While there are many types of welding in existence, probably the most popular type nowadays is the Tungsten insulated gas welding, which is also referred to as the TIG welding for short. Of course, there are many reasons behind the recent increase in the popularity of this welding type, with the primary reason being that it provides probably the cleanest and most precise ways to weld. Therefore, if your work is all about solid structural integrity and beautiful finishes, then the best TIG Welder is a must-have for you.
We’ve considered more than 25 models before compiling the final list. That said, it’s time to introduce you to our Editor’s Choice, the PRIMEWELD TIG225X. To be honest, things can hardly get better than this model, as it’s literally everything any welder could dream of. You can always rely on this powerful machine for the most challenging projects. As if that wasn’t enough, it also comes with an advanced technology, which puts it a long mile ahead of others. However, the other six models featured are also brilliant, so regardless of the choice you make, you’re unlikely to have regrets.
We’ve dedicated a lot of time to research to ensure that you actually don’t have any regrets with any of our picks. Our extensive research involves some crucial variables, which are fundamental to the performance of any TIG welder. Some of those variables include the voltage, current range, material thickness, and dimensions. With that said, it’s high time we introduced you to our different picks, using our all-familiar structure – the comparison table, the product-review section, and the buying guide.
More features: advanced inverter technology with PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced professional, the PRIMEWELD TIG225X Welder should be at the top of your consideration. It’s our Editor’s Choice, and apart from being perfect for professionals, this tool is also great for people who want to use it for DIY projects around their homes. And featuring dual voltage capability of 110 volts and 220 volts, the machine provides enough versatility to be used for a wide range of applications. Besides, it supports both DC and AC power, so you can be confident that it will handle a lot of tasks comfortably.
Moving on, this TIG Welder features 225 amperage, which further highlights why it’s the best unit you can find on the market. It is suitable for aluminum and stainless steel, and it can also work with thinner metals. On top of that, the machine is packed with cutting-edge technologies, featuring an advanced inverter that allows pulse width modulation. Also, the unit is ergonomic, which guarantees ease of use for users. For accurate welding heat control, the unit features a foot pedal and hand torch control, which is particularly great for beginners since coordination is fundamental in achieving a great weld.
In general, the PRIMEWELD TIG225X Welder has a great construction that matches its price. The same applies to its accessories as well, which include a three-year warranty on the cable and the flex torch. Meanwhile, PRIMEWELD is behind no one when it comes to customers service, which is also a plus when considering the right model for your needs. The only unpleasant surprise you may find with this tool is that its fan is a little too loud.
More features: AC/DC; comes with a standard euro torch
The Weldpro Digital TIG 200GD is always a serious candidate when in search of a portable TIG welder that offers big performance. Impressively, despite being compact and lightweight in construction, the fairly small size of this welder doesn’t take anything away from it. In fact, it even makes it more versatile it it’s suitable for an extensive range of applications, both outdoors and indoors. As some of the best welders available on the market, this one is also inverter-based. Plus, it deploys some cutting-edge technologies usually found on top-rated welders, such as pulse width modulation and IGBT circuits.
Furthermore, this machine puts you completely in control as a user as it comes with a wide range of setting options. This is another reason why the unit is great for handling numerous varying applications and the reason why it’s ideal for both professionals and beginners alike. Another thing worthy of remark is that it supports both DC and AC power, thereby allowing you to work with an extensive range of metals like steel, copper, aluminum, and other materials. The machine also has a duty cycle of 60 percent on AC power and 40 percent on DC power, which is nothing less than impressive.
Consequently, it will allow you to get more work done within a short period of time compared to the other models. In truth, the machine is well-designed to deliver the best performance. And considering the excellent performance it delivers at this price point, it gives users a lot of value for their money. You may just need to get earplugs as the machine can be annoyingly loud sometimes though
More features: color coded controls
Coming with dual voltage input at 110 volts and 220 volts, the Everlast PowerTIG 200DV TIG Welder is an incredibly powerful machine. In fact, it can operate from nearly everywhere, especially with the support of 50/60 Hz. It guarantees you a great welding experience, thanks to the incorporated IGBT inverter technology. It is controlled digitally, which thereby aids accuracy when you’re welding. This is especially true when working on thin metals that require specific parameters. With these it’s an excellent unit for both professional and home applications.
In terms of construction, this machine has a portable and compact design, which therefore makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, both indoors and outdoors. You just need a generator that’s rated to withstand 3,500 watts at 120 volts and you are set. With the compact construction of this generator, you can conveniently carry it from one location to the other. Besides being compact and portable, the construction is also durable, which indicates that the machine is designed to serve you for many years.
For more versatility, the welder also has both DC and AC capabilities. As if that wasn’t enough, it also comes with 240 volts at the back for an alternative water cooler. However, you have to be ready for a quite massive hole in your pocket as this TIG welder is quite on the expensive side. That apart, there are no potential issues that could deter you from purchasing this product. Its high price is well justified by its superb performance.
More features: suitable for welding stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum, and other metal materials
The Lotos TIG200ACDC Tig Welder is another budget option, and despite its low price, it comes with some very nice features that are normally found on more expensive models. Plus, even though it’s one of the most affordable models you can find, the machine can hold up well if you are putting many hours of use into it on a daily basis. It is a surprisingly excellent option for anyone who intends to learn TIG welding smaller projects. It also helps that its controls are sufficiently intuitive that you will not have to go through any hassle of reading a manual to learn how it works.
Whether you have a fabrication shop or you only a hobbyist, this TIG welder is a reliable machine that promises you several years of excellent service. Even if it’s pushed to the limit and exclusively used with the highest power draw, it’ll continue to be as dependable as the first time you used it. While the lack of variable and pulse frequency settings is a noteworthy drawback, these are just luxury features for most hobbyists and shouldn’t be sufficient to deter you from taking advantage of the enticing cost of the Lotos TIG200ACDC Tig Welder.
Besides, it makes up for this with its Papst advanced cooling system, which makes sure the plasma cutter has a durable and stable high performance. It’s also a great thing that this unit was designed with maximum convenience in mind, with the ability to switch between settings using a single knob a solid proof of this. Thanks to its incredible ease of use, it’s the go-to option for most hobbyists. Besides, it comes with most accessories you need, which further aids ease of use. With its dual voltage input, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a machine that’s better than this welder in this price category.
More features: comes with tig torch, earth clamp, electrode holder and gas tube
It’s not a secret that most people are always skeptical when it comes to Chinese products, but we assure you that the HITBOX TIG 200A TIG Welder, despite being made in China, offers a lot of reliability. Of course, this welder comes with the necessary certifications to demonstrate its high quality, and possessing a wide variety of excellent features, it is a great pick for anybody in the market for an affordable TIG welder. It can be used for a range of welding projects, thanks to fact that it features manual metal arc welding and TIG welding. However, it’s not suitable for heavy-duty tasks, which is unsurprising considering its price.
For its construction, the unit comes in a portable, compact, and sturdy design. Its housing is produced using stainless steel, and low-allow steel and the electronic components are produced using premium-quality materials, which guarantees its longevity. In terms of weight, this unit is one of the most lightweight TIG welders around, weighing 15.4 pounds. As a result of this, it is easy to carry around your workshop or home for light projects and fixes. This welder offers a 2-in-1 performance. While the TIG welding provides a clean, spatter-free operation, MMA welding will allow you to work in adverse weather conditions outdoors.
At maximum power, the machine enables the welder to weld a maximum of 5/16 inches of steel, which is great. The machine also features an inverter technology, which is an advanced technology that allows it to get to about 100 kHz frequency and generate 25 percent more heat while welding. Generally, the technology makes your tasks a lot easier. To help you work faster and better, the machine also comes with many helpful accessories.
More features: 3-year warranty, dual voltage, digital gauges, high-frequency starts, built-in pulse control, stable arc down to 5A
Suitable for use on farms and construction sites, this 2-in-1 model is a Tig and stick welder that can be used on stainless steel, steel, solid steel, and cast iron. The TIG welding machine produced by Forney is appreciated by both expert welders and novice ones. The machine can perform welding on any type of metal, but it is especially suitable for welding aluminum and derived alloys.
The welding machine is designed specifically to perform TIG welding, i.e. with infusible tungsten electrode under inert gas protection, with the direct, alternating and pulsed current. It is built to offer maximum performance even in severe environmental conditions and is also designed for connection to the motor-generator.
It can be easily managed thanks to the digital gauge; in addition to the welding machine, the package includes the ground clamp and the electrode holder, and the input power cable. Unfortunately, the product doesn’t come with the TIG torch, or TIG foot pedal, as well as the flow metal.
The TIG/stick welding machine is compact and portable. It comes with two handles and measures a weight of only 32 lbs. It is designed to operate in difficult environmental conditions, so it is ideal for outdoor interventions.
More features: Smooth-Start; Fan-On-Demand; color LCD
For many reasons, the Miller Multimatic 215 TIG Welder is always one of the first names that bring up whenever there is a conversation about top-quality TIG Welders. It’s an incredibly smooth machine that we are proud to feature here. First of all, it is engineered for longevity, something that is apparent from its construction. While it doesn’t come with a lot of accessories and extra features, the machine is super-strong and user-friendly. Impressively, the machine’s drive motor starts the welding procedure in a particular manner and order that was intended to guarantee less splatter.
Therefore, this machine will make it much easier to control arc, and also makes it seamless to create smoother intersections between the bases. In general, this machine was designed with the utmost convenience of users in mind. Another convenience-aiding feature is the auto-voltage detection, along with a comprehensive guide sheet, which is designed for configurations and set-ups. However, while the machine is capable of welding up to ⅜ steel, you have to buy a spool gun for TIG weld aluminum.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Miller Multimatic 215 comes with a digital display, which makes it easy to take readings. The display is simple to use and comes with nice features, which includes an installation guide. Further, the product comes with two gas inputs, which allows you to switch easily between processes. With this, you don’t need to disconnect any gas tank, thereby saving both time and energy. With that said, we must warn you that while this welder is a such a joy to use, it comes at a rather steep price.
Except if you are a super-experienced welder who knows the in-and-out of welding, there are chances that you will need further help than the one we have provided. Knowing that, we have included the comprehensive buying guide below to make things easier for you.
Also referred to as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, TIG welding is one of the most popular techniques. Having originally come into existence in the 1930s, TIG welding was primarily used then for welding magnesium, especially in the aircraft industry. The process involves fusing metals together by producing an electric arc between the metal base and a non-consumable tungsten electrode. With this, it does not melt whatsoever. In addition, the torch generates a stream of inert gas to protect the electrode, the weld pool, and the molten metal from air contamination.
For TIG welding you can choose any welding position. The machine can be manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic, usually depending on the application. The welding material reaches the melting state by the arc maintaining temperatures of about 4,530 degrees Fahrenheit. You can select any welding position for TIG welding. Besides, the tool can be fully automatic, semi-automatic, or manual, usually based on what you want to use it for. The material gets to its melting state by the arc, while maintaining a temperature of around 4,530 degrees Fahrenheit.
When using TIG welder, you have to be extremely skilled as there are three things you need to control – the torch, the foot pedal, and the filler rod. This, however, allows you to have more control over the heat input since these elements can be adjusted to achieve more precise results. This process involves utilizing an electric TIG torch for striking the arc with one hand while using the other hand to use a filler rod to stuff the filler metal into the weld pool.
Meanwhile, there is also the foot pedal, which is designed to control the current produced by the TIG welder. Thus, you can set the maximum current on your welder and then change it amperage with the foot pedal. You can see this process allows for a lot of flexibility, which enables you to start the process slowly and helps to avert thermal shock within the metal. You have to ensure your clamp is affixed to your metal workbench or workpiece when you set your welder up.
You will have to discharge Argon gas via the TIG torch to protect the weld from being contaminated. You will need to connect a regular and a gas bottle for this, though. Also, ensure you select the ideal welding gas because your MIG bottle will not be proper.
If you know a thing or two about welding, then there are chances that you know the kind of advantages that TIG welding has over other techniques. The non-consumable electrode increases accuracy significantly in any welding procedure that requires great details and sophisticated handling. Even though it can generate premium-quality welding products, the TIG welding technique is also incredibly affordable, which is really surprising. However, this could sometimes depend on the tasks at hand.
Another benefit of the TIG technique of welding we will be mentioning is the purity of the produced metal. As stated previously, this technique utilizes an electrode with a very high melting point. Besides, it doesn’t melt and turns to a part of the metal base, which subsequently means the joint base will only include the metal parts of the real metal bases.
As you must have seen, most TIG welders are similar, but you don’t need to allow this to get you confused. To prevent confusion from setting in, we urge you to read this guide to get a clearer picture. Below are the most important factors we took into consideration when selecting the best TIG welders:
When selecting a TIG welder, you must know your primary input voltage requirements. Here, know that you have three primary options when it comes to this. The first one is a 120-volt input, which actually is your normal home power supply. The second one is a 240-volt input, which needs a generator, while the third one is a 120-volt/240-volt input, which is a combination of both.
If you are only welding from your workshop at home, you should be fine with a 120-volt TIG welder. Meanwhile, the 120/240-volt input gives maximum flexibility, thereby allowing for more power. Bear in mind that a 240-volt input will be too much if you will be using the tool from your home power supply.
When buying a TIG welder, it is very crucial to take the amperage range into consideration. Usually, TIG welders feature low amperage. This may appear like a downside, but it actually helps in various welding projects in reality. Unlike thick sections or bars that require high amperage, low amperage is needed for thin metals.
When working on thin materials, a TIG machine that reaches as low as five amperages would be ideal. An example of such machines is the Weldpro Digital TIG 200GD TIG Welder. Aluminum, on the other hand, has a tendency of needing a lot more power and will need a machine that packs 200 amperages at least, such as the PRIMEWELD TIG225X TIG Welder. Basically, the broader the range, the more the numbers of applications the machine can be used for.
You also need to take the maximum thickness of the material you will be welding into account. This determines the current range of the machine you have to purchase. A machine with a higher current range can weld thicker materials. Keep in mind that while a powerful welder can be turned down, a low-power tool can never be pushed to pass its limit. Therefore, if you are unsure about the thickness you will be dealing with, you better choose a powerful unit.
For welding hobbyists and new beginners, a duty cycle around 20% is more than enough in most cases. Duty cycles of about 40% or 60% are often sufficient for TIG applications in industry and construction. While professional industrial welders require a 100% duty cycle, due to the long weld time that they could lose while waiting for a welder to cool off.
For beginners and welding hobbyists, a duty cycle of about 20 percent is sufficient most times. Duty cycles of around 40 percent or 60 percent are usually more ideal for TIG projects in industries and construction sites. Whereas, industrial welders need a 100 percent duty cycle, thanks to the long welding time they could lose while waiting for a machine to cool off.
If you mean to use the machine in the same place, this may not be an issue. However, if you plan to be moving it around according to the project you’re working on, then you need to find a portable model, such as the HITBOX TIG 200A welder. This kind of machine allows for easy mobility when you need to move to different regions. Smaller, inverter-based welders are fairly easy to use, thereby offering a lot of versatility.
When working on small projects that don’t need a longer duty cycle, a small welder is convenient. After considering the power output and duty cycle, portable has to be the next thing on your list. For households where a large-scale welder isn’t needed, choose a small machine that is capable of moving easily around when carrying out welding projects.
The weight, a lot like dimensions, is another important feature you need to take into consideration. Again, the best thing is to look for a machine that is as lightweight as possible, to aid mobility. However, we would also note that most of the most powerful models are usually very powerful, so keep in mind that you may need to make a compromise here. Meanwhile, the most lightweight model on our list is the HITBOX TIG 200A TIG welder, which isn’t surprising considering that it’s also the most portable.
While it’s not common to have issues with power tools, we understand that these machines are usually very expensive, and it’s always a good thing to acquire a unit that’s backed by a warranty from the manufacturer. The best brands usually go the extra mile when it comes to warranties. Most times, they back their products with three to five-year warranties, which shows their level of confidence in their products.
Most powerful welders are usually too powerful for small jobs, but there is nothing like that with the PRIMEWELD TIG225X TIG Welder. With its wide current range, advanced technology, and super-durable construction, it would be an unwise thing to bet against this incredible welder. Whether you’re a professional who’s always dealing with heavy-duty projects or just a hobbyist who only works small welding projects around the house, this model from PRIMEWELD is the best TIG welder for every situation.
The Weldpro Digital TIG 200GD grabs the second spot, which is down to its pro-level performance. This model gets a lot of raving reviews, and they are all deserving, in our opinion.
That means the Everlast PowerTIG 200DV could only take the third spot, but that doesn’t really mean it’s significantly behind other models. Like the top two models, this one also has a wide current range, which makes it versatile. Plus, it has an intuitive design, which should aid its ease of use.
