Will Wirefeeder work with ac/dc stick welder

[tynwood]

Am looking at buying a used mig wirefeeder can I use the DC side of my hobart ac/dc stick welder as a power supply? just curious and trying to save some money

[Mike Sherman]

Probably not. GMAW requires a Constant Voltage power supply and your DC SMAW machine is a Constant Current source.

[steelhanger]

add on feeder

tynwood; mike's answer, although technically correct, is some what misleading. add on feeders can be had which are voltage sensing, this means that the wire speed adjusts itself to the burn -off rate of the wire. what this means to you is that a controler is needed for the mig gun, or a unit with the control built in is needed. the hobart hefty( now made by thermal arc), and the lincoln ln 25 are two examples of the built in type. Of the external controler type , the miller 30-a spool gun is available with the 115a controler, which has a voltage sensing connection.
bottom line , up to $2000 for the built in feeder, about $1500 for the spoolgun with the controler. no free lunch.

[Mike Sherman]

Steelhanger is correct, again technically. I own several Lincoln Electric LN-25 machines and yes they do claim to operate on constant current. My personal opinion is that they are exagerating their claims somewhat. The quality of operation and the degree of difficulty involved with that setup is not worth the effort and I would never suggest someone spend money in that direction. Of course this is just my opinion and obviously someone is operating these "suitcase welders" on constant current. It just isn't me.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

TYNEWOOD........WELL I OWN 3 HEFTY FEEDERS AND ONE S32P MILLER FEEDER.......ALL ARE VOLTAGE SENSING FEEDERS, ALL RUN ON ENGINE DRIVES, AND ALL ARE EITHER CONSTANT CURRENT OR CONSTANT VOLTAGE.......... JUST FLIP THE SWITCH INSIDE FROM CC TO CV........ THEY ALL HAVE A PLACE AND A NITCH THEY SUFFICE..............HOWEVER IN THE SHOP I USE A STANDARD CV FEEDER ON TOP OF A STANDARD CV POWER SUPPLY........ AND YES IN A PINCH I WOULD USE A VOLTAGE SENSING FEEDER INSIDE THE SHOP AND HAVE DONE SO BEFORE............. THEY'RE KINDA LIKE MOTOR CYCLES I WOULDN'T RIDE MY OLD 1949EL ON A ROAD TRIP........BUT I WOULD RIDE MY 1977 DRESSER ON A ROAD TRIP.................... NEED MORE TOYS.......... BE SAFE.......... ROCK .. [email protected]

[Mike Sherman]

Rock, I purchased and should actually receive my 2003, 100th anniversary edition Silver and Black "ULTRA CLASSIC" in October. Now if I could just sell that Honda....

[GWOL]

Mike, what is a "utra Classic"?

[Mike Sherman]

ULTRA CLASSIC is the fully dressed Harley Davidson. My wife calls it the "RV" or the "old folks bike". She actually likes my Honda Shadow better. Strange, isn't she?

[Hobart Expert Rock]

MIKE................. WELL I HAVEN'T PURCHASED A NEW BIKE IN A LONG TIME. ACTUALL THE 77 WAS THE LAST NEW BIKE..... I KINDA GOT INTO THE OLD FUNKY STUFF............ LOOKED AT A SIDE HACK MONDAY FOR ONE OF MY OLD BIKES............MY WAS IT PRICIE... BUT EVERY PIECE EXCEPT THE STEP WAS THERE.............ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS ORDERED HIS 3 YEARS AGO WHEN YOU HAD TO WAIT 2 YEARS TO GET A NEW BIKE.........HE WANTED THE 100TH YEAR ONE HISSELF............HOGWILD..............BE SAFE.........REMEMBER RIDE LIKE EVERYONE IS TRYING TO KILL YOU BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE YA...............ROCK
[email protected]

[Mike Sherman]

If I have done this properly attached is a picture of my new bike. If I haven't, sorry.

[GWOL]

I thought you were talking about some special welding machine? duh

[harold]

Geat looking bike Mike. I haven't been on one of those in over 40 years. Used to ride a big INDIAN TWIN.
Harold

[Hobart Expert Rock]

HI HAROLD........GOT ANY OF THOSE OLD INDIAN PARTS LAYING AROUND................?.................ROCK......

[harold]

No Rock but sure wish I did. My dad got rid of it all some where around 1956, 57. I also had a small indian checke that I learned on. but as I recall it had a bad engine and was parked behind the barn. Oh well
Harold

[Guest]

Originally posted by Mike Sherman
If I have done this properly attached is a picture of my new bike. If I haven't, sorry.

Now, that's my kinda bike!!