My 2 cents worth also supports the MIG over the TIG and ARC. I really wanted a large 250 A floor model, but after doing a bit of research, I settled on a Lincoln 170 Amp. It's portable (although a bit heavy), and I had to ask myself how often I ever turned the machine at work onto the high settings anyway. The welders I talked to all warned against the 110V models. The duty cycle is rather short and they said nothing is more infuriating than having the machine shut down in the middle of a weld. The 220V hasn't been a real problem either. If you are serious about restoring vehicles, you also need a decent air compressor, and again, 110V isn't going to cut it.
The Canadian tire Lincolns didn't look too bad until I added the cost of the gas kit into it, at which time the cost was about the same as the larger 220V which came with the regulater and gas set-up anyway.
The flux core welders look cheaper at first glance, but the spools of wire are 3 times as much to buy, so there aren't really any savings in the long run.
Lincoln also stands behind their products. Try and get some overseas company like Clarke to do that.
What I really wanted to avoid when I bought my welder was a repeat of my aircompressor purchase(s). My first one was a joke, and I have now a total of 4 compressors of varying sizes. But I think I got the MIG right the first time, it is still my only electric welder. Mind you, I still have to have the oxy-acetylene.
To sum up all this verbal meandering, I give my vote of confidence to a 220V mid range welder because:
1) It's portable; you could take it to a friends and hook it up with a suitable extension cord from his dryer outlet.
2) It has the gas kit included
3) It is a big name, north american company which will still be there when you hand this item down to your first born son
4) It has infinitely variable settings
5) Parts are available at the local welding shop; you aren't ordering them (as if they are ever going to come anyway) from overseas
6) It is large enough to do whatever you need to do; you won't have to go buy a bigger one in a year or two.
Regarding the gas cylinder: I paid $140 for my cylinder, which the gas company replaces by exchange whenever I need more. It doesn't take a mathematician to figure out which is cheaper (one time purchase at $140 or annual rental at $30) in the long run.
Another word of warning about some of those Princess auto 110V welders; house type plug ins are only rated for 15Amps, so how are you supposed to use a 20 Amp device out of it. True, you aren't going to the extreme amperage of that small machine that often, but even so, why work beyond the maximum rating of your circuits. Your insurance company sure isn't going to back you up if the worst case scenarios happen because of it.
Last big tip: Christmas is almost here. Just in case she hasn't bought you the big gift yet, an auto darkening helmet (around $150-250) is just about the best accessory you can get. If you have never used one, you don't know what you are missing. Once you have used one, you will never go back.
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