Top 5 Buying Tips when Zeroing in on the Best TIG Welder for the Money

Welding enthusiasts usually flooded us with so many questions and you will be surprised how many times we get asked, “Which welders should I buy that have the best value for my money?”. That is not a terrible question to ask at all. But there are also a lot of questions that need to be considered before shelling out that hard earned cash.To get your project done right, you need to start right. Let’s get that straight. And you would do yourself a huge disservice if you renege on asking these basic queries first and foremost:, “What metal are you going to be welding? Would that be copper? Brass? Aluminum or steel? Or maybe fine jewelry perhaps. Knowing the right metal would be a huge factor in choosing the right equipment.Another question you would like to ask is, where are you going to work? Are you just inside your house, in the garage maybe, outside in your lawn, or maybe you would be working in the shed, because that would kind of point you in different directions. What are you going to plug into? Let's say you will be working in your garage but you only have 110 volts and no 220. What kind of machine will you use then?You see, using a TIG welder means that there will be no smoke , no splatter, no sparks. Though some people say for beginners this is a little harder to pick up but once you learn how, TIG welder is much more versatile than either the Mig or the arc welders.You're planning to weld steel, no problem. You want to work with aluminum, simply get the right type of filler rod, switch it from AC to DC and go zap Aluminum. For Brass, Copper, Bronze, Titanium, Magnesium and even Nickel, a TIG welder can do it all.So the next obvious question will be, How would I know which TIG  welder would be right for me? Well no worries. Here are 5 tried-and-tested  buying tips when zeroing in on the Best TIG Welder for the Money.

Consider carefully what specific welding task you will be doing. 

It is important to buy a Tig welder that fits the job. For example if you will working in auto shops or a bike shop. Mid-range to high-end TIG welder options are very effective in jointly welding those car and bike frames. Now if you are just a hobbyist and will be doing welding once in a while, you might want to try the entry level ones first, especially for those basic welding jobs.

Next thing to consider is the difference between an Transformer machine vs an Inverter.

Well the most obvious of all is the size.

Let’s talk about the inventer machines like the INVERTEC V205-T AC/DC, it's almost the like the old transistor radio that used to be huge and got smaller in size , we now can operate using this off of 115 volts or 220 and its got a smart link inside of it that allow you to weld either a 30 amp circuit when you're running 220, or you can actually operate off of a 15amp circuit.

This machine will also allow you to weld ac/dc, do all your metals but one of the big difference is when you are welding aluminum you can change the frequency of this machine instead of a fixed 60 hertz, you can turn this machine up to a hundred and 50 hert and what that does for you is it chokes down the big machines, makes it smaller and it makes it easier to weld aluminum.Now lets shift over the Transformer machines like this PRECISION TIG 225 TIG WELDER, has ac and dc so you can do all your metals, aluminum, magnesium , stainless steel, 4130 chromoly, this machine operates of a wall circuit of 200 to 230 and it requires a 50 amp circuit , its not incredibly portable but its not bad , it’s about 200 pounds.

Now in buying a TIG welder it is important not to focus too much on low priced option immediately. 

Cost should not be the only consideration. Do your homework inquire questions in related forums, check the purchaser ratings and reviews regarding the manufactured products, and it doesn't hurt to ask follow up questions from knowledgeable welding experts.

Always pay close attention on the machine's Duty Cycle.

Duty Cycle of your TIG welder tells you how long you can weld without facing problems like overheating the power source. If you look in the specifications of the machine, it is shown as the amperage level that can be maintained for a percentage of time in a 10-minute interval. As a rule, for most hand-held TIG applications, 40-60% is sufficient.

And lastly. Whatever metal you are working on or wherever you're welding, never underestimate the value of a warranty and service support. 

More than anything else they provide peace of mind.So there you have it, the 5 Buying Tips when zeroing in on the Best TIG Welder for the Money. We know that choosing the right TIG welder machine can be very taxing and complicated. But as long as you list down the answers from the right questions; What are you going to use it for?, Where will you use it at? And follow the useful tips we mentioned above, we’re sure you welding enthusiast journey  will just be fine.

MIG vs TIG Welding: No Holds Barred, Who Wins?

What is it about two players in one arena? If two wrestlers are to top their sports, it’s but a matter of time people will want to see them face each other. You can beat your hard-earned dollar on that. Right? Same thing with the best MIG welder for the money. You want to know how it would hold up against the best TIG. 

If we were to draw a crowd, then this could be a great spectacle. Of course, nobody knows exactly how most people in America would respond. Right from the onset, we know not everyone is into welding - though we know for sure, the country will certainly be dangling in chaos if all those things welded will come unhinged. That will include the biggest skyscrapers in the whole of New York. To set the record straight, we’re showing you key takeaways when two most popular welding methods collide to outdo each other. Read on.

Speed

If you’re out of time, you certainly don’t want to waste anymore time on your welds. You want it done at a minimum amount of time. Also, there are times you may  have lots of time but is simply facing a huge welding task. Cases like these when you want to cut the work done you’d be better off using a MIG weld.

For the uninitiated, MIG stands for Metal Inert Gas welding. Why is it faster than your TIG weld or Tungsten Inert Gas welding?

To note, TIG is also called GTAW or Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. It utilizes a nifty tungsten electrode, a non-consumable, to get the welding going.

So back to the question of speed. Well, it all boils down to control. When you work with a TIG weld, you’re looking at a 3-handed process. Yes, you heard that right. Not one but three.

You not only have to use both hands when TIG welding you need your foot to get into the process. Which means your hands are full as one has to hold the torch while the other get the filler rod going. If that is too much, know that you still have to get the third handle going - your foot. The foot handles the electricity controls allowing you to feed everything in. A lot of works!

Not with MIG welding. When you MIG you’re looking at a one-hand process. Yes, one hand. Just one hand and you can weld. The other hand is holding the work. Easy peasy!

Winner: MIG

Quality

Well, if you’re not too particular about time and you’re looking at welding finer things, then you have got to TIG weld.

For starters, you won’t find welds to be as squeaky clean than with TIG. That means beautiful welds with top of the line finish. No splatters. With MIG, you need to clean up though not as much as with stick welding.

You have some cleaning to do after you to a MIG, not with TIG. MIG may be faster - just a quick pull of that trigger and you’re good to go - but a bit messier. Chances are, you need to do some smoothing like grinding just to clean things up after welding.

But what makes TIG welding really great for quality welding is it’s precision. You can use it to join aluminum or for that matter stainless steel. Steel may be applicable for MIG but hardly is alum.

Some people think MIG weld can do steel as well as aluminum - only to find them finding themselves in a bind.

With TIG, you not only can weld a lot more metals together, you can do finer more delicate welds. Thus you can use it for thinner-gauge materials such as tool boxes or your nifty kitchen sink, something a MIG can’t do.

It’s because you can lower your power down so you won’t end up blowing metal. Only thing’s the process is a lot harder and slower.

Winner: TIG

Best for First Timers

If you’re a first-timer, the MIG weld should be a great find. It’s the closest to that plug-and-play PlayStation you love. You buy it at the closest hardware store and fire away. You won’t need much instruction to get it going. You probably just have a word or two from a pro, and you’re good to go.

That’s because the one-hand weld is such an easy weld. No sweat! It’s using a spool of weld wire that’s fed continuously. It burns then melts and finally fuses things together.

When you get an MIG torch or gun (whichever is most comfortable with you), you get a trigger to pull and a nozzle. Much like any gun. Then there’s the tip or what is also called the electrode. For different jobs, you have various tips meant to accommodate various wires feeding thru them.

It’s a lot easier set-up compared to the 3-handed TIG process. And that could give you a lot of needed advantage when you’re a newbie to the discipline.

Winner: MIG

Cleaner Look

Let’s face it. Stick welding which is another popular form of welding may well be the brat of the 3. This is when it comes to cleanliness. While having a fine finish may be aesthetic, it can go beyond what meet the eye.

A splatter is most associated with stick welding. And all that unclean weld can mean more time spent cleaning up. Which could be a downer for you.

The cleanest weld goes to TIG. It’s almost never needing any afterwork. You get a smooth clean finish.

With an MIG, it’s about halfway between a TIG weld and stick one. You don’t get as much splatter as a stick but an MIG still may throw some. Which may need your immediate attention. Some grinding, some cleaning to do.

Winner: TIG

Overall Winner

Now with all the back and forth, you may be wanting to get a closure on which is best for you. Right? It’s but natural you do. And we’ll have to say you deserve to know too.

But the answer to who wins in this battle is: Not one. Surprised?

Well, that’s because you’ll have to decide for yourself. It’s like comparing a mighty battleship and the latest model fighter plane. Both have different strengths. And different weaknesses.

You don’t use a battleship to protect the air. You may but it won’t be as effective as a fighter plane in the sky. On the same token, a fighter plane would be helpless if it were to fight a naval battle. Against submarines perhaps.

The tool must be suited to the job. An MIG weld is best when you’re short of time and wants something done. You won’t need to learn a lot of things. Your skill level need not be so high. It’s point and shoot compared to the 3-handed TIG welding.

On one hand, there are jobs only a TIG weld can do. Like the smaller metals for instance. You can’t MIG weld it. You simply are down to one resource in that case.

The best TIG welder for the money is a treasure find. It’s really like skiing, on one end. It may take time for you to learn to ski. Lots of time to master the slopes. But once you’re learned it, it is a lot more enjoyable than a snow sled. 

And on that note, a snow sled may be comparable to an MIG weld. It’s easy to use. It doesn’t require much to get going. And you can go places too.

But the thing is you won’t have as much fun skiing.

When you utilize a TIG weld, you make yourself capable of far greater welding jobs. The ability to tone down the heat notches higher makes TIG spot on for far more sensitive weld jobs.

A kitchen sink for instance. An MIG may get that kitchen utensil all burned up. Not with TIG.

Of course, it’s a lot slower than MIG. But that lack of speed can be compensated by greater quality.

MIG is a draftsman; TIG is Picasso or Matisse or Van Gogh. A lot more intricate. A lot more skilled.

It may not be the the most practical welding but it’s very versatile. Ever since the Greeks started welding, TIG has become an artform of sorts.

The advantages are simply wider. You can weld a lot more varied metals with tungsten inert gas welding or TIG. It’s not as fast as the wire-feeding MIG but it’s very versatile. No doubt.

So the question now is which product in the market todya is best? Which one should be on your list.

Well, we would have to tell you that we take pride in our list. We wouldn’t be surprised if you have chosen one already. It would be a good find.

And yet we strongly advise, before you hit any buy button we urge you to take a closer look at AHP AlphaTIG 200X . You’d be giving your search greater meaning.

Why? Simply because it’s a tried and tested product. Manufacturers tend to carry their claims a bit too far. Marketing may hide certain flaws just to ensure products get moving, of course if you want to improve business you can use marketing professionals as James Dooley SEO Lancashire that will help you promote your products and more.

It’s hard to put your faith on ads for instance. It may not work.

But it’s different when you’re looking at what people who’ve used the product have to say. You see, users speak from their real life experience. It’s based on time spent with the product itself.

Does the product last as claimed? Is it truly useful? Living up to the expectations?

And that’s why AHP AlphaTIG 200X is  a must-see. It has cornered more positive reviews than its closest competitor. From actual users.

That is first-class information. Something you can take to the bank. And you should.