Duty Cycle shouldnt be a problem with playing around the garage. I have access to a Miller 110V, I can weld 1/4" with nice long passes without worrying about the cycle. To get to a 60 or 80% you will be in the 230+ series and be looking at spending about 2 grand. Ofcourse, the bigger migs are used for outright production, 5-6 hours a day 5 day's a week. You should be able to get a decent (non flux core) mig within your budget.

 

might check this out----good people to deal with and i purchased one of these over a year ago and it gets used 8 hours a day 5 days a week on and off and have not had any problems with it

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...509205278&rd=1

 

Lowes has a Lincoln Pro Mig 135 for $457, comes with pretty much everything you need including a "how to" video.

 

Well I settled on a Hobart 140, just giong to be used at home, at work I have a miller syncrowave thing that is very complicated but fun to use. I am not the welder there so I don't use it much but I learned to weld on it so this Hobart should be a piece of cake. Thanx for all the advice ya'll!

 

The 110v machines are a little light for 1/4 in. They will work but will be lacking in penetration. I'd do like Herb said and go with at least a 175 or one of the other smaller 220v machines. You can get a little more penetration out of the 110v machines if you use flux core wire but its a little messy compared to using gas.
Vulcan