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I am trying to decide what equipment i should look for.Now I hav a del200 generator welder.I need a welder in the shop so i dont have to drag the del in and out.I would like to be able to weld all metalsShould I settle for a tig/stick machine without AC and forget about Al. for now. Or get a mig machine and a spoolgun and still use the del for stick.Looking for a quality system, but at the usual economy price....or id get one of everything.Any Ideas?G
Reply:good weld can be done with mig on any meteral you can stick weld,alum tooChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:good point chuck.so miging Al. works fine. I assume a spoolgun is best?I always assumed that it was very hard to make it look good with a mig, but i never tried it.G
Reply:I have a Thermal Arc 185 stick\tig inverter.  Its very functional for the price.
Reply:MIG is really the best all around welder. If money allows I would opt for a push pull puls MIG like a Miller matic 350P or its equivilent. A spool gun works fine but it is a little heavy and can be hard to get into a tight spot. With puls you can weld 19ga. aluminum or 1/2" steel plate. I love mine and once you get used to the pulse it rocks. My machine was $3100 with out the push pull su it can be costly but if you can afford it that would be a great way to go. Steel Thunder Welding LLC. St. Thomas VI USAMM350PBOBCAT 3MAXSTAR 150 STH375 EXTREME PLASMA6.5 HP COMPRESORDEWALT 18, 24, AND 36 VOLTO/A TORCH SETAND SO MUCH MORE I DONT REMEMBERALL IN MY 2005 2500HD EXTENDED CAB L/B
Reply:For welding of all metals with one machine, an AC/DC TIG welder is probly the best solution for the money, and you can TIG as well as stick with the same machine.   If you have enough juice in your shop, an old Dialarc HF or Idealarc or Syncrowave, or any of the old transformer/rectifier ac/dc machines, can get you tig welding any kind of metal for not alot of money.   You can pick up one of those old machines for under a grand, with everything you need to weld, and they pack the power to weld the thick stuff too.  They may be lacking of fancy features, but they have everything needed to weld anything you will need to weld.  This all depends, of course, on you knowing, or being willing to learn, to tig weld.Aside from that, the larger migs with a spool gun can do most metals fine like Offroad said, albeit for more money than an older tig.   I really like my Millermatic 350P with Spoolmatic gun.  Of course, it was about $5000 for everything needed to weld both steel and aluminum, and I already owned the gun, just spent some money adapting it to use on the 350P.  Would have been close to $6000 if I'd had to buy a new spool gun too.   By contrast, the Dialarc HF tig machine I got complete for only 3 digits and included everything needed to weld (less the argon bottle).  I've not hooked it up to my power here at home yet, but I have welded with it at work and even though it is about 25 years old, it still works fine and will weld just about anything.Last edited by DesertRider33; 01-23-2008 at 11:34 AM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I also agree with Hugh Jarse.   I have the same Thermal Arc 185 ACDC TIG machine and, for the money, it is a very nice, feature-packed little machine.  If you want a new, small inverter TIG with all the fancy stuff that will do everything, minus the thick metal capability, the little Thermal Arc is a great choice.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op