Which welder should I purchase?!

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Hello - I have a few upcoming projects that will require welding both steel and aluminum (different jobs). I anticipate future work so I figure now is the best time to learn the art of welding and invest in decent welding equipment. My first job (personal project) requires a t-joint connection between two hefty pieces of steel -- 1" x 4" plate to the inside of a C6x10.5 channel. I have attached a drawing to illustrate my question. I have my eye on a Lincoln Power MIG 180C. Would this welder (or it's equivalent) be ok for a job like this? Is it too much juice, just right, or not enough? I don't want to spend more than necessary as I am just a beginner. I have read that stick welders are often best for thicker steel, but I like the idea of investing in a MIG welder because I would also like to weld aluminum, someday....Thanks!! Attached Imageswelds.pdf (87.5 KB, 67 views)
Reply:what is it that the plate is so thick?Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:Free steel that was saved from becoming a pile of rust!! It is a frame for a very large custom CNC mill.
Reply:If you want a MIG unit, it's going to need to be a 250 amp unit for the material thickness you are currently wanting to weld. A 180C is really best suited for 1/4" and thinner. You can push the 180C to 1/2" recreation usage, with the correctly rated multi-pass self shielded fluxcore wire. The additional top end power that a Hobart Handler 210 MVP or Millermatic 211 offers may be enough to get the job done with a Hobart Fabshield 21B self shielded fluxcore wire.ESAB Migmaster 250 Hobart Ironman 230Multimatic 215TWECO Fabricator 181i & 211iHH125EZ - nice little fluxcore only unitMaxstar 150 STH - very nice
Reply:If you want to do aluminum you need to look at a totally different machine and definitely need a bigger one.