Off Grid Welding : 3 Techniques for On-the-Go Trail Repairs 

Saw that video considering to do it with my FJ

That Merlin is pretty sharp on a lot of stuff. He's quite a character...lol

After seeing this im conviced merlins idea was created by tearing apart a premier welder

It will be the way I go if I can comprehend what to do lol

@@4wdtennessee459 i just bought all the parts to build that setup

It's unfortunate because it had the support to hold up to the hammer test.

Glad you enjoy it! Thanks

Right on!

Thank you I appreciate your support and yes it would have been wonderful if one of mine was in this comparison video

@lagacewelders2236 Absolutely! Your trail welder has saved me and multiple others, great setup!

@@fullswing2315 well I am happy to hear that and I definitely appreciate your support

Just got to make sure it was charged from when it was last used. But, yeah, they do look very good.

And up to 3 or 4 12v batteries. It's what I went with decades ago, even bought a second one.

You bet

Hey there!

Glad you enjoyed it! What should we try next?

Si

they let me bring it in unwelded, just not after it was shaped more like a hammer

Thanks for the tip. I’ll have to check it out. I have the “ready welder” but like the idea of the built in battery

Thanks 👍

That's what I was thinking about. Karnage ain't cheap, but it seems to be the best option if you're taking a 'throw money at it' approach.

@@rebootkid yep its the most user friendly, I was personally thinking of taking the merlins old-school garage approach but I have a wj so the computer idle issue worries me . Maybe I can add a stand alone alternator?

Ya we saw that at EJS this year and it seemed to work pretty good but was a bit pricey and they werent keen on letting me try it out for a video😆

@@bleepinjeep yea it's cheaper to buy a harbor frieght mig and generator lol 😂 I don't know why they wouldn't trust you guys with their welder though not like you guys ever stress test anything.

Thanks for the tip! Using that tuner, what input device do you have to control the rpm?

@@bleepinjeep it just plugs into the OBD port, and it just a little hand held deal. Its no bigger then and old school ipod. I keep mine in the glove box. You only need it pluged in when using it. Then when your done just unplug it and throw it back in the glove box.

Ya, the cheap option is cheap and works but you still have to carry the right tools to make it happen

Ya the rain has been legit this year!

Good to know thanks!

Was hoping they'd show that. Seems like it has the best of all of them.

I talked to them at EJS as it seemed like a nice option but they wouldn't sponsor one for the video, I don't know anybody with one, and I was too cheap to buy one 😩

They would have to be worth anything at all to earn anything. They aren't

TSA would fuck up a wet dream!!! Best illusion of safety, ever!!!

Good to know!

When you order one pick up a spare, years ago it was a recommendation to do that.

Control welding current. Works well and allows 20 to 40 mm bursts of perfect deep penetration welds before needing to cool the wire and the rod

We will have to try that

Mtn dew always loses!

But would I have??

BSF used batteries, everyone else was pretty much using the Premier

Well here was 3 options, then there’s the karnage, and a diy alternator welder. I think that’s about it other than bringing a generator and true welder

@@bleepinjeep yes these are great options I love how easy it can be with limited gear to weld on the trail. I'm just sorta picky. I have had so many problems with parts store alternators over the years so I got a alternator from DC power with a billet case and I freaking love that thing. There used to be a local guy who had a small wrecking yard and he'd also rebuild starters and alternators and I could go to him to put me together a quality alternator or upgrades but that place is long gone so I was using part store alternators new or reman and they were such junk. I've been so happy with DC power alternator and talking to those guys I really want to keep my alternator so that kinda rules out the premier. I'm sure premier offers a quality alternator but with my want to keep my current alternator and me not being a good stick welder it's pushing me in other directions. I suppose I would probably just practice with stick if that was the only obstacle. But anyways I'm willing to spend the money for a nice setup I do a lot of repairs for other people usually and I also just want something that's easy and user friendly I think the karnage is probably what I'll get I like that it's completely portable and battery powered for short use but you can hook it up to battery's and I have dual battery's in my rig. I also like that the karnage is not a spool gun ive had problems messing with those. Then karnage offers a mount/holder for the case to store it in the jeep which is great im all about making sure my gear is secured in the jeep. Karnage offers cables to hook up to batteries with an Anderson connector but I think I'd make my own cables with actual terminals instead of their jumper cable type clamps for a good connection like shown in the video that seems like a great idea i can imagine those jumper clamps could get finicky under load. I think I can make the karnage work for my needs and I'll probably go that route. But it's interesting searching for other options and seeing what people use or make themselves. I was even looking at portable welders not necessarily made for the offroad market. I was also thinking since I have a power tank maybe I could put together some sort of setup that uses co2 for shielding gas instead of Flux core I've never used straight co2 before I usually use an argon mix and I don't know a whole lot about welding and different gasses and everything. But from what I read Flux core or stick is preferred on the trail because it can be used in nasty windy conditions plus I don't want to get too complicated, the co2 was just an interesting thought since it's already there. I know it would be tough or nearly impossible to match the performance of my modern miller machine at home running on 220 but I'd like to make it as easy as possible for myself out on the trail.

Actually it 2 wires each at 110 equating to 220 when they are tied together with a double pull breaker.

the war of voltages is getting intense!

Yes. You just have to watch polarity.

Yes, we always get comments about welding to vehicles…. I think the most important thing to keep in mind is to have the ground attached to the same metal you are welding on. Don’t make the electricity go through bushings, gears, bearings, or other wires. It takes the path of least resistance.

I thought you guys had that memorized by now 🙁

The link makes it convenient, and we need to be reminded even when you put out a video. Now, you're in second place. When is the vote over?

@@bleepinjeep and now you're losing by nearly 600 votes.

were no professionals, just a bunch of country bumpkins!

lol, sounds messy!

Only if your phone or tv is too close to the eyeballs 👀

@@bleepinjeep thank you sir

Ya, it just depends on your needs and wants I guess. Maybe if you were wanting a high amp alternator anyways for lot os light bars or something then it would make sense as you get 2 fixes for the price of one.

LOL! I professionally welded for 45 years, we always called the electrodes "rods."

I was thinking, "they let me on with this in pieces, maybe they will let me on with it all welded up... nope"

When you don’t have one, you never need it…. But when you do have one, it’s needed about every ride 😄