Reddit mentions of Lincoln Electric K2185-1 Handy MIG Welder

How cheap is it? Does it run? Do you actually need a portable welder? That thing is a beast. Does it come with anything, leads, wire feeder...

OK, I'm going to address your list.

>1 Is this a good machine to have around? Is the power sufficient to grow with?

It's not about power. It's about utility, I've never used all 180 amps my machine will put out.

>2 Is it versatile? What kinds of welding will this do?

It will stick weld, assuming it comes with leads and an electrode holder. It could do much more if you had the accessories, wire feeder for MIG, High Frequency box and torch for TIG, etc. BUT it's old and finding gear and making it work could be expensive and time consuming.

>3 What is a no-brainer price, assuming full functionality but no accessories?

$2000?

But it's not really worth that to you as a total newbie. Go buy one of these: Lincoln Electric K2185-1 Handy MIG Welder

Why? Because you can plug it in anywhere, It comes with a gas flowmeter so you can do true MIG instead of just FCAW and you can do what you need to do, which is practice, practice, practice.

And when you need more capabilities? You can buy bigger machine and still own a small one for little jobs or sell it to fund your upgrade!

Good Luck.

Welding is pretty easy actually. You can get a good beginners mig welder for $350. If you drop in price, quality suffers, but for a beginner, you can go down to like a $150 model an be serviceable.

Add in another $100 for good gloves (very important imo), a mask, and weld, and maybe some scrap metal for practice.

It shouldn't take much more than 10-20 minutes of practice to get comfortable enough to make a solid weld. And if you do it, and it looks like crap, you can grind it off, and do it again.

Edit: This is a really good welder for $350.

Edit 2: shouldn't* take much more

Should be, but it depends.

https://www.amazon.com/Drico-MIG-150D-Multifunction-Voltage-Soldering/dp/B01H81KKDU/ref=sr_1_6?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1492666630&sr=1-6&refinements=p_36%3A20000-35000 this one pulls 31 amps on 120v

https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Electric-K2185-1-Handy-Welder/dp/B000QFNZ74/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1492666630&sr=1-1&refinements=p_36%3A20000-35000 while this one is fine an a 20 amp circuit.

At the end of the day, it will depend on how much you're going to need it. I've done a lot of on-site work with 110v GMAW machines and a 20amp breaker is the minimum to ensure good performance.

I just picked up one of these, as in it just came in the mail yesterday. I'm picking up a gas bottle today, hope to start practicing soon.

hmm. the laser could help me get arrested, which is a pretty big life change.

honestly, a MIG welder would make a huge difference. I could do functional side projects, and make more and better trees to start selling, help me get out of the debt cycle.

I've only used an Oxy-Acetylene torch once - it was actually to loosen up some really rusty bolts with heat. Sucks about the cracked hose. Cutting steel easily is cool - I know Harbor Freight sells a plasma cutter now too, but that certainly seems like overkill.

As for a decent MIG welder, I have to figure that out myself. Here is the Harbor Freight MIG, which is a step up from the one I have now, and is probably decent.

If you're willing to spend a bit more, here are some MIG welders with good reviews on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500549-Auto-Wire-Welder/dp/B002VECKTC/ref=sr_1_3?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1411992701&sr=1-3&keywords=mig+welder

http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500559-Handler-Wire-Welder/dp/B009X43F38/ref=sr_1_1?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1411992701&sr=1-1&keywords=mig+welder

http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Electric-K2185-1-Handy-Welder/dp/B000QFNZ74/ref=sr_1_4?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1411992701&sr=1-4&keywords=mig+welder

Glad I could inspire you with my post! I can understand having a kid could definitely slow things down, but I wish you the best of luck. Send me a message if you build anything cool, I'd love to see it!