Additional complexity reduces reliability, smart choice. thanks for your videos. I started a small mobile welding business two years ago, built a dedicated trailer rig. Getting to the point that I need a dedicated welding truck. Wish you well
Very interesting concept on that I didn't think about that. I didn't even know that the Trailblazer was an inverter welder. I guess my next one will be also a 250 bobcat. I don't have room for electronics. Nice video
It's smart you're fine running your main truck as the F150. Most people I see purposely run a heavy truck to be the "coolest". Better off to be practical like you Derb, and run the truck that makes sense, and save the F350 for when it's needed. Same view as the Trailblazer vs Bobcat. Just run the Hobart Champion/Bobcat for most things, and get 1 trailblazer on one of your trucks I nthe future, for that off chance you need it. It's just more practical that way. Good work.
Nice machine man! I bought a used Bobcat to make repairs to my equipment and fabricate. All the people I asked what they thought about the Bobcat told me I needed a Trail Blazer to weld on heavy equipment. I decided not to listen to what they were saying and went for the Bobcat couldn't be happier with it!
I am for the first time really putting effort into building my side gig to a real job. I really want to get the trailblazer but you sold me with a lot of good points. Bobcat it is
Great video with plenty of useful information. I own both the Trailblazer and Bobcat units for the exact reason you do: Simplicity. My Bobcat 250EFI is a backup unit. I can throw it in my backup F250, or my 6×6 Polaris if necessary. I love my Trailblazer and all of it's capabilities, but you have to have a reliable backup. Keep up the good work young man!
You should put jump leads on your battery coming out of the box with Anderson plugs on it. That way you can easily jump it without removing the back. Or do a line to the truck battery with a kill switch so you can temporarily connect it to the truck battery with a push of a button. That way you can also jump the truck off the welder.
@@frenzy3304 you think they’re any good? I’m looking at lincolns, millers and hobarts. I’d just be doing small side jobs and welding pipe coupons at home to shake off the rust when need be.
I love Lincolns that plug in the wall but their portables are lacking. Miller is the number one portable by far... but that's not saying Lincolns are bad, they are good welders. I have a new Forney mig in the shop that is impressing me more and more!
Just a side thought talking about the accidents... you should really consider and inland marine or some other insurance for your tools. I carry an extra rider on my general liability policy for just that reason. I agree that simple has an advantage... I ran the Miller Legend AEAD LE 200 for the first five years I was in business. Miller tech support walked me through repairs on it over the phone... and it was more than 20 years old at the time. You really can't beat the product Miller puts out. I had to sell the Legend when I bought the new Trailblazer.... even though I didn't want to. Sometimes I miss the simplicity of the Legend, but at the same time, the digital does make life easier in many ways.... Whenever the time comes to look at the next new welder look into the EFI and the excel power... it's nice to run tools without the engine screaming.
I had a bobcat and a 12vs feeder. Now I have a ‘85 Lincoln sa250. Miss the generator capabilities but when you light up a 3/16 8010 or 8018 the bobcat is begging you to go drink a wobble pop after a couple of hours while the old Lincoln just wants a drink at 12 hrs. Loved the bobcat but it’s not a hammer down machine.
I will say Lincoln’s are better in some ways miller’s are better in others, I like Miller for mig welding, a Lincoln for stick, and rig they are about equal
That thing looks like a nice machine man. I'm hoping I can get one here in the next year. right now I don't "really" need one. I'm still running the 210MP and some fronius machines off a generator along with The old Sa200 but it would be nice to have a bigger genset and possibly an air compressor in one machine.
Nice machine, I have the Lincoln ranger 250 gxt which is about same machine but the Lincoln has a remote output for tig,,or stick and that's what sold me
Derb I use a regular 3 prong 220 plug on that same plug off my trailblazer. Just have to spread the prongs just a little bit. I run my plasma off it pretty often. all the 4th prong is is a ground
I don't really have a preference Lincoln to Miller, used several of both companies and liked both companies pretty equally. Don't really like Hobart so much. My current personal welder is a Lincoln eagle probably one of the simplest of engine driven welders. Wished it had more settings and options on it but welds pretty darn good. Only thing that bothers me is if it sits too long without usage then i need to do an oil change just to make it worth
This is just what is needed for partial rv backup. Operates the ac and stuff perfectly. ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y is quieter than my rv generator. Only suggestion is that it needs a fuel shutoff valve. So it is easier to store.
Any comparisons or experience between running an older welder like an sa200 or sae300 Lincoln with a dc output from a generator for arc quality compared to the Bobcat 250 with dc rectifiers or an inverted welder like a trailblazer? I have seen videos where weldors prefer the vintage welders over the new technology.
Hey bud, I have a miller bobcat 225g plus, I run my miller xtreme 8vs Arc reach off of it. The only way the 8vs will run at full power is if I use it on the (stick) mode + or - depending on if I'm doing Solid, Flux or dual shield. The 8vs only runs nice on CC. I thought I could run it on the (wire) setting on the bobcat but it hardly welds I have to crank bobcat to max volts and around 600ipm for the weld to look decent. 8vs welds like crap on CV no matter what setting I have on bobcat. 8vs welds like a dream on CC on stick mode on the bobcat. How do you run it? Thank you.
If got work on the bobcat and the Lincoln . Every day . You know . I’d buy Miller over Lincoln any day . I just don’t like have to work on the red Lincoln . The coding paint on the generator starts flaking off after a while . On the Lincoln.
Yeah. People around here do it all the time. You never see anything bigger than a Trailblazer here in NC. Any DC welder with infinite arc control can weld pipe. Some machines do it better than others but you dont need a sa200/pipeliner machine to weld pipe.
@@derbadortheweldor8940 awesome man thanks for the advice I was just curious about how the different smaller engine driven welders like the Lincoln 250s and the Miller 250s or the 225 series welders and how they weld pipe as well , I know the sa200 and pipe pros are really awesome I was just wondering though awesome welding content too 👍🏽
Derb, good day, i am interested in buying a used bobcat 250 used in the US. Please what are the common problems the machine has given you please. If there is anyone else with this information, please kindly share.
my miller bobcat was a piece of shit. i bought it for 3500 it was a 2014 bought in 2017 welded with it for one week and sold it for 3600 the week later it welded like crap looked like whipping 6010 while welding 7018 and ive been welding for 40 years. had a miller 300 pro diesil welder wich burnt in the fort macmurray alberta fire in 2016 so i built a tow behind trailer with a 302 efi trailblazer wich is 10 times the pos bobcat. if your a farmer the bobcat will do the job. if you want to get serious about welding do not bye a bobcat. im not being a smart ass here im just talking from experianse.
@@derbadortheweldor8940 , just saying. You spoke of liking basic. SA200 is basic . I do have many machines, the SA 200, a 300D , Miller pipe pro, trailblazer and Ranger 250. Plus my everlast machines . Keep going man. But I’d recommend ya look on the sites like Purple wave auctions. Get ya a used welding truck or service truck that can handle the weight.
I've got a 74 f350 if I get a bigger machine. Right now I would never buy a truck newer than 85. My personal opinion is everything after 85 is just fancy looking over complicated junk. If I get a bigger machine I would get a Bigblue40 or vantage300. In my work ac power is essential. The DC power only on the sa200 is a deal breaker for me.
I have to say sorry in advance but you really need to do some more research you want a simple machine you need to buy rangers your splatter cat is garbage so many people buy bobcats and sell them off
I have to strongly disagree on that. I've been told by people who have ran both that the ranger is inferior to the bobcat. I know people who have the Bobcats with 5k+ hours only thing done to it was brushes and basic maintenance.
@@derbadortheweldor8940 and I own rangers and have many hours on them and also run beside other guys who run bobcats and they can't stand them trailblazers are good bobcats usually dissapoint
@@douga9253 I have my own welding business I started from nothing I have owned or currently own or have used more welding equipment than most people ever see I like the guy but he's stating facts that simply are not true bobcats weld like crap FACT they are not as simple as lincoln machines FACT it's called constructive criticism or constructive conversation
Nice addition to the welding truck man! Been cool to see your business grow over the last couple years!! Great work!!
Additional complexity reduces reliability, smart choice. thanks for your videos. I started a small mobile welding business two years ago, built a dedicated trailer rig. Getting to the point that I need a dedicated welding truck. Wish you well
Very interesting concept on that I didn't think about that. I didn't even know that the Trailblazer was an inverter welder. I guess my next one will be also a 250 bobcat. I don't have room for electronics. Nice video
always like your channel , and i have run them both , run a trailblazer for the past 3 years, i could never ever go back.
It's smart you're fine running your main truck as the F150. Most people I see purposely run a heavy truck to be the "coolest". Better off to be practical like you Derb, and run the truck that makes sense, and save the F350 for when it's needed.
Same view as the Trailblazer vs Bobcat. Just run the Hobart Champion/Bobcat for most things, and get 1 trailblazer on one of your trucks I nthe future, for that off chance you need it. It's just more practical that way. Good work.
Stand under your shop roof out of the rain too! Haha. Don't get all wet for a UA-cam video. I like the company clothes too. Very professional.
Nice machine man! I bought a used Bobcat to make repairs to my equipment and fabricate. All the people I asked what they thought about the Bobcat told me I needed a Trail Blazer to weld on heavy equipment. I decided not to listen to what they were saying and went for the Bobcat couldn't be happier with it!
I am for the first time really putting effort into building my side gig to a real job. I really want to get the trailblazer but you sold me with a lot of good points. Bobcat it is
Great video with plenty of useful information. I own both the Trailblazer and Bobcat units for the exact reason you do: Simplicity. My Bobcat 250EFI is a backup unit. I can throw it in my backup F250, or my 6×6 Polaris if necessary. I love my Trailblazer and all of it's capabilities, but you have to have a reliable backup. Keep up the good work young man!
You should put jump leads on your battery coming out of the box with Anderson plugs on it. That way you can easily jump it without removing the back. Or do a line to the truck battery with a kill switch so you can temporarily connect it to the truck battery with a push of a button. That way you can also jump the truck off the welder.
Never do that thats how you fry boards. If its dead do not jump start the machine, dont tie it to the truck system.
Yup,...found that out the hard way :(
As someone who repairs these, you got a good one. 250s are tried and true. Trailblazers are nice too, but Bobcats have proven their place.
Since you repair welders would you go for the Lincoln 250 gtx or the Miller 250?
@@michaelhuser964 Bobcat 250 hands down. We can’t keep the gtxs out of the shop here.
You have any experience with the Hobart Elite engine driven welder?
@@brandonhernandez9260 I do.
@@frenzy3304 you think they’re any good? I’m looking at lincolns, millers and hobarts. I’d just be doing small side jobs and welding pipe coupons at home to shake off the rust when need be.
I love Lincolns that plug in the wall but their portables are lacking. Miller is the number one portable by far... but that's not saying Lincolns are bad, they are good welders. I have a new Forney mig in the shop that is impressing me more and more!
Congratulations on the new addition!
Just a side thought talking about the accidents... you should really consider and inland marine or some other insurance for your tools. I carry an extra rider on my general liability policy for just that reason.
I agree that simple has an advantage... I ran the Miller Legend AEAD LE 200 for the first five years I was in business. Miller tech support walked me through repairs on it over the phone... and it was more than 20 years old at the time. You really can't beat the product Miller puts out. I had to sell the Legend when I bought the new Trailblazer.... even though I didn't want to. Sometimes I miss the simplicity of the Legend, but at the same time, the digital does make life easier in many ways....
Whenever the time comes to look at the next new welder look into the EFI and the excel power... it's nice to run tools without the engine screaming.
That’s a solid machine
I’m glad to see things are going well for you.
Love the 250.
I had a bobcat and a 12vs feeder. Now I have a ‘85 Lincoln sa250. Miss the generator capabilities but when you light up a 3/16 8010 or 8018 the bobcat is begging you to go drink a wobble pop after a couple of hours while the old Lincoln just wants a drink at 12 hrs. Loved the bobcat but it’s not a hammer down machine.
Love the welder logic at play here...I get in a car accident, I can just load my welder on another truck and go finish the job.
The difference between a welder who runs a Lincoln and a puppy...puppy will eventually quit whining.
This post will go on forever if we start Lincoln vs Miller, haha
I will say Lincoln’s are better in some ways miller’s are better in others, I like Miller for mig welding, a Lincoln for stick, and rig they are about equal
Difference between a guy who runs a Lincoln and a guy who runs Miller the guy who runs a Lincoln isn't a cookie-cutter
Been watching you a while. Glad you got you a miller. Keep up the good work.
You can get a reactor stabilizer for a bobcat 260 and put on a Hobart champion elite with the bobcat selector switch and have a miller bobcat 260.
HELL YEAH BROTHER. Nice simple welder is the way to go
Great content man I hope one day I can be at the same point you are and running my own welding rig thank you got all the information
You can stick weld aluminum with your AC function or get in to AC tig later on. Very nice option to have!
Have one of those at work and it’s bulletproof, they ever upgrade I’m taking that sucker home and putting a gas conversion kit on it
All generators have that damn rv style 220 plug. Wish it were the standard welder output
Bro, just say sine wave. Haha, just kidding but do it! I only use AC.. I love the smell, the sound, and noooooo arc blow!
That's the 1st engine drive I bought...and sold
@JohnnyRingo to pay for a divorce...and I'd do it again
That thing looks like a nice machine man. I'm hoping I can get one here in the next year. right now I don't "really" need one. I'm still running the 210MP and some fronius machines off a generator along with The old Sa200 but it would be nice to have a bigger genset and possibly an air compressor in one machine.
Hi man, I was just wondering what made you decide the bobcat over the Hobart 260 other than AC power? Love the videos btw
but but... the 260 is rugged and does work... Oo
Derb another great video looks like a great machine should work excellent for what you’re wanting to do keep up the great videos
I kept thinking that my neighbor got a new loud ass dog or something towards the middle lol.
Nice machine, I have the Lincoln ranger 250 gxt which is about same machine but the Lincoln has a remote output for tig,,or stick and that's what sold me
love the ole ford i have 77 super cab my son beengoing to weilding school if he completes school ill get him this weileer thanks for info
Couldn’t agree with u more I LOVE my bobcat 250
Derb I use a regular 3 prong 220 plug on that same plug off my trailblazer. Just have to spread the prongs just a little bit. I run my plasma off it pretty often. all the 4th prong is is a ground
Think of that Chart as making a blank useful. I have had 3 different receptacle types in that slot in the 8 years I've had mine.
I was side swiped in the rig bobcat worked fine after being hit but my old school Bobcat 225
Nice welder young man! That is my kind of equipment if I could afford it, that being not over techy and just straight basic and reliable!
Nice welder hope you get a lot of years out of it I got a 225nt bobcat it's been a good machine
As nerdy as I am and I love technology there's nothing as nice as analog switches/knobs with good clicks.
Hell yea bro congratulations
Can you connect a 4 prong to a 3 prong extension cord to connect a 220 MiG welder From that 240 outlet ? And if so can you do a video showing it ?
That IS a nice machine...but that water on the air cleaner cover...screams BUY A COVER...still congratulations you are growing.
Great video, it really helped me decide which engine drive I wanted to go with.
I don't really have a preference Lincoln to Miller, used several of both companies and liked both companies pretty equally. Don't really like Hobart so much. My current personal welder is a Lincoln eagle probably one of the simplest of engine driven welders. Wished it had more settings and options on it but welds pretty darn good. Only thing that bothers me is if it sits too long without usage then i need to do an oil change just to make it worth
Gotta love the bobcat. I have the same machine
I love my bobcat! Just hit 100 hours:)
Dura la maquina
This is just what is needed for partial rv backup. Operates the ac and stuff perfectly. ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y is quieter than my rv generator. Only suggestion is that it needs a fuel shutoff valve. So it is easier to store.
Any comparisons or experience between running an older welder like an sa200 or sae300 Lincoln with a dc output from a generator for arc quality compared to the Bobcat 250 with dc rectifiers or an inverted welder like a trailblazer? I have seen videos where weldors prefer the vintage welders over the new technology.
Weld On, Derbador!
Cool. I’m gonna be buying a machine here before long. And I’m debating between the Lincoln or miller 250’s.
Hey bud, I have a miller bobcat 225g plus, I run my miller xtreme 8vs Arc reach off of it. The only way the 8vs will run at full power is if I use it on the (stick) mode + or - depending on if I'm doing Solid, Flux or dual shield. The 8vs only runs nice on CC. I thought I could run it on the (wire) setting on the bobcat but it hardly welds I have to crank bobcat to max volts and around 600ipm for the weld to look decent. 8vs welds like crap on CV no matter what setting I have on bobcat. 8vs welds like a dream on CC on stick mode on the bobcat. How do you run it? Thank you.
Simple on the jobsite thanks for the review. Stay safe
Can you send a link for an adapter for to plug in a mig gun ? Thanks
If got work on the bobcat and the Lincoln . Every day . You know . I’d buy Miller over Lincoln any day . I just don’t like have to work on the red Lincoln . The coding paint on the generator starts flaking off after a while . On the Lincoln.
Could you do a bobcat vs champion elite comparison video
I would like to see a video from you to how to do tig welding whit this machine 👍👍
And you never fire it up. What the eff kind of review were you providing if you don't even fire it up, let alone weld with it. Ugh.
It’s a first impression review read the title Ugh
Do you still have the Hobart champion?
Dude! I want one! How well does it handle carbon arc gouging?
These are showing discontinued now and replaced by the Trailblazer.
Can you do a maintence video for the 250 when you can. I just bought one last week as well
Make a video on setting up your suitcase with the bobcat
If you had Lincoln's on the back of your trucks, you'd have to run red trucks.....
Question.. why do you have a gooseneck hitch on the 350 when you have boxes, a welder and a crane in the swing area?
I love my 250 efi but hate the kohler it came with. It has leaked oil since day one. Kohler motors are always junk, should've bought a diesel
Can you tig weld aluminum with that machine? It’s got ac and you can swap the leads too can’t you? Thanks for any info man.
good for you
Is it ok that thing's left out in the rain?
Does it have arc control ?? Like crisp and soft like the Lincoln 250 ? Badass miller tho 👍🏽
It doesn't and it appears the current ranger 250 doesn't have it anymore
@@derbadortheweldor8940 the older 90s ranger 250 had the arc force which I liked a lot the newer ones don’t have it which sucks
Hello Kitty!
Nice machine, hope it doesn’t have a Koehler engine? Good luck with it.
That's all they come with now. The Kohler is a pretty good engine at least the current generation of them.
Heads up those fuel gauges dont work... trust me dont go by that, mine runs out of fuel when the gauge reads half a tank...
Do you know why the 250 was discontinued?
Basically analog vs digital usually analog wins when the digital gives out but would you weld some pipe with your machine?
Hell yeah I would. They welded pipe with the sa200 for many years that runs on the same exact principle.
@@derbadortheweldor8940 can you run some pipe welds on your Miller 250? Root and cap?
Yeah. People around here do it all the time. You never see anything bigger than a Trailblazer here in NC. Any DC welder with infinite arc control can weld pipe. Some machines do it better than others but you dont need a sa200/pipeliner machine to weld pipe.
@@derbadortheweldor8940 awesome man thanks for the advice I was just curious about how the different smaller engine driven welders like the Lincoln 250s and the Miller 250s or the 225 series welders and how they weld pipe as well , I know the sa200 and pipe pros are really awesome I was just wondering though awesome welding content too 👍🏽
Derb, good day, i am interested in buying a used bobcat 250 used in the US. Please what are the common problems the machine has given you please. If there is anyone else with this information, please kindly share.
I got one already. It is a great machine to have. But the batter keeps running down. Can anyone help please.
Did you paint the Hobart blue?
How on earth do these welder's wire weld? Do you need a spool gun or what
It’s a power source for a suitcase feeder.
You can pipeline in Alberta now
where can I get a wiring schematics
Can this bad boy TIG weld Titanium without a generator and weld Pipe? Say 6” SCH 10 carbon Steel?
I don't have experience with either so I can't say
It doesn’t weld as good as the trailblazer
A matter of opinion. It can be set to weld just like the trailblazer if you know what your doing.
Sweet
How would the tig and mig option work on this welder?
👍
Do you still have the SA-200 ?
And forget ac tig even with the box ur machine has no remote for foot pedal control so about worthless, why I got the Lincoln 250 gxt over miller
Lincoln Blackface alday long!
Until you need CV or ac power
I now own a red face sa200. It welds great but still can’t beat the features on my bobcat.
DAMMIT BOI!!!!! 13.02😔😔😔😭😭😭😭 that wuz funny.
Proves all that junk is a royal pain in the ass and really not necessary
Nice machine, buts it no Lincoln SAE 300. J/k...sorta haha.
nice welder i run a 575 vantage you boys cant get them built in oz
having AC will let you Tig aluminum if you get an arc pig.
I've honestly thought about getting another arc pig and trying it
my miller bobcat was a piece of shit. i bought it for 3500 it was a 2014 bought in 2017 welded with it for one week and sold it for 3600 the week later it welded like crap looked like whipping 6010 while welding 7018 and ive been welding for 40 years. had a miller 300 pro diesil welder wich burnt in the fort macmurray alberta fire in 2016 so i built a tow behind trailer with a 302 efi trailblazer wich is 10 times the pos bobcat. if your a farmer the bobcat will do the job. if you want to get serious about welding do not bye a bobcat. im not being a smart ass here im just talking from experianse.
You need an SA200 Lincoln
I'm not spending 3k to 4k on a used machine that could break tomorrow and cost a fortune to fix. I'll stick with my new Hobart and Millers.
@@derbadortheweldor8940 , just saying. You spoke of liking basic. SA200 is basic . I do have many machines, the SA 200, a 300D , Miller pipe pro, trailblazer and Ranger 250. Plus my everlast machines . Keep going man. But I’d recommend ya look on the sites like Purple wave auctions. Get ya a used welding truck or service truck that can handle the weight.
I've got a 74 f350 if I get a bigger machine. Right now I would never buy a truck newer than 85. My personal opinion is everything after 85 is just fancy looking over complicated junk. If I get a bigger machine I would get a Bigblue40 or vantage300. In my work ac power is essential. The DC power only on the sa200 is a deal breaker for me.
Man love it but how about a new truck? I mean no offense.
Why? They don't make anything better than what I already have.
Can you do work in Texas
If the customer is paying the trip charge for me to drive there then yes
I have to say sorry in advance but you really need to do some more research you want a simple machine you need to buy rangers your splatter cat is garbage so many people buy bobcats and sell them off
I have to strongly disagree on that. I've been told by people who have ran both that the ranger is inferior to the bobcat. I know people who have the Bobcats with 5k+ hours only thing done to it was brushes and basic maintenance.
@@derbadortheweldor8940 and I own rangers and have many hours on them and also run beside other guys who run bobcats and they can't stand them trailblazers are good bobcats usually dissapoint
@@douga9253 I have my own welding business I started from nothing I have owned or currently own or have used more welding equipment than most people ever see I like the guy but he's stating facts that simply are not true bobcats weld like crap FACT they are not as simple as lincoln machines FACT it's called constructive criticism or constructive conversation
@@douga9253 like I said I've ran and owned or currently own a lot of different machine
@@adamleonard8904 right 🙄 so what your saying is those “FACTS” as you put it are really your opinion. You made my point for me, good luck pal 😂