Welding machines

Choosing a machine starts with the material. For aluminium, a TIG machine needs alternating current, i.e. an AC/DC machine; a DC-only machine is enough for steel and stainless steel. MIG/MAG is the fastest way to weld thicker steel and is well suited to production work, while stick welding works outdoors and on dirty surfaces where the shielding gas would blow away.

The other key figure is the duty cycle. A 200 amp machine at a 60% duty cycle means six minutes of welding and four minutes of rest in a ten-minute period. That is plenty for a hobbyist, but for continuous production it pays to choose a machine with some headroom.

Also check the supply voltage: some machines need a three-phase supply, others run from an ordinary wall socket.