I have an ESAB 120V mig machine that I've used for over 10 years. It requires a 20-amp circuit, and uses almost all of it with heavier gauge wire and higher settings, but is ideal for thinner metal, and for tacking subassemblies together prior to stick welding. I tried it with flux-cored wire, but that was as messy as stick welding, and I gave up on it. Gas is the way to go.

I use a Lincoln stick welder, and it's on a 220-volt 60-amp circuit, so I can crank it and apply some heat.

I also have a small Harbor Freight inverter stick welder that works surprisingly well up to about 1/4 inch material. I think I paid $99 for it, and it's been worth every penny. It'll run on a 15-amp circuit, and even a short extension cord, so it's perfect for small jobs and tacking outdoors. It's based on an inverter circuit, so it's very lightweight, and has an over-current feature for starting that seems to work very well.