How to choose a welding machine guide, Professional Australian welders, Avoiding Fumes
How To Choose A Welding Machine
1 May 2024
Choosing your first welder can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you have no experience welding and don’t know what you’re looking for. There are so many decent welding brands out there, like Lincoln Welding Equipment and a few others. When it comes down to it, you need to choose a welder that’s going to provide for your needs and a little more just for a little future-proofing.
In this article, we’re going to cover how to choose the right welding machine for you.
Types of Welding Machines
Welding machines come in all shapes and sizes, with some being so big they can’t be moved around and others simply swinging over your shoulder so you can weld on the go. Before you choose a welder, you need to know what options are available to you. Here are some different kinds of welding machines:
- Stick Welder
- MIG (Metal Inert Gas) Welder
- TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) Welder
- Flux-Cored Arc Welder
- Submerged Arc Welder
- Plasma Arc Welder
- Gas Welding Machine
- Laser Welding Machine
- Electron Beam Welder
- Multi-Process Welders
Understanding Processes
While we consider the names above as types of welders, these names also describe the different processes these welders can do. Stick welders have been one of the most popular methods of welding for ages. This process uses an electric current that flows from the electrode to the metal, causing it to melt.
Mig Welding uses a wire electrode on a spool that’s fed automatically as the welder moves along. An electric current is sent into the wire and metal, causing the wire to melt and join the metal. TIG is usually the go-to for thinner alloy metals like aluminium, copper alloy or stainless steel. TIG welders give you control over the arc, producing higher-quality welds.
Factors to Consider when buying a Welding Machine
Whenever you buy something, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. Now that you know the different welders out there, consider these additional factors before you make your choice:
Process
First things first, you need to decide what processes you need in your welder. If you’re doing basic DIY welding at home, a stick welder would be sufficient. But if you plan on taking things a bit further, you might want to consider getting a multi-process welding machine that gives you Stick, MIG, and TIG capabilities. At first, a machine like this might seem daunting to use, but as you get used to it, it’ll open up a lot more opportunities for you as a welder because of its versatility.
Power Supply
Consider the power supply as well. Welding machines can be powered by a few sources, including electricity, gas, or batteries. You’d need to choose which power source would make the most sense for you and get that machine.
Amperage and voltage requirements
On a similar line to a power source, consider the strength of the welder you need. Smaller DIY welders are suitable for home use but might not do too well in industrial work. So, if you’re doing some heavy-duty welding, consider getting a welder to match what’s required.
Portability
Portability is another important factor that people often consider. For small jobs, it’s helpful to have a welder that can be carried around with you. There are some multi-process welders that are pretty portable these days. The alternative would be having a stationary welder and having to centralise your work around it.
Duty Cycle
The duty cycle refers to how long a welding machine can function before it needs time to cool down. Welding machines might be built to take a lot of time, but they also need time to rest so they don’t overheat. It would be ideal to find a welder with a higher-duty cycle so it can be used for longer periods without stopping.
Price
Lastly, price. For those who just do DIY welding, spending tons of cash on an industrial laser welder might be a bit of an overkill. We’d suggest rather looking for something in the middle price bracket. You want quality, efficiency, and function, but you don’t need to overdo it.
How to choose a welding machine – Final Thoughts
The right welder can last you well into the future. We hope this guide has given you some key factors to consider when choosing your first or next welding machine. Whether you go for versatility, power, or convenience, we hope you find the right welder for you. We wish you all the best.
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