i like having both a small 125 amp air cooled torch and a big 200 amp water cooled torch, the small torch is way easier welding tube and hard to get to areas, it does get hot but you can work around that.
the water cooled torch does stay cooler but is way more bulky. really good for production work

I have a Lincoln Precision Tig 275 & Dynasty 200DX Love them both. Never ball the tung. on either machine.I use the miller to roll around the shop since it's a small package. The Lincoln stays put a sets next to my work table.What ever you buy get a gas defuser lens makes all the differants in welds. My 2 cents.Scott

Scott --

Stole the words right out of my mouth -- I was going to mention to go with a gas lens...

X3 i will never tig weld without a gas lens..
i also roll around my lincoln and leave the big 250 at my welding table

I love my Lincoln welders.
no problems to speak of.
parts are almost always 20 minutes away if a repair, or maintenance item is needed.

I spent a bunch of time today at both LINCOLN and MILLER booths at SEMA -- discussing technique and machines with the WELDERS that were there demoing stuff -- NOT THE SALESMAN... who probably never turned on a machine (LOL)... Got lots of good tips and tricks... but in the end - it's like golf - you can either hit the ball or you suck.... and that is true in welding. The brand makes little difference despite the fact that they do have differences.

I do sometimes wish my inverter TIG machine was 'larger' as in 300 amps -- but again - in the end - I'd use that much heat so seldom that it's not worth getting my panties in a knot over.

I did NOT like the new Lincoln 205 Inverter machine - they have a new front schematic to use for settings - and despite a thorough explanation - I still had NO CLUE what the settings 'diagram' was telling me. I suppose you'd get used to it - but to me - it was anything but intuitive.

Do you guys have a good recommendation for a broke-college-kid who'd like to not have to have his freind weld all his aluminum for him? :)

Mike --

There is no "inexpensive way" to weld aluminum... the equipment required (TIG) is expensive.

If you're not going to 'invest' in the equipment - then you really don't have many options other than having someone else do it for you.

There is a torch welder - uses common gas - that they sell for doing sheet aluminum. Ron Covell sells it on his website I think.

The only other way is to put a spool gun on your MIG machine. But that is usually a "production" version of welding aluminum and really doesn't work that well for what "we" do - which is odd ball parts here and there as we need them.

I'm cool with spending about a grand, and have been looking for a used syncrowave fora while, didn't know if yall had any good ideas on that..I've never heard of looking for used loaner units which I'm gonna try to do once I have some cash again, but ideas like that.

Does anybody know where I can get a chart to hang on the wall telling what gases to use for what kind of metal I'm using? I'm going to try aluminum next week. I got a new dynasty at SEMA and I'm just getting around to playing with it. Also got a spool gun for my Miller 200