I toiled over this for months. The best welder for the money is a true MIG unit. Not a gasless MIG (isn't really a MIG anyway) The absolute best way to go (bang for the buck) is a Hobart Handler. They are made by the same parent company as Miller (one of the finest welders made)......my Handler 140 even has a Miller gun. You can pick up a new 140 from Tractor Supply for $479 and if it's a new store (grand opening) you get a 10% discount. Sometimes they run a special price of $449. Trust me, that's an AWESOME deal. If you have a 220v hook up you might consider a Handler 187 or 210. I have a 69 Firebird and my little 110 unit will weld anything on the car. It's been one of the best tools I've invested in. Also, be sure to buy the argon/co2 mix gas and a good helmet/gloves etc. Now there are some wonderful welders out there (I've checked nearly all of them out) but for the money, I couldn't find anything that came close as far as build quality, N.American made (some Canadian pieces), and PRICE. MIG is by far the easiest to learn and very forgiving also. Good luck