If your set on learning with a stick (which is a good idea, and how I learned) then I'd look around for an old 220 Miller Thunderbolt. You can find them dirt cheap, just about weld bridges with them, and they're damn near indestructable. Also, by learning stick first you always have that to fall back on. My MIG and TIG are only good through about 1/4-3/8", anything that I need more pentration, or for special cases like cast iron, I fall back on my 40 yr old Thunderbolt (its simpler just to switch it on than fiddle with the stick function on the TIG). Plus, anybody who can write their name in cursive can MIG, challenge yourself.