Depends a lot on what you want to weld, really but stick welding has the best price to quality ratio at low levels, and doesn't need any gas which makes things cheaper and simpler. I'd recommend getting welding courses before you buy anything but if you do buy something I'd recommend getting an old second hand welding station rather than a cheap new one. Most of the machines we use at my workplace are 20-30 years old and if we can build bridge cranes and rollercoaster chariots with them they'll be more than enough for a beginner. The biggest drawback with using old equipment is that it'll use a crapload of power and will probably have a 5 phase 380V socket instead of the standard 220V. As for the brand, Kemppi is my favorite when it comes to stick welding, but Cloos and Fronius are amongst the best brands. I still highly recommend taking welding classes before buying anything. On a final note I recommend you get an angle grinder too, the cheapest and most flexible tool for all your metal cutting and shaping needs. Good luck welding and I hope my advice will be useful to you.

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