Hi all,

I am just now looking into purchasing and subsequently learning how to use, a welder. The first and most pressing project in mind is a bike repair stand, such as seen here.

Other projects in the future would probably involve messing around with various bike frames and similar types of materials. I would imagine steel and aluminum would be the most often used. I have read through most of the threads on here and I'm wondering what you all think about something like this dual mig welder as a startup rig. Also, what's the difference between that that and this flux and mig welder? Can these even do the sorts of things I'm looking to do? I am also unclear as to how the gas works with these, or really what role gas plays in general with these sorts of welders. Any info anyone would like to offer would be fantastic.

Thanks,

Brian