Before making this kind of purchase you need to know about all the combustable parts involved. My friend has a very nice model and has been running his own custom welding shop for over 20 years. He very seldomly uses his, but its a godsend when he needs it.
The tips get clogged and congested when cutting through dirty or painted metal, and they arent cheap to replace. As mentioned above you need a nice dry air supply to keep the inside of the machine working properly. He takes his apart and really cleans it up, which is why its lasted so long.
Not trying to disuade you from purchasing one, but trying to help you make an informed decision. I plan on purchasing one eventually, but after talking with my friend, that will be put off a little longer. Cant help with the right place to purchase one as most of that stuff I would buy locally.
Look in the phonebook and find a welding supply shop. Stop in at a few welding shops and ask what they prefer. Theyll know better then anyone else, what works and what doesnt.
Good luck, Jeff
