Brainstorming the portable mig welding / suitcase wire feeder equipment

[TheGary]

I do not build welders but I do use them. Since Everlast has this forum and seems to be willing to accept input from us that use the equipment I thought this might be a good topic to explore.
I have some thoughts on this but by no means am I a wealth of knowledge on it. I believe inverter migs are a great thing but there are still some drawbacks to them in this segment of the market. To me weight is very important so The perfect setup would be still using a seperate wire feeder and a mig power source. Many of us out in the field already have a gas drive welder and one of their strong pionts is a 100% duty cycle. Now a stand alone mig inverter power source in a rugged case has its place so it can be used in remote locations and will appeal to people with high powered generators. The wire feeder being seperate will appeal to both segments ( those using a generator to power an inverter and those who have a gas drive welder. To me using the large spools of wire are important also because they are more cost effective to buy and they are not changed out as often. A nice touch would be buit in low profile wheels and casters on both the inverter and the feeder ( lockable in place ). Good weather protection for all controls and the internals ( by the way a plasma cutter in a rugged weather resistant case with quik connect torch would sell well also).
I would like to hear your thoughts on this subject so let it fly.

[everlastsupport]

Are you talking Flux Core when you mention portable MIG? The plasma would also require an air source too.

[Shield Arc]

Why not just get an engine drive with CV, and an LN-25? Heaviest part of a LN-25 is the spool of wire.

[performance]

See our PowerMTS 400. Problem solved.
You may not have seen our privately offered commercial catalog. We do have a suitcase feeder available to work with some of our commercial product.

[TheGary]

Are you talking Flux Core when you mention portable MIG? The plasma would also require an air source too.

An air source is not a problem, most plces have their own air system and a compressor is no problem. I guess where I was going with the plasma is that the metal cases and handles on almost all brands is not made for day to day portability. they are just too flimsy. Im not saying that they are not portable, I haul my 60S all over the place but I have to be very carfull not to damage it. If I had employees Im sure it would be damage inside a month.

As far as the mig it would need to do both solid and flux core. Mark is right about the MTS400 I did not realize it can run on single phase also. But the case on it is not made for day to day portability either. I would like info and specs on the suitcase wire feeder you guys sell.
I have a cv,cc gas drive already . If I work at a plant that has power why not use their power instead of my gas, I use it when I need it like fixing alum. trailers with my spool gun. The LN25 is ok but they are way over priced. You pay 100% more for it being a suitcase style. Why?

[sticks]

A very expensive relay/solenoid to close the contacts inside.

I used my Northern Tool 200a Mig/Stick welder as a suitcase. Kind of a pain to drag around 3 cables (220v power, Torch and Ground leads) but it does give me 100% duty cycle running off my Miller Bobcat. Connect the Mig/Stick welder into the torch port, and clamp that to the Torch lead coming off the Bobcat. Ground as normal, and the 220v plug only runs the wire feed.

My new employer actually fitted all the service trucks with a LN-25, so I use that now. Funny though, I've had more jams/bird nesting with that than my NT Mig/Stick. My last repair was a crack in an excavator bucket, and I think I probably had 10 15' bundles of wire laying on the ground when I was done.

I'd like to see the link to the Commercial lineup as well.