Don't give up yet. You do not have to spend $5800 to TIG 1/8" Aluminum. I have a Diversion that was in the $1500 range, though I don't remember the exact price. There are limits to the Diversion versus the Dynasty. For example, the Diversion is TIG only (AC and DC), whereas the Dynasty (I think) can also be used as a stick machine. The Diversion was built as a "beginner" TIG machine. With it, you don't have the flexibility that you have with the Dynasty or Synchrowave's. Again, for example, our Synchrowave's have about a dozen parameters you can use to tune the machine. Features like gas Pre-Flow and Post-Flow Times. With the Diversion, these features are present, they're just wired into the machine and are not adjustable. With the Diversion, you set it to "Aluminum", which sets it to AC, and you turn the dial to select a material thickness. These two settings and the torch's amperage control are the only adjustable parameters you have.
The torch is air-cooled and, as far as I know, there is no water-cooled torch offered as an option. Water-cooled torches are nice if you are going to be welding thicker pieces (higher amps) for longer stretches of time. When welding aluminum, I'm mostly welding small brackets or thin sheet, so I've never missed it. The torch has a built-in thumb control and a foot control is offered as an option. Before buying this machine, I preferred a foot control, so I bought it. At that time, it was about $100 to $125. I've never used it. The thumb control on the torch is plenty comfortable and allows you to stand flat footed or even shuffle your feet to stay comfortable while welding.
As stated in an earlier post, I have the advantage of having access to larger machines. When I need to weld heavier cast aluminum pieces, like transmission housings, I use a Synchrowave 350 with a water-cooled torch. But when needing to weld smaller pieces of structural shape aluminum, the Diversion has done fine. It has also handled anything I've wanted to weld at it as far as mild steel and stainless are concerned. I've just finished a project welding replacement drain pipes for a set of machines we have. The pipes were fabricated using 4", 304 SS, Schedule 40 pipe. I was able to weld flanges and 2" Thread-O-Lets to the pipe with little issue. The machine's thermal overload tripped twice during this project. Both times, I was making the second pass on the pipe side of a 4" Slip-On flange. These are the kind of limitations you would have to accept. It won't blow and go all day. But, then again, neither will I.
I'm not a Miller salesman, nor do I own stock. I own Miller, Lincoln's, and Hobart and have had good luck with all. I'm sure Lincoln or others offer similar machines that others here have experience with.
