Recommend me a hobbyist welder for $900 USD or less?

Looking for a welder.  Haven't touched a welder in 20 years.  Plan to start with flux core to get started and run gas after I've had some practice.  I have 230V available, would like a dual-voltage machine in case I need to do something small 'on the road'.  Not looking for TIG support as it seems smarter to buy an actual TIG machine instead of paying more for a limited multi-process machine if I ever feel the need to use TIG.  Kind of leaning towards a bit more 'analog' controls instead of so much auto-setting stuff. 

Would like something with a bit of warranty.  HF's Vulcan 215 offers a 90 day warranty which just seems too short.  Hobart Handler 190 looks pretty good, a bit more basic than the Vulcan, but that's okay as mentioned above.  What else am I not thinking of that would be as good or superior to the Handler 190?  Both of these are selling for $900 currently which is where my budget limit came from.  I also plan on buying a Lincoln 3350 per review of some threads about helmets here on GRM, as well as a respirator and gloves etc.

Would like to buy at a store that's local to me so I can buy supplies or return if needed without shipping it somewhere. 

Home Depot carries Lincoln welders. I've been using one of theirs (a 175) for about a decade and a half and it's been 100% reliable. This one isn't dual voltage, but it looks pretty close to mine. 3 year warranty.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-Electric-Weld-Pak-180-Amp-MIG-Flux-Core-Wire-Feed-Welder-230V-Aluminum-Welder-with-Spool-Gun-sold-separately-K2515-1/100670932

My Hobart has been through a lot of wire, and I still like it.

I've built a couple of cages with one very similar to this. This is the updated version. It's infinitely better than the Hobart Handler 140 it replaced. 

HITBOX 250Amp Aluminum MIG Welder

tuna55 said:

My Hobart has been through a lot of wire, and I still like it.

This. I bought a 220v Hobart 175 when the 185 came out for under $600. Most of the parts in it say Miller, not sure if that is the case any more though.

I imagine even with normal year by year inflation you could still find a deal like that.

My pipeline welder buddy set me up with a Yeswelder 110/220 mig/tig model 205DS that was ~400 delivered and is more capable than I am.  Yes it's Chinesium, but apparently the good kind. YMMV

I have played with both a multipurpose MIG (MIG200) and dedicated tig (TIG200) from ArcCaptain, and I loved them both so much I kept them.  The MIG replaced my Lincoln 140, and the TIG is on a shelf for when my Miller Dynasty pops.

Keith Tanner said:

Home Depot carries Lincoln welders. I've been using one of theirs (a 175) for about a decade and a half and it's been 100% reliable. This one isn't dual voltage, but it looks pretty close to mine. 3 year warranty.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-Electric-Weld-Pak-180-Amp-MIG-Flux-Core-Wire-Feed-Welder-230V-Aluminum-Welder-with-Spool-Gun-sold-separately-K2515-1/100670932

They do, and they are still Lincolns, but the Weld-Pak series is a big-box specific, homeowner grade line that sometimes skimps on features like infinite wire speed adjustment. Not bad machines, but a "Home Depot exclusive!" sticker usually looks more like a warning than anything else.

I was hoping to recommend another machine from Lincoln, but they've changed their product line around and I'm not familiar with it.

You might pop into a local welding supply shop, Airgas or maybe a mom-and-pop shop, and see where it leads. You're going to be in there buying consumables every so often, and they'll be happier to see you if you bought the machine from them than from a stranger located in a place called Best Price, US Inventory. 

If you're going to do a lot of MIG welding, a Miller or Lincoln with a local supplier of consumables and service should you need it would be a great thing.  My Lincoln 175 has been great for years, and parts are readily available. 

If you want an inexpensive TIG I think I'd buy a Primeweld machine; I have a giant old Miller transformer machine with a water cooler, etc. but I'm considering the Primeweld for a second machine to get the fancy pulse and AC balance features.  This machine can do AC and DC and comes with a decent torch and pedal, unlike some of the scratch start machines above.

https://weldmongerstore.com/products/primeweld-tig225x-ac-dc-tig-welder-with-pulse

This link is to the online store of a guy who has a great Youtube channel on welding.  He has some good review videos and helped tip me toward the Primeweld over something like the similar Eastwood machine.