You have a really good point. Some limit switches would go a long way to protect the regulator mechanism from self destructing!

Before I bought a proper MIG, I set up a tig rig. HTP is my brand, who knew the Italians were such masters of the angry pixies? When I learned TIG, I started with Aluminum! Chinese isn't hard for chinese babies so it made sense to me. Then when I got a MIG setup, it was way too easy. TIG is still my go to for most stuff, it is such a pleasure to be able to weld right next to a car in the garage and not worry about sparks taking out a windshield. Learning to TIG is no doubt one of the best things I've ever learned. It opens so many doors, just wish I learned when I was in my teens!

The chinese are making some really good and cheap TIG machines with tons of features now. My friend got an Alphatig for under a grand that rivals my machine that cost 3 times that! Stay away from flux core unless you are welding outside on a fence. It has its place, just not on automobiles. An argon bottle runs about 200bucks, but you can't do good work without one! Fills cost me 35-70bucks depending what I'm doing and a bottle lasts me for months. The worst part about having this stuff, everyone on the street learns what you can do and they come knocking. My neighbors know just don't show up without a case of Shiner Bock!