Lincoln or Miller

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Hello,I am having difficulty with a decision for a purchase.Right now I am considering one of two welders for a purchase, here is the situation.  I am on a very limited budget, my cap is/was 1,500, one of them goes well beyond.I had done a lot of research and found that my favorite TIG in my price range is a lincoln square wave 355.  It has good duty cycle, all the features I need and then some.ChoiceA: Lincoln square wave 355, it is located about 9 hours of driving away, it costs 1750 (haggled down) and that brings the total probably closer to 1950, to include gas.ChoiceB: A miller goldstar 330 a/bp, it is located about 30 minutes away driving, it costs 900.  Great duty cycle, it meets my needs, AC/DC TIG output.In my situation, which would you choose?  They both have water coolers and essentially everything I need to plug and play except the tank.  I don't have a ton of cash, choice A sets me back pretty hard, but it might be worth it.  I am making prototypes and moving onto small fabrication of my own, aluminum, copper, steel, and so on.Thanks!
Reply:Originally Posted by pinjasChoiceA: Lincoln square wave 355, it is located about 9 hours of driving away, it costs 1750 (haggled down) and that brings the total probably closer to 1950, to include gas.ChoiceB: A miller goldstar 330 a/bp, it is located about 30 minutes away driving, it costs 900.  Great duty cycle, it meets my needs, AC/DC TIG output.In my situation, which would you choose?  They both have water coolers and essentially everything I need to plug and play except the tank.  I don't have a ton of cash, choice A sets me back pretty hard, but it might be worth it.  I am making prototypes and moving onto small fabrication of my own, aluminum, copper, steel, and so on.Thanks!
Reply:I can't remember hearing someone complaining that their welder had "too much" capability.That being said, do you "really" need 350 amps?Rex
Reply:Blue is better, buy Miller.I'd also like a piece of Duane's consulting fee...
Reply:Hello pinjas, Can you go and try the Miller out? If so, that is the first thing that I might do, from that point you can probably decide, by it's condition, whether the Lincoln would be worth looking at and possibly buying. The Miller is comparable in power to the Lincoln, yet it is possible that the Lincoln might be a bit more thrifty on power. I make that "assumption" based on the fact that the Lincoln is likely a much newer machine and is a square wave model. Slightly different current waveform and preferred by some. Yet the 330a/bp has the "gold star" system in it and is very stable at low amp outputs, lots of aerospace welding has been done with these a number of years ago. Do you know if the Lincoln has a wave balance control? If so, this could be a nice addition when working with degraded materials and doing repair type welding. The difference in cost could be a large factor if you could use the extra $'s for other needs. Similarly, if you find that your projects and work that you have for this machine is indeed lucrative you could probably upgrade to something newer very readily and get the money back out of the Miller very easily. A bit more to consider. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Originally Posted by aevaldHello pinjas, Can you go and try the Miller out? If so, that is the first thing that I might do, from that point you can probably decide, by it's condition, whether the Lincoln would be worth looking at and possibly buying. The Miller is comparable in power to the Lincoln, yet it is possible that the Lincoln might be a bit more thrifty on power. I make that "assumption" based on the fact that the Lincoln is likely a much newer machine and is a square wave model. Slightly different current waveform and preferred by some. Yet the 330a/bp has the "gold star" system in it and is very stable at low amp outputs, lots of aerospace welding has been done with these a number of years ago. Do you know if the Lincoln has a wave balance control? If so, this could be a nice addition when working with degraded materials and doing repair type welding. The difference in cost could be a large factor if you could use the extra $'s for other needs. Similarly, if you find that your projects and work that you have for this machine is indeed lucrative you could probably upgrade to something newer very readily and get the money back out of the Miller very easily. A bit more to consider. Best regards, Allan
Reply:180 sd my machine of choice and its blue anybody agree
Reply:Pinjas, by the verbiage "the bells and whistles are a sirens voice I cannot silence" I take it you bought the lincoln 355? Or a different one?That miller isn't a square wave machine though, right? The older millers come up frequently
Reply:Originally Posted by castirondudePinjas, by the verbiage "the bells and whistles are a sirens voice I cannot silence" I take it you bought the lincoln 355? Or a different one?That miller isn't a square wave machine though, right? The older millers come up frequently <$1000 but the square wave machines are always more. I was really considering getting the cheaper machine myself but my uncle who runs a welding shop urged me "whatever you do, get a square wave machine with water cooled torch."That being said I just bought a lincoln 355 for $2000 complete with the cooler etc. Just add a tank and go. I think it's a good deal. If you can pick one up for $1750 I would take it.
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmBlue is better, buy Miller.I'd also like a piece of Duane's consulting fee...
Reply:Originally Posted by JohnnyWelder been around longer.
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmSo you're a fan of China too?  It's been around longer than the US....