There's no reason for a hobbyist to own a $1000 welder unless they have the money to burn. You can weld up a brew stand with the unit in the original post.
No offense BrewBeemer, but you are not a hobbyist - you are a retired professional. You demand the best because during your time as a pro you aspired for the best. Most of use DIYers don't aspire for that. We just want a damned brew rig and wanna be able to tack stuff together around the house.
No other words need be added, you zeroed in on me with your above reply.
I must thank you for your kind reply. I was lucky with good timing in life. I used my past knowlege of working in a machine shop, licensed A&P mechanic for the airlines as well a union electrician hence a big time DIY person at home and shop this making myself more valuable in the electrial trade being a certified welder. I was working while many wiremen were out of work in the hall in the winter time. This over the years has made less wear and tear on the body in the construction trades. This kept me employed longer on jobs not alone foreman's pay vs journeyman's besides company side jobs on weekends or after work building brackets for large cable pulling rigs. The added cream topping was a company truck with gas card to haul materials to my home and shop. Less wear on my vehicles. This extra money besides placing my welders on a 3 year tax write off allowed these machines to pay for themselves within two years with the rest as a positive income. This allowed me at that time to purchase larger Tig and Mig machines I wanted that are rated as "Heavy Industrial". I had a chance in life to purchase them as now the price for replacement is out of my cash range. Mig alone with 30A/ Spoolgun before tax is $3779 by Miller, the Tig machine replacement I recall was around $7800 before adding bottles, lines, gauges and feed cords.
Yes way over the top but I had the chance to get big machines that is larger than many small operated "Welding Shops". I know a few as friends that would kill to have my machines especially the Tig that's fully loaded. Sad part the new Miller 350 Synchrowaves have fewer features, switches and controls than my 1991 Synchrowave, made to be comsumer friendly these days.
I got lucky and took the leap plus the best part got it past the "War Department" aka wife while raising a family.
Enough about me as now i'm disabled and need spinal surgery so all hobby work is dead stopped and forced early retirement.
My opinions what I have found because I hang around a couple muffler shops.
On the smaller machines be it Miller (first choice) lincoln or Hobart one must be careful as these homeowner welders have more feed roll control problems and use heat selector switching vs a infinite control dial and knobs. This is where manufactures including Miller have cut corners to keep the price down to compete with other manufactures.
This is where you should try different machines, hands on, at your local welding supply before purchasing.
Cyberweld.com - Welding Supplies - Miller, Hobart & More is one place that will have the best prices on name brand welders. I believe I have posted their addess on a early reply above. My thinking if you can get a Millermatic 210, 212 is the same welder for Mig that is a great machine. The lower amp machines are not as flexible to use, the 175 works ok. Tig is a totally different world with sticker shock the first thing even with Miller's lower amp machines. Some are plug and go without the ability to control the arc as much vs a loaded beast like the 350 Synchrowave I have. It weighs 986 pounds bare before adding the wet torch cooler, stick cables and all the ouick disconnect fittings that stub out under the machine.
The best one is those replies that welding is easy, true if it's Mig but will it pas a cerification test? Tig, if you tell me tat is easy I will be impressed as I have spent many years wit Tig and still learning. Practice, practice , practice but under the proper training as bad habits are hard to unlearn.
Done rambling, weld on.....CJ......