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When it comes to welding, there are many different styles and sizes of welders to choose from. To narrow down your choices, you will need to take into consideration what type of welder you will need.
You can choose from TIG, MIG, Flux Core, and SMAW welding, depending on what you are working on. Today, we are going to focus on TIG welding and look at the top 5 TIG welders on the market.
Lincoln Electric Square Wave TIG Welder
The first welder on our list is from one of the most popular brands in the industry, Lincoln. The Lincoln Electric Square Wave TIG welder has made our list as it is easy to transport, has advanced features, and has the ability to be used as a TIG or stick welder.
Let’s take a closer look at this welder to see how it compares to the competition in the top 4 core categories.
Input Power
This Lincoln Electric Square Wave TIG welder is going to have dual voltage - 120V and 230V.
With this setup, you can adjust the welder to give you the smoothest and most precise weld for your specific material depending on thickness and density.
This welder is going to be best suited for aluminum welding and is great for both amateurs or highly experienced welders.
Duty Cycle
For use with 120V input power you can expect the following rated output of current/duty cycle:
TIG: 125A/25%
TIG: 100A/40%
TIG: 85A/60%
Stick: 75A/20%
Stick: 65A/60%
For use with 230V input power you can expect the following rated output of current/duty cycle:
TIG: 200A/25%
TIG: 160A/40%
TIG: 130A/60%
Stick: 170A/20%
Stick: 100A/60%
Weight/Size
One of the biggest reasons that this welder is so popular among all types of welders is due to its portability.
This particular generator is going to weigh in at an impressive 46lbs, allowing it to be easily carried by one person with its built in handle.
Dimensionally, it is going to measure in at 14”x10.75”x19.5”, making it very easy to store and keep near you without being too obstructive. You can easily throw this generator on to a cart or in your truck to take it just about anywhere you may need it.
What makes it even more convenient is that you can plug it into a standard 120V or 230V circuit.
Digital Display/Automation
An LCD display is featured on this welding machine’s interface to give you real time metrics while your welder is running.
This is going to allow you to keep a close eye on all of your welder’s vitals all in one place.
You will also get three LED indicator lights to warn you of any malfunctions or warnings when operating your welder.
Pros:
Easy To Transport
Lightweight
Use As Stick Or TIG
Great Accessories Available
Cons:
None
Hobart 500551 EZ-TIG
Moving onto the second welder on our list, we see another well known name in the welding industry, Hobart.
Hobart is widely known for their high quality welding products, and this 500551 EZ-TIG is just another fine example of their craftsmanship.
This user-friendly, lightweight TIG welder is perfect for the welder who is looking to be able to move around with ease.
Let’s take a closer look at this Hobart EZ-TIG and see how it stacks up against the competition.
Input Power
When it comes to input power, the Hobart EZ-TIG 165i is going to be a complete 230 volt package.
This is going to allow this welder to have superior performance from 22 gauge to 3/16” for both DC and AC.
WIth this input power, you can expect this welder to be perfect for auto body repair, auto body fabrication, signs, vocational training, metal art, and home use.
Duty Cycle
The duty cycle on this EZ-TIG welding machine is going to be 20% for 150A at 16V.
This duty cycle is on the lower end when compared to the Lincoln that we just looked at, but this is going to be pretty common for a welder of this design.
Weight/Size
This welder is quite portable, coming in at only 50lbs.
While it is not the lightest on this list, it should be a pretty easy carry for anyone looking for a portable welder.
The size is a little larger than some of the smaller TIG welders, but this is offset by the dual built in handles which makes it much easier to carry this welding machine.
Overall, this Hobart welder is going to be perfect for anyone wanting a generator that they can easily move from location to location.
Digital Display/Automation
One of the biggest downfalls on the Hobart EZ-TIG is that it does not have a digital display.
However there are a few great features that will make using the EZ-TIG, well, easy.
A Fan-On-Demand feature will allow the Hobart’s fan to run only when it is needed. This helps to reduce dirt and debris being sucked in the unit.
An HF start allows you to start a non-contact arc to help eliminate tungsten and material contamination.
An Infinite Amperage Control helps to provide you with broader operating range while adding finer control.
Pros:
Very Easy To Use
Can Be Carried By One Person
Welds 22 ga up to 3/16” Both AC & DC
Cons:
No Digital Display
Lotos TIG200ACDC
Next up on the list is a very popular TIG welding machine among welders across America.
The Lotos TIG200ACDC is a powerful stick and TIG welder that is full of great features that make using this welding machine much easier.
Lotus is a very reputable welding machine company that produces a large line of welders and plasma cutters designed for all types of user. Let’s take a closer look at their TIG200ACDC and see why it has made our list of top 5 best TIG welders.
Input Power
Much like the Lincoln welder we discussed at the beginning of this article, this welding machine is also a dual voltage input welder.
It will have automatic dual voltage capabilities with dual frequencies.
This will come in at 110/120V 220/240V 50/60Hz.
This welder will have the power to weld stainless steel, aluminum, mild steel, and other metal materials.
It will have a welding capacity of ⅜” for mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
Duty Cycle
The duty cycle of this welder is going to be measured at 40°C or 104°F:
MMA
60% @135A
100% @105A
60% @185A
100% @143A
TIG
60% @140A 110V
100% @108A, 110V
60% @190A, 220V
100% @147A, 220V
This is a great number to see as you will be able to get more done without losing time waiting for your welder to cool down.
This is part thanks to the Papst advanced cooling system that ensures you have a stable and durable performance from your welder.
Weight/Size
You should have no problem carrying this generator around to wherever you may need it as it weights in at 58 lbs.
The integrated carry handle makes it easy to lift it onto a cart or into your truck.
This welder is a little bit larger than most measuring in at 28 x 13 x 17 inches, but it is nothing you should be worried about.
Digital Display/Automation
This welder does have a digital display on the control panel, making it easy to monitor any metrics you may want to keep track of.
It also has a 200A AC Square-wave inverter to make welding aluminum more accurate.
Other than that, this welder is not fully loaded with automated functions, but it is certainly ready to take on the toughest of jobs.
Pros:
Can Weld Most Metals
80% Power Efficiency
Great Duty Cycle
Has LED Display
Cons:
Could Use Dual Handles For Ease Of Transportation
PRIMEWELD TIG225X
Moving on to one of the highest ranked welders on this list is the PRIMEWELD TIG225X welder.
This customer favorite is full of features that makes this TIG/Stick welder and flex torch a great addition to any welder’s tool arsenal.
Input Power
Starting off with the input power, this welder is going to feature 110V and 220V with both delivering high performance.
You will also get a full range of pulse features and cleaning control for AC applications.
This is going to give you superior performance for just about any welding or torching you may need to tackle.
Duty Cycle
The duty cycle on this PRIMEWELD TIG225X at 108 amps is going to be 100%, making it able to continuously weld up to ⅛” of metal without issue. Using this welder at full rating will knock this down to 40% duty cycle, which is still pretty impressive for full power.
Weight/Size
The PRIMEWELD TIG225X is not going to be a welder that you will want to carry around very often as it weighs in at 90lbs. However, adding this to a mobile cart could really help to make this welder more mobile and easier to move around a shop.
The dimensions of the PRIMEWELD TIG225X are 24x19x12, which is a little on the larger size, but for it being a more commercial style welder, this is to be expected.
Digital Display/Automation
This welder is going to feature a digital display which will allow you to keep an eye on your welder’s important metrics.
Pros:
Very Feature Rich
A Customer Favorite
3 Year Warranty
Flex Torch
Cons:
Heavy
Mophorn Portable TIG Welder
Last but not least is the Mophorn TIG welder that is one of the most budget friendly welders on this list.
This super simple welder is one of the lesser known welders, but it has everything you need to get the job done.
Input Power
Looking at the input power of this welder, it is going to operate at 110/220V.
It will have voltage compensation as well for voltage fluctuation. It also has an ARC stick welding/argon welding switch to flip between the two.
Duty Cycle
The duty cycle on this welder is quite impressive coming in at 60%. It has an 85% efficiency and 93% power factor.
Weight/Size
This little welder is going to be one of the easiest to carry around as it weighs in at only 16.7lbs.
The built in handle makes it quite easy to move this welder to just about any place you may need it.
This welder is going to measure in at 15.7”x6.3”x11.4”, making it very compact and easy to use in just about any setting.
Digital Display/Automation
Even with it’s low price, this welder is still going to feature a digital display. This display helps you to make sure you are not overloading your welder and lets you watch the most important information.
Pros:
Lightweight
Very Budget Friendly
Multi-Use For Different Metals
Cons:
Very Basic Features
Tig Welders - The Buying Guide
Now that we have looked at some of the best TIG welders and the features they have, let’s dive in a little further into what you should look for when buying a TIG welder. There are 4 major criteria that you should look at from a high level when purchasing a TIG welder.
This is going to include input power, duty cycle, weight/size, and if it has a digital display.
These core components are going to be featured on most high quality welders, but the extent of the quality of each will show you just how well each welder will work for you.
Input Power
Input power is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing a TIG welder.
A welder’s input power will determine how much you can take on in a job.
For jobs where you need a heavy duty weld that is going to stand up to just about anything, a welder with a higher input power will be needed.
If you plan on using a welder for strictly lighter duty welding, you can save a few dollars and go with a welder that has a lower input power.
Since most TIG welding machines are going to feature automatic adjustability when it comes to AC and DC, you will get a better value by purchasing a higher input power welder.
It is always a good idea to have more input power and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Duty Cycle
The duty cycle of a welding machine is going to be a measurement of how long you can use a machine continuously.
This number is a percentage of the total active time of welding before having to let the welder cool down.
Conventional welders are measured in 10 minute cycles.
Cheaper welding machines are going to have a 20% duty cycle which is about 2 minutes of welding while more expensive models are going to have a 60% duty cycle, or around 6 minutes of welding time.
If you plan on using your welder for commercial use or for extended periods of time, you are going to want to find one that has a higher duty cycle.
This will allow you to get more done without having to waste time allowing your machine to cool down.
For more residential or home use, you can opt for a TIG welder with a lower duty cycle which will help save you a few bucks.
Weight/Size
When it comes to using welding machines often, weight and size can be a huge factor in convenience.
A heavy welding machine is going to be very cumbersome to move around from place to place, costing you time and energy.
That is why many welders look for lighter machines when they have to move their welders quite often.
For commercial applications where a welder is going to be in a workshop or in a fixed location, a heavier tungsten welder may be best suited for your application.
If you are needing a TIG welder that is going to be easy to transport, I suggest finding one that is going to be under 100lbs.
This is going to allow you to either carry it yourself, with a friend, or easily place it on a cart with wheels for better mobility.
The physical size of a welder is going to be important if you plan on moving it around as you do not want the machine to take up too much space.
For those who have adequate space and are going to keep it in one location, size may not be too big of a factor.
Digital Display & Automatic Features
To make your life easier when using your welding machine, you are going to want one with a digital display and automatic features.
While this will cost more, you can save time and money in the long run by keeping your welder running efficiently.
A digital display is going to allow you to keep an eye on voltage, power output, and other metrics that will show how your welder is running in real time.
This makes it easy to check for overload, current operating metrics, and anything else you may want to check while you are welding.
Automatic features will include features such as high temperature shutdown and detecting 120V or 220V phases.
This means you will not have to worry about continuously adjusting the voltage to fit your specific applications.
As time progresses, new welding machines offer more automation to help welders save time and make the machine much easier to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Tig Welding?
TIG welding stands for Tungsten Inert Gas and is an arc welding process that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode.
TIG welding started in 1940 and was used to join magnesium and aluminum.
An arc is formed in TIG welding between a pointed tungsten electrode and the metal you are working with in an argon or helium inert atmosphere.
You must use either a constant DC or AC power source to avoid the electrode from becoming short-circuited on the surface of your workpiece.
Why Should I Tig Weld?
One of the most common questions that comes up when discussing welding is MIG or TIG.
Since MIG welding feeds metal throught the welding arc and TIG simply heats up the two metals until they mend, choosing between the two will rely on what metals you are joining.
For instances where you are joining two thick metals, most are going to choose MIG welding as it is much more efficient than TIG.
TIG welding is best used for similar materials as they bond very easily.
When using dissimilar metals, you will need a filler material, provided in MIG welding, to help create a bond.
What Gas Should I Use For Tig Welding?
When it comes to TIG welding, there are only a couple of options that you can use for gas.
Argon is the normal gas that is typically used for TIG welding, but Helium can also be added to the argon to help the fluidity of the weld pool and increase penetration.
These gases can be used for all welding grades and if needed, nitrogen or hydrogen can be added for speciality welding.
When Do I Use AC & When Do I Use DC?
Most TIG machines are going to have the ability to switch between AC and DC on the fly. There are very few TIG welding machines that only work in AC.
As a rule of thumb, DC is going to be used for instances where you will be TIG welding materials such as steel and stainless steel.
AC is going to be used for TIG welding softer metals such as Aluminum.
Conclusion
Now that we have discussed what a TIG welder is, the core features to look for, and the top 5 most popular TIG welders, you should have a better idea of which welder is best for you.
There are many different things you may need to look for in a specific welder for your application and we hope that this guide has helped you narrow that list down.