I've borrowed a 4.5kVA generator from work. Hoping to borrow a friends mig welder this weekend - it is a fairly light duty one not sure of specifics. Making a complete exhaust so nothing too heavy duty. Will the generator be up to the task?

I would say possibly but it may be difficult.

My family farm doesn't have mains electricity and runs a 12.5 generator for all it's power (one that you need a forklift to move), both I and a few others have found it a nightmare to arc weld as the power dips when you strike an arc and the generator can't respond quick enough which is a right pain in the arse. As such, I'd expect trying to do anything remotely fiddly with a 4.5kVA genny will be pretty tricky.

[Edited on 24/9/14 by OliilO]

Should be fine, I ran a 200amp inverter off a 5.5kva generator without any problem.

I guess if it struggles I can tack the joints, test fit it and then take it away and finish it

Give it ago, what's the worst that can happen?!

I'd defer to Mark's experience over mine, as my welding skills aren't amazing. Let us know how you get on...

Hope so as I have a glorious track record for marking stuff, taking it away to weld it and somehow sticking it together in a completely different way!

If it's a proper welding gunny then you should be fine, if it's a bog standard gunny then only time will tell!

Have a look at the Mig welding forum, I doubt it will work.

The verdict is that yes it works but not very well. Enough to join the pipes but not the thick flanges.

However my boring day turned eventful when the generator ran away!!!

Must have been running on its own oil because the fuel cut lever wouldn't stop it and it was revving like crazy. I squirted a can of brake kleen down the inlet and that killed it. I checked the oil level and it was only slightly above the maximum so must be really sensitive to having too much oil.

Good news is that:
1. It doesn't seem to have been damaged
2. It's not mine anyway