I am looking to get a welder. These 2 models are in my price range (I get Home Depot gift certificates through work, so it costs me nothing) and I like both for various reasons. On both the welding wire is electrically dead until the trigger is squeezed.
I like the 3200HD because it comes with the regulator and hose to convert to gas use. As far as I understand the 100HD doesn't include these extras.The 100HD looks a little smaller than the 3200HD. Although the 3200HD says it can do up to 5/16" with multipass techniques. Plus the 3200HD takes the big spools instead of just 4" spools, so I would waste less wire in the long run during spool changes.
I plan on welding mostly steel upto 1/4" thick but more around 3/16" sometimes 1/8". Some day I may do aluminum, hence why I was thinking about the 3200HD set up for gas use.
Get the 3200 for the reasons you listed. It is much more versitile and will do a much better job. Having a 240 volt receptacle installed in your shop is not a problem at all. The 3200 is a great welder for a home type shop.
John a tig welder is for aluminum and stainless, not heavy duty work. GMAW and Flux core wire is for heavy duty work.
Hobart ER5356 Aluminum Welding Wire 1-lb Spool-.030 Wire #H383806-R18, Millermatic 200 With Spool Gun Great for Aluminum Wire Welding (used), FPW1440-0186 Er5356 Mig Aluminum Welding Wire .30 Inch-5 Pounds, ALUMINUM WELDING WIRE ER 5356 15 LB Spool .0625" / 1/16" Chainmail / Chain Mail, 2 INWELD ALUMINUM WELDING WIRE 0.30 1 LB SPOOLS New, Aluminum welding wire, 20# roll, ALUMINUM WELDING WIRE ER 5356 15 LB Spool .0625" / 1/16" Chainmail / Chain Mail, ALUMINUM WELDING WIRE ER 5356 15 LB Spool .0625" / 1/16" Chainmail / Chain Mail, ALUMINUM WELDING WIRE ER 5356 15 LB Spool .0625" / 1/16" Chainmail / Chain Mail, ALUMINUM WELDING WIRE ER 5356 15 LB Spool .0625" / 1/16" Chainmail / Chain Mail, Hobart ER5356 Aluminum Welding Wire 1-lb Spool-.035 Wire #H383808-R18, .035" ER4043 Alcotec Almigweld 4043 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 311 Drum, Aluminum Mig Welding Wire Alloy ER5356 Heat A-412 .035 2 lbs , ER5356 Aluminum Welding Wire 4" Spool 3/64" (1.2MM) Dia. ILB (2 Each) , 3/64" ER4643 Alcotec Almigweld 4643 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, 4 NEW LINCOLN SUPERGLAZE ALUMINUM MIG WELDING WIRE,4043, Harris, ALUMINUM, welding wire, 5356- .035- 5pound NIB, MIG Aluminum Welding Wire 50# 4043 .035 Drum Alcotec, ALUMINUM WELDING WIRE ER 5356 15 LB Spool .0625" / 1/16" Chainmail / Chain Mail, 1/8" ER1100 Alcotec Almigweld 1100 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 25 Coil 110070125T, .030" ER5356 Radnor 5356 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool Set of: 16, 3/64" ER4043 Alcotec Almigweld 4043 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 Wire Basket, ALUMINUM MIG WELDING WIRE ER- 4043.030", 3/64" ER4043 Radnor 4043 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool Set of: 16, .035" ER5356 Radnor 5356 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool Set of: 16, 1/16" ER5356 Radnor 5356 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool Set of: 16, .040" ER5183 Alcotec Almigweld 5183 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, 1/16" ER5554 Alcotec Almigweld 5554 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 20 12" Spool, 3/64" ER5183 Alcotec Almigweld 5183 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, 1/16" ER4643 Alcotec Almigweld 4643 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, .030" ER4643 Alcotec Almigweld 4643 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 14 12" Spool, .040" ER4047 Alcotec Almigweld 4047 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, 3/32" ER1100 Alcotec Almigweld 1100 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, .035" ER4043 Alcotec Almigweld 4043 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, .040" ER5356 Alcotec Almigweld 5356 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, 1/16" ER5556 Alcotec Almigweld 5556 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 Wire Basket, .051" ER1100 Alcotec Almigweld 1100 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 50 Coil, .035" ER2319 Alcotec Almigweld 2319 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, .035" ER4643 Alcotec Almigweld 4643 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, .035" ER5356 Alcotec Almigweld 5356 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 50 Drum 535650035, 3/64" ER5183 Alcotec Almigweld 5183 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 20 12" Spool, .030" ER5554 Alcotec Almigweld 5554 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 14 12" Spool, .035" ER5183 Alcotec Almigweld 5183 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, 3/32" ER5556 Alcotec Almigweld 5556 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, 3/64" ER4043 Alcotec Almigweld 4043 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 20 12" Spool, 1/16" ER5654 Alcotec Almigweld 5654 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 12" Spool, 1/16" ER5356 Alcotec Almigweld 5356 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 Wire Basket, .035" ER4043 Alcotec Almigweld 4043 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 16 Wire Basket, .030" ER4145 Alcotec Almigweld 4145 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 14 12" Spool, 3/64" ER5556 Alcotec Almigweld 5556 Aluminum MIG Welding Wire 20 12" Spool,
