Are you looking for the best type of welder for a beginner? It can be complicated to pick especially when you see the number of welders that are available in the market. There are some welders that are awesome with great features but will you be able to use them when you are a beginner?
There is no suitable welding process for all of the welding projects that you plan to do. The more that you know about welding, the more that you can purchase the various welders that are available. Pick a welder that you can choose when you only know the basics. This will allow you to make the most out of your purchase.
The Most Common Welding Processes
What is the best type of welder for a beginner? You will be able to answer this when you learn more about the basic welding processes that people use. Read on to continue learning about the basic welding processes:
- MIG Welding – This requires the use of a wire welding electrode that will make sure that the spool will be fed at the right speed. MIG welding is one of the easiest welding techniques that you can learn. Use this for both thin and thick metal plates.
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding – This is the type of welding that requires the use of a non-consumable Tungsten electrode so that the weld can be properly protected. This uses argon as a shielding gas and a filler metal so that two objects can be fused together. GTAW is used for putting together thin sheets of metal.
- Stick Welding – This is also known as arc welder and it is one of the oldest welding processes. This is mostly used by home welders. Some shop welders may use this too but they may have changed to using other welding processes over the years. This is the best choice if you are a hobbyist.
Most people learn the stick welding technique first especially if they just want to do welding as a hobby. Learning other welding techniques will still be essential in the long run.
What Welder Will Best Fit Your Needs?
The moment that you see the different welders, you can become overwhelmed. Do not worry because this is a very common reaction. What you need to do is to figure out what projects you are planning to do. Take note of the following:
- What projects are you planning to complete?
- How much time do you want to spend on creating the projects?
- Are the projects complicated?
Your answers to these questions will allow you to pick the best welder. Another thing to consider is the thickness of the metals that you will work with. Check the different welders to know the average metal thickness that they would work with.
Types of Metals
The types of welding processes can be very helpful depending on the types of metal that you plan to work with. Working with thin sheets of aluminum means that you definitely have to pick welders that will allow you to do MGI welding. There are many metals that are processed which means that it will be harder to fuse some metals together.
Get to know the different metals and the type of welding processes that can be used:
| Metal | Type of Welding Process |
| Stainless Steel | MIG, Stick, TIG |
| Cast Iron | Stick |
| Copper | TIG |
| Exotic Metals | TIG |
| Steel | MIG, Stick, TIG |
| Aluminum Alloys | MIG, TIG |
| Chromoly | TIG |
| Brass | TIG |
Other Factors to Consider
It will be easier to narrow down your search through the different factors that you have learned. If you plan to do certain projects at home, a stick welder will already be enough for your needs. What if you want to work on an old vehicle? You may need a TIG welder. There are still other factors that are important that should be considered.
Budget
How much are you willing to spend on the welder that you plan to buy? There are some that are very expensive because they come with a lot of features that other basic welders do not have. It is best to choose a more basic welder as a beginner that will allow you to weld your items with ease without breaking the bank.
Durability and Quality
Do you honestly want to have a welder that will not last for a long time? This can make you lose more money in the long run. The best thing to do is to choose one that will last for a long time. There are some that are made with materials that will not only make the welder easier to use, it will also be durable enough to last for years.
Features
Choosing the right welder means that you have to know the benefits and limitations of the machine. The advantages and disadvantages will depend on the project that you wish to do with the machine. Some of the features might make the welder cost more than the other similar welders. The best thing that you can do is to consider all of the things that are mentioned above before making the best decision.
What Welder is the Best For You?
You have learned different details already. Find the best type of welder for a beginner based on the things that you have learned. Are you ready to pick now? Remember to narrow down your search first, read the different reviews before making the best decision.
There are also some machines that are available that come with multiple welding capabilities. This can be great especially if you do not want to spend money on separate machines. You can always improve your welding skills and you may never know what type of welding technique you will do next.