I have a Miller MM 175. It's a 220 mig and I love it. A professional welder tried showing me how to weld with stick years ago and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't do it. I figured welding wasn't in my blood. I was forced to weld something at work (long story) so I got the MM 175 on the recommendation of a friend that has a Lincoln 220 mig. He recommended the MM 175 because of the infinite voltage adjustment. I practiced for about 20 minutes and was making professional welds in no time. The MM 175 is around $700 give or take.

I would get a mig welder first, then save up for a plasma cutter second and like mentioned, you could probably get both for the same price as the first welder mentioned.

 

I got a Miller 375 X-treme four months ago. It's a nice plasma cutter. I can run it with a small pancake compressor, but it is at its limit. I had a crappy Firepower plasma cutter before the miller and it ran at alot less psi.

But I would go for a 220V Mig welder before I got the plasma cutter. Plasmas are nice, but you can do the same cuts with a cutting torch more or less. I use my mig much more than the plasma cutter. Instead of a small 220V miller mig like a 175 consider going with a 220V 210 mig like a Hobart, which is Miller's cheap brand. Should be around the same price as the Miller 175 I think. I've had their Ironman 210 for 5 years and I've used it alot without any problems.

 

yea hobarts are good welders to. There basically a miller, just with a few plastic parts in place of metal.

 

Theres only one welding machine SA200 from 48 to about 72.
I know I'll get flamed for that by you shop guys just poking a little fun Miller mig machines are cadilacs and I would love to have one. Especially if your goal is repair work or basic fabrication theres not much you cant do with a torch ...bansaw... or a chopsaw. But if you think you may ever want to try to cut out sillouetes (spelling???) or do any kind af artsy cutting then use the welder you have and get a plasma cutter. Just my .02

 

A plasma cutter would be nice if ur doing alot of work on cars and need to cut out floor pans and stuff. But a Bandsaw gets the job done very well and i'd get one before a plasma cutter.

 

a plasma sounds pretty good at the moment since i found some cancerous rust on my jeep and am planning an axle swap in the next few months on it ....i dunno....im still kinda on the fence. a compact welder would be nice to take with me for repairs that i cant move to the garage

 

I think the welder would be used more often. that just going by what I see in our shop. There is two plasma cutters among 6 welders. Each welder has a 500 amp power unit to either stick or mig and a oxy acetelene torch.

 

My cutting/welding arsenal includes two of the three things that may be in yours.

I have a 225 amp ac tombstone lincoln stick welder that all of my heavy welds are done with.

I have a 110 V Lincoln SP-135T. With the right prep I wouldn't bat an eye at welding 1/2" with it (multiple passes of course)

And I have a Miller Spectrum 375 plasma. by far the best machine I ever bought. Just make sure you run it off 30 amps of 110V or 20 amps of 220V.

Paid 100 for the stick welder used.
$1200 for the plasma new off of Ebay. brweldingsupplies I think was the seller.
Paid about 650 for the mig setup with a bottle.