Wow! My neighbor is moving to Alaska, and doesn't want to take his welder with him. It's a Miller "Big 40" (40 volt, 300 amp 100% duty cycle) arc welder, powered by a continental 4 cylinder engine. It's mounted on a 9' gooseneck tandem axle (5000 lb axles) trailer, that he built specifically for the welder. It's got tool boxes for rods and leads storage on both sides. It runs and welds good, he rebuilt the carb on it over the winter. He has to go soon and he's offered it to me for $1500.
I know nothing about these welders, as I have always used a 135 amp MIG welder.
I guess my question is, is it a good buy?
I have a '57 C-4 PW with dually wheels on the back, no bed and no engine or transmission. I have been thinking about putting a 291 Desoto hemi V8 and 5 speed that I have in the truck and building a nice flatbed and installing the "BIG 40" along with a oxyacetylene system and my MIG in a tool box on the side. Sort of a mobile welding/cutting unit. I do just about all of my welding and cutting outside if possible, and lugging even that little MIG around is a hassle.
As for the trailer, I have been wanting a gooseneck to haul Power-Wagons and antique farm equipment I seem to collect (don't we all) with for a while. I figure I can put a 3rd 5000 lb axle on the trailer, and haul not only Power Wagons, but my old '59 AC D-14 with Sawnell loader and backhoe unit to the different events around my patch of dirt. Of course I would have to lengthen the trailer about 15'.
I may just be justifying the purchase to myself, but I will need a bigger welder than that 135 MIG to weld up the flatbed and trailer, and some other projects.
Your thoughts please.....
Jonas Smith
Ellensburg, WA
I know nothing about these welders, as I have always used a 135 amp MIG welder.
I guess my question is, is it a good buy?
I have a '57 C-4 PW with dually wheels on the back, no bed and no engine or transmission. I have been thinking about putting a 291 Desoto hemi V8 and 5 speed that I have in the truck and building a nice flatbed and installing the "BIG 40" along with a oxyacetylene system and my MIG in a tool box on the side. Sort of a mobile welding/cutting unit. I do just about all of my welding and cutting outside if possible, and lugging even that little MIG around is a hassle.
As for the trailer, I have been wanting a gooseneck to haul Power-Wagons and antique farm equipment I seem to collect (don't we all) with for a while. I figure I can put a 3rd 5000 lb axle on the trailer, and haul not only Power Wagons, but my old '59 AC D-14 with Sawnell loader and backhoe unit to the different events around my patch of dirt. Of course I would have to lengthen the trailer about 15'.
I may just be justifying the purchase to myself, but I will need a bigger welder than that 135 MIG to weld up the flatbed and trailer, and some other projects.
Your thoughts please.....
Jonas Smith
Ellensburg, WA
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