/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>2560988
Listen to this guy. If you want production speed, and convenience use Flux core(with gas). For maintenance and versatility get a stick/tig. A cheap stick welder with scratch start tig(no pedal) can be had for a few hundred bucks. The only drawback is you can't weld aluminum with those stick/tig machines as they require an AC inverter.
Stick is cheap and you can weld most metals with it including aluminum(reverse polarity) and stainless.
Also consider the cost of gas for wire and tig operations as bottles there is usually a rental fee for the bottle as well as the gas used.
The combo welders with multiple functions (mig, stick, plasma) are hobby welders for occasional use. You don't see these types of welders in professional shops.