CK is pretty conservative with ratings, but if you run a 9 at 185 amps it will not be for long. The big problem is that if you find yourself maxed out, you will also find that the weld will take longer than if you had more amperage, and you risk cooking the torch. Even at 125 amps over extended periods, I find a 9 will get too hot to handle with thin TIG gloves, depending on where you hold the torch. The 35% duty cycle of the machine will help to keep that under control, and making short welds will also help. A lot of fabrication falls into two stages, one where you are cutting, fitting and tacking and a super light torch and low duty cycle machine is perfect, then welding up all the joints where you might need more power and longer duty cycle. As long as you observe the duty cycle and take breaks, you will be ok, but if you stress the machine you will at the least shorten it's life, at the worst, break it. Your projects will dictate what will work best for you. I myself run a 250 amp rated torch on a machine that is capable of over 350 amps, just to have the small size. However, I know I almost never use those power levels, and if I do, it is just briefly at the start of some aluminum welds. Someday I might fry that torch, but I have had it more than 20 years and on 3 machines, so far. You can always bust out the 17 that came with the machine for jobs that might be a little tough on the 9.