Newb question about 250A mig welder (power mig 216)

admin

Gents,What is the "approximate" thickness of mild steel that a mig welder delivering 250A could weld up in a single pass with gas shielding?   Im looking at the LE (Lincoln Electric) power mig 216 and for the average garage welder such as myself, I'd like to maybe purchase that one.   I'm assuming I'd use .035 L-56 SuperArc wire.   I DO NOT want to use the flux core stuff.  LE's website doesn't show a newbie (aka: me) me the "dummy" charts for steel, unlike their power mig 140's and 180's do.  I'm hoping that at least 1/2" steel plate could be easily welded up in a single pass for things like rifle targets I plan on making, amoung other things.  I really want better penetration than what their 180A model puts out.  Their power mig 180 doesn't thrill me all that much and the 216 model isn't that much more expensive to get more amps.Thank you very much,Newb.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:One last thing..........  I do plan on welding up a utility trailer in the near future and want to make sure a GMAW machine at 250A would be plenty of power for the hitch tongue part and the stresses that come with a heavy load from towing.......  God forbid the weld beads crack and cause an accident down the highway. Thanks.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Go to the following link on the Lincoln website for the PowerMig 216 manual.  On page 29 you will find the chart stating metal thickness and the appropriate weld settings with various gas mixtures.http://content.lincolnelectric.com//...im/IM10016.pdf
Reply:That'll about do it; assuming of course that you take proper steps before hand that may include, beveling and preheating above 3/8" thick, or in the case of larger structures.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:Originally Posted by SuperArcGents,What is the "approximate" thickness of mild steel that a mig welder delivering 250A could weld up in a single pass with gas shielding?   Im looking at the LE (Lincoln Electric) power mig 216 and for the average garage welder such as myself, I'd like to maybe purchase that one.   I'm assuming I'd use .035 L-56 SuperArc wire.   I DO NOT want to use the flux core stuff.  LE's website doesn't show a newbie (aka: me) me the "dummy" charts for steel, unlike their power mig 140's and 180's do.  I'm hoping that at least 1/2" steel plate could be easily welded up in a single pass for things like rifle targets I plan on making, amoung other things.  I really want better penetration than what their 180A model puts out.  Their power mig 180 doesn't thrill me all that much and the 216 model isn't that much more expensive to get more amps.Thank you very much,Newb.