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Hi Delbert, That's an AC welder, isn't it? The issue of AC vs DC comes up on this forum once in awhile. I seem to be in the minority to feel that AC is satisfactory for most uses. I own a Stickmate 235 AC/150 DC welder which I use often. There are few situations where I absolutely have to use DC rather than AC. The only valid one I can think of, in fact, is where 7018 is the only stick that will do the job. I'm not much of a fan of 7018AC, but a lot of users like it well enough. I've also read that the electrodes that run well on AC are difficult to use for out of position welding (vertical and overhead.) I keep meaning to try this to see for myself, but so far I haven't remembered to. The stickmate seems to be built ruggedly, and Hobart has a good reputation (Miller didn't buy Hobart---another company owns them both.) Welders that have a shunt which moves in relation to the transformer to change amperage can loosen up and change settings by themselves while you're welding. The Stickmate instruction book addresses this problem, though. 205 amps should be plenty for most situations you'd encounter the way you describe using it but it probably means a shorter duty cycle than you'd have with a higher amperage machine. I figure that you can't use a stick welder much more than 80% of a ten minute period anyway, so I look at 80% as the realistic limit. My Stickmate has an 80% duty cycle at about 115 amps AC. A 205 amp AC rated one would probably be a little less. Think about whether that would be a limitation for you. All the best, Stan
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