Beginner looking for guidance !

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i have a little stick welding experience (very little) i would like to get my own MIG welder and start working some metal 12-14 gauge maybe 1/4" thickest material ill be using what is a good starter MIG , i have a 220 outlet so i guess 220 unit would be best ? what kind of tools should i look into getting for cutting and bending ? and where to get them for the best price ?i have about 600$ to get started with this new hobby.
Reply:That might cover a decent welder on ebay or craiglist if your lucky...I just picked up a new miller autoset 140 and I am very pleased with it. But I am not going to weld on anything big...on all your other tools take you time is all I can say. I recently got a hypertherm 30 for cutting my metal and this little baby rocks but again it was $1000...so you just have to decide what you want to do first and go from there. good luck !JerodHypertherm 30Miller Syncrowave 200Millermatic 140and a propane torch and hanger if all else fails
Reply:ive been looking at the lincoln 140hd and 180 hd http://cgi.ebay.com/NIB-Lincoln-Elec...item3efd7a7cd1any thoughts on those ?
Reply:Definitely buy a 240v machine.That is a good price for the 180HD- are you in Canada?Another machine to look at is the Hobart Handler 187Toolking offers reconditioned units in your price rangehttp://www.toolking.com/hobart-50052...LAID=430271099Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:I'd agree that you need to get a 240v machine. $600 is a tight buget, but doable. Besides the welder you'll want a few other things. A decent hood. The fixed shade ones are cheap and just fine on a tight buget. You can always move up to an auto darkening hood later if you choose, but right now put the money towards the machine to get the most machine you can afford, and then some if possible. You'll also want a 4 1/2" grinder as a minimum. Later you may want to get a bottle of gas to run solid wire mig rather than FC wire. It's cleaner and will let you do thinnner steel like sheet metal.It's easy too add $300 + when you add in a grinder, AD hood and gas bottle, as well as wire, mig pliers and a few other goodies..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan