Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT Review; Yay or Nay? My Personal Story

You’re here as either of these two welder operators. You’re either a professional welder operator about to confirm the authenticity of the hype around the Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT.  Or you’ve just been intimidated by the same machine on first use, thanks to the welder renter guy, and so want a background check on this welder. Either way, you’re lucky to navigate this site. You’ve just escaped the confusion of the random Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT reviews written by non-users of the multipurpose welder. Right here, I give you honest feedback from my own personal experience with the Lincoln ranger 250 GXT, part by part.

Control and Configuration

Take note that I have been frying metals all of my life. From working as a pipeline fabricator to hybridizing motorized bikes on the assembly line to repairing combustion pipes under truck chassis in my auto repair shop.

And all I can tell you is, this is a great welder for the money if an easy control/setup multipurpose welder is your top priority. The boys were able to ramp through the 250amps welding current at a distance of 25ft away from the power supply, cable-free. This so because this machine actually comes with wireless remote control for that setup. Just the same feature that’d cost you 12grands on Miller Trailblazer 325 (the increased amperage apart). Seriously Miller?

Other than that, other setup controls are located on the power supply panel, though the review that leads us to buy this unit says all configuration can be done on the remote control. Nevertheless, we were surprised by how intuitive the sophisticated control panel is. A rotary button dedicated to making polarity switch allows you to make deep, high penetration on positive for ¼” aluminum sheet. And on negative, you can make a shallow, wide weld pool on thin gauges stainless steel by turning the switch to the negative pole.

Starting the engine doesn’t waste your time, thanks to the idler control choice. And there’s also a control for the engine choke which we haven’t tried out. Other controls on the power supply include; a 6-position power output range selector, selector switch for local or remote amperage control, and a ground stud switch. Meanwhile, there’s a meter for engine hour and an electric fuel gauge on the rear of the panel to keep track of power usage so you don’t run out of supply.

Versatility

It feels so great to have all your welding processes in one place. You can escape or reduce the usual transportation budget for 3-4 heavy-duty systems. The Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT performs all welding processes impressively. We have fried ½” steel pipes together using its STICK functionality and the precise arc control we got was accurate. You don’t have to visit Harbour Freight for a specific kind of electrode. All the electrodes used so far were randomly picked from the drawer. In the same light, you can ditch your gas expenses and reduce spatter when welding aluminum with flux core wire on the MIG mode. And on the flip side, the gas-shielded MIG operation has been so far so good, especially for fieldwork on a windy day.  Likewise, the TIG mode. Though you’ll need to spend on guns separately.

But here’s even the greater reason why I think the Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT is highly versatile. When not welding with it, it serves as a power generator supplying 11, 000 watts of consistent power for your other activities. You can power your plasma cutter table, power tools, grinders, and even light bulbs for night operations. I have personally used it to kick dead batteries to life, thanks to my old jump/charge cables. Meanwhile, you may even tow this single-phase AC generator home during the outages or blackouts for low noise 76.4dBa power supply to power home appliances while cutting fuel budget in half.

Performance

I notice the Kohler rated engines perform better than their counterparts for the engine-driven systems; whether welders or cutters. So it’s no brainer and my expectations were met by how silently this welder perform without eating my fuel away. This AC/DC welder is driven by a steady 23horsepower KohlerⓇ gasoline engine. Note that this is a 2-cylinder/turbo-cylinder, 4 cycle overhead valve air-cooled engine design with counterclockwise shaft orientation and you would need to be consistent about using only treated gasoline to run it. More on fuel usage and maintenance of the engine later on.

So far, with this welder, the AC TIG mode has been the best in terms of performance. For all alloy welding or aluminum welding, you can expect excellent, solid weld on thick materials while minimizing passes. And the fact that you have multiple heat frequency control options allows you to weld in tight corners, out of positions, and on the assemble line without compromising weld accuracy.

You can easily ramp through heat frequencies with a grey foot pedal when welding on your welding bench. Or you can opt for a TIG gun with hand control when welding under the chassis of a vehicle. Or just use the hand Amptrol™ control on the Jobsite or in fieldwork and reduce the trips to the power supply for operation configuration.

And whether undertaking a MIG or STICK job, you can work with no downtime, thanks to a 100% duty cycle even 250AC or 250DC current. Finally, the 3600RPM weld speed is exactly what the advertisement claims. But here’s what is good. While the Miller Trailblazer 350 costs almost 4grands over what this Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT costs, the duo shares the same 3600RM weld speed. Seriously Miller?

Also, if you’re looking to separate base metal from weld to correct a weak bound, this same machine allows for easy gouging and grinding. You can afterward STICK weld on both high-frequency and low-frequency. For a quick match arc strike on TIG, you can scratch-start smoothly with this welder without contaminating your electrode if you’re experienced enough. Finally, the result is not bad for lifting and touch starting as well and you have fewer chances of chipping off your electrode in the long run.

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Fuel Capacity

What does having a large fuel tank means to you? To the boys and me, it translates to reducing the usual refueling trips in lieu of using a medium or small tank welder. Especially on the field when you have limited workers on ground. Putting a worker in charge of securing that you don’t run out of fuel makes you one man down. And this directly slows your work down. Right?

Enter the Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT with a massive 12 gallons fuel space to last a complete 12hrs, that’s what we got, during a non-stop heavy-duty welding down the assemble line. Just fill it up and push it into the truck. This doesn’t only increase productivity, you can have a defined fuel budget at long and ditch the guesswork. Knowing where your fuel money goes aside, the Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT’s engine sips fuel slower than its peers in the 250amps series. (My observation though).

On the engine oil side. Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT has an extended space for 64oz engine oil. Thanks to this, you can extend the time intervals between two oil replacement periods. Then again, there’s enough fuel to keep the engine running smoothly. You can avoid knocks, and get a stable supply of welding power on your feeder end. This is so regardless of your fluctuating current demand, especially when welding varying materials of varying thickness.

Maintenance/Security

From experience, removing old oil from an engine for replacement has been about spilling black, greasy oil on the floor. And that leaves you with another thorough cleaning job. Enter the Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT with a top-mounted engine oil filter. You can easily access the cylinder in its entirety to do a thorough maintenance job hassle-free. And there’s the extended oil drainage extension for a clean replacement of engine oil. Likewise, the integrated improved mesh filter for oil, on the other hand, does a full-filtering job on your gasoline. All the teeny tiny debris and particles are filtered out before they escape in to ruin the engine.

Also, the overhead valve technology reduces maintenance costs by securing zero-carbon buildup. It also accounts for the high compression ratio and increased volumetric efficiency. In all, this amounts to fuel economy and more welding power under your belt. Finally, the twin-cylinder is designed with solid cast iron to reduce overheating and give off less fume. Needless to say, the inbuilt cooling fans and screen do most of the heat-control works to ensure your engine lasts longer and that you operate in a comfortable atmospheric temperature. Did I mention that the AC generator output is rated 104℉? This makes for rugged reliability on the engine side.

Portability/Durability

This is where the downside is. Maybe it’s just me but a 3.5lbs machine can’t be easily lifted around. Specifically on the Jobsite when you have to weld from floor to floor in a story building under construction. Except you’re getting a towing cart, which incurs another money spend. Right? Seriously Lincoln? Also, for a guy with limited space in the garage or less storage space at the back of the truck, this 29.9” ✕ 21.5” ✕ 42.3” generator is quite bulky. Ya know? But talk about durability, Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT is a rugged, tough, little monster made to last. The case sides and the engine door are designed with tough stainless steel of high thickness. Meanwhile, you can opt for the painted, camo wrapped version of the same welder!

Overall, this may not be a good welder for a traveling welder operator looking for a lightweight, heavy-duty multipurpose welder. But for anyone who doesn’t care about size or weight, Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT is the monster to fry painted, dirty, and rusty metals slag-free and spatter-free. Especially on gas-shielded MIG.

Recommended Wire Feeder

To get the most of this machine, this is the recommended feeder with regard to operation. For MIG processes, the MAGNUMⓇ PRO 100SG spool gun is recommended for excellent trigger feedback, ergonomic grip, light weightiness, extended life, and improved heat dissipation. This gun will hold any consumable between the range of 0.030 and 0.035” perfectly for clean, smooth welds. And just so you know, the complete spool gun kit costs $352.24 and it includes welding gloves and a 10ft gun cable. Also, included is a set of consumables that won’t do much work. Seriously Lincoln?

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Special Note

If you ever get to misplace the welding current remote control, you’ll either have to settle for the power supply control panel or spend an additional $349.22 on a new remote control. Seriously Lincoln?

Features

• Application Processes; MIG (flux core and solid wire), TIG, STICK

• Operations; AC/DC

• Duty cycle range; 30%-100%

• Maximum amperage; 50amps-250amps

• MIG gun cable length; 10ft

• Spool range; 0.030-0.035”

• Welding current control modes; Remote control and power supply panel

• Remote control distance; 25ft cable-free

• Remote control current adjustment levels; 11 levels

• Remote control type; 6-pins wireless

• Polarity switch

• Engine type; 23horsepower KohlerⓇ gasoline engine

• Cylinder type; twin, 4-overhead valve air-cooled design

• Operation noise; 76.dBA on max amperage

• AC generator output rate; 104104℉

• Tank capacity; 12gallons

• Oil capacity; 64oz

• 3 service doors to the engine

• Oil drainage extension

• Generator output; 11, 00watts

• Maximum weld speed; 3600RPM

• Dimension; 29.9” ✕ 21.5” ✕ 42.3”

• Weight; 3.5lbs

• Electric fuel pump
• Engine switch; idler control

• Fuel gauge meter display

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Conclusion

You’ve just escaped a confusing lot of Lincoln ranger 250 GXT reviews out there. Do you have experience with any 250 series member other than the Lincoln ranger? How about sharing in the comment box of your comparison between it and our reviewed dual voltage guy here? Also, feel free to ask more questions about the same welder.