Question on Tig welders

[volksnut]

I've been thinking lately about buying myself a tig welder to do some aluminum welding, just hobby stuff (well you know the usual turbo intake stuff etc.) and came across a Lincoln Precision TIG 225 Welder at a pawn shop for $1000 with tank. I've also been looking at the new Miller Diversion 165 also at $1275....are these 2 units comparable with each other, should I look at a different unit?   

[Craig Merrow]

It depends...what kind of features does each have to offer?  The price on either one is pretty good, but the Lincoln sounds like the better of the two as far as deals go.  I've never used the new Miller Diversion, but I work with a Miller Synchrowave 180 at work.  They cheaped out on us and just bought the 180's, although we have one 250 that is a much better machine.

[youngnstudly]

Does the Miller come with a foot pedal for that price? Usually Miller is higher quality and therefore more expensive for the same (comparable) item. I remember one of the guys at my work complaining about the Lincoln he had was giving him trouble (breaking down). I used the Lincoln TIG/Stick welder that is about 5 years old and it did everything I wanted to do. The Aircooled torches do tend to run hotter and you are limited on how thin and thick you can weld with both of those machines. I say, keep looking as you might get a better deal with the economy the way it is. Those Syncrowave Millers with the water cooled torches are awesome! I wish I wanted to spend the money on one, but I ain't got no place to keep it!