Miller Bobcat or Trailblazer

[Soggy Bottom]

In the market to buy a gas welder. Have narrowed it down to the bobcat 250 or TB 325. Main jobs will be stick rod around my house and farm. Most material will be C/S pipe and steel members. Is the TB worth the extra money? I’m thinking the bobcat will do more than I ever need. Would like to add a wire and tig machine in the future.

[hogslayer78]

The bobcat should do anything you want to do and then some lol. I have welded with the 225 and 250 and both are great machines.

[Sasqy]

Don’t waste the money, buy a bobcat 250 and be done with it.
I run this machine daily no issues !
Now I would recommend the trailblazer if your buyin the diesel.
Nicest machine I ever ran by Miller but pricey like 10k.
But can weld smoother and quieter than anything.

[Sasqy]

Miller always has buyer incentives too.
Look online for factory rebates.
Cyberweld will prob have lowest price.

[ramrod]

I don't know why the bobcat 225 wouldn't work for you if just around the farm. Do you need the amperage of the 250?

[Arrowthreat]

My 225 works great for farm use. No need for anything more.


The Trailblazer diesel is a beast though. I wouldn't mess with a trailblazer gas machine.

[Soggy Bottom]

Thanks for the input. Is there any real advantage of the Bob 225 over the 250 for sch 40, XS pipe?

[hogslayer78]

Thanks for the input. Is there any real advantage of the Bob 225 over the 250 for sch 40, XS pipe?

Yeah its cheaper and you dont need a 250 to do what you want to do. You probably wont run that machine over 140 to 150 amps the majority of the time. You will probably never touch the max amps even on a bobcat 225.

[Aggie PhD]

I have been wanting to get something too. Should I get a new bobcat or can used be ok?
And if used I know it depends on hours for price. How many hours is too many? And what would be a good price

[TX03RUBI]

Do some looking. Last year i was in the market for a new gas machine, and posted a WTB here in the classifieds. Ended up snagging a like new Hobart 225 with 15ish hours for $2000. Came with 50ish lbs of rods and 50 ft leads. I was almost ready to pay well over double that for a new Bobcat.

[guru27]

When I bought my bobcat 250 last year miller had a rebate going that knocked the price down within $100 of a 225, and came with free leads. I bought mine online from welding supplies from IOC, and caught it on free shipping, worked out to be a pretty good deal. Saying that I would have been just as happy, and had planned on buying a 225 before I found that deal. Both are great machines

[MadHatter]

Just happened to skim this thread earlier, and saw this 5 min later on CL.
Not affiliated, might be a scam, just throwing it out there

https://easttexas.craigslist.org/tls/d/tyler-welder-bobcat-225/7074247623.html

[hogslayer78]

Just happened to skim this thread earlier, and saw this 5 min later on CL.
Not affiliated, might be a scam, just throwing it out there

https://easttexas.craigslist.org/tls...074247623.html

Pretty good deal for about $700 off a new one and more when you figure in tax.

[M16]

I got a great deal on one here in the classifieds. I use it almost daily. I paired it with an air compressor. So I’ve got a mobile welder, air compressor, and can also use my plasma cutter wherever I need too. Can’t imagine needing anything more than the 225.

[kingranch1886]

I’ve got a bobcat 225 and a trailblazer 325. The TB never comes out to play, stays in the shop in the back corner unless I’m building a corral or something. That little bobcat handles everything I’ve ever asked it to.