Even if you have to save another month or so, get something that will be big enough to weld everything you think you ever will as far as thickness, then double it. I was on a very strict budget when I bought my little Lincoln because I also needed a bigger compressor at the same time. While I still use the heck out of my little "baby", it's another "I shoulda.......". Maybe someday I'll move up to a biggie

I'll go against some of the grain here and say that you should buy a known name brand. While the Northern might be a rebadged Lincoln, they do make other "adjustments" to keep the price down. It might be a lower duty cycle transformer or a 2 foot shorter lead, it's this kind of mod that can end up biting you where you sit for parts as these outfits like Northern move on. Stick with the Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, etc kind of welder and in a 220 volt application and you'll never be sorry.