Crancker Box Welder

[kaneranch]

Hey guys getting ready to buy a cracker box welder for the barn but dont have a 220 hook up. Wanted to know if any of you guys have used a 110 cracker box and if it is worth getting a 220 hook up. Have a mig that is a 110 and is real handy because I can get and extension cord and take it any where I want. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks kane

 

[cfpinz]

Don't know how much trouble/$$$ it would take to get the 220 ran in your situation, but that's the route I'd be most interested in.

 

[1982vett]

Small gas powered generator/welder might be an option. Mine comes in handy for things you can't bring to the shop and I loaned it to my cousin when Ike put them out of power for a week.

 

[Jim62]

I second the gas powered welder/generator. I've had a Lincoln Ranger 8 for about 15 years, and it's been used a lot more as a generator than a welder. Really handy to have around.

 

[dun]

I looked into another welder for "portable" use a couple of years ago. Instead of buying another one I bought a 6500 watt generator. We use it for emergency power and when I need to weld or have elctricity away from an available source I just load it on a trailer and haul it to the site. If It's a welding job I put the welder on the trailer with it.
For inside the shop or near it, I put in a 100 foot 8 gauge spool of wire. One end connec5ted permanently to the breaker and the other end has the receptacle that matches both the welder and a 220 50a lead from the generator. I can move the welder anywhere in the shop or outside close by. For long term emergency power I put the generator under a leanto and unplug the welder and hook it to the generator. On the main service pole we have an isolation switch to take us off the grid when needed.

 

[cowsrus]

For stationary use, i would go ahead and wire for 220v unless its a really long run. I've got a cracker box Lincoln that i've had for 30yrs and they work really well. I think the 220v cracker box runs hotter than any 110v would