If money is not a concern then yes, both a stick and MIG, but the only place stick will beat a MIG outright is that stick can weld rusty metal and much thicker. Some say that stick is better if there is a stiff wind.
Mig FCAW needs some surface prep... both will have slag to clean up. I don't know of any frames that are 1/2in steel. Most are 3/8ths or less, some maybe 5/16ths. My 2.5 ton is 5/16ths.
The real benefit to Mig is that will do thick, but also thin. .020 tips and wire with gas will 20gauge nicely. I'm not sure stick will to that without lots of experience and proper setup. Mig is easy, set the dial and press the button.
Lots of structural steel is Mig'd. A stick only lasts so long, Mig can go as long as there is wire on the spool (a few hundred feet) and the transformer is kept cool. Stick does have an advantage in that there are many, many types of rods for just about every need. But plain ol steel.. forget the stick and with the money you saved buy a good welding cart.
Last edited by pfarber; 01/17/2015 5:18 PM.
