Should I get a spool gun NOW?

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I am considering the purchase of a MIG welder (Hobart 187 or the Miller 180) and at this time I only have plans to weld steel. I will be using it for home jobs, truck add-ons, etc. Miller has a better deal when getting the spool gun (for aluminum welding) during the initial purchase.My question is, should I get the spool gun now (better deal) or wait till I "might" need one? How many of you folks bought the gun after the initial purchase?Thanks
Reply:i BOUGHT THE 3035 AFTER THE FACT ON MY MM210 AND i REALLY SHOULD HAVE DONE IT TO BEGIN WITH.  I WOULD HAVE SAVED ALMOST 200 IF I HAD DONE IT THAT WAY, BUT I WAS TIGHT FOR CASH SO....BOBI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:I bought mine later on. Both of those machines you listed are borderline on doing 1/8" alum. You will have to max out the machine in the process and will have very little adjustment available. IF you are thinking about the spoolgun for alum in the future, keep in mind that a bigger machine would help, say the MM211 or MM212. Both of these are 200 amp machines and will do much better with 1/8" alum and go up to almost 1/4" if needed.Alum is not the only use for a spoolgun however. I bought mine originally for alum, but find I now often keep it loaded with  .023 wire and the main machine loaded with .030 or .035 wire. I also keep a small roll of FC wire on hand for those emergencies where gas mig is not an option, and I'll run that in the spoolgun if needed. I also keep a small roll of SS wire on hand as well if needed. I also have found that the spoolgun will let me get a bit farther from my machine for some jobs, like patching the cab floor in our Mack, or adding tie down points on the upper part of the ladder rack. Before we had to load the machine on a pallet to get with in the reach of the standard 10' mig gun.If however you don't see yourself ever welding alum in the near future, or have a need to frequently change wire types, the spoolgun may just end up sitting in a box.If I was looking at the MM211, I'd certainly think real hard about getting the spoolgun at the same time to save money since I belive they are running the same deal with that machine also. Since the MM180 is maxed at 1/8" alum I don't think I'd plan to run alum with that machine, so in this case I'd probably pass and get it later if I saw a real need..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:I'll beat Broccoli to it;  Northern Tool has the Hobart Handler 210 with spoolgun for $899.Nctox,  Stickmate LX  235AC/160DC  HH210