[MinnesotaDave]

Honestly, this is why I am swaying away from the Everlast. Thank you for the input.

I'm against Everlast. I have a long memory for how they screwed over people in the beginning of the company.
Some say "but the machines are good now" - that holds no sway over me.

I've used ESAB, Lincoln and Miller, I like all 3 and can only say I don't buy until a machine has been on the market long enough to work out the problems.
Unfortunately now that's right about when the new one comes out...

I'm a fan of big old machines - they work. But I like the little ones too, very handy.

It's really a preference thing. Settings don't mean much if the person can't weld. My 1963 Airco 300 was my first tig - no settings really, just weld it.
When on aluminum, running at 250 amps means nothing when the welder has over 400 amps on tap.
My syncrowave 350 (90's machine) was $1500 shipped with a water cooler. That's what I normally use now and it actually does weld aluminum better than the old Airco.
Not that the Airco was bad at all, I've even welded pop cans with it just for the heck of it.

A 200 amp inverter is the lowest I would go for a machine that will see aluminum.

At school, I have an ESAB mig/stick. It has a super nice mig arc, about as good as my Millermatic 210 (90's transformer machine).
The stick arc is also very good. I hooked a tig torch to it in stick mode, does a nice job there too with scratch start (has no tig setting).

For new stuff it's all preference, price and local service availability.
For old stuff, just buy what you know always works. Hard to go wrong with a used standard Syncrowave 250.

I could ramble on about welders for ages.... LOL

 

[MinnesotaDave]

I know you didn't mention Lincoln, however I have to mention this. I just purchased a used, in great shape, Lincoln V350Pro for $1500.00. Man, in my opinion, this is the ultimate in multi process welders. Yes, you will need a separate feeder, but you can still find that and be under $3k The seller stated they are a factory authorized service center, and they have more units available.

That's a steal