I need some advice

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I build wooden boats for a hobbie (16ft and under) but someday I would like to build and sell them as a sideline. I have plans for building a couple of different size trailers to put them on. I enrolled a couple of weeks ago into some welding courses at the local college and have started to think about which model of welder I would like to use after I graduate. I have decided that a plain old AC/DC stick welder would probably suit me OK for what I want to do. We have some 120v welders in the school and I find them difficult to use. When I jump up to the bigger welders I have much better results. Anyway I have been looking at three models and would like some opinions on them if anyone could, please.  1. Miller Thunderbolt XL 225/150 230v AC/DC2. Hobart Stickmate LX 235 235AC/160DC3. Lincoln (K1297) AC/DC 225/125All three are about the same price. Do you think it would be OK for single pass welds on  1/4" or even perhaps 3/8" mild steel? Could someone please give me the pro's and con's on these machines? While I won't be using them as a steady profession, I would still like a quality machine. Another question. Can these machines be operated from a common generator with a 230v outlet? I may have to weld something out away from any power source.  Or would I be better off looking for a GMAW welder instead of SMAW? Is there one out there for $600-700.00 that could handle the type of metal I am interested in working with? People in my class seem to think GMAW is a bit more refined and easier to learn. So many questions..... Soooooo, I am glad I found this site. I'm a real newbie at this. Thanks for any help you all can give to me.Last edited by Michael45; 09-08-2009 at 02:26 AM.Reason: Forgot something.
Reply:You can't go wrong with a 220 volt stick machine. Any one of the those you listed will do the job easily. It is just a matter of picking up the skill by practice and training. Hood down, burn rod! Stick welding is very versatile.Mig machines will be more initial investment and it is simply a different process to learn. The different processes lend themselves better or worse to different situations that become more apparent the more experience you gain.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:If it was me I would use gmaw if I was doing it inside.. Now with that said if your planning on welding outside more then I would go with the smaw with ac/dc on it.. But having a good stick welder is worth its weight in gold..
Reply:How many do you hope to do?  If you're planning on welding together several trailers, GMAW will probably be faster (meaning you could make more money per hour of labor), but it will require a larger initial investment.  That being said, a nice stick welder will do fine as well.  I really like my Lincoln AC/DC 225/125, but I'm sure all of them are fine.Esab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:As a young man I was stationed aboard the USS Midway CV-41 over in Japan. I spent many a day as a fire watch for the local welders while they worked onboard. It was all stick welding. I remember being amazed at how skilled they were. Since that time SMAW has always been my idea of what welding is. I had never even heard of GMAW until I entered school.  (Dumb-dumb) Very narrow viewpoint I know. I am currently studying Oxy-fuel, GMAW and SMAW in school and by far my favorite is SMAW. It's going to take much more practice to become good at it, but I'm willing to make the effort. I see it as a little more versatile for what I intend to do. For some reason, to me anyway, SMAW just screams "American Cool".  It sure is nice to talk with people experienced in this field. I will continue to "lurk" in the background and pick up info from you fellas. Thank you.
Reply:Get the stick welder and learn to use it.It is cheaper, and you will never regret having it. As to which one... flip a coin? Can't go wrong with any of em really. Just be sure to get one that will weld DC. MUCH more versatile.
Reply:I like stick best. I like Miller best.
Reply:I did real well in the SMAW class tonight. All of the machines in the college are Miller's. I like that they are small enough to be carried without to much fear of the hernia factor.  I cannot believe how much I have improved in just the last week. Three more months to go! It's starting to get fun....
Reply:Thats awesome!  I agree that stick welding is "American Cool".  The most important thing is to have fun while doing it!Esab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:you wont single pass 3/8. in theory it would require 375 amps.multipass is the way to go.
Reply:I've got the Miller Thunderbolt XL. It's a great machine, stick welds like a champ and I also TIG with it too. Got it off craigslist...best place to find a good welding machine.- If you can jump across it you can weld it!  - anonymous old boilermaker
Reply:Near as I can tell, the Miller and the Hobart are the same machine (same shape, same controls just different colors and decals). I think I both companies are owned by the same corporation, so they probably share some models. Anyhow, I like them both better than the Lincoln, only because the amperage is infinitely adjustable as opposed to the multi-tap Lincoln tombstone. Any of the three would be a fine choice. (And I'm old school and believe people should first learn Oxy acetylene and SMAW before GMAW and GTAW.) You won't come close to being able to weld structural steel with a GMAW machine, if you spend the same $$ on it as the three machines you listed. You better come up with no less than $1800 for a MIG that will do 3/8" steel successfully in a production type environment.Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC (Sold)Miller Dialarc 250HFMiller MM251Miller MM200 (Sold)Miller MM130Miller Spot WelderVictor O/A rigMiller Spoolmatic 1 (Sold)
Reply:I believe your right.
Reply:For the money, stick is your best bet.  For production efficiency outdoors, use self-shielded fluxcore wire.  For indoor production, use mig solid wire and gas.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op