Questions from a new guy

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I am new to this site and new to welding however I did just purchase my first welder.   I purchased a cornwell tools XLT 142 for $250 from a local pawn shop.  First question is was this a good buy or little high or hopefully a steal.   I called cornwell tools before purchasing and was told that this model was made by Miller for them and she gave me a website to a miller that was the exact same just said miller instead of cornwell tools on the side.  Next question is what all else should I buy for it?  I've been doing some welding useing .030 flux wire built a transmission mount out of box tubing for a car we are building and boxed in where we had to make some cuts to the front crossmember.  I have purchased some tips and a cheap $35 helmet from a local welding supply shop.  I don't plan on doing lots of welding but I am the kind of person when I do a job I want to have the right tools for it so I don't have to half *** it.  I would like to be able to weld aluminum however I don't want to rent a bottle of argon I would rather own but all the places around here that fill bottles won't fill it unless it came from them....  Anyways any suggestions would be nice also I've read some posts but what is the best cheapest welding hood the one I have I don't care much for but I'm not really wanting to spend alot or planning on using it much.  Anyways this has already turned into a book any help would be appricated.
Reply:250 seems fair to me..  Wasnt a steal (they have to pay you to take it to be a steal in my book).  You need argon to weld aluminum (at least I havent heard of any flux cored wire for aluminum yet)  You can try it with your setup as is (with argon!) but you might be dissapointed.  One guy told me he shortened his Gun cable to about 5 ft and it worked great.  A teflon liner will help to feed it as well as the right wire feed rolls. er, any good helmet would work.  If your only gonna do it once in a blue moon, Id get a standard helmet with the biggest glass you can afford (jackson makes some nice ones).  Does the welder have a gas inlet?  Aluminum may be out of the question if so.Hope that helps...Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Yeah it has gas inlet, this is a link to the machine I have http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/mll907263.html  I understand I need argon however the problem I run into is I will be moving in about 4 months and I don't want to rent a bottle here if I will only end up using it 2 or 3 times before I move cost would be to high or at least to me it would be.  I would prefer buying a bottle they arn't that expensive, getting it filled and using it when I need and refilling as needed.
Reply:Be careful when buying a tank, make sure that wherever your going there's another distributor around thats the same company you bought it from (Most places wont touch another outfits tank) if not, call a couple and see if they will service your tank.  Get the biggest theyll let you have. And save your reciept!! heh.  Id definately talk your distributor about what your planning on, just to be safe.  For hobby mig welding, the gas goes pretty far.  Ive used only a couple of tanks in the past 4 months, Tig on the other hand.. Ouch.WHOA! look at the retail on that thing.  Whats up with that!  Check this out:http://store.cyberweld.com/mil175witecc.htmlIts the same dagone price!!  Those guys are insane.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.