My latest welder purchase was an ESAB Rebel 235, went with it over the miller or everlast offerings. It is more expensive than the 215 class offerings but I have put it through it's paces and I will say it's an awesome package. It has all the controls you're looking for, has enough power to run .045 wire, weld thick materials, and do spray transfer, it runs 6010 like a champ, and despite what people say (calling it noob mode or whatever) the Smig function is great, even for an experienced welder, for quick projects or weird welding situations, it will compensate on the fly for a lot of things and produce decent looking, and structurally sound welds without having to even really think about settings. As far as tig goes with it, it's nice, this class machine actually has a separate gas solenoid for Tig instead of a gas valve torch. I have done some stainless pipe and sheet metal work with it and I was very pleased. This machine also has plenty of power to do aluminum either DC Tig with helium or with the spool gun. The other thing I like about it over everlast is that with esab your dealing with name brand guns, parts, and consumables that you can get at almost any local welding store and warranty issues can be handled locally by airgas. The miller is a great machine, and you get the local support, but it just not as well featured as the esab and to get into a 250 amp machine in Miller you're talking big bucks. Everlast, I've heard mostly good things, I've tried a couple of their machines that a buddy of mine has and they seem to weld great, but you are dealing with shipping the machine back if there is a problem and if you walk into your local welding store and ask if they have any consumables that will fit your everlast you will get the eye roll. Until everlast steps up their game with a dealer network and more local support I can't say I'd be a confident buyer of their equipment, although I have had my eye on some of their machines, especially the new multiprocess that does ac tig.
