Lincoln Welder Comparison between Weld-Pak 3200HD vs SP-135T vs SP-135 Plus
Richard Schultz
I am trying to determine the welder of choice between the following
Lincoln MIG/Wire Welders:
1. Weld-Pak 3200HD
2. SP-135T
3. SP-135 Plus
My thoughts on considerations:
a). I do not care about the price difference but at the same time I do
not want to throw money away.
b). My first job will be welding a steel fence, the second job will be
welding aluminum and the third job will be welding stainless steel.
Because of these needed capabilities, I will be purchasing options
required to do those jobs.
c). I do not care about the protective shield that comes with the
specified welders because I will be purchasing a new helmet anyway.
d). I will be purchasing my own Argon bottle and attach it to a cart.
e). I will be purchasing the optional welding cart unless one comes
with the welder.
f). I plan to use both types of wire: Flux-core and the solid and will
purchase both types as needed. I will probably purchase the 8 inch
spools rather than the 4 inch spools.
g). My experience is that I have completed several welding schools
Stick/TIG/MIG. In practice, I have only welded stick but a lot of it.
h). All of the welders above produce about 135A from a 120V AC power
source at 20A and that is paramount to my needs.
Once again thank you in advance for your inputs.
Regards,
Richard
San Jose, CA
Thank you in advance,
Richard
Thank you in advance,
Richard
Jamie Arnold
migs as 135 amp max, they really do about 90 amps max? Was I
mis-informed?
Either way, if you want to do aluminum I think you'll need a lot more
amperage than these machines can provide unless you are doing real
thin stuff and want to wait long periods of time until the machine
cools down.
J
On Wed, 18 Dec 2002 23:19:30 GMT, Richard Schultz <nos...@www.com>
wrote:
Keith Marshall
migs as 135 amp max, they really do about 90 amps max? Was I
mis-informed?<<
I believe they will do 135 amps but the duty cycle is usually rated at 90
amps. Not sure about it for those machines but 20% at 90 amps sounds
familiar.
Best Regards,
Keith Marshall
toola...@progressivelogic.com
"The universe is full of magical things,
patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper."
-Eden Phillpotts, A Shadow Passes, 1934
"Jamie Arnold" <bigg...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:qkc20vcubib8ecvcc...@4ax.com...
scott
Richard,you will get more adjustablity out of the sp 135 plus.It
will weld thin metal better.Lincoln has got that welder dialed in
really well.My second pick would be the sp135 T.Plus I would rather
support a welding store than Home Depot.I have heard 3200 is a little
different.I don't know for sure,but why take a chance.I do know one
thing the sp135 plus is the very best welder in that class,and the
others are not as good.
Scott
Keith Marshall
>>1. Weld-Pak 3200HD
>>2. SP-135T
>>3. SP-135 Plus
I'm fairly certain that the 3200HD and the SP-135T are the same machine with
different stickers/decals. They both have a 4 (or maybe 5?) position
voltage selector switch. The SP-135+ is the same except that it has
variable voltage so it's usually more expensive. Some prefer the variable.
I can't say from personal use but I've never missed it. It also seems to me
that the variable would be more prone to failure and more expensive to
repair.
My neighbor has a MIG-Pak 15. I have an SP-170T which has been replaced by
the SP-175T. I've looked at the parts listings for all three and the only
part that I can find that is different between them is the front panel
sticker/decal. I believe it is the same case with the 3200HD (a special
Home Depot version?) and the SP-135T but I haven't gone over their parts
lists.
I have no experience with aluminum but I think you'll want something more
powerful, probably a 220V machine to do anything substantial. You may also
want to look into this a bit more before you decide which gas you want to
use. Pure argon isn't so good for mild steel but you need it for Aluminum.
>>All of the welders above produce about 135A from a 120V AC power
source at 20A and that is paramount to my needs.<<
I believe the 135 amps is an absolute max at a very low duty cycle. They're
actually rated at 20% at 90 amps. You can find out for sure on the Lincoln
site at http://www.lincolnelectric.com. You can also compare the specs on
the different models there.
Zorro
You *can* wire up a 25 amp 120 volt outlet but probably won't already have one
in your house or garage.
As far as duty cycle goes, I only run mine on a 20 amp breaker so "it" pops
before the "machine" has a chance to get hot. Even if somebody has one hooked to
a 25 amp breaker, I doubt the duty cycle would be an issue with the machines
mentioned. You can only weld so much at home and without a helper fitting and
grinding, there's plenty of time for the machine to cool down.
Zorro
Mike Graham
> I was told that even though the Miller/Lincoln/Hobart list their 110
> migs as 135 amp max, they really do about 90 amps max? Was I
> mis-informed?
Plugged into a regular 15A outlet, 90A is about all you can reasonably
hope for. Plugged into a 20A outlet you get more, and the Lincoln, at
least, is rated for up to 25A of input.
> Either way, if you want to do aluminum I think you'll need a lot more
> amperage than these machines can provide
I haven't tried it, but that's what I hear.
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Mike Graham | Metalworker, rustic, part-time zealot.
mi...@metalmangler.com |
<http://www.metalmangler.com>| Caledon, Ontario, Canada
Richard Schultz
I ended up scouring various welding stores, both on-line and local to
San Jose. I ended up purchasing a New In Box Lincoln SP135 Plus on
eBay for $475 from a welding company in Ohio called weilerwelding.com.
Now, I am looking for other Lincoln options for the new "Plus" as well
as a helmet and other usual welding stuff.
Regards to all and have a great Holiday season.
Richard
San Jose, CA
scott
Richard,I glad you picked the best one,you got a good deal also.Check
back with a welding update,and tell these people how sweet the arc is
on those little welders.