Lincoln and miller are about the best but hobarts are good and if you really want a cheap one that isant bad look at speedway series there usually about $100 or less I have one of there 100amp arc welders and it actually works pretty good and its lasted quiet awhile with no problems but I dont know about where you live but here we have a tool sale a few times a year with some people who I guess travel the country selling the stuff and they sell them speedway series arc and mig welders for $100 or less but there decent stuff for a beginner who dosent weld every day and im sure theres some of them on ebay