Stock up on Hobart 7018 Welding Rod: Special Pricing Offer!

Stock up on Hobart 7018 Welding Rod: Special Pricing Offer!

Attention all welders! We are thrilled to announce a special pricing offer on Hobart 7018 welding rod!

Hobart 7018 is a premium-quality electrode that offers superior performance in a variety of stick welding applications. With its low-hydrogen formula, Hobart electrode provides excellent weld quality with minimal spatter and porosity. The 7018 rod is ideal for welding steel with a thickness of 3/16 inch or more, making it a go-to choice for many welders.

And now, for a limited time only, we are offering a special pricing deal on Hobart 7018 welding rod. Since we swear by Hobart Filler Metals in our Kristian overhead crane fabrication shop, we’ve decided to make Hobart as accessible as possible for any welder or fab shop who would like to give it a shot.

Our Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon branches are stocked up with 10 lb packages in three sizes – 3/32”, 1/8” and 5/32”. Take advantage of this amazing offer to try Hobart electrode out yourself and stock up on the best welding rods on the market.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get your hands on high-quality electrode at an unbeatable price. Contact your local Kristian branch today to place your order and take advantage of this special pricing offer while it lasts.

Speaking of welding deals, we also have Hobart Megafil 819R on CLEARANCE while quantities last! At only $4.81/lb, that’s more than 50% off! If you use this seamless, flux-cored wire in your shop and are looking to save big, contact us to access this exclusive clearance pricing.

Quick Links

  • Hobart 7018 Welding Rod Information & Order Page
  • Hobart MEGAFIL 819R Information & Order Page
How to Winterize Your Engine-Driven Welder

How to Winterize Your Engine-Driven Welder

Winter is nearly here, and if you’re a welder in Canada, you know it’s time to get ready for the cold. Here at Kristian Electric, we’ve spent nearly six decades serving Canadian welders and their equipment, so we understand the unique needs and challenges you face when winter hits.

Our teams in Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon are here to provide unwavering support to Canadian welders through our range of services, parts, and welding supplies. Today we will share some of our knowledge to help you prepare your welding equipment for the winter. Our goal is to ensure that your gear works smoothly even as the thermometer plunges, so you can continue welding regardless of the cold!

#1. Review your Owner’s Manuals

While reading your operation manual might seem obvious, the manual for your engine-driven welder contains specific maintenance schedules and recommendations vital for the well-being of your machine. Some manufacturers, like Miller, even post these schedules on the air filter cover and inside the engine compartment’s side door to simplify access. Ensuring your machine is maintained properly in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications is the cornerstone of winter readiness.

Lost your owner’s manual? Download it online from the manufacturer!

Looking for another manufacturer or questions about finding your owner’s manual? Contact Kristian with your machine model and serial number, we are happy to help you out.

#2. Check Your Oil

If you intend to operate your welder generator in temperatures lower than -20 degrees Celsius, it’s advisable to a lighterweight oil such as 5W-30. This change enhances the oil’s ability to flow smoothly within the engine, improving overall circulation. Another option frequently favored by our customers is transitioning to synthetic oil during the colder months.

Here’s why it matters: When your engine sits idle, the oil can settle, causing a delay in its flow when you start the engine, especially in chilly conditions. Synthetic motor oil, on the other hand, is specifically designed to flow quickly at low temperatures, providing better protection of your engine components to reduce motor wear.

Make sure you consult your owner’s manual to see what oil options are recommended for the specific engine in your welding machine.

It’s good practice to check your oil level before starting the engine, especially during winter months.

#3. Check Your Cooling System & Antifreeze

It’s also good practice to check your cooling system and antifreeze regularly during the colder months to ensure that your machine is set for the right temperatures.

Here at Kristian Electric, we go through your complete cooling system as part of our service procedure and top up if required. If you have a hydrometer, you can use it to test the strength of your existing antifreeze by drawing a small amount of coolant from the system to identify its freezing point.

#4. Choose the Right Blend, Additives & Stabilizers for your Fuel

Did you know refiners may formulate gasoline blends differently depending on the season? Summer blends, for instance, possess a lower vapor pressure to prevent engine vapor lock, whereas winter blends are designed for easier vaporization to facilitate smoother starts in colder weather.

If you don’t use your gas-powered welder often during the winter months, you might encounter issues with the standard 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline blend, such as phase separation. Phase separation happens when the fuel in the tank absorbs moisture and combines with ethanol, causing it to separate from the gasoline. This separation results in an ethanol-water mixture that can severely damage the fuel system and engine.

You can prevent phase separation by using fuel additives. Don’t forget to always try and keep your fuel tank as full as possible to limit air and moisture in the tank. Add a gas stabilizer designed for ethanol gas blends, since they have a shorter shelf life than pure gasoline.

For diesel engine drives, adding an anti-gel cold weather additive will prevent wax buildup in your fuel filter and improve flowability.

Treating your fuel with stabilizers and additives will keep it usable throughout the winter. However, if you are planning on allowing your welder to sit idle for an extended period, we recommend draining your carburetors of fuel just in case.

#5. De-Ice Your Carburetor

Cold weather can also cause carburetor icing, especially in conditions nearing freezing temperatures with high relative humidity. Ice can accumulate on the throttle plate and within the carburetor bore, causing the machine to stall. You can prevent carburetor icing by adding isopropyl alcohol to your fuel supply and minimize prolonged no-load idling. Here at Kristian Electric, we offer sales and installation of cold-weather kits for many air-cooled engines.

Once properly installed, the cold weather kit will block off intake of the cold outside air and pull heated air from the exhaust into the carburetor. Installing a cold-weather kit will improve engine starting and operation in extreme cold weather conditions to keep your engine performance at its peak.

Depending on your machine and engine model, our welder service teams in Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon can supply and install a cold weather kit for your engine-driven welder! We also sell the cold-weather kits with instructions should you prefer to install it yourself. All cold-weather kits are built to order.

Contact us today to see if a cold-weather kit is available for your welding machine!

#6. Install Heaters

Installing heaters is another option to enhance the efficiency and longevity of your welder during cold weather. Here at Kristian Electric, we offer the supply and installation of a few different types of heaters and additional accessories that can be added to your engine-driven welder.

Webasto Heater (Diesel Engine-Driven Welders) A Webasto Heater will bring your engine up to operating temperatures by heating and circulating your coolant without running the engine. Installing a Webasto heater will reduce wear and tear on your engine, maximizing its longevity and performance.

Block Heater (Gasoline Liquid-Cooled or Diesel Engines) A block heater will raise the temperature inside the engine compartment without running the engine. In extremely cold weather, the engine’s internal components and the engine oil can become viscous, making it difficult for the engine to turn over and start. A block heater warms up the engine, reducing this viscosity and making it easier for the engine to start.

Oil Pan Heater: An oil pan heater is designed to maintain the optimal temperature of your welder’s oil, especially in cold weather conditions. Installed on or near your welder’s oil pan (often with magnets) it ensures that your oil remains at the ideal viscosity for smooth operation. Installing an oil pan heater facilitates consistent welding performance by preventing oil thickening and reduces wear and tear on your engine in cold weather.

Our welder service teams in Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon can make a recommendation on what heaters may be beneficial for your specific application and install any of the above heaters in your welding machine.

Contact us today for a quote on adding a heater to your welder before winter comes!

#7. Protect your Welder with Covers

Investing in a protective cover for your welder will help shield your equipment from snow, moisture, dust and other environmental hazards that can cause damage and reduce its lifespan. Protective covers are a simple and cost-effective way to extend the life of your welder and keep your machine clean!

Kristian Electric can provide standard covers from your welder’s manufacturer including Miller and Lincoln Electric.

We also work closely with a local Alberta manufacturer to fabricate custom covers for our customers – made to order – for all models of Miller and Lincoln welding machines.

Contact us today for a quote on a custom protective cover for your welder!

#6. Install Heaters

Winter is coming… and we hope that we have helped you gear up for the cold with these engine-driven welder winter maintenance tips! If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, contact us at Kristian Electric today.

Our welder service teams in Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon are always ready to offer service, parts and welding supplies for whatever project you need to tackle. Winter may be on its way, but with these preparations, your welding equipment will be ready to tackle the cold. Canadian welders — stay warm and keep welding! Canada depends on you.

Miller 2024 Build with Blue Winter Savings Rebate

Miller 2024 Build with Blue Winter Savings Rebate

Recently, Kristian Electric manufactured, supplied, and installed four top running single girder (TRSG) overhead bridge cranes for a new maintenance facility located outside Calgary, Alberta. We were thrilled to provide custom cranes and Demag hoists once again for this aeroderivative industrial gas turbine service corporation.

Out of the four cranes installed, three were rated for 2-tonne capacity, with the fourth rated for a 4-tonne capacity with 2 x 2 Ton hoists. With four individual runway systems and crane spans ranging from 33.5 to 52.5 feet long, this was no small project for our Kristian crane team!

We supplied all four cranes with five identical Demag DMR 3 modular rope hoists, a favorite for this customer due to their durability, reliability, and precision. Each crane is controlled with an 8-button, 3-motion Panther remote control system from our friends at Tele Radio.

After building the cranes in-house at our Edmonton manufacturing facility, they made their way to the Calgary area on two trucks for installation. As anyone in the crane business knows, installing multiple bridge cranes of this magnitude is a complex task that demands expertise and precision, and luckily, we had just the team for the job.

 

    Calgary area truck installation

    The first thing our Calgary installation team had to do was remove the top crane and set it on dunnage while we unloaded and installed the second crane ASAP.

    Truck installation calgary

    How do you move multiple overhead cranes off a truck effectively and into a facility for installation? With a 10K Telehandler, that’s how! Project Coordinator, Wayne, even snapped a rare photo from the Telehandler controls while he waited for our technician to get the lifting lug mounted.

    Wayne Raber captures a unique shot of the bridge cranes from inside the Telehandler.

    These crane systems featured three parallel runways as three of the bridges run east/west in the facility while the last crane runs north/south.

    When it came to the far south 2 Ton crane with the largest span (52.5’), our install team knew that we could not take it into the building with only one Telehandler. While the Telehandler could reach, if the crane was picked from the end, it would be too much weight for having the boom straight out. We addressed this issue by using another contractor’s Telehandler to grab the girder on the opposite end to walk it into the building.

    Bridge Crane in Calgary

    Since we were dealing with a very tight corner and were limited by an obstruction 43 ft straight in, our team had to carefully work the 52.5’ span girder around the corner and turn it around to move it into place for installation.

    Bridge Crane Team

    Luckily for our crane installation team, the real challenge was transporting the bridge cranes into the new facility. With that out of the way, completing the installation itself was a breeze!

    Bridge Crane Team

    In the end, it was all worth it as these overhead bridge cranes will be indispensable industrial workhorses, enhancing the efficiency and productivity at our customer’s new facility.

    Bridge Crane Installations

    If you are in the process of building or updating a facility with new overhead bridge cranes or are just in need of a custom crane solution in Calgary, Edmonton or Saskatoon – contact our team at Kristian Electric today!

    Specialty Demag Chain Hoists Available Now

    Specialty Demag Chain Hoists Available Now

    As Western Canada’s Demag Stocking Dealer and the only Demag distributor in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Kristian Electric Ltd. carries a lot of Demag equipment in our inventory. Occasionally, we stock specialty Demag equipment that goes past the standard ready-to-buy builds of Demag electric chain hoists and wire rope hoists!

    We’ve decided to feature a few selected specialty Demag items that we have in stock right now in this blog post. If you are searching for a specific hoist for your overhead crane system and would prefer not to wait for production, check out our list below of some of the Demag chain hoists we have available now for purchase.

    Feel free to contact our sales team should you have any questions or interest in the items featured below!

    DEMAG DC PRO

    Demag DC-PRO 25-5000 H5 Electric Chain Hoist

    Capacity: 5000 kg (5 tonne, 5.5 Ton)

    Lifting Speed: 4.8/1.2 m/min (16/4 fpm)

    Height of Lift: 16 ft

    Voltage: 440-480

    Reeving: 2/1

    Serial Number: 94255845

    Location: Kristian Edmonton

    Kristian Part #: 069318246

    DEMAG EUDDC PRO 10-2000

    Demag EUDDC-PRO 10-2000 2/1 H8 “Monorail Hoist”

    Electric Chain Hoist with Articulating Monorail Trolley

    Capacity: 2000 kg (2 tonne, 2.2 Ton)

    Hoist Lifting Speed: 7.2/1.8 m/min

    Trolley Travel Speed: 20/5 m/min

    Height of Lift: 8 ft

    Voltage: 575

    Reeving: 2/1

    Trolley Details: EUD articulated trolley for travel on curved profile girders. 300mm Trolley Flange Width: 300 mm

    Serial Number: 94342245

    Location: Kristian Edmonton

    Kristian Part #: 06EUDDCPRO102000

    DEMAG DC PRO 10 1000

    Demag DC-PRO 10-1000 H16 Electric Chain Hoist

    Capacity: 1000 kg (1 tonne, 1.1 Ton)

    Lifting Speed: 14.4/3/6 m/min

    Height of Lift: 16 ft

    Voltage: 575

    Reeving: 2/1

    Serial Number: 94342245

    Location: Kristian Edmonton

    Kristian Part #: 1575600088

    If you are interested in another Demag electric chain hoist, wire rope hoist, or lifting accessory for your facility’s overhead cranes – contact our Kristian Electric team today! We’ve been Canada’s go-to Demag source for over forty years.

    When it comes to overhead cranes in Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon, our team is always ready to help. Whether it is providing overhead crane service, custom overhead crane manufacturing, or just answering questions – you can always count on us!

    From Workstation Bridge Crane to Giant Claw Machine

    From Workstation Bridge Crane to Giant Claw Machine

    Did you know that a workstation bridge crane played an essential part of creating a one-of-a-kind claw machine game out of a GMC truck bed?

    Here at Kristian Electric, we like to say that the overhead crane business has its ups and downs. However, one of the most rewarding aspects of our business is using our decades of knowledge and experience to find the best lifting solutions for our customers.

    Our freestanding workstation bridge crane in action at the 2023 GMC Stampede tent. Photo provided by Exhibit Studio.
    This year, we had the opportunity to apply our expertise by assisting the Exhibit Studio team in creating a giant pickup claw machine game for the 2023 Calgary Stampede. Working with an idea from Momentum Worldwide, Exhibit Studio designed a system to have users move the claw from a control station that simulated driving a GMC Denali. A camera was mounted on the claw, allowing users to get a bird’s-eye view of the truck bed, where they could try to retrieve hard-coated styrofoam prize boxes. These boxes featured different graphics representing various exciting prizes, including Yeti coolers, kayaks, BBQs, and more.

    When Exhibit Studio realized they needed a crane to turn this vision into reality, they turned to our team at Kristian Electric Calgary. Sales representative Leonard Forcey, responsible for finding the right overhead crane solution, started by gathering all the project details.

    Every new crane solution begins with a detailed consultation and plan by our team of experts, considering all aspects of the project, including lifting application, project timelines, facility limitations, and applicable regulatory requirements.

    After reviewing the scope of work and project details, Leonard determined that a freestanding workstation bridge crane would be the optimal crane system for the giant claw machine. This crane would not only be fully motorized but also equipped with a full remote-control function that could work with Exhibit Studio’s custom control system to move the claw up and down. “Considering what they needed [the crane] to do,” he explained, “I knew a workstation crane would be the best fit for providing full movement for this project.”

    Although the custom aluminum claw used for the claw machine weighed less than 50 lbs, we supplied a Spanco freestanding workstation bridge crane with a 2000 lbs lifting capacity.

    The custom aluminum claw mounted on our workstation bridge crane. Photo provided by Exhibit Studio.
    The next challenge was meeting the project timeline. The GMC pickup giant claw machine game was needed for the Calgary Stampede in July, giving us just a few weeks. With the optimal crane solution in place, our next step was organizing the construction, painting, and shipping of the workstation crane to meet the project’s tight schedule.

    Having been in the crane and hoist supply business for over fifty years, Kristian Electric has built strong, long-lasting relationships with our extensive dealer network. These relationships came in handy when we needed them most. The remarkable team at Spanco in Las Vegas manufactured, custom painted, and shipped the workstation crane to our Calgary team in just twenty days.

    Spanco custom painted the workstation crane in the GMC brand colors. Photo provided by Exhibit Studio.

    With the custom workstation crane in hand, it was finally time to install it on-site at the Calgary Stampede. While these workstation crane systems are typically designed to anchor in 6 inches of solid concrete, the temporary nature of this project meant that we needed to find an alternative, less-permanent solution for crane installation. Our Kristian Calgary team enlisted a structural engineer to mount the workstation crane on rig mats to ensure its stability during the 10 days of the Calgary Stampede without permanent installation.

    As you can imagine, turning a workstation crane into a giant claw machine game required more than just the crane. To learn more about this incredible project, we encourage you to check out Exhibit Studio’s writeup on their blog.

    Kristian Electric was thrilled to collaborate with the Exhibit Studio team to provide a custom freestanding workstation bridge crane for this one-of-a-kind GMC giant claw game. While the crane business is full of ups and downs, this partnership was unquestionably one of the most exciting projects we have completed in the past few years!

    The giant claw machine game in action at the 2023 Calgary Stampede. Photo provided by Exhibit Studio.
    If you are considering building your own giant claw machine or just in need of a custom crane solution in Calgary, Edmonton or Saskatoon – please contact our team at Kristian Electric today!