Help me decide

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I'm trying to make a decision on what I want for Christmas this year and have a tough choice to make.  I already have a Harbor Freight 110Amp MIG (the 94164 model) and a Harbor Freight oxy/acetylene rig.My choices are a used Miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC arc welder or a new Harbor Freight Inverter Plasma Cutter.  The Miller I can get for $350.  The plasma cutter I can get on sale for $650 and then I have another 20% off coupon...If you had to choose what would you get and why?
Reply:The Thunderbolt for sure.  Spend the leftover money on saws or grinders or whatever else you need to make your projects. You can never have too many different kinds of saws!   The stick welder gives you the capability to weld thicker metal than the small mig can handle.  There are many, many ways to cut metal, plasma is a luxury, not a necessity.  Concentrate on the necessities first.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Id go with the plasma. Sure an arc welder would be nice, but with a plasma cutter you can make a lot of neat things. At my school we make a lot of signs and junk with ours. Our school brings in a lot of money with it. After you make that money, then buy ur arc welder.It does take a while to get good at using a plasma cutter tho
Reply:Get the thunderbolt and learn to use it.
Reply:You already have the OA rig, why get the plasma unless you have stainless steel to cut? The welder is more versatile and cheaper. Unless you have a specific need for the plasma I don't see the point in getting it yet.
Reply:Buy the Miller.  You're getting a machine worth around 600 newThe HF plasma is worth about what it takes for the garbage dudes to haul it off when it pukes on ya."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I'd vote for the Thunderbolt. I've had one of the AC/DC ones for years. They are nice simple solid machines. The price seems fair. It will weld almost anything the mig can't handle in steel and last for years.Since the HF plasma is new I'd hold off. You can probably get that price or better almost any time. The Thunderbolt or equivalent would be tougher to get at that price unless you have the time to wait for another deal. as said with a good O/A torch and skill you can do almost anything you can do with plasma on steel. I've got both and still reach for the O/a torch most times to cut medium to heavy steel. Plasma only gets used mostly for thin steel or stainless/alum.Keep your eye open and you'll probably find a nice TD or Hypertherm plasma used at a good price at some point. I've seen 2 of three good deals over the last 6 months for small machines. Service, parts etc will be around for both of those  companies for years to come on all the models. I wouldn't want to be on that for the HF units. A machine with no consumables available isn't such a good deal, regardless of the price..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:How about a resistance welder?A small brake and metal bender and you may still have some change for product.
Reply:Thunderbolt.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Originally Posted by BrentDI'm trying to make a decision on what I want for Christmas this year and have a tough choice to make.  I already have a Harbor Freight 110Amp MIG (the 94164 model) and a Harbor Freight oxy/acetylene rig.My choices are a used Miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC arc welder or a new Harbor Freight Inverter Plasma Cutter.  The Miller I can get for $350.  The plasma cutter I can get on sale for $650 and then I have another 20% off coupon...If you had to choose what would you get and why?
Reply:Well, I can see the logic in the majority advice.  I've made arrangements to go pick up the Thunderbolt tonight.
Reply:Good choice.  Hopefully the miller won't give you any problems and you can concentrate on welding instead of fixing the welder!  Have fun.
Reply:Attaboy! Let us know how it works.
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