Help me choose which machine(s) to keep

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I have an old Millermatic 200, an old Linde 225, and a newish Lincoln 180c with a spool gun set up for aluminum that I have inherited. There is also a Miller Spoolmatic 1 in a box that came with the older welders.I would like to keep one, at most two, of these and sell the rest.I am a welding noob. Have taken a MIG class. I will only be using these around my home shop for things like small item repair and working on a car frame (nothing heavy). I would like to not have to buy another welder in the future as my MIG capability grows.I would like to have the capability for both aluminum and steel MIG.In reading the reviews on this site, I've read that the Millermatic 200 is a great machine for regular MIG, but is not the greatest using a spool gun (aluminum), if I'm reading things right. The Lincoln 180c, is a smaller machine. The Linde 225 is a decent machine, but not as great as the Millermatic 200.Can one machine do it all (for what I'm doing)? Which one is that?I'm thinking that I might need to keep the Lincoln (aluminum) and the Miller (for thicker steel stuff), and sell the Linde.What do more experienced folks think?Thanks for your help.Mike
Reply:Originally Posted by mvmI have an old Millermatic 200, an old Linde 225, and a newish Lincoln 180c with a spool gun set up for aluminum that I have inherited. There is also a Miller Spoolmatic 1 in a box that came with the older welders.I would like to keep one, at most two, of these and sell the rest.I am a welding noob. Have taken a MIG class. I will only be using these around my home shop for things like small item repair and working on a car frame (nothing heavy). I would like to not have to buy another welder in the future as my MIG capability grows.I would like to have the capability for both aluminum and steel MIG.In reading the reviews on this site, I've read that the Millermatic 200 is a great machine for regular MIG, but is not the greatest using a spool gun (aluminum), if I'm reading things right. The Lincoln 180c, is a smaller machine. The Linde 225 is a decent machine, but not as great as the Millermatic 200.Can one machine do it all (for what I'm doing)? Which one is that?I'm thinking that I might need to keep the Lincoln (aluminum) and the Miller (for thicker steel stuff), and sell the Linde.What do more experienced folks think?Thanks for your help.Mike
Reply:I would probably keep the 180, because of the spoolgun.I take it the Linde is also a MIG welder.I would want a basic stick welder to go with the 180, for thicker steel, so I would go for one MIG welder and one stick welder.   200 amps on MIG is not enough for thick steel.  The stick could be anything, even an AC only tombstone, probably could find a used stick welder for $150 or so.For my own work, I use MIG a little, stick a little more, but I mostly TIG weld.  But then I work mostly with non-ferrous metals.   TIG machines are expensive, and TIG welding is the hardest to do, so TIG is not what I would suggest for a new welder.My two cents.RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge