Good stuff here and Stick welding is " fun" and versatile but eventually the buggy whip was replaced by the stick shift. Stick welding is inexpensive and that's a big plus. Thing is, I get around to 10 + states in my travels and I can tell you that Nothing in production is stick welded. Pipe may be an exception but Pipe is 1/100th of what is welded today and the stick part is being replaced very quickly with dual shield 71T type wire. The ship yards are evolving to high definition mig wire welding in pulse and twin pulse. I'm not trying to upset the apple cart here but you should at least consider the future and look up OTC, Fronius, Lorch, Thermal Arc SP and Kempi. 10X more advanced than Miller and Lincoln while priced similar. Miller and Lincoln have done well to keep the techies out of the USA but they are here now big time. No offense to Handlers and stick mates or even Miller 350P's but they are going to fade as far as technology. Millers highest tech system is the Axcess at about 12K...Its not even digital.. it's Analog with Digital interface.. What a Joke.. At least Lincoln ( I don't like Lincoln ) has a real digital pulse and pulse on pulse system.. Technology wise in the world Miller is about 9th place. They don't even make their own equipment anymore. 2 yrs now in February since they only assemble in Appleton. Don't get me wrong, I just see a lot of people on here saying how much better stick welding is than Mig and I'm not sure what type of mig they are talking about. There is only 1 type of stick but there are many types of mig. think about it, Welding machines in the USA have really not changed much in 50 years.. Many on here are stuck there. Technology is now moving faster than ever and now we have Digital High Definition welding equipment.. Compare Black and White Tube Television to HD Flat Screen of today and that is the difference in welding equipment of today. Like I say, I'm not bashing, I'm simply informing.. Check out the equipment I mentioned above and you will be shocked. Just Sayin..
