Welding - Off Grid

[smegballs]

So my off-grid system is capable to do pretty much most things: angle grind, drill, sander etc the one thing I'm missing is welding.

I would only need to weld occasionally and want either MIG or TIG for neatness and ease of use with small things. Currently have a smallish MIG but the inrush current would batter the the shit out of my 3kW inverter.

So what would be a good way to weld?

I have considered:

- Those modern TIG/Arc inverters: maybe they have less inrush current that old transformer welders

- Building/buying a biggish generator to hitch up to my tractors PTO and just running the current welder

- Going full hillbilly and gutting a MIG, running the motor spool and gas solenoids of the inverter, and using a few old car batteries (and steel bar to act as an resistor) to supply the current

[uberkron]

I arc weld with a pair of 500cca car batteries, the results are ok. I use a 1.2 mm rod with ease. A spool gun setup running from batteries works well I'm just waiting on a might to turn up for the conversion to cordless.

As for an inverter, yeah it will need a big rating to deal with welding.
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i ride a zip 50 2smoke. It overtakes a hundred times a day.

[smegballs]

[bugeye_bob]

What about brazing ?
No electricity required.

[G]

Another option is to get a specific welding generator - not sure if you get ones designed to run off a PTO, but sure you could adapt one anyway. (Actually, sure you can regarding the PTO, though may be expensive.)

[Pete.]

How much can you afford?

https://www.lorch.eu/en/solutions/innovations/battery-technology
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Rob Fzs]

Little inverter arc welder and a genny,

I just bought an inverter welder the size of a lunchbox off welding suppliers direct, and on another forum they were on about that you can now use them on cheapo generators, maybe give them a messege, i think they have live chat on their site now
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Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

[rhys99]

Why not just Oxyacetylene weld?
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[iwaldo]

If you've got a spare 2k give me a shout, I'm a Fronius dealer

https://www.fronius.com/cps/rde/xchg/SID-51D5272E-0886DF09/fronius_international/hs.xsl/79_29616_ENG_HTML.htm#.WGLnLIXXJPY
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MT-09 / YZF600R Thundercat '02

[dydey90]

Have a TIG welder at work that runs off 230v domestic plug. Absolute doddle to use, so I'm guessing it's a pricey one though.
Since the sockets are fused to 13A it can't possibly draw more than 3kW.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[kramdra]

Stand alone generator probably the most useful and portable option. Depends what you are welding. Arc is best for farm shittery, mig for everything else.

Get a spoolgun, they are under 20 quid delivered and the wire feed always sucks on a cheap mig. 12/24v soleniods are also cheap, no need to gut your existing set if you went with batteries.

TIG will use more power as it takes longer.