Another newbie with another newbie question....

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...Guys, my only experience with welding has been with my Lincoln AC/DC machine which I have gotten pretty dang good at and used to build my first Tbucket.....however, it recently went down for the count and I really want to try "upgrade" to a mig as my next Tbucket I plan on building the chassis from scratch and will be do lots of long passes, lots of tacking, lots of thinner gauge metal as well as up to 3/8 flat....anyway, here is my plan and eventually my question.....My frame will consist of .188 wall steel, lots of cuts/angles, crossmembers, etc...but some of the brackets/tabs need to be a little thicker, most liekly 5/16 or 3/8 (rad support)...anyway, everyone is telling me to buy a 220 unit (which I only would do anyway) and stay in the 175-180amp class...either Miller, Hobart or Lincoln andin that order of preference...problem is Miller and Hobart are a big jump from a Lincoln 175....so are Lincoln migs good quality machines?  And whats the difference in a 175"HD" and the 180 "C"and "t", ...reason I ask this is that I can get a 175HD for $300, new in box....but whats the real difference in the 175HD and the 180 C or T?....Thanks in advance,Adamtbucket101
Reply:I have a lincoln 140. The difference between c and t  is that one has a rheostat (infinate) on the heat settings, the other has 5 heat settings. I cant remember which ones which. The 175 is the older model welder. 180 is the replacement. The 180 has a spoolgun option ($180) and a spot timer option (not sure how much). The 175 sells for $599 if you can get one for $300 do it, as long as you only plan on welding steel that unit is good. If you will have the need to do AL I would get the 180, as you will need a spool gun. Compair the miller spool gun for $800 gun only. BTW Hobart and miller are made by the same manufacturer. You really cant go wrong with any of the welders you have listed. Just get the one with the right colors to match all your other tools. You only need to be 2% smarter than what you are working on.Lincoln pm140hacksawa big hammer
Reply:The "C" means continous volt control and the "T" means Taps ( the 5 volt setting mentioned earlyer).  Other wise I agree 100% with MB2005.
Reply:Gotta match the colors or you'll have to repaint all of your boxes and tools.  Rob PageMiller Bobcat 250Lincoln SP170-T
Reply:Well, I dont have vast experience but heres what I know-I have a hobart machine I have used to do plenty of frame work for people, probably 70% of it was for air-ride suspensions (lowered trucks) and 30% of it was everything from lift shackles to shock mounts to exhaust work... a variety of oddities.... mostly between 1/8" and 1/4"I will say the hobart has done me well, though I have not run a lincoln to give it a side-by-side comparison.  I will admit I dont do a lot of maintenance on my machine, and it isnt usually operated in nice conditions, but always runs well and I have been happy with it.I think youre on the right track size wise, just a matter of which machine best suits you for your exact wants and needs