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A delicate task like welding literally needs a perfect blend of precision, power, accuracy, and of course, safety. And guess what, all of these are either sourced or backed up from the generator for welder.
But, you know what, we’ve seen even experienced welders to put their hands on wrong generators. And obviously, they regret it more than anything else.
No offense, but we don’t want you to be one of them. And that’s the motive behind crafting this round-up review of the best generator for welding in the market.
In case you’ve found it promising so far, let’s get the ball rolling.
What Size Generator Do I Need To Run A Welder?
There’s no strict guideline on choosing a generator size to match a specific welder. But you can’t mismatch minimum specs for a certain outcome.
However, experts developed a rule of thumb to make recommendations. Check the following point to understand the fundamentals of generator size.
# Generators to provide 180A – 200A requires at least 8000W pull. But the ideal size remains 10000W for maximum performance.
# Generators to provide 250 Amps require at least 13,000W pull. And the ideal size remains 15,000W for maximum performance.
Editor’s Top Picks
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | TOMAHAWK 15 HP Engine Driven Portable |
| Check Price! |
 | Lincoln Electric, K2857-1, Engine Driven Welder |
| Check Price! |
 | Lincoln Ranger 330MPX Engine Welder |
| Check Price! |
Not every generator can meet the budget to support a commercial welder. That is where you need to figure out the best welder generator combo for your business & home. You should check the following options to meet both ends towards absolute satisfaction.
1. Best For Stick Welding – TOMAHAWK Engine Driven Portable Generator
Key factors
- Steady welding inverter technology.
- Excellent on-site welding versatility.
- Fully uninterrupted power supply.
- Exact suitability for 6010 – 7024 rods.
- Integration of never-go-flat wheels.
About The Product
Tomahawk TWG210A incorporates sufficient engine power with great mechanical endurance. The device stands to meet your job requirements almost anywhere at any time. Matching specs of built-in parts deliver continued welding support without flaws.
What Welder is Perfect for This Generator?
It’s indeed an ideal choice for CC (Constant Current) stick welding. The power-on output greatly suffices farms as well as construction sites.
Why we love the TOMAHAWK Engine-Driven Generator
- Engine Type – The assembly features a 15HP inverter to enable steady welding service. Completely clean yet uninterrupted power ensures stabilized amperage. Again, engine displacement counts 420cc to clinch the specs.
- Current Output – Rated 210 Amps at 120V delivers 2000W of DC output. It also supports a limited number of tools to require on-site power. Even the singular outlet comes with 120V support. However, the surging Amp rating remains 50A for the device.
- Welding Ability – Versatile welding prevails for the best quality welder generator combo to support TIG, MMA & Stick welds. Necessary power checks its suitability for 6010 rods up to 7024 rods. And you can easily settle for 1/3”, 1/4” & 3/8” welds.
- Weight & Portability – Total weight is 154 pounds with its filled 7-gallon fuel tank. Built-in turning knob with an electric reader lets you set the precise amperage. The bottom accommodates wheels of 8” size for easy movement.
Why we did not like this generator
- Startup Issues – The electric startup key may cause trouble while in use. Chances are not exactly negligible with the design.
- Included Cable – Factory-provided cable may appear short to reach the outlet. Users can consider buying a longer cable.
2. Best For TIG Welding – Lincoln Electric, K2857-1, Engine Driven Welder
Key factors
- Extremely high generator power.
- Reasonably compact from the exterior.
- Total enclosure for full protection.
- Variable welding thickness support.
- No requirement for electric outlets.
About the Product
The intended combo from the Ranger series is indeed a monster to accomplish the tasks. Superb power on output comes with the necessary specs to support the action. But the gas-powered design may not suffice as an environmental-friendly application.
What Welder is Perfect for This Generator?
TIG welders take the first place to go with the top-quality welder generator combo. Also, you can patch MIG as well as Flux-Core welding to some extent.
Why we love the Lincoln Engine-Driven Welder
- 9000W Power – It features a powerful 23HP Kohler engine to possess 4-cycle, 2-cycle spec. And it generates 9000W continuous power on the output. However, the peak output rates 10,500W on essential calls.
- Welding Amperage – The output amperage continues from 50A to reach a maximum of 225A. It enables the DC output to remain smooth for a broad stick electrode range. But the welding thickness tends to vary, coinciding with the amperage.
- Duty Cycle – Even the duty cycle stands somewhat versatile with the design. You’ll get 225Amp/25V DC output at 40% with the cycle. But it becomes 100% for 210Amp/25 as well as 200Amp/25V.
- Extended Uses – K2857-1 can power TIG, Flux-Core & MIG welders on steel/stainless steel sheets. Also, you can operate tools, lights & plasma cutters with the generator. For the best part, it can even backup your home utility during blackouts.
Why we did not like this generator
- Lack of Parts – Parts like leads are missing with the package. The gas-powered unit takes extra purchases for completing its assembly.
- Heavyweight – Overall assembly nearly weighs about 563 pounds in total. Even the bottom wheels can’t exactly make it highly portable.
3. Best For Continuous Power – Lincoln Ranger 330MPX Engine Welder Generator K3459-1
Key factors
- Smaller footprint for space coverage.
- Improved productivity with precision.
- Generation of clean power on the output.
- Advanced technological mechanism.
- Digital user interface for simple uses.
About The Product
Minimalistic design gets to hold superb power with the intended Ranger device. And its modern physical specs matched the imposed advancement for action. You can pave the way for attending maximum accuracy in welding tasks.
What Welder is Perfect for This Generator?
The K3459-1 explicitly suits streamlined welding operations. And you get to consider maintenance construction & service truck applications.
Why we love the Lincoln Ranger Welder Generator
- Boosting Technique – Good number of technologies adorn the hardware for the absolute outcome. The list includes Weld ArcFx, Cross Linc & Chopper. Meanwhile, the built-in Performance Boost tech pushes the output power.
- Quiet Action – It holds 20% less footprint with 25% reduced weight than others. And the mechanism checks a 60% decrease in operational sound. There’s no need to worry about extreme annoyance or distraction at the workplace.
- Continuous Power – The topmost welder generator combo pulls 10,000W input for intended tasks. And it’s plenty of power to treat permitted metal sheets. Improved efficiency supports streamline welding with minimalistic flaws.
- Duty Cycle – Actual duty cycle rates 330Amp/28V at 100% with the good welder generator combo. It powers the welder to impose ¼” on 7018 electrodes. Additional Spool gun Arc checks gouging up to 3/16” on carbon electrodes.
Why we did not like this generator
- Minimal Details – Specs are available with minimal details to explain the unit. You must contact the manufacturer’s support for confirmation.
- Extra Purchase – Not all the essential features are included in the package. And it calls for additional expense on items like leads or cables.
Buying Guide to the Best Welder Generator Combo
It’s not an easy task to find the ultimate option from hundreds of choices. However, you can’t afford to invest in a useless, costly or irrelevant one. That’s where you need to consider the following info to reach the welder generator combo.
1. Power Output
Of course, absolute working satisfaction comes with sufficient power output. And you should check at least 200Amp with a 120V rating. It’s important to ensure consistency on settings to support additional devices.
2. What About Fuel?
Fuel capacity remains one heavily underrated point regarding the welder generator combo. However, its tank capacity should match the power output specs. Don’t miss any specified feature like gauge or mark for inspection.
3. Duty Cycle Specs
It’s one term to define the mechanical efficiency of welding capability. It’s a crucial criterion to retain the welding precision without overloading. The duty cycle should stand close to 100% in a reasonable setting.
4. Generator Power
Engine-driven generators dominate the market with a wide range of power specs. You should check 2000W for minimal & 8000W – 10000W for standard uses. Of course, the right pull requires your intended welding type.
5. The Steadiness
The thing that welders hate most is shaky amperage from the generator. Therefore, check it deep about the amperage capacity, and the engine type of generators. Usually, inverter engines are more likely to provide steady delivery.
6. Diversity of Welding Compatibility
Not all of the generators are meant to execute all sorts of welding chores. No matter if you go for anything among Mig, Tig, Flux-core, Fusion, etc, make sure your preferred generator comes with that particular feature to support the chore.
7. Portability and Compactness
Although it’s not something technical, once you get to work on a remote site, you have to carry the welding generator with you. If the weight is too high, or the size is too large, it’s going to be a real hard nut to crack. Also, check for portability assistance like wheels or so.
8. Protection
By ‘Protection’ we can address both electrical protection and external protection. For the first one, check for a safety circuit breaker or overload protection. And for the second one, try to end up with a compact, sealed, and protected generator body. In the end, these are the features that will ensure the longevity of your generator.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: Can a welder be used as a generator?
Answer: Almost all major welder generators can serve as stand-alone generators. It should save space, hassle, consumption & money. However, the application particularly suffices diesel welder generator combos, not gas-powered ones.
Question: How many watts does a welder pull?
Answer: Different welders pull a distinctive amount of power to generate the output. And the range is somewhat wide due to interdependent part specs. But practical ones within budget should check 200A up to 225A against 2000W up to 10000W.
Question: Can you run a TIG welder off a generator?
Answer: The answer remains uncertain with individual welder suitability criteria. Some models can support TIG welding with generators at lower amperage settings. It’s important to confirm the usability before attempting the task by yourself.
Bottom Line
Alright, we are at the dead bottom of our welder generator reviews today. Although it was brief, we hope that this listing has been helpful for you to pick up the best generator for welding and beyond.
The last buying advice we’ll leave you with is, to keep a sharp eye on the price-quality ratio. Don’t end up investing after some expensive features that you don’t need in practice at all. Rest assured; you can definitely rely on any of the picks from this listing that we’ve made.
Happy welding!
