I have welded 31 years.
Some simple observations:
- Buy a quality machine no matter what brand. Miller or Lincoln are the best. You will be able to get it serviced, buy consumables, and they are just a better machine than the cheapos. Even if you are not going to use it much, buy a good one.
- Anticipate your future needs. Already you are thinking about bigger materials. Once you get bitten by the welding bug (and your friends, relatives, inlaws, and neighbors find out), you will have all sorts of things to build. If you buy too small, you will be limited.
- A lot depends on budget, but this is definitely a tool that you can make money with, even at a hobby level.
- Your power supply has a lot to do with it, too. Some machines are 110, some 220. If you have a 110, you can plug it in most anywhere, or run it off a generator in the back of a truck in the middle of a cow pasture. A
- BE AWARE OF THE DUTY CYCLE! Caps intentional. Duty cycle is what percent of the time you can actually weld before the machine has to cool down. You may start off fixing lawnmower handles, and not need a big duty cycle, like 20%. But if you start making gates or fence, you're going to drink a lot of coffee and smoke a lot of cigarettes while waiting, and you'll always have your machine heated to its max, and I don't think that's good.
- Consider used. Buy a used Miller or Lincoln for half of what it costs new, and you will save a lot. If you got the cash, though, new is the way to go.
- Buy only bottles that are owned by the user. They will NOT have a company name stamped on the thick collar. Otherwise, the first time you take it for a refill, they will thank you for bringing back their bottle, and that's all you get. Get a signed receipt and ID, or the price you will pay goes down.
- Buy only a machine that is capable of using gas. That way you can weld thick and thin. Gas MIG welding for thin stuff, and gasless flux core for thicker stuff. You won't be limited, and mark my words, if you get into welding at all, you will hit your limitations if you buy a flux core only machine, or a light one with a light duty cycle.
- What you want is about 0. I have a Lincoln 175SP+. Google it up. Beautiful machine. Reliable as a mule. A bottle will cost you under 0. To buy everything of good quality will cost you about a grand. But you will be buying a Cadillac that won't leave you broke down somewhere. If you decide to sell, the resale is better than Long Dong Chang brands.
- Consider an autodark hood, if even a Harbor Freight cheapo. Shortens the learning curve. If you've got the money, the NexGen EQC is good. I have that one and love it.
- Buy and use good safety equipment. Gloves are cheap, and cheap gloves can be good. Use good safety glasses, and they aren't expensive. Cover up your skin, as the rays can give you skin cancer VERY easily. I like Wrangler khaki shirts for their ease of putting on and off, and their thickness. If you are going to weld under cars and such, invest in a leather jacket. They can be had on ebay cheap. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS wear earplugs, as one red hot BB in the ear will ruin the next year of your life! I like the half circle spring clip ones that are easy to put on, and hang on your neck when you're not welding. I can't overstress the earplug thing, and have known a couple of welders who had very serious career ending incidents from one tiny red hot BB.
Lastly, take a welding class. For well spent bucks, they will let you use several different machines, you will get a lot of practice, and you will have hands on experience with which to make a decision.
HTH
Sorry for being long winded, but if you're going to part with a grand, get your money's worth, and don't be regretting it a month down the line because you didn't buy the deluxe model.
Steve