Will echo what everyone else has said. MIG first. Then TIG. Buy a Hobart Handler 185 and a bottle of 75/25. I've had mine for over 5 years and love this thing. I think it cost me right at $1000 between machine and bottle to start welding. Worth every penny.

 

Yeah. Go with MIG if you haven't learned TIG already.

 

Welding art. Not mine, just wanted to share.

 

Thanks everyone for the suggestions - it goes along with the research I did about entering into the work of welding. I don't have the space to support welding when I get donw there so I will probably end up just taking the AR15 and cash

 

WOW!!!!

 

Anyone here get a load of the new Miller Multimatic 215? Does stick, tig and mig

 

I expected that to cost a lot more money than it does. Interesting.

 

I think im gonna try it.

 

usually machines of that caliber don't have AC frequency that you would need to weld aluminum. So if you plan on doing that, you would need a machine with AC capability.

 

It Welds aluminum according to specifications https://www.millerwelds.com/equipmen...-welder-m30090

 

They have another multiprocess machine, the Multimatic 200, that costs about $2000. Then Lincoln came out with a machine that handles the same processes but undercut the price by $800. This is almost certainly an answer to that, although it looks like you have to pay extra for a MIG gun.

You're correct, it does not have AC TIG capability, but you can MIG weld aluminum using the spoolgun (which, of course, doesn't come with the machine).

 

i'm not a fan of those all-in-one type machines. sure they have their purpose, like the small home hobbyist, which may just work for most on here.

but i would just go with a true mig machine. maybe get yourself a spool gun too if you want to weld aluminum. my spool gun hasn't been touched since i bought it many years ago.

then if you want to try tig later, get yourself a decent used tig machine. i have the same one mentioned earlier, the lincoln precision tig. it's a good machine, but i hardly ever turn it on. it's really good for small precise work that fits on the welding table.

i started off with a cheap 110v lincoln mig pak that ended up getting stolen, so i replaced it with another 110v power mig pro unit 140c which works great for body work.

then i found a good used 220v thermal arc fabricator unit. cost a bit, but well worth it.

as for my stick machine, i mostly use it as a generator more than a welder. it's a lincoln ranger. good ac machine that can weld structural buildings. too much for my world, but a handy portable unit.

 

the thing about a dedicated MIG machine is man the MILLERMATIC 250 series are a nut!! lol.

 

If you think MP machines are for 'small home hobbyists'.. You are wrong. Do not recommend or discourage the purchase of any product if you have no experience using said product. The Lincoln 210 MP would probably be the best welder for every person on this forum. Do not limit yourself to a 110v machine. If you weld anything but sheet metal with those machines you are putting more than your life at risk..

 

Please do elaborate. How exactly is a Multimatic 200 or 215 not a "true MIG machine"? What exactly is the difference between a true MIG machine and a fake MIG machine?