Made my living welding for most of my adult life Josh. I used Miller equipment almost exclusivly, ya cant go wrong with a miller and the miller dealer should be able to talor a machine to your exact needs. Hobart is not the same Hobart that was around years ago. You see them being sold at the big box and discount stores now, probably all coming from offshore. Do what you want but I would stay with a reputable chain of dealers like Miller.
As far as your welding skills go, you need to know the basics, that you have had, then the other 99% is just simply practice. Gather up a pile of scrap and spend a week or two and a couple spools of wire and practice. The MIG & TIG welders of today are an absolute pleasure compaired to what they were 20 or 30 years ago.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
