Opinions Again, (Please)

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I'm going to purchase a stick machine pretty soon and had a question about what I really need.  I'll probably get the, "What do you plan on welding" questions, and with that, I'm not 100% sure of everything I will eventually end up welding.  I realize an AC/DC machine would definitely be more versatile, but what would DC capabilities give me over an AC only rig?  I've heard that some rods flow better with DC.  Am I limited in the metals I could weld?Thanks for the opinions.Just an FYI:  Once I complete welding training and become proficient, my plan is to purchase a nice TIG set up, but that's down the road aways."Never mistake education for intelligence."AIRCO Oxy/AccMiller Thunderbolt
Reply:Opinions abound here like water from an artesian well (or a bottomless pit depending on your disposition at the moment!)  But before the flood of opinions starts to spew forth like oil from a wildcat well you need to answer three questions:How big or how small are the projects you need this machine to support (how broad a scope of versatility)?What sort of mobility would you like to have?What do you have for a budget?Good luck!- MondoLast edited by Mondo; 09-21-2012 at 08:52 AM.Reason: Clearify Q 1Member, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:What size power supply do you have ? 30, 50, 100amp etc.   If you have 100 amp for example and don't need portability, get a miller 330A/BP or clone.  Can be had complete for about $500.   Used of course...Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Well, if you plan on doing tig, save your money for a Miller 200 syncro machine. Now you can do stick and tig. I got a old 180SD miller couple years ago for $800.00 complete set up with pedal. You just gotta watch for deals.
Reply:AC vs AC/DC stick.  DC will give you more rod options. Also you can do basic DC tig with a DC stick machine just by adding the torch. Adding all the tig parts to an AC machine is expensive and you are much more limited in what you can do, so it's usually fairly pointless to do so.AC only big up sides, are that they are easy to find, and very inexpensive. You can find a nice used AC machine for less that $150 easily, and between $50-100 if you look hard enough. 5-10 years down the road, you can sell it and still get at least 50% of your money back, if not all of it. This lets you get started easily and for very little risk. Find a nice AC/DC machine 2-3 years from now, buy it, and post your Ac machine up, and you had the "rental" on that AC machine for next to nothing. I sold my 180 amp AC Craftsman that I started with 20 years ago to one guy here who was learning for 2/3rd of what I paid originally. Final cost worked out to a bit over $1.25 per year... It still ran strong, and I bet if he give it to his grand kids, it will  still work fine with reasonable care..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
Reply:what ever you decide on buy bigger than you think you will ever need. been down that road too many times. one will almost always run into something if it was just a little bigger or better?????????????