Preheating in an oven

[dsthompson]

So here is the next in my long list of stupid welding questions.

200e running on a 30 amp 110 volt circuit.

I am going to weld up a trailer hitch insert...so the part the ball sits on. I have scrap 1/2" angle iron and the 1/4" thick tube that I'm using.

I've done half inch stuff before with an even wimpier 110v welder, but I set that on a propane burner long enough to turn a dull red. It worked quite well.

I am considering putting these bits of metal in the oven on broil (500F) for an hour or so (since I don't have the propane torch anymore) then do the welding.

Am I wasting my time by doing this?

Is the 200e more than powerful enough to handle 1/2"?

thx

[Rambozo]

A little preheat is always nice, but the real thing is to bevel the joints properly and do multi pass welds.