I've been accused of being a shill here before
. I keep telling you guys I could care less what brand welder anyone buys. I have a Toyota pickup, and a Dodge 1-ton, again I could care less what brand of truck a guy buys. When it comes to welding, only thing I hate to see is a new weldor wanting to buy an AC only machine! But if he has his heart set on it, again I could care less! I only pass along my experience with certain machines I have run, or I will say I read about certain things. Back when I was working it was mostly Miller, and Lincoln engine drives out in the field, in the yards it was mostly Miller, and Lincoln electric machines, but every once in a while there would be an old Airco, or Linde, very seldom would I see a Hobart, but sometimes. First inverter I ever used was a Miller Dynasty, this was in Miller's testing facility in North West Chicago, got to run every welder Miller had on the market at that time, with Miller techs showing us how to use them. One of the techs spent an hour or so showing me what the Dynasty could do with aluminum, I fell in love with the Dynasty 300, so I bought one, and was very disappointed with it for SMAW! When Mark joined here, and reading his posts it was obvious he knows his welding! I called Mark and had a long conversation with him, and bought the PA-200. WOW! I was impressed, but the non-adjustable hot start, and arc force only wet my appetite. Then I found a good deal on Craigs list for a used Lincoln V350-Pro, Construction model. OK now I'm hooked!:laughing: I was just floored at how much control a welding machine could have over the puddle. The more I thought about buying a used machine, I went a head and bought the top of the line model with the extra 2-year warranty. How long will it last? Knowing my luck, 1-day after the 5-year warranty is up! But the Dynasty is 8 or 9-years old now, no problems, knock on wood!
