Best Welder for Beginners – The Top Picks for 2020

If you are looking for the best welder for beginners, you have come to the right place. Here, we are going to look at some of the factors you need to consider before getting a welder as well as check out some of the best options in the market.

Now, when you first enter the world of welding, you are likely going to have a million questions. One of the main questions — and, coincidentally, also one of the hardest ones — is which is the best welder for beginners like you?

Well, we have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that this question has no easy answer. It is challenging selecting the right welder — especially when you are a newbie.

As for the good news, we are going to make the selection process much easier for you. See, we have researched dozens of welders in the market that are suitable for beginners and, ultimately, shortlisted the best of the best.

Below, you will find a list of the top welders that are right for you. But, before that, let’s have a peek at the things you need to consider when selecting a welder.

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Important Factors to Consider When Choosing A Welder

Before you get to the fun part of choosing, buying, and experimenting with a welder, there are several vital factors you have to consider first. Some of these factors may not be as relevant to you but it always helps to have the full picture. Let’s start with the different processes.

Welding Synthesis Processes: MIG vs TIG vs Arc

If there is one thing that you consider before purchasing a welder, let it be the types of processes you want to focus on. This decision will ultimately help to narrow down your options when it comes to welders.

For the most part, there are three different processes:

• MIG welding

Metal Inert Gas or MIG welding is often considered to be the easiest and best welder for beginners. You can weld many different types of metals with MIG — including aluminum, carbon steel, copper, magnesium, nickel, and stainless steel.

Here, MIG welding essentially requires two things: a wire that is constantly connected to an electrode current and a shielding gas. The interaction between the two will heat up the two base materials and melt them.

Once the heat is removed, the metal cools and solidifies to form a new piece of metal. This type of welding is typically clean, strong, and durable.

Have a look at this article if you would like to find out more about MIG welders.

• TIG welding

Tungsten Inert Gas or TIG is commonly considered to be more time-consuming and less beginner-friendly. But, in return, its result is more uniform, precise, and stable.

With TIG, you basically weld metals by heating them with an arc between a non-consumable electrode (that is the tungsten) and the workpiece.

Often used to weld thinner pieces together, TIG is preferred for aluminum, copper, magnesium, and stainless steel.

For more information on TIG welding, Welder World has a comprehensive buying guide and reviews of the best TIG welders in the market.

• Stick welding

One of the oldest methods of welding, stick welding is also known as shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) or simply arc welding. Here, the process involves using a fixed-length consumable electrode covered with flux for the welding.

While it is one of the more difficult types of welding, it is also one of the most common types for amateurs working on at-home projects and arguably may be the best welder for beginners.

Price

Of course, budget and pricing are a huge consideration when it comes to choosing the best welder for beginners.

Generally speaking, more expensive welders tend to have more features that simplify things for beginners like yourself. However, on the flip side, you may not wish to fork out a massive sum of money when you are just at the start of your welding journey.

Having said all that, our advice is to opt for the welder with the best quality within your budget. Consider value rather than prices. Hence, do not opt for a cheaper machine just because of the lower price tag.

 Power Supply

For most beginners, a lower voltage welder around 110V – 120V input is the most suitable. Once you are more familiar and further along your welding journey, you can scale up to 220V welders.

However, if you have a look around, you will see that it is not uncommon for companies to offer higher voltage or even dual voltage in entry-level welders. 

Portability and Weight

This is less about being a beginner but more about convenience and portability. If you have to carry your welder to a project site or just generally travel with it, go for something lighter.

A good choice is an inverter welding unit which is typically lighter and smaller in size.

Overload Protection

Keep a close eye on what sort of overload protection a welder offers. For instance, heat protection, voltage overload, and more.

This should help to keep you and your equipment safe while you are still learning the ropes.

Ease of Use

Come on, you know the score: if you are just starting out, always opt for an easy-to-use machine. Any unnecessary extra buttons and settings will only serve to confuse and frustrate you.

Look for a digital display where possible as it is often clearer and easier to read when you are welding.

Duty Cycle

The duty cycle is essentially how long you can run your welder before it shuts down. This is given in a percentage out of 10 minutes.

For example, if a welder has a duty cycle of about 30%, this means that it can run for three straight minutes of welding. Then, it needs seven minutes to cool down before you can weld again.

Once you have hit the time limit, you will notice the quality of your weld slowly deteriorating. So, what is the fallout if you exceed the duty cycle? Besides the horrible weld, of course.

Well, most good-quality welders will automatically shut down if they are overheated. But, bear in mind that welders can actually catch fire, too, if overheated.

Now that you know what to keep an eye on when it comes to choosing the best welder for beginners, let’s jump right in and check out some of the top choices in the market.

Top Picks: Best Welder for Beginners

1.    Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder 115V

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One of the best welders you can find in the market that also suits beginners is the Hobart 500559 Handler. A massive name in the business, Hobart has been around for over a century — since 1917, to be precise. So, you know that they know exactly what they are doing.

A versatile piece, the Hobart 500559 may very well be the best MIG welder for beginners. It has the ability to handle a wide range of materials — including titanium, tungsten, and stainless steel — and its welding amperage range is 25-140A.

Besides that, the welder is no slacker when it comes to performance, either. Instead, it can weld anything from 24-gauge mild steel to ¼ inch steel materials. Plus, since the welder operates on only 115V, it is compatible with most home outlets.

Additionally, the welder comes with a 5-position tapped voltage control selector. You are probably wondering, what does this mean for you? Well, this makes it possible for a smooth and stable arc at all welding thicknesses.

However, its price is, unfortunately, on the higher end of the spectrum. At almost US$500, this piece may be a tad bit more than what a beginner is willing to spend on a welder.

That said, the Hobart 500559 Handler is still one of the best investments for those of you looking for an entry-level MIG welder to work on house repairs, passion projects, and more.

Pros:

• Can handle multiple materials
• Excellent amperage range
• 5-level voltage control

Cons:

• Higher pricing

2.    LOTOS MIG140 140 Amp MIG Wire Welder, Flux Core & Aluminum Gas Shielded Welding with 2T/4T Switch Argon Regulator, Metal Wire Feeder

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Beginner-friendly, easy to set up, and good value for money — is it any wonder that the LOTOS MIG140 is one of the most popular choices for beginners?

Just like every good welder should be, the LOTOS MIG140 is extremely versatile. It has a 140 Amp welding output and the input (very flexibly) can be either 110V or 120V. Plus, the machine can also be used on an excellent range of materials. It is perfect for mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum (with a spool gun), and other metal materials.

Need more convincing? That is perfectly fine because this machine has a lot more to offer.

For instance, the welder also comes with a very convenient switch — 2T/4T — to help set manual and automatic feeding of the welding wire. The 2T(manual)/4T(semi-auto) switch is good news for your finger as it means that you can release your finger for longer welding jobs.

Besides that, its two digital displays also allow you to have more control (and precision) over the wire feeder speed and welding voltage compared to manual controls.

What’s more, the LOTOS MIG140’s aluminum wire feeder also means that it delivers a much more stable welding experience.

The only shortcoming here is that the piece does not come with a spool gun. You will need to purchase it separately which adds to the cost.

Easy to use and versatile, this is the perfect welder for both amateurs and professionals.

Pros:

• Short setup time
• Comes with 2T/4T switch
• Comes with two digital displays

Cons:

• Spool gun has to be purchased separately

3.    Amico ARC-160D, 160 Amp Stick Arc MMA IGBT Inverter DC Welder, Digital Display LCD 115V & 230V Dual Voltage Welding Machine

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Just like its name hinted (“amico” means “friends” in Italian), the Amico ARC-160D is a good companion for newbies.

For starters, one of the welder’s main appeals is its inverter design. This is because not only are inverter welders usually significantly smaller than regular arc welder, they are also able to weld twice as much. Plus, inverter welder’s stability is unparalleled.

Moreover, as the ARC-160D is a dual-voltage welder, it can operate on both 115V and 230V. This is great for those who need more versatility when it comes to a welder. See, the 115V means that it is compatible with standard power inlets. But, when you need more power, you can opt for the 230V.

Plus, its impressive 80% duty cycle at 160 Amp means that you can weld for a longer period without stopping. If you lower the amperage, you can get even more mileage out of it.

Then, there is the fact that the ARC-160D features advanced IGBT technology. This technology helps with the welder’s energy efficiency — and, ultimately, your electric bill.

Protection-wise, the welder offers two very vital features. First, it comes with voltage protection — both over-voltage and under-voltage protection. This should help to lengthen the lifespan and durability of the welder.

Second, the welder comes with a smart fan that regulates the internal temperature. If the parts and components get too hot, the fan kicks in to cool things down.

Besides that, the ARC-160D is also extremely lightweight at just 16 pounds. In fact, it is one of the lightest inverter welders out there. Hence, you will not run into any issue with portability.

Pros:

• An inexpensive entry-level option
• Comes with a smart fan to regulate temperature

Cons:

• May outgrow it quickly

4.    Forney Easy Weld 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder, 120V

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Another very affordable welder that is just right for those new to this niche is the Forney Easy Weld 261. The Forney Easy Weld 261 is aptly named; it is extremely easy to set up and easy to use.

The machine features infinite voltage and wire feed control. As you might know, infinite controls are usually preferred over tapped control because it gives you the ability to carefully configure the settings to get the perfect weld.

The welder brings a lot to the table in terms of performance, too. It has a great welding output at 140 Amp. And, since it is a flux-cored machine, it can handle even thicker metals than the regular MIGs. Plus, it has a pretty decent duty cycle of 30% at 90 Amp.

What’s more, the Forney 261 rather expectedly operates on 120V. So, it is compatible with the standard household power outlet.

And, it gets better: extremely lightweight at 19 pounds, this welder will come in handy if you need to travel with it or use it for offsite projects. Part of this is likely courtesy of the fact that the Forney 261 has an inverter-based design.

Speaking of convenience, the unit also has a huge integrated handle on top — perfect for those days when you need to grab and go.

To top it off, its all-metal case also guarantees extra durability and the ability to handle day-to-day usage.

Pros:

• Lightweight and portable
• Metal case for increased durability

Cons:

• Slower wire feed rate

5.    PrimeWeld CT520D 3-in-1 Plasma Cutter

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If you are looking for something a little different, the PrimeWeld CT520D 3-in-1 Plasma Cutter is the one for you. A triple threat, this machine has three main purposes: plasma cutting, TIG/stick welding, and arc welding.

Here is the deal: the CT520D cuts and welds a huge variety of metals. To start, its plasma cutter offers precision and is best for cast iron, mild steel, copper, and more. Meanwhile, its TIG torch can be used to weld thin sections of materials such as aluminum, magnesium, and stainless steel. As for the stick welder, it is perfect for minor welding or small repair works. 

Besides that, it is worth mentioning that this piece has a duty cycle of 60% at maximum amps on all processes.

Plus, it offers dual voltage: 110V and 220V. The machine automatically switches to 110V when you’re working in an area where a 220V power source is not available. Conveniently, there is no need for rewiring or manual changes on your part. 

Wait… there is more. The CT520D also has an IGBT inverter. This high-speed switching device helps to facilitate voltage regulation to enhance the quality of the welding as well as to help finish the job faster.

Weighing in at 32 pounds, the machine is not exactly lightweight nor the lightest one in this list. But, it is certainly still light and portable enough to easily carry around when necessary.

Pros:

• Versatile and multipurpose
• Can cut and weld a wide variety of metals

Cons:

• No pilot arc to automate your cutting

The Verdict: Which Is the Best Welder for Beginners?

Now that we have covered the best welders for beginners, it is time for you to make your decision. Consider what you need including things like duty cycle, ease of use, and portability as well as your budget.

And, if you are still divided as to which is the best welder for you, remember that all of the welders above are excellent options. You cannot go wrong with any of them.