Whether you are a new or dedicated hobby welder, or welding is something you do to earn a living, there’s no escaping the fact that you need equipment. The actual items you buy could depend on several factors, including your longer-term plans, but regardless, it’s really important that you don’t make rash decisions that could cost you dearly down the line.
We appreciate that searching around for the information you need to make the best choices can be time-consuming, and sometimes even difficult, especially if you are not very familiar with the welding world. To help you out, the Mid South Supply features detailed guides, reviews and recommendations on all sorts of welding gear. These include key information on:
TIG Welding
TIG welding is also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, and it’s a popular technique for cutting thinner materials like 4130 Moly steel or aluminum which can’t cope with high heats. To avoid materials disintegrating through heat shock a TIG welder’s temperature is closely controlled through the use of a foot pedal. According to BestOfMachinery, one challenging factor when using a TIG welder is that it requires you to use both hands while operating. Nevertheless, TIG welders provide exceptional results
Key factors to consider include the:
- cost
- weight
- amp power
- frequency
- up & down slope capacity
Professionally, TIG welding is often used for jobs on piping or nuclear related work, but work driven TIG welders tend to need more options for models with say a software program, than hobbyist models might.
Plasma Cutter
As their name suggests, this uses very hot plasma via a handheld machine to cut materials like steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, and aluminium
Key factors to consider include the:
- cost
- weight
- size
- amp limit
Welding helmets
A good quality and well fitting welding helmet are essential for safety reasons. This is what keeps your face and eyes safe from both fire sparks and the dangers of infrared and ultra violet light.
Buyers must take time to choose a helmet that is both comfortable and suits their needs, say with features like auto-darkening to help with light changes, or a particular color-design option.
Key factors to consider include the:
- cost
- material
- weight
- size of viewing area
Multi-purpose welders
Key factors to consider include the:
- cost
- processes
- weight
- size power
These are definitely investment buys as they cost more than a TIG or MIG welder, but in the long run they are economical as they can do the work of both of them.
MIG welders
MIG welding is also known as Gas metal arc welding, and it works by joining two pieces of material at the centre to create a new item.
Key factors to consider include the:
- costs
- materials (usually metal or steel of some sort)
- maximum amp output
- power
- weight
- size
Some people complain that MIG welding needs too much equipment, or dislike the fact some models struggle to cope with materials like iron, brass, copper, and magnesium, which could render this useless for your needs.