"pulse" welding feature on mig and tig machines

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Wonderful forum here.  I am a realtively new welder having picked it up about a year and a half ago.  I was able to spend about three days trying a huge variety of machines in my uncle's farm shop everything from a AC/DC buzzbox to a Precision Tig 350, Power Mig 300/350, Lincon wire matic 250 and some others.  I learned a tremendous amount about the different processes and picked up a AC/DC buzz box as I have heard the importance of learning the stick welding process and it has been wonderful.  I've built a variety of tables, bumpers, rock sliders, farm implements and sculpture.  I feel very confident with my welds and am now at the point where I want to get a second machine (I want to weld inside during the winter and the smoke from the stick is not going to work) and I need some advice.    I really want to get a nice tig welder some day but practicality tells me that a mig is more appropriate as a next step.  I want to have the option of "spraying" in addition to short circuiting so I am thinking of getting at least a Millermatic 251 or a Power Mig 255.  My question is regarding the "pulse" feature.  I used something called "pulse spraying" on the Power Mig 300/350 and really enjoyed it.  For those that have not tryed it, the pulse feature is just remarkable.  I was also able to try the pulse feature on the Tig machine and that was even cooler.  Now I am under the impression that the pulse feature is not available on any mig machine under 300 Amps.  Is this accurate?  How about on Tig machines?  Is there a pulse feature on the Precision Tig 185, Square Wave 175 or Econotig machines?  I am also wondering if the PowerMig 255 or Millermatic 251 have a timer for setting a spot weld in certain time intervals.  This feature was available on the Power Mig 300/350 and was very handy.  I am not in the welding business but rather enjoy this very much as a expensive hobby that will hopefully be paying for itself very soon with some furniture designs.  I doubt that I will ever need the full amperage capacity of the 300 Amp machines but the extra features are very attractive.  Are these features available on the 250 Amp machines?  The other nice thing about the Power Mig 300 was that it is capable of Tig welding although probably not economical to set up.   I am pretty much decided on the Millermatic 251 or Power Mig 255 but I only want to buy this Mig machine once and want to know all the potential limitations of these machines.  Is it worth an extra $1000 for the "pulsing" and timer features?  Also if the Power Mig 300 were set up to tig is that capable of pulse tigging?  Sorry for the long post....tons of questions and rambling.  I just need some first hand advice and some of the local salesmen have limited knowledge.
Reply:Hey,................ O.k. that was alot of rambling, but... if I can answer a few questions for you. You will probly never "need" the capability of a 300 amp machine, but remember, a "bigger & more expensive" machine will have better technolgy built in.  IE.. A "bigger" machine will weld better at reduced capacity, than a smaller machine at max. Example... 150 amp machine welding 5/32 7018 at "150", or a 300amp machine "loafing along" at 1/2 capacity.   I own a Millermatic 251, A Millermatic 250, A miller "thunderbolt", A Miller trailblazer, AN ooooolllllldddd lincoln gas-fired generator-welder, a Lincoln 175 Pro Tig, A Lincoln Powermig 300, And my my most recent "toy" a Lincoln INVERTEC 350 PRO ADVANCED PROCESS. I, by far LOVE the Invertec. It does everything better. I am ASTONISHED every time I use it. the next best is the Powermig 300. The Millers haven't even been turned on , since lincoln has taken up residence in my shop. NIGHT and DAY!!!!!!! On the tig ....... The Powermig is acceptable. It is not too expensive to set up, 175$ for a torch, 300$ for a petal. It does a nice job, but not aluminum......no AC. With the pulser......Aluminum tig is something I rarely ever do anymore. With the Invertec 350..... The pulser is absolutly AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!  I built 5, 100 gal Alum tanks this week , 1/8" 5086, .035 5356 wire, spoolgun..... Invertec pulser.... and A number of people came in, looked, and said" Those are the nicest TIG welded aluminum tanks I've ever seen". Well, they weren't, migged, and with a spool-gun!!!!It also ( the Invertech) is one of the nicest running Tigs I've seen. It does have drawbacks though..... No AC.... No Pulsed tig..... Those features are often handy. And also the additional cost of a wire feeder.      I would recommend the Powermig 300/350.   GREAT all-around mulit-process machine. Great Stick , Awesome mig/ Great Pulser, Good DC tig, LOTS of power. I Carbon-Airarc with 1/4 rods alll day long......Weld 3/16 7018 All day long... Weld .052 Dual-shield all day long..... pulse 24 ga. steel sheetmetal....mig 1" alum plate....pulse 16Ga alum...... well, you get the Idea...    Buy the powermig 255.... then buy a stick welder... then buy a tig welder... then buy a pulser machine... then buy a BIG Welder to air-arc.... then......then.... then.... Get it?  $1000.00 wont get you all the rest.    Do I sound like a Lincoln rep ? Well....I AINT!!!!! I own A small job/machine shop..... and was a VERY dedicated "Blue" guy for years... But I dont regret the switch to "red". If Miller catches back up, I'll think about it. But you wont be dissapointed with the PM300/350.  It might seem like its too big, and you'll never need the power... but on smaller, thinner material... it will excel.    Ask yourself... Do I want to drive a four cyl.,, throttle to the floor.... or a V-8, at just above an idle, with lots to spare when you need it ????????  just my 2 cents........
Reply:I have a power mig 300 as well and its a nice machine . though to this day on short arc with .035 i still say my old cp200 3 phase has a slightly nicer arc. I also have an aerowave a dynasty 200 dx powcon starcut and sp135 plus lincoln and a 302 trailblazer.
Reply:Thanks for the advice.  Hopefully I can have another go around with the Power Mig 350 before making a decision.  I've heard good things about the invertec but that is pushing my finances even more than the Power Mig 350 which is pushing it as it is.  Any other thoughts....