Looking for first serious welder

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I'm fairly new to the hobby, but getting more involved.  I've played with a handful of cheap harbor-freight MIG welders and have gotten fairly proficient.  A few months ago I picked up a Lincoln AC-225 and now 40lbs of welding rods later I'm really getting the hang of it. Now I'm looking to step up to a real welder and I'm very interested in TIG welding as well.  I want a multi-process machine that wont hold me back skill wise, but I don't need to weld anything very large/high amperage.I'm working with single phase 220 and welding mostly steel and aluminum.  I'm also open to buying a used welder in good condition, once I know what to look for.
Reply:I think you already have a "real welder" in the Tombstone.  If your going to be doing Aluminum, your going to need a lot of amps.  Aluminum welds different than steel.A multi-process welder can be had.  How much do you want to spend?  And what are you looking to weld as far as thickness, length of weld time, and on the flat or out of position?  Hobby or for a living?Answer those questions first, then the "Pro's" here will give you some guidance.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:I'm looking to spend around $1000 at this time, but can be swayed a little if needed.Right now I'm only interested in this as a hobby.  I mostly weld sheet metal up to 3/16" steel.  Trailers, cars, shop work, etc..  I work with a lot of angle and tube steel and aluminum, and will be building a tubular frame race vehicle soon.Most of the welds I've done so far have been flat, or downhill.  I'm starting to do some vertical beads and out of position welds but 80% of it is flat stuff.
Reply:for a grand i would go with the mm211
Reply:if you want aluminum, a nice tig machine is thermal arc 185. if you can stay away from aluminum and us a dc machine there are nice maxstars  for less  money.
Reply:I am not trying to be funny here but for a grand you are only going to get a decent mig welder or an AC/DC stick welder. You could consider used though and might find a deal. When I decided to get a stick tig unit I looked at all the options and tried to consider what I was going to be doing with it. If aluminum is something you want to do then power is what you are looking for. I bought the Lincoln Precision Tig 225 which works very well but can only do 3/8 to 1/4 aluminum and only for limited beads lengths. It duty cycle is limited at its top end. What are your over all plans for this welder and what future plans are you consideringMiller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Ed mac said "for a grand i would go with the mm211 " I second that and you can pick up a spool gun for it to mig aluminum.then if you find you need a more powerful machine you could get back most of your money reselling.felonCaution lurker lives here" hmmm That is serious,pass the ganja and pick up a  24 of MGD"
Reply:Your $1000 budget will keep you out of any AC tig machine, except for an older transformer unit, like an Idealarc or Dialarc HF or other such machine from 20 and more years ago, or an inexpensive newer used transformer machine, such as an Econotig..   The old behemoths are fine machines and can be had at good prices and will do just what you want, if you have enough juice to run one.  If you have 100 amps 220v single phase power, you can run one and do ac/dc tig and stick, all rods and all metal thicknesses.  The Econotig will give you the same capability in a newer machine with 50 amps less input power required and 100 amps less welding output.If you want mig, I second the recommendation for the Millermatic 211.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Contact Member 7A749...I just got one of the older Miller 330A/AB Tig machines from him and it is a wonderful unit...It is well within your budget.And it is hooked up to 220 single on a 100 amp breaker..No worries....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:The Miller XMT 304 series looks very nice, and obviously well out of my budget.  Does anyone make a similar welder for cheaper?  I might be able to swing it..I didn't realize how different a MIG power supply (CV) and a TIG supply (CC) are.  It seems I would be best getting two separate machines in the long run.  The MM211 looks like a great little machine, what else can I compare it with?I only have 50-60 Amps 230v available to run this so I can't pick up an old behemoth.
Reply:The XMT's are nice units. You see them occasionally used for cheap. Watch out though, some older ones are set for funky input power and can't be changed. 7A749 (Steve) and I talked about these when I was looking at a used one this spring that someone near me had for sale.Few thoughts on an XMT... It's strictly a power supply first. If you want to do mig or tig you'll need to get a feeder or add on tig items. You can't do Ac.. It's a DC only machine. That means that alum tig is out. You could do alum mig, but you'd need a push pull gun and feeder or an adapter unit that will run a spoolgun IIRC. On tig you can do scratch start tig, but you need a torch with a gas control on the handle with the XMT304, theres no solenoid to turn on the gas. I believe you can get a HF unit with the gas solenoid installed, but I've never used the XMT for tig myself.BTW I'll second talking to Steve, 7A749, if you are looking for a good solid used machine. He's got several posts up on his refurbs here if you do a search. He does nice work. I have a feeder I need to get to him to do a rebuild on at some point..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