Hey Joe
I was exactly where you are a couple of months ago. I've been taking some lessons at a local trade college and decided to buy a MIG welder for home use.
Pro-touring.com has a fabrication forum that was a ton of help to me. There are a few pro-welders that really know their stuff and are a great deal of help to use novice welders.
I went with the Miller 175 MIG, which ia a 220V machine. After all my research it was either the Lincoln or the Miller stuff, hands down. Dont even think about the other brands like Craftsman, Chicago electric etc. Hobart seems to be a decent respected brand too.
One piece of advice I was given over and over... buy the biggest machine you can afford. It may cost you more $$ upfront but it will pay off in the end as you find more an more uses for it down the line.
I decied to go MIG rather than TIG just because from what I've researched its easier to do and has a slightly broader range of apllications that would be apllicable to my needs/wants. And the nice machines are chaeaper that the nice TIG welders.
Ned
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