Please help me decide between these 2 welders. I like the fact that the lincold has the pulsing, but the welder guy told me the miller was better because it provided better A/C control for aluminum.

 

I was just in the same situation as you. After posting on many welding boards and talking with a bunch of different people I got the thermal arc 185 unit. Much lighter and uses less power

 

they are both nice units , i own a 180sd and i think its awsome but if you have the $ then go thermal arc 185 , that unit is the ****

 

As underpressure02 said...Thermal Arc TA-185 is a real nice unit. I have been very happy with it.

John

 

I have a pt185 and it kicks ***. Have not found anything that this welder cant weld.

 

i was having problems welding aluminum at my shop with my lincoln PT-185. I took it to Auto fab racecars to ask Mark ( the owner, and master fabricator there) if he could give me some pointers on welding aluminum. Mark said yes but he wanted to weld with my new machine first just to make sure the welder was ok. i said fine go right a head. he ran a bead on 1/4 and 1/2 inch aluminum. he then lifted his welding mask and said that my machine welded better than any thing he has in his shop. Turns out the voltage at my shop wasnt up to par for the welder i have, and that was my whole problem. Now let me list all the welders he has in his shop just so you guys have something to compare it to: 2 Miller syncrowave 250 dx's, 1 miller dial arc, ESAB Heliarc 352 as well as an Airco tig machine thats like 15 years old. Now i am not putting down Miller or any other welding company out there, i just wanted to put in my vote for the lincoln 185. i got mine from http://www.weldingsupply.com

 

I am really leaning towards the lincoln because it is about 85 dollars cheaper from the local welding store and it has the same features as the miller , but includes the pulse option. I may never need it but i am all about value.