Best Welders for Beginners in 2023 – (MIG, TIG, Stick)

Welding is not very technical to learn. If you are a beginner, you can easily learn the basics daily. After that, you can learn all the tactics in two to three days. But, mastering this skill does not come in handy. You have to spend time practising to get your hands on welding.

To begin welding, you must have the tools to weld. You need a tool that is easy to use, not heavy, complicated, and pricey. It is for the best of you, though you can buy big, beautiful, and complicated machinery. A simple tool for a startup boosts your confidence that you are going well with welding.

You will learn complex things independently once you are an expert with simple tools. A year of experience, and you are a pro! But what simple tools do you need to begin with? We are here to help. With this guide, you can choose the best welders for beginners. First, you should know about the types of welders used in welding.

Choose the Best Welders For Beginners

As you know about the types of welders, selecting a tool that can be the best starter welder will be easy. This compiled list of the top 8 best welders for beginners is a quick guide for newbies to start welding in no time.

Comparison Table

01. Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder 115V

Choosing the best MIG welder for beginners from many products is very challenging. However, Hobart Handler 140 MIG is popular for both professionals and beginners.

The handler is an extraordinary welder that runs on 110 volts power supply. It gives the facility of gas MIG and flux core in one machine. You can weld steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and iron. It has an impressive and speedy penetration with a 20% duty cycle. This duty cycle is shorter than most branded welders out there.

02. S7 Tig Welder, HF TIG/Stick/Arc TIG 200 AMP Welder For Beginners

S7 Tig welder comes with Stick, Arc, and TIG facilities in a single machine. It is an affordable machine and does not have a very complex setup. For outdoor activities, you can use the stick process.

The duty cycle of the S7 TIG/Stick welder is 85 per cent. It is one of the highest-duty cycles in welding machines; because it generates low heat, it is the best welder for beginners. S7 has high penetration power with a maximum thickness of up to 3/16″ in steel.

03. Eastwood Elite 200 Amp LCD Digital AC/DC TIG Welder

This welder has a 60 percent duty cycle at 190 amps. It is easy to use for newbies as it gives amperage output control. But the duty cycle will fall if you go above 190 amps.

The welder works on a 220 Volt power supply and gives high penetration of ¼” in steel. You can weld aluminum with a square wave inverter with high accuracy. A gas lens kit in this machine improves the fabrication skills of beginners. The stick welding feature allows the welder to in both AC and DC.

A long torch and ground cables are there to help you move around your project easily. The Eastwood machine has a high-frequency starting method you can control with a foot pedal. It is lightweight and portable so you can enjoy welding outdoors with this tool. It provides the best welding for beginners. You can turn on the fan after every weld, which cools down the machine quickly.

04. Hobart Stickmate Arc Welder 160i

Hobart, an old, innovative, and popular brand, has many customers for this product. It comes with a five years warranty. It is known for being the best stick welder for beginners.

You can weld ¼ thick steel easily with adjustable amp control. This welder is easy to use for beginners because of precise amperage controls. You can adjust the output as you need. It is 15 lbs with shoulder straps and can be moved around easily. The dual voltage gives you a simple operation with hot start technology.

This SMAW includes ten ft. electrode cables with a heavy-duty holder. It offers 120-240 volt input power with high accuracy, precision, and neatness in welds. It has a 30% duty cycle at 160 amps which is moderate for beginners. The compatible metal for operating this welder is mild steel. It is a perfect choice for a beginner stick welder.

05. Forney Easy Weld 261 MIG Green 140 FC-i Welder

With 120 volts input, you can weld ¼ inch thick steel, which is an impressive performance. This welding machine is versatile and of beautiful green color. Being lightweight, it is easy to move around and has no portability issues.

The setup of this welder is simple. There is a variable dial from which you can choose the speed. There are ten-speed settings, and none is over fast. You can control every setting with a foot clamp. Once the speed is set, the machine is ready to weld any metal. It is an ideal welder for learners and beginners.

06. LOTOS MIG175 175AMP Mig Welder with Free Spool Gun

LOTOS MIG175 is designed for low to medium-duty operations. The ease of use and setup makes it a perfect basic MIG welder. You do not have to buy anything once this machine is with you.

07. YESWELDER Digital MIG-205DS 200Amp MIG Welder

Another best beginner welder is here with stable performance. It has a 60% duty cycle at 200 amps. It is a portable welder that can run on 110 or 220 Volts of power supply. The setup and use are both friendly.

Most setup functions of YES welders are semi-automated. It is prominent in similar welders because of its reliable welding. You can easily weld ¼ inch steel with high penetration. There is an option for automation in voltage and wire feeding speed. You can even choose diverse thicknesses by adjusting the amperage control.

08. Weldpro 155 Amp Inverter MIG/Stick Arc Welder with Dual Voltage

Depending on the welding conditions, you can run it as a MIG, Flux core, and Stick welder. The machine has dual voltage input of 120/240 volts. You can use it by plugging it into the standard household power supply. If you want a commercial service, plug the welder into a 240-volt utility circuit.

The Weldpro welders have an electronic reaction. This reaction checks the arc and adjusts the voltage setting accordingly. It prevents overheating and yields high performance. The weld is neat, sturdy, and strong. You can control the heat and speed with revolvers, which provide the finest tunning.

The extra accessories MIG155Gsv include a gas regulator, hose, MIG torch, and an electrode holder. It has a warranty of 2 years. It is portable and can carry it around for outdoor welding activities. Wipro is a reliable company with a good reputation, so feel free to buy this best starter welder.

Types of Welding Machine

MIG Welders

MIG is an acronym for ‘Metal Inert Gas’. It is also known as gas metal arc welding (GMAW). MIG is considered the best beginner welder. MIG machines are very simple to set up and easy to use. A welding wire is passed through a gun in a basic MIG welder. The wire and the metal melt and create a weld. The welding speed depends on your skills and the wire you use to weld the metal.

MIG is used for welding steel, stainless steel, or iron. Some MIGs can weld aluminum as well. The welding is sturdy, strong, and neat. The only thing you must remember while using a MIG is to take care of the new weld. In the open air or outdoors, the weld gets contaminated immediately.

This contamination makes the weld weak and more visible. Form a protective shield using gas from the MIG, which is usually a mixture of argon and carbon dioxide. While using MIG, I prefer to weld indoors to avoid weakening the welds.

TIG Welders

TIG is an acronym for ‘Tungsten Inert Gas’. It is also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW). Best TIG welders create an arc with an electrode. This arc melts with the metal and forms the weld. The difference between TIG and MIG is the arc TIG produces. It is a good welder for beginners though it requires a little more effort than MIG.

You need both hands to work while your foot controls the power supply to operate the machine. The welding process of TIG is a little slow, but the welds are heavily strong. Professionals mostly use TIG welders because they require high precision and control. They can weld almost every metal.

Stick Welders

These welders are also known as ‘Shielded Metal Arc Welding. The working principle of stick and flux core welding is the same. The difference is the mixture of chemicals used to create protective shields. Using stick welders is okay; they can be beginner’s welding equipment. Getting used to them is a little more difficult than using TIG and MIG tools. A Stick welder is held in hand, so the quality of the weld depends on the force the welder applies.

Stick welders are used to weld steel and a variety of other metals. The protective shield created with sticks is strong, stable, and neat. The weld’s high penetration, strength, and thickness make them the best hobby welder. They are safe outdoors, and a stick welder can be used underwater. And Underwater welding is a highly demanding skill. You must read this article: A Dive into Lucrative Underwater Welder Salaries

Flux Core Welders

Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW) is another type of MIG. It is also known as ‘gasless MIG’. The difference between MIG and flux core welders is that the latter does not need a separate gas supply—the chemicals in the welding wire form the protective shield. The chemicals are released when the wire melts. The shield formed this way is strong and does not disturb the air. So you can use a flux core for outdoor activities.

Flux core welds are not very clean like MIG and TIG. It is because the flux core spat molten metal during the welding process. The welds are strong and done correctly, but they always require grinding. This welding machine can weld steel and iron. You can not use a flux core to weld aluminum. It is because an aluminum wire is not available with flux.

Buying Guide For Beginner Welders

When you choose welding as a profession, hobby or need, you must first have the best welding machine. A list of the best welder for beginners has been discussed. But you do not have to jump to the product and buy it. Before ordering a piece of welding equipment for beginners, you should know some key factors. Let’s discuss them first.

1. Your Requirement

When buying a welder, concentrate on why you need it. Are you going to use it as a hobby? Do you want a welder for home welding and fabrication? Are you a professional welder? Are you starting welding? You can spend your money most profitably if you know the answer to these questions in the first place. The machine that can fulfill your need requires your knowledge.

2. Duty Cycle

The most important feature of a welding machine is its duty cycle. Most of the machines have an overheating issue. They heat up after every round of duty and take an extra hour to cool down. Even the best welding machines for beginners can operate without a break. So, keep in mind that short-duty cycles are powerful machines. A welder with a moderate-duty cycle is the best choice for beginners.

3. Reliability

There are a lot of brands that sell machines that provide the best welding for beginners. But not all of them are reliable. Your priority should be a trusted, known, and popular brand with many positive customer reviews. If you are not under budget, go for the welders, which are a little pricey. The low price of the equipment is often associated with low quality.

4. Your Budget

Know beforehand how much you can spend on a welding machine. If you are a beginner, you must avoid complex setups and hard-to-use machinery. So buy a cheaper welder for the experience. Once you master this art, spending money on heavy equipment will not disappoint you much. You should always buy quality over quantity. If you can afford an expensive welder, go for it. A little practice will make you a pro at using its advanced features in no time.

5. Welding Power

The welders for beginners are designed to have 110 Volt power needed for operation. The dual voltage can give you 110-220 Votes. But you need a piece of extra equipment for a 220 Volt welder. The best welder for beginners is the one that has the capability to weld maximum thickness. Remember that the higher the output, the higher the heat generation. You can not use the heated machine as it will melt the metal eventually. It will also take a lot of time to cool down before starting another round of duty.

6. Portability

As a beginner, you will be using the machine at home. Here portability is the key factor to be considered. Working in a small workshop will require a small machine with less weight. If you want a welder for outdoor activities, read the description and find the weight. Pick a product that is portable with long enough wires to move around. Flux core and stick welding machines are the best for beginners for outdoor projects.

7. Additional Factors

You should know the importance of additional accessories when buying a welder. They include:

A Welding Mask

It is a basic necessity while welding anything at home, in workshops, or outdoors. The best beginner welder will include it in the accessory kit. If there is no mask, you have to buy it separately. Also, you need to use some other welding safety equipment, like a welding helmet, welding gloves, and clothes etc. It is best for your safety.

Multi-Process Welders

Though multi-process welders are expensive and sometimes heavy, too, they are very functional. You can master weld with a stick, flux core, MIG, and TIG with one machine if you buy one. Trying different welding processes can make you a pro in no time.

Gas Bottles

To control the flow, there is a need for a gas bottle. You must purchase them separately if they do not come with your welding machine. They control the working with regulators.

A Hammer and Wire Brush

These tools are extra accessories, but they are very useful. From time to time, you will need a hammer to chip the metal and a brush to remove the slag from the metal. So, keep them in your kit while you are going to weld.

You should also consider the welding machines, which are:

FAQs about Best Welder for Beginners

People who are used to welding machines and those who are to begin welding have queries regarding buying the best welder. Some queries are dealt with here for your ease.

Conclusion

After reading all the details in this guide, you can choose the best welder. In our list, the top best welder for a beginner is Hobert Handler and S7 TIG Welder. Both of them are highly productive, with precision welds and impressive performance. However, you can choose the welder that can meet all your welding needs.