Ditto on the Miller 180.... bought it for my 51 panel project.
Glad I got the extra power by running off 220V.
I ended up having to do some critical area fabrication on frame/suspension upgrades. Effortless on thick stuff. Also, Has good control for doing delicate 22 or 24 gauge work, too.
As I understand, the differences in prices are largely due to the level of precision and quality
of control on power and wire speed settings. For hobbyists that are largely weekend warriors this is important.
75% CO2 & 25% Argon is the usual mix for general restoration work.
You can get the tanks from AirGas or PraxAir, etc... I believe you can
buy a tank and get it refilled (or exchanged) or, rent.
Also, there are differences in tank construction between the suppliers. So, you can't necessarily move between gas suppliers with ease... Just find a good local place to deal with.
my 2 cents
Mike
