So, finally got myself a welding job

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After a few years of trying but due to lack of real experience and no education on the subject I didn't think I could ever find an entry level, no true job experience welding apprentice position if my life depended on it.  Well after some time I finally got hooked up with a welding company through my  girlfriend with her stepfather.  He does everything!  Plasma table, sheet metal break, mandrel bender, plasma cutters, mig, tig, oxy/ace, stick, flux core, mill, lathe, several band-saws, etc.  Ok, enough drooling over the toys.  I have of my own welder that Ive been practicing with, a speedway series (  125 amp flux-core welder that plugs into your bathroom outlet   The machine itself is powerful, but the machine design is pitiful to say the least, and the feed system makes it really hard to hold an arc because it is so unpredictable.  I got to play with a diesel powered truck mounted stick welder yesterday, and a true AC/DC arc welder today.  I've done a little mig, a bit of flux-core, and no other welding until I got to use a few stick welders in the past few days.  WOW!  The machine makes all the difference.  With a good stick welder for my first time, I was laying stronger, more uniform beads than I ever had with a 120 volt mig or flux machine!  I had good eyes helping me but it made me realize that I need to hock my little hobby flux welder for a decent machine at home.  I think I'm just going to get a decent arc machine and get good with a stick welder, then plunk down some change on a nice MIG when the time comes.  He is also going to teach me TIG and oxy/ace so I may make a different choice at that time.  For now I want a decent arc machine that will blast through 1/4 with a decent duty cycle.  I'm sick of welding for no more than one minute and having to put the torch down.  How about the Home Depot AC/DC Lincoln units?  Seems like a good machine from the brochure, but I've been mislead before.  Advice?  I'll quit blabbing, I'm just stoked on this opportunity.
Reply:Not a bad choice really.  But what you might want to think about is a tig invertor machine.  You can stick and tig with it.  I tell you right now that my little lincoln stick welds like a champ, and It tig welds all day for me.  Keep your eyes open on E-bay, you can find good deals on single phase 300 amp DC only machines.  I really prefer to DC weld, stick and tig.  AC is great for aluminum.. Just a preference.  Im not pushing lincoln, kinda wished I had gotten a thermal arc if you want to know the truth, but the lincoln is mine, and it works well.So my man, you could get the ac/dc tombstone, and it would work pretty well on stick.  If its just a hobby, I say go for it, and if, later, you desire more power or want to learn a new technique, you can pick up an invertor based machine.Theres allways the idealarc 250 from lincoln, that you can accessorize for tig and welds 250 amp dc stick (more versatile than the HD offering of only 125 amps dc) but its hefty in weight and price.Miller also has a stick machine, the thunderbolt.  Any of these welders would do the trick.Keep us posted.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:I would suggest that you wait a while till you are more experienced, your percerptions of what you want might change with more experience.
Reply:Don't go too cheap.  Anything from miller is a winner IMO.  Most from Lincoln too.  If you can, save up for an All In One machine and you will thank yourself later when you get real good.  You will have superior capabilities for Stick, TIG, and CC/MIG welding.  You will need a separate wire feeder for most all in ones.  A used shopmate is a good choice but after you add up the feeder, high freq box, tig torch, stinger, whip, leads, gas bottles, gas you are looking at a lot of cash.So I guess you should maybe look into just practicing at work or taking a class so you can play around with all the equipment.  That is what I did.
Reply:all good points but Clive hit the nail on the head.  you should not rush into any purchases so quickly... my original thoughts on welding as a boy was that stick welding was old and useless.  boy was i wrong. stick is the most used process in this area.  finding out what you like to weld and what you are good at are sometimes 2 different things.  favorite process for me tig.....i cant tig to save my life i am good at stick.....stick is where i make my money. i weld after work I own After 5 Welding. i am also in the market for a mew machine but as WelderBoy stated i am saving for a all in one....I have a SA-200 with this machine i can only use stick. I dont even own a tig. Some of the guys here in other threads may sound harsh but they mean nothing buy it it is just tough love no one here wants to see anyone fail.  Since you have the chance to use all the process at work use them.  find out what process you are good at....practice....practice.....practice.  Cheap can sometimes end up costing you money in the long run. Just try to find somthing of good quality and good luck, and welcome to the shop.63' Lincoln SA200 2008 miller trailblazer 302fibre-metal pipelinermiller camo BWEand all the guns and ammo a growin boy needs
Reply:Yeah, I learned my lesson rushing into a purchase when I bought that speedway series pile of crap.  It's powerful, but they really cheaped out on the feed system and it's finally driving me crazy, I'm going to do what I can to keep it going without spending any money on it but those days will end soon.  At the same time, I need something at my house!  I can't stand not being able to practice at home, I think welding is fun and I want to get better at it.  The guy took me one because he saw my true interest in learning and has had me by his side every minutes since I started there showing me things, watching me weld and giving pointers, and explaining whats happening when it's happening.  I guess I'm just kind of seeing this as a class in the field because I am being taught on the job about real world welding situations, and when we get back to the shop a little early he is practicing the different machines with me.  It's great!  I can't get enough!  I am going to look a little harder at machines though.  Most of what I want my home machine for is welding on my 4x4 doing things like suspension brackets, cagework, and frame reinforcing, so I can't have too wimpy of a machine.