Which Most needed in Set Ups

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I currently have a Lincoln Pro Mig 180 that runs off of 220 power.It seems pretty versatile. I am trying to obtain the right equipment to be flexible and allow me to make money welding for a living. I just made a decision a couple days ago on some equipment and wanted to see what you think. I had to decide between a Lincoln Century mig welder that runs up to about 80 amps and runs off of 110 household power. the other choice, a Hobart Stickmate welder that uses electrodes. Considering what I got, which do you think would make the best addition to my set up, The Century Mig 80 amper or the Hobart Stickmate ? Thanks guysBrian
Reply:Stick, for versatility. Get DC.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:The more tools you have the better.   If you plan on welding full time. you will want a DC stick welder with a higher duty cycle.  You never know when a heavy job may come along and you might have to run a 5/32 rod, for it, or you may need to do some gouging too. Having both a mig and a stick, makes every type of job.... one you can handle.  ..... now I just need to get a tig, and a portable stick machine, and a plasma cutter, and a ..... it never ends...... Last edited by Packrat; 11-13-2007 at 03:24 AM.Lincoln 225 AC/DC, Hobart 140 Mig. Oxy/propane Victor torch.(2) Makita 5" angle grinders  one with zip disk, 14" chop saw.  and just about every other tool you can think of. Whoever has the most toys when he die's ..... Wins!
Reply:We really need to know what you plan to do.  I build lots of rails.  While I could build rails with stick, clean up time is increased dramatically.  I use mig only for fabricating rails.I have 4 stick welders and 1 mig.  3 are dc and one is an old 20th century stick welder.  I really perfer stick and choose it most often when cleanup and spatter in less important.If money and size are considerations, then the miller 150s are relatively cheap in the used market.I have never gone past a duty cycle while stick welding.  Then, I rarely get above 110 amps.The miller pasport seems like a good idea.  I have never used one, however.Last edited by tapwelder; 11-13-2007 at 09:31 AM.