I went though this just a couple of years ago, and looked at the cheapies as well, after researching alittle , even though I'm only using it a couple times a year, I wanted to make sure i could get parts for it tens yrs down the road, with that in mind another option was the varible tempeture settings not the 4 selected ones and that makes it nice even for a novice like me to using, so I bought a linclon

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Cat...eet.asp?p=7082

135 plus 110 volt mig, for 500 and change, its got a real nice trigger gun on it, and parts will alway be around, even a used one will work for you, check ebay for for deal, even hobart is a good brand.....me I'd stay away from the cheapies, oh yea always use a good extention cord if you do use one.

Hope this helps

On edit; here one for 439.oo from lincoln and then the model i got is going for 539.oo

http://www.welders-direct.com/
http://www.welders-direct.com/