3200HD OK for structural 1/8"?

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Never welded before, but want to.  I'd like to do a little bodywork to the car (cut out fender well rust and weld in a patch) and I'd also like to build a small shop press like this: http://home.comcast.net/~cburg/hydpress.htmlI've gone through a lot of the archived messages referencing the 3200HD, but wasn't convinced that I should stay away from it.  My local Home Depot has it on clearance for $300.  Would the welds on 1/8" angle iron (the above shop press) be structurally sound?  I might also want to make a new motor mount for my metal cutting bandsaw.  And maybe a new cart for the welder and a cart for metal stock for my lathe.  I doubt I'd ever need to weld thicker than 1/4".I was considering the AC/DC tombstone, but I'd have to run a 220V line to the garage and the 3200HD is 110V.I suppose I'd at least get $300 worth of experience getting the 3200?Mike
Reply:"Would the welds on 1/8" angle iron (the above shop press) be structurally sound?"   "Dark blue smerf says, 'Maybe'."City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:For $300 it's a steal. The 3200 will single pass weld 3/16 with gas, and with proper practice, technique (Proper preheat) you can do 1/4" steel, especially on smaller pieces. A 3200 will flat melt 1/8" steel set on max heat, it does just fine for that- that is primarily what they are made to excel at.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Rojo, I don't know where you are getting your numbers, but they are not accurate for solid wire and gas. The HD3200 is just a 135a MIG. 1/8" single pass according to Miller calculator and Esab would be in the 135-150a range for solid wire/gas. 3/16 is in the 155-170a range. I have used a 135 class MIG for a long time and they just do not have the guts to run 1/8 sufficiently for a "structural" weld.  The welds are cold on 1/8...I wouldn't even want to see a single pass on 3/16. Now those numbers work with flux core. The 135a units max out on 3/16 with flux core and can be persuaded to handle 1/4 if done correctly...but not with solid wire and gas. They just do not have enough power. If you buy into Lincoln's sales propaganda on those units, they can handle 1/2" with flux core. That just won't fly in the real world.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:I agree with DDA and I have a Lincoln 135.upand_at_them,If you can run 220v service you will be money ahead in the long run by moving up to a 180HDEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Most any 110 amp mig will put out barely 100 amps.  I don't care what it sez on the label.So my answer is no.  DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I guess I'm getting a 175 or 180 then.  Thanks.
Reply:It would be better to run a 175/180 class. It would overcome the limitations of a 135 class machine. The door chart on the 3200 HD stops at 14 ga for solid wire..so even they don't recommend it. It goes to 1/4 on flux core. I would not have an issue running flux core on that project at all. IT will most definitely work. Another thing to remember is that these small MIGs, although being 130vac, do need quite a bit of power. The need at least a 25a dedicated circuit. 30a is better. The higher up on the output scale you run them, the more juice they need. To make that unit work right, you would be needing the 30a dedicated circuit, NO EXTENSION CORD, and perfect conditions. Even with those factors combined, you are still operating outside the specs of the unit for solid wire and gas. But, with the 175/180 class MIG, you are well within spec. For that matter, the Tombstone would give you even more bang for the buck...if you run a 50a circuit.Something that most miss with these small units is the Volt Amp chart. If you look at it, you will see that the higher the amperage, the lower the volts drop. At full output, these things are in the 15-16vdc range. For 1/8, you should really be in the 17-18vdc  range according to the calculator. Yes, they are rated at 90a and 19vdc, but when you go higher in the amperage dept., the volts tank quickly and you end up with a very cool arc for running 1/8...way too cool IMO.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS