Need input ready for new welder, Trailblazer 275 or 325???

[Luke87]

Ok its time for a upgrade. Got the old Hobart sold to father in law, ready to step it up. I'm wanting to go with a Trailblazer I can get the 275 for $4690 at the LWS, or I can get the, 275 online $4400 to door, 325 non efi online to my door for $4700. I'm all about saving money but with the LWS they cover and fix any problems but I don't see it having none in the first 3 years. What are the thoughts on the fuel injection is it worth the extra $400, I've never really had a problem with carbs just gotta clean them every now and then. I'm pretty set on the trailblazer because of the separate generators and arc quality, but the $500 dollar rebate on the bobcats sound enticing, thats money towards a wire feeder or plasma cutter. I just want some input on it, we build metal shops, carports etc I just want something I'm gonna be happy with for years to come this time.
Thanks in advance

[WillieB]

I haven't used a Trailblazer. I work with a weldor who swears it is better than sliced bread. He traded a Lincoln monster and Bobcat for his. The three phase DC intrigues me. Bobcat is single phase AC rectified into DC. It pulsates its arc. Three phase will always have current. As one phase is dying out, another is on the increase, the third is starting. I presume Trailblazer is more like an SA200.

[cruizer]

Huh, SA200. no where close. These run at around the 20Khz mark on engineered wave forms through a set of IGBT's. no where is there 3 phase DC. Just a low voltage 3 phase AC into a rectifier bank, and then into a couple IGBT (Mods). The Lincoln Ranger/Vantage lineup basically work identical

[WillieB]

Huh, SA200. no where close. These run at around the 20Khz mark on engineered wave forms through a set of IGBT's. no where is there 3 phase DC. Just a low voltage 3 phase AC into a rectifier bank, and then into a couple IGBT (Mods). The Lincoln Ranger/Vantage lineup basically work identical

I won't pretend I understand what you're saying, but I want to. My remarks are based on something said on another forum by somebody I felt knew. What does set the Trailblazer apart from the Bobcat? Am I wrong that Bobcat is single phase AC using diodes to produce DC that pulsates? I believe it's from Miller I got that Trailblazer is three phase DC only for welding, with a separate single phase generator on the same shaft for power tools.

[Marlin444]

Spend the extra and get the 325 with EFI and EXCEL power, buy once cry once. You'll get your money back in fuel savings and if you ever burn bigger rod it has enough power to do so.

[H80N]

Here are a bunch of videos on the new Trailblazer 325...

Pretty impressive..

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=trailblazer+325+pulse

[Portable Welder]

If carports and metal buildings are your business the 275 would be fine with a suitcase feeder, If you use it for welding on heavy equipment then I would say go with the 325.
If all you do is stick weld go with a Bobcat, you can also run a VS feeder off the bobcat which also does a good job.

If you really want a good high quality arc with a mig welder then go with a Trail blazer and a constant voltage feeder.

[cruizer]

I won't pretend I understand what you're saying, but I want to. My remarks are based on something said on another forum by somebody I felt knew. What does set the Trailblazer apart from the Bobcat? Am I wrong that Bobcat is single phase AC using diodes to produce DC that pulsates? I believe it's from Miller I got that Trailblazer is three phase DC only for welding, with a separate single phase generator on the same shaft for power tools

Pulsating DC, cool. Think my scope would pick up that. in other words, new one on me. The Bobcat has no boards and is basically a tapped reactor to a simple rectifier.

The Trailblazer 302 uses a couple boards, no tapped reactor, so 3 phase ac comes into the rectifier which pumps it out as singe phase. The power board regulates the AC feed to the rectifier from your local control setting and compares it with the dc feed back from the hall.

The Trailblazer 325 goes one step further, and throws the dc signal off the rectifier, and "Chops" that signal up , do DC reverts to AC, which reverts to DC 20K times a second. then an engineered wave form is added for pretty much pure DC, though the final wave form is not pure DC. Simular to eating Tofu chicken, not really the same, but tastes kinda the same....


Just made the theory really basic

[WillieB]

Could you write that out in crayon? The SA200 and a dozen similar machines make a pure DC with little or no humps on the ociliscope because more than one armature winding is contributing to the stinger at once. The high end Trailblazers use a distinctly different system, but is the power at the tip of the electrode not similar?

Some Tesla wanna be at Lincoln used technology available to him to build a machine worthy of being revered for 70 years. Much later, an engineer at Miller used a thousand tiny electronic widgets to do about the same thing.

I've used neither, want to, but the opportunity hasn't presented. I used, then years later owned a machine like the Lincoln but much bigger, maybe one day I will own a Trailblazer. Can the Trailblazer measure up?

[Luke87]

Ideally yes I would love to just be able to buy the Trailblazer 325 with excel and efi. I don't plan on welding heavy equipment but never know what the future holds or what I may venture into. I think the bobcat will do all I need I just think the trailblazer has a lot of goodies I would like, mostly I could be welding stuff up and have my helper running the plasma cutter or maxstar of the ac side welding or cutting at the same time, whereas the Bobcat I wouldn't be able to do that. I'm kinda wanting to go with the bobcat just because of the 500 rebate I could get a feeder with, then I could always get my money back later and get a trailblazer. Most of the mig and flux core I do though I use my multimatic 200, although it would be nice to run .045 wire and the added voltage when needed.

[MMW]

It sounds to me like the Bobcat would be what you want, especially if you get a feeder for .045.

I see many people always making the decision to buy "up" vs. what they actually need. If you know you will have a use for it then get it but if it's just a maybe someday down the road then get what you need now & upgrade if you need it down the road.

[Portable Welder]

You also need to keep this in mind, What is the hourly charge for a portable welder, about $ 60.00 - $80.00 hr.

If we are talking 4-5 hundred dollars in price that works out to about 7 hrs. of work to pay the difference.

However, if you go with the Trail Blazer and the better constant voltage feeder, you will also need a 14 pin control cable.
They sell for approx. $ 300.00 plus dollars for a 75' section.

If you have the Bobcat you will only need your positive/ Neg. lead plus the gas hose and not the 14 pin cable.

So to out fit the Trail blazer with mig you will probably be in the $ 900.00 range higher.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

[Sberry]

I hate to say this but carport and light metal buildings could be done with a lot less power. I can so I would do most of it with sticks from a Maxstar type machine from some small genset and plug in to line when it was there. For 1500 in machines and another 100 in cord could weld away with half the fuel, maybe less. Put extra 30 ft or what you need stinger lead on it so a guy could jump around for construction work.

[Sberry]

I was at a carnival and the maintenance guy was there with nice service truck and new TB. He said,,,, the welder is beautiful but if I was to do it gain wouldn't bother with the feeder just to carry it around.
It used to be you needed the power that just wasn't there but now can run 150A from 8 hp, can run all the 1/8 rods and some of them on 120V. I hardly ever use an engine drive anymore. A 400$ generator would run a week on 5 gallons of gas.

[Luke87]

We do use the maxstar 150 a lot, I've built whole building with it when the power was there. When the power isn't there though its nice to just unroll some lead and go to town on it. I think the Trailblazer has a lot of stuff I'll never ever hardly use but would like. I'm gonna decide this week, the price difference is 325 efi trailblazer with excel power to my door $5500, Bobcat EFI $4300 but has the $500 dollar rebate that I would use to buy me a Spectrum 675 plasma cutter since mine in the shop ain't too portable. More I read the more I'm leaning towards the Bobcat, I can sell it get my money back and buy a Trailblazer later if I think I screwed up on it. I'm running a Hobart Champion 10000 right now and it has always done all we needed. I've got a older Hobart Champion 16 thats AC/DC as well that my Grandpa gave to me that welds like a dream that'll I'll be holding onto. The only thing I really like about the Trailblazer is the dual generator and being able to burn rods at idle is really the only only reason I'd like it.