If you could only have one, which and why?

Yeah, I know it's been done before, but "search don't work" and last time I saw it was long ago.

Mig because I am a hack. Tig is great for building racecars and helicopters and airplanes and making beautiful welds, but it is expensive to run (Pure argon is expensive)and slower than Mig. The reason to go with Tig is if you are going to be doing aluminum and stainless welding, it is quick to switch back and forth. There are some situations where a Tig could make a better weld but if you only get one and you are building rock crawlers I think you will be much happier with a MIG.

What are you welding? If you are looking for a welder to start with then get a mig but if you are looking to build airplaines or weld cromolly then a tig.

I have 3 machines in my shop and if I had to choose I would pick the ARC and the MIG over the TIG because they are cheaper and easier to master. Especially when getting in hard to reach places and out of position welding.

I TIG every day, its my Job.

I prefer it , but probably because I have the most confidence in those "pretty" welds!

I have a ac/dc stick at home, and feel pretty good about that too, hard to get cheaper or faster than a stick machine on mild steel.

Ive never felt good with a MIG, mainly because I havent spent much time with one.

Id be suprised if a MIG could tack as quickly as I can with a TIG, or penetrate as well, But then again im using a Miller synchrowave 351

its really all in what YOU are used to, and what YOU can master.

Definately a mig for working on 4x4's. I have both and use my mig welder about 50 times more often than my tig.

Get a mig

Squirt gun, definately (MIG that is)

i am wondering this too.
Ive tried searching also

I already have A really old arch. Are all arch the same. all i know is it uses 220v.

SHould i try to find a mig somewhere or a different arch? all i will use it for is 4x4.
What welder should i look for? What is the strongest welds or easiest to weld with as a begginer?
What are good models of mig i could find for under 300 bucks used?

MIG...

How about Mig vs. Stick. Northern currently has a Hobart Mig 130 for $479 and a stick 230 for the same price. So which would be better considering the largest thing I would be welding would be frame and tubing?

Milan

If I could have only 1 between MIG/Stick, it would be MIG BUT only if it were a good 220V machine.

Ive used several 110V Migs, and I was not impressed at all, mediocre for sheet metal, worthless on anything thicker.

if you cant afford a 220V MIG, then I would recommend an AC/DC Stick machine

If speed is not a issue... TIG!

U WHEEL AND STILL HAVE MONEY FOR A WELDER... <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0">

go with a mig its way easier to learn , but only use the bigger ones the smaller ones ive used sucked hardcore style. on tubing ur best bet is mig unless ur going thick tubing but they are both pretty easy to use if u know a bit of what ur doing tig is wayy to much work to use unless its soemthing thats needs super perfection and its not cost effective for most people arcs alot cheaper then mig usualy i like lincoln arcs and miller migs

I say go with the MIG. I have both a stick welder(model 61M ) and a MIG (miller M185). I use the MIG about 99% of the time about the only time I use the stick is when I am too high to reach with the MIG. The Mig is very easy to use and will weld anything you need to weld on a vehicle.

Thanks guys. I ask because I've never tried TIG, but have some experience with the others. I'd started with a torch when I was about 8, could do OK but never got really good because dad always bitched about using up all his gas. Had a small (110V) mig for a few years and liked it for thin stuff, but it sucked on anything much thicker than exhaust tube. Sold that when in college, and a few years ago got a portable AC stick welder/generator because no 220V in garage. It only does 125A, but it's ok for up to 1/4" if you're patient and careful - but AC splatters a lot, it's noisy, and fills the garage with exhaust. Now we're getting a new house built, and there will be several 220V 50A outlets in garage, and whatever welder goes in there will put out at least 250A (but I am limited to single-phase). I'll definitely keep the little generator/stick welder, but it's really time for me to get a decent system.