Best Welder Generator Review

Welding isn’t always done inside fabrication shops. In many cases, a welder has to take their equipment somewhere to do repair, maintenance, or construction. However, regular welders don’t work without a power source. This is when a welder generator comes handy. This piece of equipment combines a generator and a welder in one machine. Basically, it’s a welder powered by gas or diesel. 

With the number of welder generators available, choosing the best one for your welding machine can be tricky. In this article, we will explore some of the most trusted welder generators on the market. 

Lincoln Electric Ranger 305G Multiprocess Welder/Generator

This is like a multi-purpose machine that can do stick or TIG. You can certainly take it outdoors for pipe repairs, and it will work just fine, providing enough power for you to perform your tasks. It comes with a 12-gallon gas tank (it doesn’t use diesel). A full tank allows the machine to work for 12-14 hours, providing 9500 watts of power, almost twice the amount of power generated by standard generators. 

Expect smooth welds with this machine, which uses the Lincoln “Chopper” technology. As mentioned earlier, it’s a versatile machine that can weld steel, stainless steel, and cast iron. You can do stick welding on 5/32” thick materials. 

Two main downsides to this unit is its size. It’s 42.3” x 21.5” x 36”. Most users find it bulky. It’s also one of the most expensive welder generators. Then again, that’s what you pay for the power this machine packs. Many users swear by this machine, saying this is one of the most reliable welder generators they’ve ever used. 

Lincoln Electric Ranger 330MPX Welder/Generator

Welders and generators are noisy machines. Imagine bringing them together in one unit. Some welder/generators roar too loud, and you need earmuffs when you’re around them.

The Ranger 330MPX welder/generator, however, cuts the noise down by 60%. Moreover, it brings with it tech improvements that make it a bit smaller and lighter than other welder generators. The low noise output and the portability of this machine make it a great choice for many people.

Perhaps, the digital interface comes as a bonus that enhances performance. 

Better performance means more productivity. This machine is no slouch. It has the Chopper easy start function. The same technology also allows for improved quality of beads as well as less spatter.

Giving you 10,000 watts of power, this beast is a heavy duty machine capable of the most demanding tasks. It packs a lot of power at 330 amps with a duty cycle of 100% (for welding 1/4”). It’s not so bad, isn’t it? 

Miller Bobcat 250 Welder/Generator

This machine rivals the Lincoln 305G as the top pick. That doesn’t come as a surprise, considering both brands create premium quality equipment. Like the Lincoln, the Miller Bobcat 250 welder/generator is absolute quality and thus a little on the expensive side, but its price is reasonable for its features.

This welder generator creates a stable current – no unwanted spikes in voltage, which are a problem with many generators. A stable current allows you to make accurate and consistent welds. 

This powerhouse has a duty cycle of 100% at 250 amps and provides 9500 watts of power. There’s no question that this machine can handle years of use (or abuse). Like many durable machines, the Bobcat 250 is a heavy piece of equipment. Although this model is smaller and lighter than its predecessors, it still is heavy at 501 pounds. 

Hobart Champion Elite 225 Welder/Generator

This welder generator packs the power of the Lincoln 305G at a cheaper price. It’s a little more like the 305 minus the “Chopper” tech.

The Hobart Champion Elite 225 Welder/Generator gives you 23 horsepower to use. If you think that’s not much, remember that most units only bestow around 15-20 horsepower.

This is a user-friendly machine that’s easy to set up and has 120V and 240V receptacles. It provides stable 11,000 watts of AC power. Although it’s made particularly for stick, flux core, and TIG welding, you can do DC welding with it. 

Tomahawk TWG210A 15HP Welder/Generator

We’re getting into the territory of budget welder generators, and these are for people who don’t want to spend $5000 for these kinds of machines. Buying cheaper equipment is sometimes the right option, and Tomahawk TWG210A 15HP proves this.

This is not one of the powerful welder generators out there. It only delivers 2000 watts of power, but you don’t always need high wattage generators. This is actually perfect for small farm work and light tasks you do occasionally. 

This inverter generator is efficient despite it not performing as good as traditional transformer generators. Nevertheless, the value you get from this machine is commendable for its price. It’s compatible with all welders. You can do MIG, stick, TIG, flux core, or MMA using this machine. This is a push button generator, so it’s easy to start. 

The TWG210A has a 7-gallon fuel capacity and is capable of around 7 hours of operation. It’s not stellar compared to the previous welder generators, but keep in mind this tool is less than $2000. On the other hand, it’s only 154 pounds. Way lighter than the previously mentioned generators, this one wins in portability. 

Conclusion 

Welder generators are great machines simply because they allow you to work anywhere. You don’t have to worry about the power supply availability.

A lot of professional welders, especially those who do a lot of outdoor work, want to own one. They can be a steep investment, though. Hence, choosing the right one is important. 

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