Stick or MIG for the young, nearly dead-broke welding student?

[Boy Welder]

hey folks. I've been reading the forum for a little while and finally decided that the time had come to seek your opinion on a small problem I've been having. For the past few months I've been learning some basic Stick and MIG work (mostly on Miller equipment), but seeing as how I'm limited to whatever equipment my welding class makes available in the classroom, I think it'd be beneficial to have my own welder for home practice. I'm primarily interested in doing some light to medium steel structural work and just your general light steel fabrication.

now here's my primary problem: the almighty dollar. MIGs are just way too expensive (such as the MM 210 and 251 I've used in school) and I'm awfully confused when it comes to choosing between welders like the Stickmate and Thunderbolt which for all practical purposes seem to be identical.

For a relative newcomer, what would you guys suggest I pursue? Is there an affordable MIG alternative or is SMAW really the only (cheap) way to go? Is it advisable to buy used equipment? If there is some cost effective means to better myself indepedently, I'd be more than thrilled to hear about it.

thanks in advance for any feedback and/or assistance you can offer. I look forward to contributing more to this board in the future.

[Sberry]

If you are not going to be welding a lot of sheetmetal the Stickmate is a good way to go, good bang for the buck. Get the AC/DC model and I would buy a brand new one and be done with it. There was a guy on the Miller forum wanting to sell a good used one though.

[SuperchargedS10]

get a part time job. or settle for a used EBAY AC225 . (thats all i can think of)

i would buy used. in fact i'm looking for a used TIG. just gotta wait for the deal to come around.

[KennyG]

Since you sound pretty serious about welding, you should just sit back and save up for the mm210. It will last a live time, and you will have a good all around machine.

[Boy Welder]

If you are not going to be welding a lot of sheetmetal the Stickmate is a good way to go, good bang for the buck. Get the AC/DC model and I would buy a brand new one and be done with it. There was a guy on the Miller forum wanting to sell a good used one though.

thank you for the input.

for the sake of argument, let's suppose a student were to want to explore sheet metal fabrication. what welder(s) would you suggest?

[Tanner]

The miller 135, or Hobart 140.

[Zrexxer]

By all accounts the Stickmate is the same machine as the Thunderbolt. Save the extra bucks and go for the Hobart AC/DC. Of course, the Hobart Handler 180 is a reasonably serious MIG machine, for a lot less money than a 210. Might be a consideration.

[Boy Welder]

By all accounts the Stickmate is the same machine as the Thunderbolt. Save the extra bucks and go for the Hobart AC/DC. Of course, the Hobart Handler 180 is a reasonably serious MIG machine, for a lot less money than a 210. Might be a consideration.

I notice that the Hobart AC/DC and Miller AC/DC only list about a few dollars apart. Is there any advantage to the Hobart unit other than saving six dollars?

[dda52]

I notice that the Hobart AC/DC and Miller AC/DC only list about a few dollars apart. Is there any advantage to the Hobart unit other than saving six dollars?

If they are that close, then probably not since they are the same machine. I've had no problems with my T'bolt. They are both good welders. Blue always looks better though.

[Albert1234]

I would suggest getting a used AC-only Lincoln Tombstone, Hobart Stickmate or Miller Thunderbolt. In my area, I've seen two Lincoln Tombstones in decent condition go for $50.

[Mike W]

Do what I did. Buy a AC buzz box. After awhile you will find out that you need to be able to cut steel. So get an oxy/act setup. You will be able to weld thick and thin steel and be able to cut it. When you have some more money, buy a mig. Then you might think that it would be nice to be able to weld aluminum. I found a used high freq box and converted the old buzz box into a tig welder. You will also have to buy a bandsaw or two, a lathe, a milling machine plus move a couple of times to get enough space for everything.

[Zrexxer]

I notice that the Hobart AC/DC and Miller AC/DC only list about a few dollars apart. Is there any advantage to the Hobart unit other than saving six dollars?

They only list a few dollars apart but for some reason street prices are substantially different. The best price I've seen on the Thunderbolt is about $460, while you can get the Stickmate for about $369.

[weird bike]

The miller 135, or Hobart 140.

i agree with tanner. that the type of welding i'm looking on doing. I'm also looking into the miller 135. good luck tyler

[MigManiac]

What about a HH125 with mig kit? Seems like a good starter unit for less $$$$

[JohnDeere]

If you are going to be doing alot of sheet metal then yeah youll want to look into a mig or a tig... if your not go get your self the Hobart AC/DC 235/160 stickmate and dont look back.... Getya some 1/8th 6011's and some 3/32nd 7018s and go to town....