another big advantage is the three phase it makes kit so much cheepr and better value it really pisses me off.
My 450A mig 3ys old cost me £250 cheep as hell cos it's 3phase only. you can get anythign near that power and quality for that singel phase and 3ph welders not only have more grunt, higher duity cycels they weld nicer as the current is smoother.
once you look at tigs £500-1000 with 3phase buys you without much looking a 2nd hand industrial AC/DC tig with plenty of toys and all the power you chould want, singel phase it buys you a gutless pice of chineese sh!t with a useless warranty.
compressors are big and cheep and lathes and mills go for scrap money

unfortunatly for TC he's on the IOW as if he was much closer i would have finished that barn for him by now, however fortunatly for him he is on the IOW as i would have nested in that barn by now.