Home practice machine-suggestions

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The title basically says it all, I am looking to purchase a multiple process machine soon and I am currently in the market... About to start welding school and I know it pays off to do extra time out of the classroom to perfect my methods and processes, used or new it doesn't matter... Just need a good running machine and need some professionals help and advice... So please leave any make/model numbers and costs.. Try to keep it under 2500. Thank you
Reply:You really won't find one machine to do it all, Mig, Stick. Ac and DC tig. Your budget would buy you a really nice used XMT 304 with wire feeder and tig rig. That would be an excellent Mig/FC wire machine, DC stick and DC tig. Only thing you can't do is Ac tig on alum or Ac stick ( You will most likely learn on DC stick anyways.)You should be able to locate a nice used Syncrowave 180 or 200 that would allow you to do Ac and DC  tig and stick. Price range would set you back in the $1000-1500 range. Then find a nice 220v mig unit with the remainder.If you have the power an older AC/DC tig stick like a Miller 330AB/P would allow you to do the basics. I see them all the time in the $450-900 range. That would still leave you $1600+ to look for a used XMT with feeder ( low end of the price range used) or another 230v mig..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:ill look into the xmt 304, i have heard promising things about them. thank you for the help. im also looking for a nice helmet and was wondering if you thought a miller digital elite is worth the money or not.
Reply:Yes used xm304 would be the way to go. I dont own an xm304 but use one on a regular basis.The school and any fab shop will have one of those or some thing a lot like it.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:My main hood is one of the older Miller Elites and I like it quite a bit. Any of the top end hoods would work well. I tried on every hood I could lay my hands on when I was looking to replace my old one. I liked the fit of the Miller the best over a few others, but I know plenty of guys who are very happy with their Speedglas hood or Jackson Nexgens as well.I will say that when I 1st started to learn, my instructor wouldn't let anyone use an AD hood. His point was at some point you'll find you will have to fall back on a fixed shade hood even if it's only a back up. I can't say I disagree if you do thins for a living. My $40 Jackson wide lens fixed shade has the optical clarity that equals or exceeds my Miller Elite. I picked up a gold lens to put in a 2nd Jackson that I just picked up at a yard sale. I'm looking forward to seeing how those lenses compare to the one I usually use. I keep my fixed shade hood in the truck for a back up for class should the batteries in my Miller die, or a student forgets his hood for class. A good hood doesn't have to be expensive, but with AD's you typically get what you pay for..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:Giving yourself a $2500 budget for home practice shows you've given this some thought.  Make sure of your available power.  Multi-purpose would be nice, but might be necessary to dedicate yourself to stick and dc tig scratch start to begin with.  Going to need at least an angle grinder and will eventually want a rotary die grinder.  Recommend  acquiring a 7x12 horizontal bandsaw.  Easiest way to bang off bevel edge plates and square pipe.
Reply:Thermal Arc 186 AC/DC would be my choice, which is very similar to the Longevity 200EX.  AC/DC TIG and stick welding will keep you practicing for a long time.  You'd even have ~$1000 left over for accessories like a water cooler/water cooled torch setup, etc, etc, etc.Last edited by Oscar; 04-08-2014 at 01:30 PM. 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:I kind of agree with DSW with a little of my 2 cents from experience. First learn one process well before moving onto another process. If you want to start out in stick learn it well and become extremely proficient in the stick process and then move onto another process.I don't care for multi process welders. If you want a tig machine buy a tig unit, if you want a mig machine buy a mig unit. That's my 2 cents from my experience.Good luck and have fun.
Reply:Another vote for an XMT, purchased mine used and it has not given me any other problems other than a loose terminal screw from vibration which is normal. If you want AC/DC the Thermal Arc units are not bad considering other machines start around 4k new. I worked for a mechanical shop that had XMT's on the wall and they burned rods all day except for lunch and stops to re-position the pipe. If you are going to be attending a welding school chances are that they will have some form of multi-process machine. The nice thing is that you can run a suitcase, spoolgun, H.F. unit and probably some other stuff I'm not aware of on one power source.If your just using this for home projects/practice like I am see if there is a Red-D-Arc in your area. I recieved very good customer service from them and when I went to pick up my welder, allthough it was a rental unit they made sure to load bank it while I was standing there and cleaned the outside of the machine before loading it up. I went back to them to get my 12vs which had a fluke problem with the drive circuit that did not show up in their shop but the service tech came by my place to pick it up and leave a loaner while mine was being fixed.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE