zogger
Tree Freak
For the average homeowner doing light work, even one of those cheap little 80 to 100 amp buzz boxes would serve the purpose. They can be had new for pretty cheap and are typically 120VAC plugin. While they ain't gonna weld 1/2" plate, they will weld up a headache rack easy enough! I've seen them on CL from time to time...welders are pretty straight forward, if the seller can plug it in, weld on all the settings; there's probably nothing wrong with it.
I did some trading, buying, selling and ended up with two boxes over the years, a Lincoln Blue AC/DC and a Craftsman AC/DC. In my travels, I found two 100 ft welding leads along the edge of the road...one in the middle of Baltimore and one in the middle of Kansas along Highway 53 (or is it 54? Been too many years.). Pays to scroung...I have very little wrapped up in either box.
Oh, I have a welder here, one of those old big 220 volt lincoln jobs. I just suck at it. I've fixed some busted stuff here when I had to, but it ain't pretty and it only lasts 1/2 the time, then I have to try it again. I have gotten *marginally* better at it, but...I can work with wood OK.. HAHAHAHA