Choosing a welder simply by HF Welding

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Most people probably haven’t considered how much of the world around them is welded. But without the practice of , there would be no cars on the roads, and many of the fences, gates and buildings we see wouldn’t exist.

Whether for the home handyman or the professional welder, the major concern when buying welding equipment should be to buy the right gear for the job at hand.

Choosing a welder simply because it has the right price tag could end up being quite a mistake. You need to make sure the welder you end up buying has the “grunt” and specifications to handle the material and thickness of the metal you are working with. Make sure it will get the job done.

Below is a simple guide to different equipment available to help you decide which tool is best for your project.

What Will Your Welder Be Used For?

There is a lot to choose from when looking around for your own welder. It’s important to keep in mind that some welding equipment is only suited for welding certain metal thicknesses and other equipment may only work well with particular types of metal.

Always seek advice from professional suppliers, such as WIA , in order to select the equipment best suited to your project, skills and budget.

Types of Welders

ARC welding (also called stick welding) is the cheapest and oldest form of welding and involves creating an electric arc between an electrode and base metal. Compatible metals for ARC welders are affordable to purchase and are commonly used in home workshop settings. These welders can easily bond most alloys and joints, including dirty or rusty metals, which makes an ARC welder suitable for many repair jobs.

ARC welding is also good for items that will be used in windy outdoor locations, such as fences and gates. The process of starting the electrical circuit in an ARC welder is similar to lighting a match, but it might take a while to get the hang of it if you don’t have a lot of welding experience.

MIG welderMIG Welders

MIG welders use a wire that is slowly consumed in the process and also acts as the filler metal and the electrode itself. A shielding gas flows around the wire to protect the welding site from any contamination, keeping oxygen out. This gas is stored in a cylinder and around the nozzle of the wire electrode, allowing more reactive metals like aluminium to be welded using MIG welding equipment.

Compared to ARC welders, MIG equipment is also the easiest welding process to learn, with users able to apply welding power using a simple point and shoot motion. MIG welders are also known for providing clean welds and offering more control when welding thinner metals.

TIG welderTIG Welders

As one of the most modern types of welding equipment, TIG welders are useful for quality and precise welds that produce aesthetic welding beads. They are mostly used for fusing delicate metals, such as fan blades, where the specific weight of each blade is essential. Filler metal may or may not be used, and a non-consumable electrode made from tungsten is used.

As you have to hold the welder handpiece and filler metal stick in separate hands, using TIG welders can be difficult to master. However, they are the only welding equipment capable of welding stainless steel and nearly every other engineered metal.

Always Include Safety

Finally, when buying welding equipment, always ensure you have the relevant safety equipment to do the job. This includes a welding mask to protect eyes from the electrical arc containing UV rays, as well as non-flammable clothing with long sleeves. Gloves should also be worn when handling welded metals as they can still cause burns up to 10 minutes after the welding has been completed.