Months later, I've picked up this topic again. Still deliberating.
I ran into the guy who does these:
BLOWN RANGER BUILD
He is an incredible craftsman. I asked his opinion and he said to do gas welding (like Razerwire). Said he does most of his welding with gas, and he likes it because you really get to know and work the metal and welding process, and it also doesn't require a power supply. I'll also add that I think that learning to gas weld (and teaching my kids) would be bad ass.
So, I'm now considering gas welding too.
The options for me and my budget right now are:
(1) Gas, which is cheap, works on steel/stainless/aluminum, and importantly is "clean" and doesn't splatter a lot
(2) MIG with a 115v Hobart Handler 125 or 140 [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500521-Handler-EZWire-Welder/dp/B000SSUHW0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447634395&sr=8-2&keywords=hobart+handler+125"]Hobart 500521 Handler 125 EZWire Feed Welder - Welding Wire - Amazon.com@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Af82it6zL.@@AMEPARAM@@41Af82it6zL[/ame]. The one concern I have with this is that my workshop is a bit confined though not tiny. I worry about splatter near the cars and my other stuff
(3) TIG, either a 2016 AHP Alpha for $680, which people say is a nice machine (AC/DC, 110/230), or a Thermal Arc 95s [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Thermal-W1003203-Inverter-Portable-Package/dp/B002JXZH86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447634559&sr=8-1&keywords=thermal+arc+95s"]Thermal Arc W1003203 95 S Inverter Portable DC Welder Stick/TIG Package - Welding Gas Regulators - Amazon.com@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f8g6NbgaL.@@AMEPARAM@@51f8g6NbgaL[/ame]. Or an Eastwood TIG 200, which is a DC unit (110/230) but has a foot pedal.
What do you think?