[budman from mo]

I'm very much a rookie at welding so please excuse my ignorance. I just purchased a Lincoln Ranger 8 and would like to know what equipment I need to also Mig weld with it.
Do I just use a regular mig machine that has its own independent heat setting and only would need the power supplied by the Ranger 8? Or, I've heard the term suitcase welder, Is this a unit that plugs in and is also dependent on the heat settings from the ranger?

Thanks ahead of time to anyone that can straighten me out.

[Ultralow787]

Looks like the LF-25 or LN-7 wire feeders are compatible with this machine. You may also have to add a MIG gun and of course a gas bottle. Sorry I can't be more detailed. Any Lincoln dealer should be able to set you up with what you need.
Welcome to the forum!

[weldin mike 27]

Hey and Welcome.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/Eq ... nElectric)

Here is a link to the product info of your welder. It seems as Ultralow said, that you simply hook up the correct wire feeder and away you go.

Good luck.
Mick

[nickn372]

The ranger 8 is not a cc/cv welder only cc. Which means while it will stick weld well you cannot hook up the suitcase mig machines because they require the cv connection. You could however hook up a traditional mig machine via the 50 amp 220v plug on the front of the machine. The suitcase migs were designed to be used in areas where traditional power is not accessible and large amounts of welding need done. They are much lighter and more compact than any other mig out there of a comparable amp rating because they do not have an internal inverter for the dc current. I have a miller 12vs and it is smother than any other mig i have used and the best part is it will go a lot more places a whole lot easier than most other migs. If you want to jump to this class of welder then you will need to step up to a ranger 250 or comparable engine set and expect to pa $2000 to $2500 extra to get the ln25 or similar set up. Unless of course you buy quality used equipment but be careful what you buy because they are expensive to fix as well.

[nickn372]

I guess i did forget that you can get an ln25 or similar configured to run off of the 220v plug. I have an amish friend who runs a miller 12rc this way. He has a real mess of cables involved though because the suitcase welders need ac power to run the pc board inside of it. It also needs a ramp up signal for the engine. Ummmm i guess i know what i run is really simple compared to what my friend runs. He has 3 or 4 large diameter cables plus a small on or two and i have the same two leads as i do when i stick weld and thats it. He could switch to my system but im perdy sure you cant with your ranger. I guess talk to your lincoln dealer but my thinking is you are perdy limited here.

[weldin mike 27]

Hey,

Seems im leading you the wrong way. Call lincoln and they will tell you exactly what you need to know. Sorry.

Mick

[Otto Nobedder]

That Ranger 8 is a constant-current machine, so you can't "just" hook a wire-feeder to it.

Several of the "suitcase" welders I've used over the years are switchable between CV and CC power sources, though, and I've used them on CC sources. The power source would be set wide-open, and the voltage adjusted at the suitcase.

What part of MO are you from?

Steve S

[budman from mo]

I really thank all of you for your input. We just moved from Sunny Florida to Hartville Mo. I imagine at least one of you is saying what in the would would you want to leave Fl. for. We get that a lot. In 2004 we sat through 4 hurricanes virtually back to back.
We looked around for a couple of years and fell in love with this area. Bought a few acres and have finally moved here. Again, thank you.

Bud

[Otto Nobedder]

Bud,

I grew up 10 miles east of Hartville, MO, on Hwy 38 near Rayburn, above Dove creek, and went to Mtn. Grove schools.

I know exactly why you'd go there; I can't imagine a better childhood for myself, and would raise kids there in a heartbeat.

My grandkids are getting a similar childhood in the country near Lake of the Ozarks.

Small world!

Steve S.