FYI Miller's 110 vac machines have another feature. That is the wire feed speed tracks with the voltage setting. A synergic fine tuning control. Check it out. Set the machine's voltage control on tap 1 or switch position 1 and the wire feed speed at 50%. Feed wire for 10 seconds and measure what comes out. Then increase and measure at each tap setting. You will see an increase in wire feed speed without changing the wire feed speed control.
With those little machines for welding sheet metal (car panels) use the 75 Ar 25 CO2 mix. For hot rolled, rusty/thicker material use 100% CO2.
Wire feed speed determines the amperage which determines the penetration and the voltage controls the height and fluidity of the weld deposit.

Hello Stephan, I find that there are about as many parallels in teaching a trade as there are to learning about, practicing, learning more about, applying, learning more about, staying abreast of advances, etc, and finally learning more about. I feel that I have learned as much in teaching others about welding as they have learned from me. I say it that way because everyone has a different way of looking at something, analyzing it, attempting to apply it and so on. The demographics of the students that I have had the pleasure of working with over a number of years have run the gambit, youngest registered in a class, 13 yrs. old, oldest one around mid-nineties, all different cultures and countries of origin, truly interesting in and of itself, deaf and dumb students(not meant in a derogatory manner), simply a very broad cross-section of the make-up of our society. I do feel that the majority of welding "students"(I include myself here), learn much from watching and participating in the welding act. A few can do quite a bit as a result of reading and researching, but not nearly so many as the latter. I also feel that successful instructors are the ones who can figure out the style that each student learns the best with or from. I used to be rather hard-line on what I deemed the proper way to make a particular weld, I have become much more open-minded and end-oriented with my welding critiques, the old statement "the end justifies the means" has much more relevance to my interpretation of one's welding skills at this point in my career. My teaching partner who retired last year had 35 years of training welders, I can't tell you how many individuals that figures out to be that he had a hand in shaping a portion of their lives and careers, I spent 16 years watching his actions, suggestions, prodding, etc. and feel that he taught me plenty as well. Occasionally the thought will come to me that almost all of the other welding instructors that I have met, known, or currently know have had long tenures in the teaching profession, but then again, other than my parents and my own family, my welding instructors were a tremendous influence on me and my life. I have also heard many individuals say, as I did myself, that the experiences that they had in industry were not so different than those that they experience when they instruct in a formal setting. I mean, that many of us who work or worked in industry ended up being the leaders who are responsible for the actions of others so we tried to make a difference in the learning that took place with our co-workers. Those who are really good at that are some of the best instructors as they have the real life experiences that can be brought along when students need a reason or an explanation of the importance of a particular situation.
     Every time that I log on to the forum here I know that I will learn something or be reminded of something that I have forgotten or always wanted to know. I read a lot more than I contribute, yet on occasion I do feel the need to make a statement or include something that I feel is relevant. Many times my curiosity has been sparked by a thread or a comment by another poster and it has given me the push that I needed to pursue an answer or try to learn more on a specific topic. Forgive the stray thoughts on this particular post, but every now and then I get a bit wound up and this is a good way to unload some of those thoughts. Wishing you well Stephan and look forward to your continued participation on the forum. Regards, Allan

Hello DaveBoyer, I have had experience with the smaller units and with many different off-brands and most of the namebrands also. Yet, as you say and said in your post, those machines can present a whole different set of challenges in trying to make welds that will serve the purpose. That is part of the problem of also having had the pleasure of running some really superior types of industrially rated ones also. Unless I'm in a pinch I will opt for the big boys any day. Very soon though, I do believe that there will be "economy" type machines that will start to exhibit at least some of the positive characteristics that are enjoyed on the industrial versions. From 357max's post about the synergic aspect of some of the machines, that very well could be a start. Yet to some degree, you still get what you pay for and likely there will always be the bare-bones machines. I don't discount these machines and their purpose as they have saved many the home-enthusiast a dollar or much more on a welding repair that they and their machines were able to do. As you said though, Dave, the key to being able to work with these machines is to understand their capabilities and to be able to work with them to figure out their individuals issues and characteristics. From the sound of things you have a number of "toys" to play with and figure out. Regards, Allan