What's a good upgrade to my diversion 180?

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First off let me say I LOVE my miller welder, but there are times where having balance control for cleaning would help me out sooo much. Looked on CL and found a miller dynasty 200dx for $1500! However it sold in a heartbeat and the odds of something like that popping up again probably won't ever happen.What would you guys recommend as a good upgrade? Keeping in mind a budget and being that it's just a hobby I don't need the HTP 221 or dynasty 200dx unless I get a super super super super good deal.Don't need one now, but maybe treat myself by the summer time. Thinking the thermal arc 186. Thoughts/ideas? Must be an inverter and run on 110v/220v.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by Gamble Thinking the thermal arc 186. Thoughts/ideas? Must be an inverter and run on 110v/220v.
Reply:Oh you are correct. Well strike that one off the list.Are the thermal arcs made in china or italy?Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:You can probably sell your Diversion 180 on CL to pay for the TA186. People will gobble up the blue machine just because it is a Miller and noobs wont know what else is missing till they are in the level you are in, needing to play with other possible settings. From the number of post you have, looks like you been in the welding hobby a long time and you deserve a Dynasty 200DX, IMHO that is what I would really like to have if I was in your shoes. I might weld maybe 2-3 times a year as welding is not my primary hobby, so I have a green machine, I apologize for that but it works for me as I don't see myself spending $3k for a machine that would sit in the corner as what my Lincoln Mig welder did that made 2 projects in 5 years. The brand of machine is no importance to me but learning how to make things with Tig is a real treat.Last edited by vicrc; 12-19-2012 at 12:53 PM.
Reply:I'd wait till the summer for the TA.  There should be some honest reviews by then.I had a Dynasty 200 DX.  The bells and whistles are great to play with, but then I realized that my sucky TIG welding had nothing to do with not having the right settings on the right machine.  It had everything to do with lack of hood time.   I mean look at Zap and BC.  Zap lays them down with a 330 and BC's Precision Tig welds look just as good as his D350 welds.The biggest problem I see with your machine is the torch connection.  You can't easily upgrade to water cooled without some amount of surgery.  The Duty Cycle is also awful.I've had a Syncro 250, TA185, D200 and now a TA300.  If I knew now what I knew then, I'd have just kept the 185.  If i had more room and input power, the Syncro would be the one I kept.  As a hobbyist, you will never use tha advanced features of the Dynasty to any degree.  I'd do miss the AC frequency of 150-250 though.  The TA only goes to 150.Last edited by Drf255; 12-20-2012 at 05:22 AM.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Gamble,From what I have seen from your posts, your Diversion taught you well. For now while you are waiting for an upgrade, can I suggest a hotplate or burner? I have 2 electric hotplates, and 1 gas burner. What will shock you is how close in quality your Diversion is to the Dynastys, which share the same technology, but the Diversion limits you on advanced features. If you are anything like me, when I find something that works well, but I want an upgrade, you have to pry the first one out of my cold dead fingers.I would keep the Diversion, and purchase a 220volt monster like BC did. You have gotten that good and you have earned it.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Thanks for the insite. The diversion has a worse duty cycle than the eastwood, longevity and everlast. I should be getting around to doing the 220v line today. However I still won't be able to crank it up since my torch is rated for 140amps and it gets HOT after a few minutes at 120 amps.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleThanks for the insite. The diversion has a worse duty cycle than the eastwood, longevity and everlast. I should be getting around to doing the 220v line today. However I still won't be able to crank it up since my torch is rated for 140amps and it gets HOT after a few minutes at 120 amps.
Reply:I really like my Precision Tig 225, its a great little machine, has a *few* features more than a diversion, and costs under $2200 shipped to your door, new...[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Gamble,     Did Eastwood send you another tig when you returned yours or did you just get a refund and get the diversion? Just curious because I'm waiting on my Eastwood to arrive....still :/
Reply:Originally Posted by emeraldbisonGamble,     Did Eastwood send you another tig when you returned yours or did you just get a refund and get the diversion? Just curious because I'm waiting on my Eastwood to arrive....still :/
Reply:That's understandable, especially if you live in an urban or sub urban environment. Some shmohawk could grab your welder and you would have no recourse trying to explain yourself.
Reply:Yep, but luckily for me nothing happened. I would absolutely order from eastwood again. The customer service was great.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer