welder/generator.... backup generator...

been looking at getting a generator welder, or maybe a PTO driven generator, or maybe a diesel generator.....What is a decent used miller generator welder worth??? How much is a good PTO generator say 30 to 50 kW worth??? Been around these, but never priced 'em.... any input appreciated....

PTO ones were about $100 a Kilowatt they may have went up I bought a 60kw in June for $5700 brand new it recommends to hp per KW I dont know about the portable welder generators I know the little gase portable are about $800 for a 5800 watt if you have a tractor the PTO may be the way to go dont have to maintain another engine

I got a contractor generator, 6500 watt, that I use with my 220 volt Hobart handler welder. At 14 hp it handles welder well as well as a lot in the house when necessary. I already had welder, handles more on the houshold side than a welder/generator. Plus the peices are seperate makes moving easier. Down side I can't stick weld.

Just posted a question that you may have the answer to. I am looking at doing the same thing. Powering a Hobart 187 with a 5500 watt (6500 surge) generator.

What welder do you have? Any problems with popping the circuit breaker on the generator?

Also my generator has a twist lock connector for 220v. Any tips on configuring a cord to go from the twist lock to a normal 220 plug?

Mine is the handler 185. Our generator has 1 220 outlet and 2 110 30 amp outlets. When I bought the welder the first thing I did was cut the plug off and added our 220 twist lock plug that we use everywhere on the farm. It is for small 220 fans on bins, sweep augers, small unloading augers, grain cleaner. I figured that if a repair was necessary I would have a plug and cords handy. On the generator I removed one of the 30 amp 110 outlets and installed 220V 20A L-6 recepticle, so now the generator has our standard plug. I don't think we will ever miss the plug. It would have been easy to keep by knocking another hole in the case. This way I don't have to keep track of an adapter cord. If you do not have a standard plug yet for you welder you could make your cord sets 4 wire to fit your generator or welder. There would only be three wires on the welder cord, into a four wire plug. Our 6500 watt generator powers the welder nicely. I use a fairly long cord to keep the sparks away from the gas tank. I keep a 30 foot cord with the welder usually string it most of the way out. If it makes a difference I have always used shielding gas, but think flux core would work OK.