If you’ve got some experience with welding and are now moving onto TIG or if you're looking for an upgrade to your existing welding gear, our best TIG welders lineup will help you narrow the search.
We included a buying guide with all the important features to look for in a TIG welder. Whether you’ll be TIG welding steel, aluminum welding or any other metal, you can be sure to find the right TIG welder here!
Buying Guide - Features to Look For In a TIG Welder
Looking for the best TIG welder for beginners or for the best professional TIG welder in the market? With such a wide range of high and low quality welding machines, you need to make the right choice and get the best TIG welder that will meet all your needs. Make sure that when you're comparing prices, you also look at the power output and the features which are essential to handle your work well.
Speed, Quality and Value
Quality and speed are occasionally mutually exclusive when it comes to welding. For precision and beautiful aesthetics, the best TIG welders in good hands will do an amazing job. You always want to go with a TIG welder that can produce solid work without breaking the bank.
Simple Operation, Ergonomic Design, and Portability
It's also important that you find a user-friendly TIG welding machine. When welding machines are easier to use, they allow you to focus on your TIG welding skills and technique instead of learning all the fiddly settings, especially if you are shopping for the best beginner TIG welder.
Ergonomic design is paramount for effective work. You need a design which will be much more comfortable in your hands and much easier to hold for extended periods of time. This type of design was created specifically for your best portable TIG welder no matter what position you are welding.
Finally, portability is a big advantage. You want a TIG welder that is relatively easy to carry around wherever you go. This allows you to move your TIG welder to the project rather than trying to move the project to the TIG welding machine.
Solid Duty Cycle
When you're TIG welding ( Tungsten inert gas welding ) important projects, the last thing you want to do is to stop in the middle of your momentum and wait a while for your TIG welder to cool down so it can be used again. This makes the duty cycle an important feature. These are in 10-minute intervals, so for example, a 60% duty cycle means that your TIG welder will work for 6 minutes before needing to cool down for 4 minutes. Look for the best TIG welders that offer you more time TIG welding and less time needing to cool it if it rarely happens for the TIG unit to overheat.
AC and DC Capability
Having the versatility of AC or DC power input is also important. Welding machines that have both AC and DC capability can handle pretty much any base material you may throw at them. TIG aluminum welding requires AC voltage, so you won’t be able to weld it otherwise.
Best TIG Welder Reviews
Now that you’ve seen the best features to look for when buying a best TIG welder for you, here are our top recommendations.
Editor's Rating: 4.7/5
This is our top pick of all of the units we reviewed. It is really affordable, and is also one of the most versatile TIG welders!
The AHP AlphaTIG comes with a lot of great features. It’s compact and portable, weighing only 50 pounds. It has a 60% duty cycle at 200 amps for TIG welding and 35% at 155 amps for stick welding. It can handle 24 gauge thickness up to 3/8 of an inch. It has a 15 to 360 inches per minute wire feed speed and an amperage range of 10 to 200 amps.
It works really well when TIG welding stainless steel and aluminum, and switching between AC and DC current on this AC/DC TIG welder is as easy as pressing a button! The arc is incredibly smooth and the quality of welds is excellent. It outperforms a lot of the more expensive TIG welders.
Although it functions best as a TIG welder, it can perform stick welding as well in cases where TIG welding isn't ideal. There isn't much spatter and the arc remains smooth.
It also comes with some great options, like a pulse frequency and a 2T/4T switch in case you need to weld with a foot pedal out of position. A digital amperage display will always show your output amperage.
The versatility increases when you realize that this is a dual voltage TIG welder. Similarly to best stick welders, his welding machine can run on a household current of 110 volts or switch over to 220-volt current, making it very useful for beginners who don't operate with a generator or who want the maximum portability from their TIG welding machine. It will go up to 140 amps of output and keep a smooth arc.
It is versatile and powerful, with an output range of up to 200 amps. It can weld up to ¼ inch thickness on aluminum or 3/8 inch on mild steel. The duty cycle gives you 6 minutes of operating time even at the maxed out amperage on TIG settings, and 3.5 minutes on the stick.
The 50-pound welding machines are very light for welding machines in this class. This means you can carry it with you to different workspaces. The plug-switch versatility of the voltage makes it even more portable because it allows you to connect to any power supply. This becomes extremely useful for those who don't own a generator or travel with their welders. It attains the lighter weight by using advanced inverter technology that includes the ability to control power consumption and pulse width modulation for mastery over your pulse welding settings.
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Editor's Rating: 4.6/5
This is the best budget TIG welder for new TIG welders who don’t want to break the bank when they buy a powerful TIG welder but still want great features and great welds.
This is a great TIG welder for anyone looking to get a nice balance of features for a more affordable price. With dual voltage versatility, first-timers and professional welders alike love this efficient TIG welder. Everlast welders are extremely easy to set up, so beginners can produce great welds without too much fuss.
Experienced TIG welders will love how easy this Everlast welder makes fine TIG welding work and the attention to detail it provides while still being able to quickly switch to beading ¼ inch plates.
The Everlast welder 160 PowerArc can handle a lot of different metal materials. This includes mild and stainless steels, cast iron, and more. Aluminum welds are possible with the stick welding option, but without AC voltage you can't do it with the TIG welder.
It’s got a portable design, too, making it ideal for yard or garage welds and professional or mobile shop work. It’s a small and lightweight machine that you can easily pick up and move around where there is power.
The dual voltage capability only increases the versatility of this TIG welding machine, allowing you to plug it into a house outlet or industrial power source. The 120-volt option works well for household TIG welding and portable repairs by professionals. Heavier work will make use of the 220-volt option for more time-consuming welds.
Everlast 160 can also perform both TIG and stick welding. If you're doing very precise welds that will require attention to detail, you can use this best TIG welder to get aesthetically beautiful welds. Everlast welders work great for artwork and ornamentation. When working with cast iron, steel, or aluminum welding, simply switch to stick welding. It's an easier technique for beginners and can be used in windy outdoor conditions.
This Everlast TIG welder might be your best TIG welder for home use, indoor or outdoor even if you are a beginner.
This Everlast welder also has 2 different start options: lift and high frequency. The high-frequency option is the easiest choice and it's also a much cleaner start. This non-contact method of starting creates no contamination in your weld, making it perfect for welding aluminum and working in windy conditions. The Lift start is a nice backup option to have.
This Everlast welder works well if you're working without a pedal, or if your high-frequency start is catching radio interference. It's also ideal for TIG welding in awkward positions.
If you are looking for the best TIG welder for home use, give it a shot.
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Editor's Rating: 4.5/5
This versatile TIG welding machine also offers a great bang for your buck, with tons of great options in one package!
Lotos TIG200 is a great versatile option. It's dual voltage, so you can TIG weld aluminum with it. It's easy to use and has very intuitive controls. Besides being user-friendly, it also has a decent amount of features for more advanced users.
It comes with a comprehensive and easy to understand user manual so you can master your welding machine.
Lotos TIG200 weighs just under 60 pounds, so while it isn’t the lightest in the field it is also not the heaviest, and can still be carried around with relative ease. It even has an integrated handle to make it easier to carry. The control panel on the front is really nice, and all the switches are in the same area.
The foot pedal can be a little difficult to learn, but when you spend enough time practicing it’s pretty useful! The foot pedal allows you to work with both hands on the job, instead of just one, and you can get the perfect amount of heat control at every point of your job.
The voltage switch is also nice. Unlike a lot of machines, where you need to swap out a component of the plug, the Lotos 200 automatically detects whether to use 110 volts or 220 volts. This means that you can weld aluminum or stainless steel without worrying too much about where you’re working.
The duty cycle on the Lotos 200 is 60% at 150 amps for 110-volt power and 60% at 190 amps for 200-volt power. The TIG output current can run from 10 amps to 200 amps, so it's got a great amperage control range. Even the stick component will go from 30 to 200 amps. This lets you weld metal from 6 mm thick to ¼ of an inch thick.
Most experienced TIG welders love this machine, because the square wave inverter on Lotos TIG 200 lets you achieve even greater accuracy with your welding. It’s just one of the many features of the extra kit in your welding bundle. You also get everything else you need to be up and running right out of the box! It comes with a TIG torch and accessory pack that includes tungsten electrode holder, ground clamp and cable, and foot pedal and gas hose. Even a basic TIG welding helmet is included with your package.
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Editor's Rating: 4.4/5
For superb results from a brand you can trust, check out the Miller Diversion series TIG welder! Loaded with features you’ll love, this welding machine is a veritable workhorse from Miller Electric.
The Miller Diversion 180 is extremely easy to use and understand. The setup is simple. Power the TIG welding machine and select the material type and metal thickness, and it will automatically adjust your settings for the optimal levels. You can also see what they selected in a large and clean digital display while it applies the appropriate amount of current to your arc.
It also includes a foot pedal and TIG torch that were ergonomically designed. The foot pedal will control the power level when you are TIG welding out of position. The torch is air-cooled ad rated at 150 amps. The design is compact and durable and was specifically made to feel comfortable in the hands of both professional and beginner welders.
This great TIG machine can operate on dual voltages. A swap out of the plug allows for 115-volt household current connections of 230 volt and generator receptacles. The maximum amperage is 180 amps. The duty cycle is 35% at maximum amperage. The AC/DC capacity makes it ideal for steel and aluminum welding projects. ON steel, it works from .025 inches to 3/6 inches. The aluminum thickness should fall within a range of .03 inches to 3/6 inches.
The power source is inverter-based, so it offers a smooth arc that has more consistency than other best TIG welders that operate off of transformer-based power sources. It has a non-contact, high-frequency start that offers a reliable arc start every time you use it. It also avoids contamination in the material and tungsten while you weld.
Miller 180 also includes an automatic post flow feature. This will automatically optimize the post-flow time based on your chosen amperage control settings without the need for manual adjustments. This will ensure that your weld pool is constantly shielded without wasting more gas than necessary.
The Miller Electric fan on-demand feature will turn the cooling system on when necessary. Having the fan off when not required will reduce your power consumption, eliminate excess noise, and reduce the amount of dust and particles getting sucked into your welding machine.
This best TIG welder is a fantastic machine for AC and DC TIG welding. It will work with mild and stainless steel and aluminum welding. It offers a consistent arc and strong, aesthetically pleasing welds. It is more expensive than other welders, but you get a lot of solid performance and convenient features and quality for the extra money. It is even portable and able to work in remote locations!
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Editor's Rating: 4.3/5
For the ultimate in versatility, check out toe Forney 190 3-in-1 welder! Everything you may need for any welding method is in this single machine.
This Forney's machine is extremely versatile. It can perform all 3 of the top welding techniques, so whether you TIG, MIG or stick weld, you're covered with this welder!
It's also great for different types of weld, including fabrication, automotive, maritime, maintenance, farms, and light industrial repairs.
This innovative TIG welder is also easy to operate and move from one welding method to another. It’s MIG ready also, with a gas hose and regulator. It’s even got extra features like a spool gun capability sold separately.
Some of the top features include a quick style disconnect torch, an extra-long cord, HD cast aluminum body, a longer torch and gun with included consumables, and synergic and standard MIG modes.
Forney 324 3-in-1 MIG welder performs extremely well as a multi-process welder. The welds are sound and of great quality, and you will get your money's worth from this machine. The product arrives ready for the MIG welding process and with a sick setup. The foot pedal and TIG torch do need to be purchased separately.
The machine can move between 120 volt and 230-volt thanks to the dual voltage input capability. It's got a maximum output of 190 amps. It weighs a little over 40 pounds, making it one of the lightest welders on the market despite the multi-functionality! It even comes with a 5-year warranty.
This welder is also one of the better MIG welders on the market. It can serve as a reliable flux core welder and come in handy for mild steel welding. It works with a gas setup and can comfortably weld 3/8 of an inch thick steel. It works with both 8 and 4-inch spools.
Switching to stick electrodes is easy, too. With a ground clamp and a singer, you will see a very quick and solid performance. It can consume up to 5/32 inch electrodes and weld steel of up to 3/8 inch thickness.
The TIG weld setup is sold separately, but once you purchase the foot pedal and TIG torch you can handle this method as well. This machine is ready for a spool gun and can perform very precise TIG welds for beautiful and artistic finishes.
The inverter technology on Forney 190 is amazing. The weight of this machine makes it extremely portable and the inverter technology makes that even more amazing. Adjust the power settings to your desired output for maximum MIG welding control over your work.
It even has a smart feature to maximize your weld quality. The machine will intuitively optimize its arc, which will drastically reduce spatter. Beginners will love this feature because it will train their technique and allow for more solid welds.
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Editor's Rating: 4.2/5
If you need the versatility of a good TIG welder and plasma cutter, then this TIG machine has got you covered. It’s got some great features going for it!
The Lotos CT520D is a 3 in 1 TIG machine that can handle plasma cuts, TIG welds, ad stick welds. It's much larger than similar models, but still weighs in a barely more than 30 pounds!
The machine can cut up to ½ inch thick materials ad operates off either 110 or 220 volts of input power making it capable of working from home currents or higher power outputs.
The machine is great for TIG welding, too. It requires an external air compressor, and the foot pedal is sold separately. All of the connections are pretty intuitive and easy to set up. The high-frequency start works well and creates a very stable arc.
The torch is not as flexible as other top TIG welders, but it's more versatile overall as a machine and cuts plasma very well for DC welding. Despite the lower price than expected, Lotos CT520D is still very good and produces solid welds.
The stick TIG welder offers an amperage range from 15 to 200 amps. This allows for a very deep weld pool and consistent overall shape. The arc current is hot to the strike, which allows for an easy starting function and lets you weld in nearly any style.
With a 6 foot long cable for the TIG and plasma cutter option and a 4-foot long power cord, you may want to buy a strong welding extension cord to help with mobility. The affordable TIG welder doesn't have a pilot arc, so you will need to touch off every time you start to cut something. For this reason, we suggest buying some extra consumables. If you need to take care of several welding processes from home, this may be your best home TIG welder to consider. Its main strength is the plasma cutter, but it also handles AC TIG welding process with ease – especially if you're willing to invest in added accessories and take the time for precision.
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Editor's Rating: 4.1/5
This best TIG welder is great for beginners and comes with Hobart’s 5/3/1 guarantee and warranty.
The Hobart EZ-TIG 165 AMP TIG welder is named "EZ=easy" because it is so user-friendly. Even beginners will be able to use it after fairly little practice, although they may have difficulty maintaining perfect welds without precise technique.
The setup is very quick and straightforward. This American made machine is ready to use out of the box with little effort. It weighs around 50 pounds, so it's pretty portable.
The lightweight TIG welder even has 2 sturdy handles on top of the machine to make carrying it easier. This allows for TIG welding materials from .81 mm to 4.8 mm thick, which is true of both steel and aluminum.
The TIG torch is included in the box. So is a foot controller that offers precision control over temperature. You also get a grounding cable and clamp, gas regulator, and a hose. The user manual is thorough and easy to understand.
Unlike other models, Hobart 165 also offers plenty of cable length. The power cord is 12.5 feet long and the work cable offers an additional 12 feet. This prevents the need for buying extension cords or moving your projects to the TIG welder and increases the portability of the welder making it possibly the best home TIG welder but also one of the best professional TIG welder units as well.
The interface is simple to understand, so it's easy to learn TIG welding with it. A single switch and dial control everything, and it's labeled very clearly. Best TIG welders can swap between AC and DC power for TIG welding steel and aluminum. It also includes auto-post flow so you get the ideal amount of shielding for your welding amperage instead of needing to constantly make your own adjustments to the shielding gas flow. This saves money and reduces waste.
The high frequency start feature allows for a non-contact arc start, which offers stability and prevents contamination. It can also turn the fan off when it is not needed to cool the machine, which reduces the amount of dust being sucked into the machine.
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FAQs
1. Is it better to TIG weld with AC or DC?
When TIG welding aluminum or when the TIG welded metal is magnetic, the AC welding process is the best option. Everything else calls for DC welding.
2. What are 3 disadvantages to TIG welding?
The 3 disadvantages to TIG welding are:
- The weld cost rises as a result of the comparatively slow travel and deposition rates.
- To create high-quality welds, an operator's skill level must be very high.
- TIG welding processes are difficult to automate.
3. What should I look for when buying a TIG welder?
Features to take into account for TIG welding are:
- Pulsed Welding - the key to TIG welding is managing the heat that is given to the metal.
- Portability
- Step pedal
- Setting High Frequency
- Easy controls
- Options for stick welding and plasma cutting
- High-Quality Arc
- Air-Cooled Torch
4. Can any TIG machine weld aluminum?
Any TIG welder "can" weld aluminum, but there are a number of variables that will affect how simple, high-quality, and appealing your project is to complete. The current is by far the most significant of these. Although any TIG welder is capable of TIG welding aluminum, not all best TIG welders are made equal.
5. What color tungsten is for welding aluminum?
The color tungsten for aluminum welding process is green.