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PTO Generator/welder or Hobart?

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structures View Drop Down
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Joined: 28 Feb 2011
Location: Beggs, OK
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote structures Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: PTO Generator/welder or Hobart?
    Posted: 31 Mar 2024 at 11:44am
Looking for opinions.  For a few years I've been wanting to buy a used diesel welder/generator or something like a Hobart 10k watt gen/welder.  But the Hobart is now $5200 at Tractor Supply.  Lately I've been thinking about maybe getting a Harbor Freight 15k PTO generator and maybe running a Lincoln tombstone welder off that.  ~$2500.  I'd be powering with my Allis 170 perkins diesel.  What do you all do for remote welding and generator backup?

I can weld remotely but it's a 6500 watt generator and a small 220v mig.  I'd rather stick, especially outside in the wind.
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DMiller View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DMiller Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2024 at 12:29pm
Had a Gasoline powered Thermalarc Predator, great welder but Heavy and was always chasing Bad Fuel issues.  Cousin has a Purchased Used Miller Diesel powered Trailblazer, runs it seldom enough pumps the fuel out until nearly empty before putting away as algaes out so bad over time.  Six of one half dozen the other.  BTW he paid close to $8500 for his used.  Am at the point going to buy a Whole House LP generator, not incorporating Auto Start.  Will have its own independent fuel tank.  

Portable welder, likely buy a Bobcat used and convert to LP or drain gas every chance I get.
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Lars(wi) View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lars(wi) Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2024 at 12:37pm
If given the chance, a pto generator with a welder plugged into that would be my option. It gives you the opportunity to ‘exercise’ the generator, that way it’s ready any time power outage happens. And you can use any tractor that’s handy, and not worry about stale/bad fuel.
I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KJCHRIS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2024 at 4:11pm
A tractor, PTO gen & an AC powered welder is all it takes to make a good portable welder setup. 
 
AC 200, CAH, AC185D bareback, AC 180D bareback, D17 III, WF. D17 Blackbar grill, NF. D15 SFW. Case 1175 CAH, Bobcat 543B,
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote klinemar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2024 at 4:34pm
The pto generator with Lincoln welder is all I have ever had for 40 years. I have run the Winpower 25kw generator with e everything from a D-17 to a 185 Allis. Actually welds better than on Power Company service.
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Clay View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Clay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2024 at 4:38pm
I made a trailer for my 40 kilowatt PTO Katolight generator.  Made a provision to haul my AC welder.  Works great when building fence in the pasture or a down piece of equipment.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DaveKamp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 2024 at 9:39pm
I have four 'portable' welder-generators, I use NONE of them for backup power, because I've got a generator shed with generators specifically for that purpose. 

One portable is on a specially-made pallet that holds welding rods, gloves, shields, 4" grinder, a fire extinguisher, water sprayer, oxyacetylene torch rig, and floodlights... USUALLY it's sitting inside the shop door, and if I need to move it around the shop with a pallet jack,  it easy.  If I need it in the driveway, I pick and carry it with the Hyster H50H.  If I need to go out into a field, or somewhere else of questionable terrain, I put forklift attachment on the D17 and drop a pin through the forks, so it cannot slide off... and away I go.  If I need to go further, I can fork it onto a trailer, or a pickup truck.

I have a 4cyl 10kw gasoline welder/generator mounted on the bed of my loader-crane truck.  It doesn't power the crane's hydraulics (but I've considered it), but if I want to reach out and use the hoisting drum, the boom lighting, or some power tool, it works great for that.  If I need to reach out and weld something, I use the crane boom to support the welding cables, rather than having to tie them off somewhere to keep from pulling me away from the work.

My trailer-mounted unit is a Miller Bobcat, it will do CC and CV, I have a wire feeder and a gas bottle rack, along with stick leads.  I don't have a scratch-start TIG torch on it (yet)...

The smallest welder-generator is a V-twin Honda powered machine that is hard-pressed to melt a medium 7018 rod... so just keep it to a minimum.

PTO generators are handy when you've got a farm emergency (like a poultry building that lost power to ventilators)... but for emergency power in an outage, I wouldn't do that, on account that a tractor running the PTO is incredibly fuel-inefficient... and you'll be carrying fuel cans for anything more than a few hours.

My backup generators (there's 4) are all fed propane from a pair of 1000 gal tanks... I pick my generator SIZE based on anticipated load.  Under very light loads, I'll be running a 2kw Onan.  Add more (like cooking with microwave, or frequent sump pump cycling during rain) I'll start the 4kw Kohler 4cyl.  I can bring up a 6.5kw four cylinder to get a little more 'headroom' (like microwave oven, dishwasher, air conditioner)... or if we really need it (i.e., baking, clothes dryer, running my machine tools, welding, etc) , I'll start the big six-cylinder Kato and run the whole danged farm... but running a really big engine for a very light electrical load is a significant waste of fuel...
Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest.
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