Considering buying a Hobart Stickmate with scratch start in mind

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I really want a tig machine, but it seems a decent one is out of my realm price wise by a long shot. I already have a Hobart 210mvp as my main machine, I can't justify spending $1500 on another machine.Most I have ever done with a stick machine is a tack weld or two. I've never tig welded.That said, I'm not looking to go crazy but I want to buy a machine to learn both processes on. Would a stickmate 205 be sufficient? The specs say it is 205 AC current so it should be able to do aluminum if I'm not mistaken?
Reply:That's a no go.No HF for ac work and no dc for steel and ss.  So your left with an ac stick machine.
Reply:Correct. You need the AC DC stick mate to tig and you will only be able to do scratch start DC tig with it. This means ferrous metals only (steel, stainless etc) . No aluminum.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Now that being said, if you want to drive from Brooklyn to CT, I would be happy to let you play on my stickmate. I have it set up to do scratch start tig, and of course plain old stick.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Dreams crushed
Reply:I believe my Century will do what you want.Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:I would suggest looking on CL for a good used tig unit or ac/dc stick with HF unit.  If your not in a rush you should be able to find a good deal for a decent unit.  Didn't mean to crush your dreams, just didn't want you wasting money on something that won't do what you want it to do.Ben
Reply:Originally Posted by BrooklynBravestDreams crushed
Reply:look, if you are just trying to learn, find a used ac/dc stick welder for not a lot of money on CL and get a scratch start set up to go with it. if you look around, you can get both for under $300. You for sure can learn to TIG using scratch start on steel, its just without a foot pedal. Once you can TIG weld with a scratch start set up, addin a pedal will be like upgrading from a Yugo to a FerrariMiller Multimatic 255