Welder/Generator recommendations?

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I am fairly new to welding and I am looking to buy a welder and generator (separate or "combo")For the welder, I will be welding 1/4" regularly. I will also have to weld some sheet metal which I understand a mig is better for this.The only welder that I have experience with is this arc welder : linkCould I buy a generator to power one of these or should I buy a combo welder/generator unit?I want to spend around $1200 totalWhat do you all recommend?Last edited by Lostj; 07-27-2009 at 09:02 PM.
Reply:Hi, To run that Tombstone, you will need like a 12KW+ genset to get full power from the welder. Some have managed to use those on slightly smaller machines but you will be severly limited in amps.$1200 is a tight budget for a new engine drive. A quick look online shows a Hobart 140 amp engine drive AC  stick machine at $1400 new.Used, CL has had a bunch every so often around me. Mostly old stick only machines, seldom with AC aux power in that price range. The bigger machines are more.If you want to do mig, you need to get a seperate wire feeder and preferably a genset unit that is CV/CC and not straight CC. The other option is to get a regular mig and plug it into the aux power on the genset/welder. Depending on the mig you'll probably need at least a 4500 w generator or larger. The 2 machines combined are well over $1200 new most likely. Even used thats going to be a tight squeeze.If you only need it for a couple of jobs, think about rentals. Home Depo rents the small migs and posibly a small gen set stick machine. The contractors rental place near me rents the small genset stick machine, and can get a larger miller bobcat if given advanced notice.Hope the helps.