As USUAL you get what you pay for....
Welders and Plasma Cutters etc are items that you really only want to buy once. IF you buy a machine that isn't capable to doing what you GROW into doing... you'll end up unhappy. Having said that - there's no reason to buy a TIG machine that's capable of welding 1/2" aluminum when you're NEVER going to weld something like that. If the need arrises you can always take something like that to a welding shop and have it done. That would be like buying a Bridgeport Mill for shaving off an 1/16" on three parts....
There are REASONS for machines being "less expensive" (i.e., CHEAP) -- and it has to do with duty cycle.... and arc stability.... and wire feed motors... and the torch that is or isn't included... or the cart and on and on. All companies are competitive whenever possible... but the good ones can't possibly compete with some offshore Chinese import.
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