Recommendations for a newbie??

[DRas]

Hi guys and gals, I need a little guidance. I'm contemplating buying a MIG welder (my first) and need some advice about which welder to get. Since this will be a fairly large outlay of cash, I want to do it right the first time and not have to upgrade soon. I am trying to decide between the Lincoln Pro-Mig 135, or the Pro-Mig 175. I have 220V available in my garage. Will the 175 still weld with low enough output to do sheet metal? I'd like to have the capability to do both ends of the spectrum (thin and thick metal) as my skills improve. I'm open to suggestions on other brands / models as well. Thanks in advance.

Dave

[Sberry]

The 175 will be a way better choice. Its twice the machine a 135 is and will do thin work also. More power is always good in these machines and a 120V circuit is so limiting. Unless you are running a steady diet of auto body sheet metal I like to run 030 solid wire in the 175's as it lends some more range to the thickness of metals you can weld well over 023. The Lincolns are good as are the Hobarts, HH180 is excellent too and everything is available at Tractor Supply stores including gas and a good selection of wire in 10# spools.