Suggestions on which welder

Super happy with my Powerplasma 60s and now it's time to retire the old ac buzz box.

I've been all over the map looking the pa140st, pa160sth, pa200st and even the awesome pa300 (is this an "ST"?) and aside of just buying the biggest one I'm still a little unsure about which one.

A little specifics so maybe you can help.

I will be welding mild steel up to 1/2"
Mostly repairs and fabrication on my mud trucks ranging from frame work axle brackets suspension components and wheel centers.
I have about 75lbs of 1/8" 7018 in sealed cans
I don't currently tig but it would be nice for thin sheet and clean welds down the road
input power is not an issue, I have plenty
not doing production. probably wont get used more than a couple of times a month
Cost is a factor but not the ONLY one.

I've read all the technical specs on the site and it appears that any of the above will work (I know, more power = better) but I'd like some opinions.

Thanks

Of the units you have listed I would say the pa200st if it is important to you to be able to weld with 6010 electrodes. If it does not matter then I would probably go with the pa160sth. The sth comes with the tig torch and has a gas solenoid built in pluse has hf start and lift arc start it will also take a foot pedal for some extra money. Either one will run your 7018 1/8 rods and the 60% duty cycle at 130 amps in enough for the 1/8 7018 rods. You will probably never need more than the 160 amps but if you think you need more then the pa200st can go to 200 and that is all you will probably ever need. The 200st will run tig ok but you will need a torch with a gas valve on it and you will not be able to use a foot pedal to control amperage on the fly ( witch comes in handy most of the time).

I have a Powerarc 200st and so far so good. Burning sticks like crazy.


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