Had to pick between a Miller Dynasty 200 and a Lincoln Aspect 230 for my home shop last month

I went with the Lincoln because of the lower price tag but now I'm wondering if the Miller's AC balance control was worth the extra $500, anyone else regret a welder choice based on budget?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas.cameron1mo ago

The AC balance thing is honestly one of those features you don't miss until you really need it, and by then it's too late. That said, the Aspect 230 is a solid machine and the money you saved could go toward a nice pedal or a gas setup if you don't have one already. I've heard a lot of guys say the Lincoln runs smoother on aluminum even without the fine-tune balance, just depends on how picky you are about your weld bead appearance. Plus, the Dyn200 is older tech at this point and parts might get harder to find down the road. If you're not doing super thin sheet metal or weird alloys, the extra $500 probably isn't haunting your sleep as much as you think.

kim_hart71mo ago

Gotta disagree with you a bit here @thomas.cameron. I've run both machines side by side on 1/8 inch 6061 and the Lincoln's arc is way more stable without the balance knob, sure, but when you start messing with thicker stuff like 3/8 plate or dirty material, that fine tune control makes a huge difference in cleaning action. The Dyn200 isn't that old either, Miller still supports the 200 series pretty well and you can find parts on ebay cheap if you look around. I'd rather have the feature and not need it than be stuck with a machine that can't clean off oxide on some beat up old extrusion. The $500 difference stings now, but you'll feel it way more when you're chasing a puddle that won't wet out right.