Which machine? (2 choices)

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Hey guys, I am in a bit of a dilemma. I have been welding for about 3 years. Currently I have 2 Miller machines, a Watercooled Syncrowave 180SD and Millermatic 251. The projects I have are typically motorcycles, gates, furniture, tool fabrication and some misc light construction. Usually I do not go too thick on the metal. Up until now I have used these purely for recreation, and will most likely continue on this path but I have been looking into building and producing some products and will most likely begin doing so in the next year. The thickest piece of metal I have welded to date is some 1/4 steel plate and I do not see myself going much thicker anytime in the future. I have welded mostly steel up until now, but I am starting to use more and more aluminum due to the fact that it is cheaper, lighter, and in general more useful from a weight and application stand point. So here is what I am trying to decide; I am a little short on space and I am going to be selling my 2 welders and picking up 1 welder. Currently I am trying to decide between a Millermatic 350P or a Miller Dynasty, although I am open to other opinions. I am trying to gauge what will be the most useful. I like the idea of the Dynasty because I will be able to weld pretty much anything including the really thin stuff, and weld it clean. On the other hand I also enjoy mig welding due to the fact that it is easier, faster and more forgiving to work with on allot of applications where the fitment of the metals is not perfect. And I know the 350P with a spool gun can weld fairly thing aluminum, thinner than 1/16 if Im not mistaken. The thing is the welds with a spool gun will nowhere be as clean and nice as the tig welders. For this reason I am sort of leaning towards the Dynasty. If anyone has any experience or ideas I would love to hear them!Sincerely,PDMiller Syncrowave 180SD WatercooledMillermatic 251
Reply:The 350p will produce very nice Aluminum welds.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Thats good to know Broccoli. I wish someone could post some welds done on a 350p! Do you think it will looks as nice as a stacked dimes like a tig? I have never used a spool gun before. Are they uncomfortable? I feel so comfortable holding the little tig torch. Kind Regards,Miller Syncrowave 180SD WatercooledMillermatic 251
Reply:There was a Thread here but I can't find it right now.Aluminum Boat build that a guy posted up some Photos of the Pulsed AL MigEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:I hate to tell you, but most likely you need both. There are somethings best done with mig, usually production welding steel, sheetmetal and so on. And some things that tig is better for, detailed welds in alum and stainless comes to mind. You won't replace one with the other. As far as a spoolgun on alum, it can be big and bulky in some cases. Often it's difficult to move the gun fast enough doing alum and keep changing the gun angle going around curves and angles as well as say around small diameter tube/pipe. I found tig was better for many of these hard to do applications rather than the spoolgun. That said, long straight production runs on alum can be done well with the spoolgun, especially on thicker sections.Tig would shine on say SS exhaust tube and headers. I'd bet most here who do this would opt for tig over mig to do the best quality job.I'd probably suggest you look at keeping one machine and then upgrading the other right now, with the plan to upgrade the 2nd later if needed. If the Syncro 180 doesn't have the options you are looking for, maybe a new Syncro 200 or TA185 as an upgrade for doing more alum. That or a used Syncro 250 or used Dynasty in about the same price range. Keep the mig for other work for the time being..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Yeah it is really hard to say one is better over the other because the applications of each are pretty separate.  Though the 350P will have some settings that you can change for a spool gun attachment, there are some things I would never attempt with a wire fed process.  You say you do motorcycles, if that's only frames then fine but don't think about doing any tanks or pans the first try that are pressure ready with anything but a TIG welder.  I teach welding at a high school and we have both machines, love them both, neither will be a bad choice.  However they are two totally different in their applications.  I know this really isn't any help, but good luck.
Reply:Why not make you a cart where you can stack the machines and keep them?Miller Pro 30068 SA 20064 SAF 300305 G Lincoln gasserMiller 210