesn't have the box containing the disconnect to the gun (same as early models of RW) and the gas valve but that can be easily added. Cost is about $150 + the gas valve so with $200 tops you can have a ready welder like spool gun (if you use flux core wire then there's no need for the valve either).

[neale_rs]

Sharp,

What spool gun would you recommend for around $150?  I might just get one and a couple of batteries and start learning to weld.

[sharpxmen]

did a quick search on ebay and this came back at $143 with free shipping
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hot-Max-SPG-Spool-Gun-For-Hot-Max-MIG-Welders-/370638677325?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564bc9654d
or this one for a little more ($200) but it's a Lincoln and it comes with a hard plastic carrying case
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lincoln-Magnum-100SG-Spool-Gun-K2532-1-Brand-New-/360484158952?pt=BI_Welders&hash=item53ee87bde8

downside - there is no wire speed control (or maybe the Lincoln has one but i don't know to be honest) and you have to modify the gun to power the feed motor (should not be a big deal though but is not there out of the box). You'll also have to make sure you can power the wire feed motor from 24 volts, most likely yes but you'll have to doublecheck and it might require a voltage regulator (something like $10 worth of parts tops or just get one ready made, that would solve your wire feed speed as well if it has an external pot).

here's a link to the article describing the spool gun battery powered welding, he's explaining in Step 5 how to deal with the wire speed and powering the dc motor for the wire feed.
http://www.instructables.com/id/SpoolGun/

again this would work for flux core wire, if you want gas shielded welding you'll need to modify the hose end and hook up a solenoid valve activated by the trigger (via the control cable).

[neale_rs]

Thanks.  Lot's of good information in that last link. 

Even new, there are some that are not all that expensive:  http://www.millerwelds.com/products/wire_feeders/spoolmate_100_series/