Quote:
Originally posted by hobby67stepside
Whatever you do practice, practice,practice. Use some old sheetmetal or heavier steel if thats what you want to weld, but get scrap and experiment on that. I was about 12 when I asked my Dad if I could learn to weld. He handed me the stinger and said "weld". That was over 40 years ago. I still am not the welder I would like to be, but usually I can get done what I want. The thin sheet metal is the hardest to learn. Thick stuff is easy. Again practice is what it takes.
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hobby67stepside said it best. Get an old fender or hood and practice. First adjust the machine and lay down a bead. Once you can do that try a lap weld. Once you can do that try a butt weld.
If you can't decide between two machines buy the heavier one. All other things equal the better power source (which is usually heavier) is the way to go.
As far as flux core wire verses gas shield wire goes they both have a purpose. If you are outside the wind may blow your shield away so you want to use flux cored wire. The flux shields the molten puddle from oxygen. Oxygen makes pits. Pits make bad welds. The 6011 rods they are talking about are covered in flux. That flux shields that process from the air. If you got cow crap on your rocker panels I'd clean it first before I'd strike an arc. In your garage a gas shield is the only way to go.