Quote Originally Posted by everlastsupport View Post
If you are stuck in the power arc price range. Aluminum is probably out for you. With great stick skills, it can be done.

You might look a smaller powered IMIG (200 or less; MIG normally cost less) and spool gun. You have aluminum MIG and steel MIG, and stick to get rolling. Last I knew you liked the 160STH and it is priced well well.

TIG is a little harder, but depending on the size of the jobs you are doing too. MIG for big, TIG for small or detail.

What do you plan to weld? That would help in your choice a lot? We have more than one TIG and we MIG 95% of the time on the work we do.
To get my foot in the welding door, the power arc is pretty much all I can afford. Most likely the 140 as it is probably attainable $$ wise. We'll see in a couple of paychecks although I really, really like the 160. Some bloke recently wrote about his experience with the 160 which only made my thirst for it greater. Wait a second, that was you!

Just about everything I expect to weld will be steel. Just checking out what my options are for aluminum. If I need to do it, I suspect I won't care if it looks very pretty.