The only differences are a rectifier may last more than 100 year's in a good enviroment
and will use more power guaranteed over the course of its life

and a inverter will last for? probley not as long and of course has superior portability
ever the miller maxstar is something like 14lbs and you can burn 1/8th rods with a decent duty cycle

Remember PowCon? They were the first inverters I remember. Came out in the early eighties or seventies I think. I have a freind who is still running two powcons, heavy duty use too. My Lincoln V-350 PRO was built (I think) in '95 or '97. Still kicks amp. My Thermal Dynamics 185 GTS is 6 or 7 years old and going strong.

must get new version of aws weld spec. last time i read it it said ball for alum. sorry just what the book said to do. now if i have some new fangled welder sure. now if Camphor doesnt? What should he do? Use the ball or go out and buy a new welder?

must get new version of aws weld spec. last time i read it it said ball for alum. sorry just what the book said to do. now if i have some new fangled welder sure. now if Camphor doesnt? What should he do? Use the ball or go out and buy a new welder?

It has nothing to do with the AWS spec. It is dependent on the welder you are using. Simple formula - transformer welder: balled tungsten for aluminum, Inverter with square wave AC: pointed tungsten. You use what you need to use. In my TIG class I ran a Miller Syncro 250. We balled the tungsten for aluminum. At home I run a Thermal Arc 185 tsw. I use a pointed tungsten. In the end, both welders do the job.