LIncoln or Miller?

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MILLER DUH, But in this case Lincoln or Miller?I am looking to by a TIG welder, right now I have a MIG and a ARC.Option 1, A miller syncorwave 180SD approx. 4 years old, in "great condition". For $1800 he said I will get the Machine, Argon Tank, hight voltage extension wire, high voltage short wire, tig welding rods, arc welding rods, tungsten and a welding table. For $1600, everything but the table.Option 2, Lincoln Precision TIG 275, water cooled with 50'of welding leads with leather cover. 220 volts with 10' cord and .2 years old with low hours, excelent running conditionpaid $3,500+ new..................asking $2,400.00.Well although the Miller is older and the Lincoln is prettier a lot of people say I cant go wrong with the Miller. I like the Lincoln because more AMPS and also it is liquid cooled. I don't know what to look for when buying a welder. On the AFB BASE we have two 11 year old MILLER 300 Syncrowaves that do not work. 1 has a bad transformer and the other not to sure. If I go look at the welder how can I be sure it works. I am new o TIG welding. Thanks guys.Last edited by Beggining2Weld; 04-02-2010 at 01:55 PM.Reason: Error
Reply:Get the serial numbers and download the service manuals from the company websites, read them thoroughly.Insist on being able to plug the machines in and test them. What stick welding machine do you have? You might be able to scratch-start TIG using that before dropping the money on a TIG machine.
Reply:I'm looking for a syncro 180 but I haven't read anything bad about either that or the Lincoln.  More amps + liquid cooled sounds pretty sweet if you can swing the extra dough.  I don't know jack about it, just what I've learned from reading so take my advice w/ a grain of salt.  Millermatic 135Syncrowave 250
Reply:Originally Posted by Beggining2WeldMILLER DUH, But in this case Lincoln or Miller?I am looking to by a TIG welder, right now I have a MIG and a ARC.Option 1, A miller syncorwave 180SD approx. 4 years old, in "great condition". For $1800 he said I will get the Machine, Argon Tank, hight voltage extension wire, high voltage short wire, tig welding rods, arc welding rods, tungsten and a welding table. For $1600, everything but the table.Option 2, Lincoln Precision TIG 275, water cooled with 50'of welding leads with leather cover. 220 volts with 10' cord and .2 years old with low hours, excelent running conditionpaid $3,500+ new..................asking $2,400.00.Well although the Miller is older and the Lincoln is prettier a lot of people say I cant go wrong with the Miller. I like the Lincoln because more AMPS and also it is liquid cooled. I don't know what to look for when buying a welder. On the AFB BASE we have two 11 year old MILLER 300 Syncrowaves that do not work. 1 has a bad transformer and the other not to sure. If I go look at the welder how can I be sure it works. I am new o TIG welding. Thanks guys.
Reply:Well I have a lincoln ranger 10,000 gasoline. I also have a MIG little home depot buy with an argon gas tank. I haven't really used the ranger at all. But I'm happy with the quality lincoln put out. What will the serial number and manuals tell me? I already have had them agreed to do some welding with me to assure it works. So the lincoln liquid cooled or the miller?
Reply:WHuges that was a lot of good info. I kind of thought it was a little high as well.
Reply:the sync price is way high. I've used both machines extensively and if I had to choose in this case I would go with the Lincoln. Don't get me wrong I'm a die hard Miller fan but this is not comparing apples to apples. These machines are not in the same class and trust me you will be much happier with the 275 if you ever have to weld AL over 1/8 thick.
Reply:i would ask for the two military synch's and try to make one out of them id i were you.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:The Miller is crazy to high. I could have bought a Miller Syncrowave 200 with runner package back when the Canadian dollar was high for 1950.00 brand new. Because I waited to long the Miller went high with their prices for awhile but are now back on their way down. I ended up getting the Lincoln PT225 for 2150.00 with cart new. Great machine. If you can swing it get the PT275. You will love the extra power if you want to do any aluminum.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Well I bought the LINCOLN. I am extremely happy. The gentlemen said he had 6 of these machines, and had a Lincoln MIG and a MIller MIG in the past. He said he was much happier with the LINCOLN. He used to build custom gates and stairways and recently shut down. I walked out of there with a TIG machine with not a scratch, 50' of leather wrapped line with a push button, and the original owners manual and documents. I only payed 2k, I feel i got a great deal, only problem now I have never used a TIG welder. thanks for the input.
Reply:"only problem now I have never used a TIG welder."That's not a problem, that is an opportunity. A challenge. An adventure.I LIVE to learn new things. And get better/smarter at the things that I already know.I sometimes envy noobs, but here, I am one so I'm having a ball!-az-
Reply:Congrats.Set it up and start getting some seat time.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:WIth the water cooled package, being newer, and the beefier output you made the right call.The 180SD predates the "built in pulser" and the ability to weld at really low amps.Does the PT275 have the pulser panel already installed?CWI, CWE, CST for Miller, Lincoln, Thermadyne, Hypertherm & ESABMillermatic 350PLincoln Invertec 205 AC/DCVictor combo torchESAB PCM 1125