8 Skills Of A Good Welder

by

Like any profession there are things that separate the good from the bad in welding. These are general characteristics that all of the good welders have in common. Make sure to read through this guide with an objective in mind – don’t begin to compare yourself to these characteristics just yet. Wait till the end of the guide and then see what you have and what you need; we’ve found this to be the best way to really get a feel for what will help you in your welding career.

List of Welding Skills

Welding Skill #1: Ability to communicate

Again, as with any profession, the ability to communicate is key. When it comes to welding it helps mainly because of the effect that it can have on the learning curve. Welding isn’t an activity that many people just “get”. It takes effort, and understanding of who (or what) your support systems to make sure you get through the headache that is welding. If you’re involved in some form of welding education program, it helps to communicate with the professors there – it’s all about making sure that others have an understanding of what you need. If no one knows, then nobody can help you with what you need help with.

Welding Skill #2: Critical thinking skills

Welding is one of those activities that require a fair level of critical thinking skills in order to really be able to succeed at. Why? Well issues will constantly come up when you’re welding. Whether it’s a matter of not understanding why your welds are coming out a certain way or figuring out whether some person on a forum actually knows what they’re talking about – you have to be able to think about it objectively and figure out what’s up.

You’ll be surprised at the carryover that your ability to think critically has on your ability to weld and create functional items.

Welding Skill #3: Aware of surroundings

As you’ve likely guessed by now welding is not a harmless activity. It’s one that can and likely will inflict a fair amount of damage on you if you aren’t incredibly careful (and aware). Spatial awareness matters because you need to be aware of the exact place that you put every single item you use to weld. Not only is welding by itself a dangerous activity but the places where welders work can be incredibly dangerous. Places such as construction sites can be incredibly dangerous to those who decide not to be aware of exactly what’s happening around them.

Welding Skill #4: Steady hands

For obvious reasons, steady hands are of the utmost importance when it comes to welding. The ability to lay precise and evenly sized beads is the difference between an attractive and functional weld and a not so attractive and likely dangerous weld. Not only does not having steady hands reduce the aesthetic qualities of the weld but it can also make the welding process incredibly dangerous. Think about what happens when there is a high level of heat, metal splatter, and a person whose hands are shaking to such a pint that it makes the welding splatter even worse. Things get incredibly dangerous and likely very painful.

<iframe src=”//rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?o=1&p=14&l=ur1&category=amazonhomepage&f=ifr&linkID=80d3e5aad429d788ffa586f08bc1246e&t=jimmieperr-20&tracking_id=jimmieperr-20″ width=”160″ height=”600″ scrolling=”no” border=”0″ marginwidth=”0″ style=”border:none;” frameborder=”0″></iframe>

Welding Skill #5: All-around healthy

You wouldn’t think this, but welding is a physically taxing activity. This is mainly because of the fact that you will not only have to handle the welding equipment but if it’s your profession you’ll probably have to move a bit of other equipment – this can put a lot of stress on the body. Not only is welding an activity that requires the body to be able to handle the physical stress that we place on it while doing so but it also requires the mind to be alert. Depriving yourself of sleep can result in a deficiency in any of the above things – so make sure you get some.

Aside from those benefits mentioned above, a welder would also need to have:

  • Decent depth perception
  • Ability to maneuver hands (manual dexterity)
  • Muscle strength to move a solid amount of weight
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • The ability to work in less-than-perfect conditions

Welding Skill #6: Mentally capable

Not to sound harsh but, considering that having the ability to think critically is one of things included on this list, it makes sense to for the person who will be welding to mentally capable of handling the welding gear. Now this is a very broad characteristic but, as you read the bullets below, it will make a bit more sense.

Not only that, but welding has a fair number of administrative tasks that are typically included. This is another reason it’s important for a welder to have decent mental capabilities.

Administrative tasks include (but aren’t limited to)

  • Time management skills
  • The ability to communicate with others
  • Documenting work that’s been completed
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • Be reliable
  • The ability to plan projects

Welding Skill #7: Good at math

Having fairly decent mathematical ability is a common trait because of the hidden math in the entire welding process. Knowing the thickness of your wire or the amount of gas you may need (if you’re not gasless welding) is important. To be able to understand these things, you’ll need to know how to do basic addition and subtraction (don’t worry you won’t have to be a mathematician to weld).

Aside from the basic math skills a welder would need you’ll also need to know these things:

7 more skills welders need (according to recruiters/employers)

Welding Skill #8: Must be able to learn new things

One skill that is of the utmost importance for a welder or trainee is the ability to learn.

Throughout the years, one is going to learn a few types of welding, such as stick, TIG, and MIG, essential techniques for doing a few different types of welding joints, the variety of shielding and welding gasses there are, and a plethora of other things.

The technology used in welding is going to always change just like the best practices used in welding are always changing. To be considered a great welder, one will have to constantly learn new things, especially when they are just beginning to weld – not to mention that it’s considered healthy to always train and learn more using professional development courses once one actually becomes a professional.

The ability to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6HVJHsOGa0

These 8 skills are things that every efficient welder tends to have in common with one another – and it makes sense for this to be so. For you to be efficient (and safe) while welding you must be aware of those and the things that are around you. This is a prerequisite of proficiency in a welding atmosphere. Now is the time to look at the qualities you hold and figure out what’s missing. Remember, the goal is to be an incredibly efficient welder.

What is MIG Welding? – The Definitive Guide

by

MIG or Metal Inert Gas welding is the process of welding pieces of metal together using a current of electricity . It is usually considered the easiest type of welding for one to start out engaging in only because of the somewhat straightforward nature of the machine’s functionality.

What’s the history of MIG welding?

MIG welding otherwise known as GMAW welding was first developed in the early 1940’s. As mentioned in the above section it is the process of using an arc of electricity between a positive and negative (anode and cathode) to form a weld. The heat necessary to weld the metals together is produced by both the arc and inert gas involved in the process.

MIG welding in the 19th century

The principles of MIG welding were first developed at the beginning of the 19th century when Humphry Davy first discovered the electric arc. While MIG welding first used carbon electrodes, it was then found that metal electrodes are better for them by C.L. Coffin and N.G. Slavianoff.

MIG welding in the 20th Century

By the year 1920 the early predecessor of GMAW was first invented by P.O. Nobel of General Electric. It used a direct current and a bare electrode wire, as well as an arc voltage to regulate the feed rate. However, it did not use a shielding gas to protect the weld since the developments in welding atmospheres didn’t take place till further down the line. While it still wasn’t suitable for practical use, the forerunner of GMAW was released in 1926.

MIG Welding was officially developed by the Batelle Memorial Institute in 1948. This MIG welding process used a smaller diameter electrode and constant voltage power source. It also relied on an aluminum continuous fed electrode and an argon gas shielding gas.

The short arc variation of MIG / GMAW welding was released between the years of 1958 – 59 and increased welding versatility while making thin material welds possible. It also became the most popular MIG variation. One year after the short arc variation was developed the spray arc variation was developed. Spray arc variation was developed when experimenters added small quantities of oxygen to inert gasses.

In the 1970s additional development for MIG welding were found which allowed or improvements in both the GMAW – P and GMAW processes.

Now, however, MIG welding (or GMAW as it’s more widely known) is used widely by the sheet welding and automobile industries. Within these industries it’s used to perform arc spot welding, which allows it to replace resistance spot welding and riveting. It is also popular in robot welding, where robots handle the work-pieces as well as the welding gun to quicken the manufacturing process.

It is, however, unsuitable for outdoor welding since the movement of the surrounding atmosphere causes dissipation of the shielding gas, which makes welding with it difficult.

What are the advantages of MIG welding?

MIG / GMAW / MAG does yield a few advantages to those who use it. Below are a few examples of benefits offered by MIG welding.

  • Works with a wide range of different metal types
  • It makes producing high quality welds much easier (and a much faster process)
  • Because MIG welding uses shielding gasses the arc is protected which means there is very little loss of alloying elements.
    • This helps prevents excessive spatter
    • There is no slag to clean off
  • Easy to learn and can be done using both a semi-auto and fully-auto process
  • MIG welding doesn’t use a flux so there is very little chance for the entrapment of slag in the weld metal; this results in the production of very high quality welds.

What are the disadvantages of MIG welding?

  • Doesn’t work very well with thick metals because it doesn’t provide enough penetration for them.
  • Less portable than welding types that don’t require an external shielding gas.
    • Not to mention that since it uses a shielding gas it can take a little more time to change which results in welds taking more time to complete.
  • Less controlled than TIG welding
  • It takes a while to clean metals well enough for them to be MIG welded. This is necessary to make sure that you’re safe when using a MIG welder as well as for making sure you get a good weld.
  • MIG welding a bit more expensive than other methods of welding as well as more complex to perform.
  • MIG welding has limited positions. The viscousity of the MIG welding metal puddle and the heat input of the MIG welder means that it can’t be used for either overhead or vertical welding.

What are the components of a MIG welding machine?

The great thing about the whole MIG welding process is that it is fairly simple. The part that makes it so simple is that it doesn’t require very many parts-there’s just 4.

Welding Machine

First you have the actual welding machine. The welder carries with it a spool of wire (consumables) and a variety of rollers which puch the wire out of the welding gun. Before you begin welding it helps to actually go through your machine and make sure you have a solid understanding of it’s inner workings. The type of wire loaded into the welder depends on the type of material that will be welded. For instance, if you’re trying to weld aluminum, then you will load aluminum wire into the machine.

This is what the actual MIG welding machine looks like

Gas Tank

Next we have the gas tank. The tank will be filled with either entirely Argon or will contain a mix of C02 and Argon. The purpose of this mixture is pretty straightforward-it’s meant to protect your weld from the harmful contaminants in the environment. Before you begin to weld it’s important that you open up the machine and check that there is some actual gas in the tank. It’s a good rule of thumb to make sure that your gauges are reading somewhere between 0 and 2500 PSI and that your regulator reads between 15 and 25 PSI.

Welding Gun

The most important part of the welding machine isn’t the machine itself it’s the gun – this is where the business actually starts. The welding gun is made of a trigger that handles both the wire feed and the current of electricity. Make sure that the outside of your gun is covered by either a ceramic or metal cup which will protect the electrode and direct the flow of gas out of the gun.

Ground Clamp

Lastly we have the ground clamp. The purpose of the ground clamp is to provide a negative charge (cathode)( to the welding project. This item should be clipped onto either the project or directly on a welding table- just be sure that it maintains some kind of connection with your work.

This is what a ground clamp looks like

How to stay safe when MIG welding

One of the outstanding myths that surround the MIG welding professions is that it’s extremely dangerous. Yes, that can be true, if you don’t have the proper safety gear when you participate in the activity. That brings us to the next part of the guide, ensuring that you have the correctly MIG welding safety gear.

1. Wear Safety Gear

Since MIG welding is a light intensive activity it can be incredibly harmful to one’s eyes and skin if they are not properly protected. The first piece of gear that every welder should have (regardless of the activity) is a welding helmet. The most effective type of welding helmet is the Auto Darkening welding helmet because of it’s ability to automatically adjust to the bright flares of light that will likely occur when you begin welding.

Here are a few good welding helmets

Next we have the welding gloves. These are important because of the splattering that will occur when you begin welding. The thickness of the gloves is entirely up to you but, it’s important that your gloves are made from some type of leather material.

Here are a few examples of feasible welding gloves

As for body gear it doesn’t matter if you wear leathers or not – just make sure that whatever clothes you do wear are flame retardant. At the very least wear clothing that is made from some type of cotton material.

2. How to prep for MIG welding?

As for footwear all I can say is make sure it’s made from a leather material and is thoroughly layered. Shoes that are made from a synthetic material or contain a mesh of some type will likely be destroyed as splatter falls on them.

3. Don’t weld galvanized steel

Long story short, galvanized steel has properties that develop into carcinogenics once heated. Don’t weld this material if you want to stay relatively healthy while you weld.

4. Beware of fire

Welding produces splatter that can land relatively far from the weld itself. Make sure that there are no nearby materials that could easily catch if the splatter were to land on it.

How do you lay a bead in MIG welding?

The most important piece of knowledge you can have as a MIG welder is the ability to actually lay a bead. Make sure that you have a solid understanding of the power settings on your welder so that you can easily weld a proper bead on your machine. Too much power and the bead won’t look right =. Too little power and the bead won’t look right =. Practice laying the bead before you actually try and weld anything of value.

Video credits to Weldingtipsandtricks. It goes over a MIG welding technique.

The easiest way to do this is by practicing laying relatively short beads, about 1 to 3 inches thick. Doing this a few times allows you to get your bearings on the machine and to also preserve consumables.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Setting the settings on the welder”] [/thrive_text_block]

This is something that you get entirely by feel. If your welding activities are causing your workstation or metal to have holes formed inside of it then it is very likely that the machine is set too high. If you’re welding in spurts then the machine isn’t set high enough. Just keep adjusting it until you get the right settings. Once your welds start coming out nice and smooth you know that you have the correct settings.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Avoid these issues”] [/thrive_text_block]

With any activity you are likely to run into some type of problem. The same goes for MIG welding.

What are common issues of MIG welding?

Not enough gas in the machine: you can tell this is happening when the weld begins to turn brown or some other darkish color.

Weld isn’t penetrating: when the weld is weak and the metals aren’t fully joining this is the common issue.

Holes appear in the weld: When you are welding with much power this is likely to occur

There is too much metal in the weld: This typically only happens when there is too much wire coming out of the gun. AN easy fix would be slowing down your wire speed.

Wire is fused to the tip: A common problem is that the wire in a gun fuses to it’s tip. This typically happens when you are A. welding to close to the material or B. are allowing too much heat to build up in the tip of your welding gun.

The steps to fix this problem are listed below:

  1. Unscrew the cup of the welding shield
  2. Unscrew the tip
  3. Replace the tip
  4. Screw the tip on
  5. Replace the welding cup
  6. Voila, it’s fixed

Replace the wire feed to gun

Another common issue that you will likely face is getting the wire stuck in the machine. This can be avoided by checking the spool and the rollers because this is generally where the material will get stuck.

If in fact the material does get stuck in the gun, you can do this to fix it

  1. Power off and unplug the machine
  2. Find the jam
  3. Cut the material out with a pair of wire cutters
  4. Pull out the wire from the hose with a pair of pliers
  5. Replacve the tension bolt
  6. Turn the machine on and depress the trigger. This is how you know if you fixed the gun or not. Once the wire comes out you know the gun is fixed.

Best Welding Helmets of 2019 – Reviews & Buyer Guide

by

A few decades ago someone had the genius idea to create welding helmets that shielded the user’s eyes from the bright and somewhat harmful flares of light, and slag that appears during most types of welding activities. The initial welding mask featured an LCD shutter that would immediately darken when it detected the bright light of the welding arc. The introduction of this filter into the design of the mask reduced both welding time and the level of risk that the welder takes on when they decide that it’s time to begin welding. The great thing about the introduction of this auto-darkening welding helmet technology is that it gave others something to build upon. Innovative geniuses (much like the one who developed this helmet) decided that it would be a great idea to build upon the initial design of the auto-darkening helmet and create designs of their own.
This is where we come in. Great designs for auto-darkening helmets are being put out everyday. In our effort to make sure that you are aware of the best (and sometimes worse) designs we have decided to put together a holistic review based entirely on auto darkening welding helmets. This review does more than simple go over the features that make up a good auto darkening welding helmet; it talks about the  history of the helmet design, features included, and the way to use the helmet. Read on to find the reviews.
Below are the welders we review

Product Name Customer Reviews Editor Rating Uses
Hobart 770753
 		4.7 /5 Stars MIG, Stick, ARC, low amp TIG
Miller 251292
 		4.6 / 5 Stars MIG, Stick, ARC
Jackson Safety BH3
Jackson Safety BH3 reviews
 		4.6 /5 Stars Stick, MIG, TIG, ARC
Lincoln Electric 3350
 		4.6 / 5 Stars Stick, ARC, MIG, TIG
3M Speedglas 9100
 		4.5 /5 Stars Stick, MIG, TIG, ARC
Antra AH6-260-0000
Antra AH6-260-0000 reviews
 		4.4 / 5 Stars MIG, MAG, TIG, SMAW and Plasma Arc

What criteria do we use to rate welding helmets?

Switching time

Since the helmets are auto-darkening I’m sure that you would like to know how quickly the material in the helmet can switch between being light and dark. (I’m sure you wouldn’t want to wait for hours for the material to lighten back up after going dark initially.) What does switching time mean? It’s simply the time a helmet takes to transition from natural light to the darkened shade used when the torch is lit up. A fast switching speed should be desired over a slow one. A fast switching welding helmet will provide you with the least amount of exposure to the UV and infrared rays that result from your welding arc. Professional helmet lenses can darken at the speed of 1 / 16,000 of a second, while entry-level helmets typically have a switching speed of 1 / 3,600 of a second and up. As you get to a fast switching speed you generally see the price go up alongside it.

Heaviness of helmet

Light helmet = less body stress = more efficient work. You want to reduce stress and reduce pressure. A light helmet will reduce head, neck, and body stress thus reducing fatigue allowing you to work more efficiently and for a longer duration. Stress on the body can cause frequent breaks, dehydration, muscle tightening, etc. Aim for a goal of purchasing an auto darkening helmet with a weight of at most 10 pounds. Most of our recommended helmets are below that, so you should be okay.

Viewing size

Viewing size refers to the helmet viewing area that you look through when conducting welding jobs. Typically you will find a welding helmet view size of 5 square inches up to 10 square inches. It is typically recommended for professional welders to get a larger view port, while hobbyists get smaller ones simply to keep their budget in mind. Your view port will determine how easy it is for you to see while working, smaller viewing size helmets tend to be more difficult (I know, stating the obvious right?).

ANSI approval

National safety standards exist for welders and there are certain codes your equipment should be equal with. Don’t be a cheapskate and purchase a piece of equipment that introduces you to more long-term health risk. ANSI Z87.1 – 2003 is the newest safety standard for welders. Follow it, know it, and respect it. It has set a mandate that auto-darkening lens manufacturers will need to confirm their claimed specs (transition speed, dark shade settings, etc) with lab tests that are available to the consumer.

Number of sensors

Absolutely invest in a helmet that has a good number of sensors. Why? You ask? The number of sensors is directly related to the speed and amount of protection you have in case of spark or flame. You want to aim for 4 sensors to have on your welder helmet, but two will work (although not preferred). To reduce potential exposure, if you are a welder that frequently works on your back or side, go with the 4 sensors. If you traditionally work in a normal position you are exposed to less risk and can thus explore going with 2 sensor helmets.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Things to keep in mind when choosing your welding helmet”] [/thrive_text_block]

Firstly, you need to realize that every individual has a different preference towards the specifications of their helmet such as weight, sensitivity, etc. Ultimately, you want the perfect balance between safety, comfort, and results. Once you understand that not every individual wears the same type of helmet, you’ll be well on your way to finding the best welding helmet for you.

  •  When deciding on what welding helmet is best for you, one absolutely crucial part is the amount of protection being provided to your face. You certainly need your full face covered no questions asked, and you need a helmet made out of material that is capable of shedding any molten fragment material.
  • A well-dimensioned viewing area through your welding mask is extremely important. Generally, welders look for semi-long periods of time, so a small viewing port will be difficult to work with. A small viewing area may result in having to position your head or back in poor ways resulting in posture issues, unnecessary body strain, or flipping up the helmet frequently which slows down the speed of your work.
  • Location of helmet controls is also another important thing that is often overlooked. Why’s this important? Well, let’s consider that if the controls are internal controls, you’re going to need to likely remove your helmet in order to make adjustments. This slows down your work and can become annoying quite quickly. External controls are nice, but they too have their flaws in that they can be damaged by airborne debris.

Welding Helmet Reviews

Antra AH6-260-0000

Best Welding Helmets of 2018 - Reviews & Buyer Guide
At the time of writing this review, the Antra AH6-260 is rated over 4.5 stars by our editor. It comes with an auto shut off/on functionality that is fully automatic. A unique feature to this helmet is the fact that it comes with an adjustable darkness setting that you can tailor to your own needs.
Not only does the Antra AH6-260 work for welding, but it’s also versatile enough to withstand plasma cutting work.  Measuring 9 x 8 x 12 with a weight of approximately 16 ounces (1 pound), it’s batteries included and capable of functioning with Plasma, Grinding, TIG, MIG, and ARC welding. Viewing specs of 3.86 x 1.78 inches and a variable shade inclusion of 4/5 – 9/9 – 13. While the price of the Antra AH6 may be somewhat low, it is by no means a “cheap welding helmet”.

Rhino RH01

Best Welding Helmets of 2018 - Reviews & Buyer Guide
Weighing in at roughly 1 lbs 2 ounces the Rhino RH01 works great for SMAW, GMAW, PAC, FCAW, GTAW, and PAW welding. It features a switching speed of 1/25,000 of a second and is made of lightweight nylon shell. The RH01 is also known as the Rhino Large View + Grind Auto Darkening Helmet and features a massive 10 square inch viewing area. The headband has been known to loosen up at times, however, it also comes with a ratchet style headgear to aid in support. Replacement parts are extremely easy to find making this a popular addition to any welders equipment stock. Ah, one last thing – it’s also solar powered and features 2 arc sensors!

Jackson Safety W70 BH3

Best Welding Helmets of 2018 - Reviews & Buyer Guide
The W70 BH3 is among the most expensive helmet you’ll find on our list today, but it stands out amongst the competition in terms of clarity and light diffusion. Essentially, you get what you pay for with this particular product. Featuring an auto-on filter designed for auto darkening, it weighs in at roughly 2.1 lbs and provides superb protection for MIG, TIG, and ARC welding scenarios. A switching speed of 0.15 microseconds makes it extremely fast! Dimensions measure at 12 and a quarter inch x 9 and five-eighths x 9 and three-quarters inches with an EN379 rating of 1/1/1/1. That is fantastic, I am particularly fond of the viewing port on this helmet which helps aid in preparation ease and speed.

3M Speedglas 9100

Best Welding Helmets of 2018 - Reviews & Buyer Guide
If you’re looking to step your game up and weld like the pros the 3M Speedglas 9100 is probably the best bet for you. This welding helmet comes with a bundle of features such as the 3 sensors, Auto shut off capabilities, dual lenses, side shields. The switch speed of the Speedglas 9100 ranges from 40 to 800 ms, making it a decent choice by all welders standards. Another plus of this helmet is that it weighs in at only 20.2 oz, which reduces the fatigue you feel after a long day of using it. The feature I found to be the most useful is the solar-assisted sensor. This aspect basically saves both the battery life (reducing the effect on your pockets) and aids in switching speed.

Lincoln Electric 3350

Best Welding Helmets of 2018 - Reviews & Buyer Guide
Weighing in at 20 oz the Lincoln Electric 3350 is the best welding helmet for those who require something that’s both easy on the pockets and the neck. The Lincoln Electric 3350 features internal shade controls as well as 3 different sensitivity controls: variable shade, delay, light sensitivity. The viewing screen on the this helmet measures at 3.74 in x 3.34 in. Considering the low price the features included are kind of over-justified, For instance, I’ve rarely ever seen a model in this price range include 3 different sensitivity types nor this many sensors.
Of course, every decent product must have its downsides as well. The Lincoln Electric 3350’s lenses have a tendency to get scratched easily if cleaned with a rough material – make sure to clean it with a thin and porous nature such as linen.

Miller 251292

Best Welding Helmets of 2018 - Reviews & Buyer Guide
Considering that it’s one of the least expensive welding helmets on this guide, the Miller 251292 kind of surprised me. First off, it has 2 sensors, which isn’t really that outstanding considering that there are helmets on this guide with 3+ sensors. It has variable shade and light state sensitivity of #8-13 and light state #3. The view area on the Miller 251292 is 3.70 x 1.37 in and it weighs in at about 16 oz. While the viewing area may not be the largest you’ll see on a helmet, the associated weight more than makes up for it. In addition to it’s lightweight, the Miller 251292 meets high impact ANSI standards.

Hobart 770753

hobart 770753 reviews
Last but not least we have the Hobart 770753. This helmet somehow manages to fall right in the middle when it comes to price and much like the previously mentioned helmet has features that make the low price stand out. This helmet features a Grind mode as well as an Auto shut off feature. It’s also approved by the ANSI which basically means that you will be receiving an item that has been tested for its ability to actually provide you with protection during a weld. The switch delay on the Hobart 770753 is between .1 and 1 seconds depending on the settings. The best thing about this particular helmet are it’s sensitivity controls and its ability to adjust to a multitude of light conditions.

How do you use a welding helmet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUPYBOMWidg
Video credits to ChuckE2009. It discusses how to use a welding helmet.

Welding Helmet Common Questions

What is a passive style welding helmet?

Let’s start off by saying, that generally speaking a passive welding hood isn’t something we would suggest for a beginner welder. However, most experienced welders will generally have no problem using them.  In general, we recommend not to use these for beginners because they will have trouble seeing the electrode part of the torch (yeah, you learn with experience).
About the only benefit to a passive welding mask is that they are cheap and affordable, however to us the risk of injuries and difficulty for a newbie just isn’t worth it.

What is a filter lens for a welding helmet?

A filter lens is the part of a welding helmet used to protect the welder’s eyes. They are a crucial part of a helmet because they’re responsible for protecting your eyes from the UV and infrared light exposure. We call these key non-impact dangers that a welder is susceptible to.

How long do most auto-darkening welding helmets last?

There is no exact length of time. However, factors that can influence helmet lifetime include, but are not limited to:

  • The quality used for the helmet material
  • How well you take care of the helmet
  • How often you use the helmet
How much should I expect to spend on my welding helmet?

We suggest at least $100 USD (as it wouldn’t be the best thing to get a cheap welding helmet), but here’s a better perspective on the price tiers you can expect.

  • $0 – $100 beginner helmets
  • $100 – $200 decent helmets
  • $200 -$300 good helmets
  • $300 + exceptional helmets
Are mask, hood, and helmet all synonyms for welding helmets? Are there any other common synonyms?

Yes, when you see any of these referenced in regards to welding they are all referring to the same thing. It’s confusing, but it’s something you should just become used to.

What’s the purpose of a welding helmet?

Arc Eye & Retina Burn Protection

Welding helmets are headgear utilized to perform different types of welding and to protect eyes, neck, and face from flash burn, sparks, UV light, heat, and infrared light. Ultraviolet emissions produced from welding arc can cause damages to exposed skin as well as eyes; hence, workers use helmets with filters called lens shades. Radiation, splashes, and gasses are hazardous to skin and eyes hence helmets are designed to protect welders from exposure to these hazards.
They are used to prevent retina burns and arc eye which are caused by too much exposure to the sparks. They are usually used with arc welding processes such as gas tungsten welding, shielded metal welding, and gas metal welding. A decent welding helmet is crucial for welders and apart from the additional safety precautions, a helmet could help with overall welding performance. Welding helmets are available in a variety of optical densities particularly designed to filter the light intensity produced by the arc.

What’s the history of welding helmets?

The Evolution Of Welding Helmets

Welding can be traced back to the ancient times as early as the Bronze Age. During this age, small gold boxes were used and are estimated that these gold boxes were made more than 2000 years ago. The Egyptians and the eastern Mediterranean people learned the art of welding iron pieces together during the Iron Age. Further, the art of blacksmithing became popular during the middle ages and iron items were produced by hammering. Welding has been done since the Bronze Age, however, using of welding helmets came only in 1905.
Frederick M. Bowers was the man who invented the first welding helmets. He got the inspiration to make welding helmets when he saw that welders in his hometown needed improved protection while working in ships, pipelines, and railroads. He founded the Fibre-Metal Products Company and manufactured the first ever welding helmet in 1905. Later, the company pioneered in the production of face shields, fiber metal caps, and goggles. Industrial Revolution demanded more welders in the 1930s; therefore, welders used face masks and goggles to protect themselves. However, the proper use of welding helmets started only in the year 1937.
The early helmets were simple with a polarized lens or dark tinted glass without UV radiation filter. During the First World War, the high demand for weapons production pressured companies to manufacture electrodes and welding machines. This may have further influenced for the establishment of new welding helmet manufacturers. Later, welding helmets kept developing with better technologies and the first auto darkening helmet was introduced. In the 1940s the most recent type of welding helmet was introduced and since then it has evolved significantly.
In 1981, Swedish manufacturing company Hornell created the first auto darkening welding helmets under the brand name Speedglas.
In 2004, the company Hornell was taken over by another welding helmet company called 3M. In addition, Frederick M. Bower’s company Fibre-Metal Products Company was sold to North Safety Products in the year 2005. Today, both companies manufacture and sell standard helmets as well as auto-darkening helmets. 3M Company was previously known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Today, it operates in more than 67 countries across the globe. Some of the best-renowned welding helmet manufacturers today are the Miller Electric, Lincoln Electric, 3M, Jackson, and Hobart.

What are the types of welding hoods? 

Standard or Passive Welding Helmets

This type of welding helmet is made of molded plastics and is coated with infrared lights. The shield is durable and its extended front protects users from physical hazards. One can clearly view various angles and is also provided with adjustable sensitivity. They are popular for being cheaper than auto-darkening welding helmets. Generally, they come with a 10 lens shade that does not change whether a welder is welding or not. They give effective protection and is easy to put and easy to take off as well.

Auto-darkening Welding Helmets

Auto-darkening welding helmets are lightweight and designed to minimize neck discomfort. When a welder strikes the arc, these helmets automatically darken and many injuries have been reduced by Auto-darkening helmets. They are proved to be especially useful for modern welders working under poor light conditions. It comes in three different types, the fixed lens shade, professional and intermediate, and battery and solar powered. These helmets are designed to have light sensors present near the lens that helps welders in viewing like sun-glass shade.
The sensors are utilized in order to get better coverage. This type of welding helmets is known to be the best ones which also provide clear vision. In the professional and intermediate helmet, the amount of brightness depends on the intensity of the lens. The brightness will be dimmer if the intensity is lower. Battery helmets are rechargeable as it is made of lithium and it can be charged in the sunlight because of the solar panels. The solar panel supplies backup power if the battery suffers low power. Solar power helmets are known to be most useful while working outside and battery-powered helmets for underground or inside large structures. Both utilize the sensors in order to identify when the light brightens, and when it is time to adjust the glass in the face shield to block only the right amount of light.
Auto-darkening helmets basic models develop darker shade with any contact to arc light no matter where the light comes from. Auto-darkening deluxe model helmets have special sensors that can detect the difference between a co-workers arc and operator’s arc. The advantage of an auto-darkening welding helmet is that it allows the welder to accurately see the area that needs to be welded.
The lenses are available in glass as well as plastic, and glass lenses are said to be better for not containing color distortions. It is known that a conventional welding helmet can blind a welder if the welder is too abruptly welding and killing the arc, leaving the welder in total darkness and vulnerable to fall or harm. This is why many construction companies at present require welders to use auto-darkening helmets.

Best Welding Helmets of 2023 – Reviews & Buyer Guide

by

A few decades ago someone had the genius idea to create welding helmets that shielded the user’s eyes from the bright and somewhat harmful flares of light, and slag that appears during most types of welding activities. The initial welding mask featured an LCD shutter that would immediately darken when it detected the bright light of the welding arc. The introduction of this filter into the design of the mask reduced both welding time and the level of risk that the welder takes on when they decide that it’s time to begin welding. The great thing about the introduction of this auto-darkening welding helmet technology is that it gave others something to build upon. Innovative geniuses (much like the one who developed this helmet) decided that it would be a great idea to build upon the initial design of the auto-darkening helmet and create designs of their own.

This is where we come in. Great designs for auto-darkening helmets are being put out everyday. In our effort to make sure that you are aware of the best (and sometimes worse) designs we have decided to put together a holistic review based entirely on auto darkening welding helmets. This review does more than simple go over the features that make up a good auto darkening welding helmet; it talks about the  history of the helmet design, features included, and the way to use the helmet. Read on to find the reviews.

Below are the welders we review

Product Name Customer Reviews Editor Rating Uses
Hobart 770753
 		4.7 /5 Stars MIG, Stick, ARC, low amp TIG
Miller 251292
 		4.6 / 5 Stars MIG, Stick, ARC
Jackson Safety BH3
Jackson Safety BH3 reviews
 		4.6 /5 Stars Stick, MIG, TIG, ARC
Lincoln Electric 3350
 		4.6 / 5 Stars Stick, ARC, MIG, TIG
3M Speedglas 9100
 		4.5 /5 Stars Stick, MIG, TIG, ARC
Antra AH6-260-0000
Antra AH6-260-0000 reviews
 		4.4 / 5 Stars MIG, MAG, TIG, SMAW and Plasma Arc

What criteria do we use to rate welding helmets?

Switching time

Since the helmets are auto-darkening I’m sure that you would like to know how quickly the material in the helmet can switch between being light and dark. (I’m sure you wouldn’t want to wait for hours for the material to lighten back up after going dark initially.) What does switching time mean? It’s simply the time a helmet takes to transition from natural light to the darkened shade used when the torch is lit up. A fast switching speed should be desired over a slow one. A fast switching welding helmet will provide you with the least amount of exposure to the UV and infrared rays that result from your welding arc. Professional helmet lenses can darken at the speed of 1 / 16,000 of a second, while entry-level helmets typically have a switching speed of 1 / 3,600 of a second and up. As you get to a fast switching speed you generally see the price go up alongside it.

Heaviness of helmet

Light helmet = less body stress = more efficient work. You want to reduce stress and reduce pressure. A light helmet will reduce head, neck, and body stress thus reducing fatigue allowing you to work more efficiently and for a longer duration. Stress on the body can cause frequent breaks, dehydration, muscle tightening, etc. Aim for a goal of purchasing an auto darkening helmet with a weight of at most 10 pounds. Most of our recommended helmets are below that, so you should be okay.

Viewing size

Viewing size refers to the helmet viewing area that you look through when conducting welding jobs. Typically you will find a welding helmet view size of 5 square inches up to 10 square inches. It is typically recommended for professional welders to get a larger view port, while hobbyists get smaller ones simply to keep their budget in mind. Your view port will determine how easy it is for you to see while working, smaller viewing size helmets tend to be more difficult (I know, stating the obvious right?).

ANSI approval

National safety standards exist for welders and there are certain codes your equipment should be equal with. Don’t be a cheapskate and purchase a piece of equipment that introduces you to more long-term health risk. ANSI Z87.1 – 2003 is the newest safety standard for welders. Follow it, know it, and respect it. It has set a mandate that auto-darkening lens manufacturers will need to confirm their claimed specs (transition speed, dark shade settings, etc) with lab tests that are available to the consumer.

Number of sensors

Absolutely invest in a helmet that has a good number of sensors. Why? You ask? The number of sensors is directly related to the speed and amount of protection you have in case of spark or flame. You want to aim for 4 sensors to have on your welder helmet, but two will work (although not preferred). To reduce potential exposure, if you are a welder that frequently works on your back or side, go with the 4 sensors. If you traditionally work in a normal position you are exposed to less risk and can thus explore going with 2 sensor helmets.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Things to keep in mind when choosing your welding helmet”] [/thrive_text_block]

Firstly, you need to realize that every individual has a different preference towards the specifications of their helmet such as weight, sensitivity, etc. Ultimately, you want the perfect balance between safety, comfort, and results. Once you understand that not every individual wears the same type of helmet, you’ll be well on your way to finding the best welding helmet for you.

  •  When deciding on what welding helmet is best for you, one absolutely crucial part is the amount of protection being provided to your face. You certainly need your full face covered no questions asked, and you need a helmet made out of material that is capable of shedding any molten fragment material.
  • A well-dimensioned viewing area through your welding mask is extremely important. Generally, welders look for semi-long periods of time, so a small viewing port will be difficult to work with. A small viewing area may result in having to position your head or back in poor ways resulting in posture issues, unnecessary body strain, or flipping up the helmet frequently which slows down the speed of your work.
  • Location of helmet controls is also another important thing that is often overlooked. Why’s this important? Well, let’s consider that if the controls are internal controls, you’re going to need to likely remove your helmet in order to make adjustments. This slows down your work and can become annoying quite quickly. External controls are nice, but they too have their flaws in that they can be damaged by airborne debris.

Welding Helmet Reviews

Antra AH6-260-0000

Antra AH6-260-0000

At the time of writing this review, the Antra AH6-260 is rated over 4.5 stars by our editor. It comes with an auto shut off/on functionality that is fully automatic. A unique feature to this helmet is the fact that it comes with an adjustable darkness setting that you can tailor to your own needs.

Not only does the Antra AH6-260 work for welding, but it’s also versatile enough to withstand plasma cutting work.  Measuring 9 x 8 x 12 with a weight of approximately 16 ounces (1 pound), it’s batteries included and capable of functioning with Plasma, Grinding, TIG, MIG, and ARC welding. Viewing specs of 3.86 x 1.78 inches and a variable shade inclusion of 4/5 – 9/9 – 13. While the price of the Antra AH6 may be somewhat low, it is by no means a “cheap welding helmet”.

Rhino RH01

Rhino-RH01-Large-View-Carbon-Fiber-Auto-darkening-Helmet

Weighing in at roughly 1 lbs 2 ounces the Rhino RH01 works great for SMAW, GMAW, PAC, FCAW, GTAW, and PAW welding. It features a switching speed of 1/25,000 of a second and is made of lightweight nylon shell. The RH01 is also known as the Rhino Large View + Grind Auto Darkening Helmet and features a massive 10 square inch viewing area. The headband has been known to loosen up at times, however, it also comes with a ratchet style headgear to aid in support. Replacement parts are extremely easy to find making this a popular addition to any welders equipment stock. Ah, one last thing – it’s also solar powered and features 2 arc sensors!

Jackson Safety W70 BH3

Jackson-Safety-W70-bh3
The W70 BH3 is among the most expensive helmet you’ll find on our list today, but it stands out amongst the competition in terms of clarity and light diffusion. Essentially, you get what you pay for with this particular product. Featuring an auto-on filter designed for auto darkening, it weighs in at roughly 2.1 lbs and provides superb protection for MIG, TIG, and ARC welding scenarios. A switching speed of 0.15 microseconds makes it extremely fast! Dimensions measure at 12 and a quarter inch x 9 and five-eighths x 9 and three-quarters inches with an EN379 rating of 1/1/1/1. That is fantastic, I am particularly fond of the viewing port on this helmet which helps aid in preparation ease and speed.

3M Speedglas 9100

If you’re looking to step your game up and weld like the pros the 3M Speedglas 9100 is probably the best bet for you. This welding helmet comes with a bundle of features such as the 3 sensors, Auto shut off capabilities, dual lenses, side shields. The switch speed of the Speedglas 9100 ranges from 40 to 800 ms, making it a decent choice by all welders standards. Another plus of this helmet is that it weighs in at only 20.2 oz, which reduces the fatigue you feel after a long day of using it. The feature I found to be the most useful is the solar-assisted sensor. This aspect basically saves both the battery life (reducing the effect on your pockets) and aids in switching speed.

Lincoln Electric 3350

Best Welding Helmets of 2018 - Reviews & Buyer Guide

Weighing in at 20 oz the Lincoln Electric 3350 is the best welding helmet for those who require something that’s both easy on the pockets and the neck. The Lincoln Electric 3350 features internal shade controls as well as 3 different sensitivity controls: variable shade, delay, light sensitivity. The viewing screen on this helmet measures at 3.74 in x 3.34 in. Considering the low price, the features included are kind of over-justified. For instance, I’ve rarely ever seen a model in this price range include 3 different sensitivity types nor this many sensors.
Of course, every decent product must have its downsides as well. The Lincoln Electric 3350’s lenses have a tendency to get scratched easily if cleaned with a rough material – make sure to clean it with a thin and porous nature such as linen.

Miller 251292

miller 251292 reviews

Considering that it’s one of the least expensive welding helmets on this guide, the Miller 251292 kind of surprised me. First off, it has 2 sensors, which isn’t really that outstanding considering that there are helmets on this guide with 3+ sensors. It has variable shade and light state sensitivity of #8-13 and light state #3. The view area on the Miller 251292 is 3.70 x 1.37 in and it weighs in at about 16 oz. While the viewing area may not be the largest you’ll see on a helmet, the associated weight more than makes up for it. In addition to it’s lightweight, the Miller 251292 meets high impact ANSI standards.

Hobart 770753

hobart 770753 reviews

Last but not least we have the Hobart 770753. This helmet somehow manages to fall right in the middle when it comes to price and much like the previously mentioned helmet has features that make the low price stand out. This helmet features a Grind mode as well as an Auto shut off feature. It’s also approved by the ANSI which basically means that you will be receiving an item that has been tested for its ability to actually provide you with protection during a weld. The switch delay on the Hobart 770753 is between .1 and 1 seconds depending on the settings. The best thing about this particular helmet are it’s sensitivity controls and its ability to adjust to a multitude of light conditions.

How do you use a welding helmet

Video credits to MrAdkinsAuto. It discusses how to use a welding helmet.

Welding Helmet Common Questions

What is a passive style welding helmet?

Let’s start off by saying, that generally speaking a passive welding hood isn’t something we would suggest for a beginner welder. However, most experienced welders will generally have no problem using them.  In general, we recommend not to use these for beginners because they will have trouble seeing the electrode part of the torch (yeah, you learn with experience).

About the only benefit to a passive welding mask is that they are cheap and affordable, however to us the risk of injuries and difficulty for a newbie just isn’t worth it.

What is a filter lens for a welding helmet?

A filter lens is the part of a welding helmet used to protect the welder’s eyes. They are a crucial part of a helmet because they’re responsible for protecting your eyes from the UV and infrared light exposure. We call these key non-impact dangers that a welder is susceptible to.

How long do most auto-darkening welding helmets last?

There is no exact length of time. However, factors that can influence helmet lifetime include, but are not limited to:

  • The quality used for the helmet material
  • How well you take care of the helmet
  • How often you use the helmet
How much should I expect to spend on my welding helmet?

We suggest at least $100 USD (as it wouldn’t be the best thing to get a cheap welding helmet), but here’s a better perspective on the price tiers you can expect.

  • $0 – $100 beginner helmets
  • $100 – $200 decent helmets
  • $200 -$300 good helmets
  • $300 + exceptional helmets
Are mask, hood, and helmet all synonyms for welding helmets? Are there any other common synonyms?

Yes, when you see any of these referenced in regards to welding they are all referring to the same thing. It’s confusing, but it’s something you should just become used to.

What’s the purpose of a welding helmet?

Arc Eye & Retina Burn Protection

Welding helmets are headgear utilized to perform different types of welding and to protect eyes, neck, and face from flash burn, sparks, UV light, heat, and infrared light. Ultraviolet emissions produced from welding arc can cause damages to exposed skin as well as eyes; hence, workers use helmets with filters called lens shades. Radiation, splashes, and gasses are hazardous to skin and eyes hence helmets are designed to protect welders from exposure to these hazards.

They are used to prevent retina burns and arc eye which are caused by too much exposure to the sparks. They are usually used with arc welding processes such as gas tungsten welding, shielded metal welding, and gas metal welding. A decent welding helmet is crucial for welders and apart from the additional safety precautions, a helmet could help with overall welding performance. Welding helmets are available in a variety of optical densities particularly designed to filter the light intensity produced by the arc.

What’s the history of welding helmets?

The Evolution Of Welding Helmets

Welding can be traced back to the ancient times as early as the Bronze Age. During this age, small gold boxes were used and are estimated that these gold boxes were made more than 2000 years ago. The Egyptians and the eastern Mediterranean people learned the art of welding iron pieces together during the Iron Age. Further, the art of blacksmithing became popular during the middle ages and iron items were produced by hammering. Welding has been done since the Bronze Age, however, using of welding helmets came only in 1905.

Frederick M. Bowers was the man who invented the first welding helmets. He got the inspiration to make welding helmets when he saw that welders in his hometown needed improved protection while working in ships, pipelines, and railroads. He founded the Fibre-Metal Products Company and manufactured the first ever welding helmet in 1905. Later, the company pioneered in the production of face shields, fiber metal caps, and goggles. Industrial Revolution demanded more welders in the 1930s; therefore, welders used face masks and goggles to protect themselves. However, the proper use of welding helmets started only in the year 1937.

The early helmets were simple with a polarized lens or dark tinted glass without UV radiation filter. During the First World War, the high demand for weapons production pressured companies to manufacture electrodes and welding machines. This may have further influenced for the establishment of new welding helmet manufacturers. Later, welding helmets kept developing with better technologies and the first auto darkening helmet was introduced. In the 1940s the most recent type of welding helmet was introduced and since then it has evolved significantly.

In 1981, Swedish manufacturing company Hornell created the first auto darkening welding helmets under the brand name Speedglas.

In 2004, the company Hornell was taken over by another welding helmet company called 3M. In addition, Frederick M. Bower’s company Fibre-Metal Products Company was sold to North Safety Products in the year 2005. Today, both companies manufacture and sell standard helmets as well as auto-darkening helmets. 3M Company was previously known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Today, it operates in more than 67 countries across the globe. Some of the best-renowned welding helmet manufacturers today are the Miller Electric, Lincoln Electric, 3M, Jackson, and Hobart.

What are the types of welding hoods? 

Standard or Passive Welding Helmets

This type of welding helmet is made of molded plastics and is coated with infrared lights. The shield is durable and its extended front protects users from physical hazards. One can clearly view various angles and is also provided with adjustable sensitivity. They are popular for being cheaper than auto-darkening welding helmets. Generally, they come with a 10 lens shade that does not change whether a welder is welding or not. They give effective protection and is easy to put and easy to take off as well.

Auto-darkening Welding Helmets

Auto-darkening welding helmets are lightweight and designed to minimize neck discomfort. When a welder strikes the arc, these helmets automatically darken and many injuries have been reduced by Auto-darkening helmets. They are proved to be especially useful for modern welders working under poor light conditions. It comes in three different types, the fixed lens shade, professional and intermediate, and battery and solar powered. These helmets are designed to have light sensors present near the lens that helps welders in viewing like sun-glass shade.

The sensors are utilized in order to get better coverage. This type of welding helmets is known to be the best ones which also provide clear vision. In the professional and intermediate helmet, the amount of brightness depends on the intensity of the lens. The brightness will be dimmer if the intensity is lower. Battery helmets are rechargeable as it is made of lithium and it can be charged in the sunlight because of the solar panels. The solar panel supplies backup power if the battery suffers low power. Solar power helmets are known to be most useful while working outside and battery-powered helmets for underground or inside large structures. Both utilize the sensors in order to identify when the light brightens, and when it is time to adjust the glass in the face shield to block only the right amount of light.

Auto-darkening helmets basic models develop darker shade with any contact to arc light no matter where the light comes from. Auto-darkening deluxe model helmets have special sensors that can detect the difference between a co-workers arc and operator’s arc. The advantage of an auto-darkening welding helmet is that it allows the welder to accurately see the area that needs to be welded.

The lenses are available in glass as well as plastic, and glass lenses are said to be better for not containing color distortions. It is known that a conventional welding helmet can blind a welder if the welder is too abruptly welding and killing the arc, leaving the welder in total darkness and vulnerable to fall or harm. This is why many construction companies at present require welders to use auto-darkening helmets.

Best Welding Glasses 2023 – Reviews Inside

by

Welding is a dangerous profession that exposes welders to quite a bit of risk. Fortunately, there are pieces of welding equipment that exist to mitigate the risks – assuming you follow protocol. Having the best welding glasses possible will cause your welding career to be prolonged immensely.

The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)  states that roughly 200 US workers receive medical treatment every day due to eye-related injuries that occur on the job. This is why it’s essential for welders to wear proper eye protection that protects them from flying metal fragments, glare, heat, UV rays, etc.

Below are the welding glasses to be reviewed. 

Product Name Customer Reviews Editor Rating
Miller Electric Shade 5.0 Welding Glasses
 		4.4 /5 Stars
Jackson Safety V30 Nemesis Safety Glasses 
 4.3 / 5 Stars
Servore Auto Shade Darkening Goggle Arc-513
4.5 /5 Stars
Miller Electric Welding Glasses
 		3.8 /5 Stars
How do you choose welding glasses or goggles?

There is nothing worse than thinking you did a good job of protecting yourself, only to find out you ended up with sub-par equipment. Our goal is to minimize the chance of that.

Top 3 Important Questions To Ask:

More details…

Sizing & Fit

You obviously need to make sure your eye protection is sturdy, comfortable, and fits around your head and eyes properly. Another very important thing to be aware of is that you should aim to purchase glasses with side protection (one reason welding goggles are popular over glasses).

Dangerous particles rarely come at you directly, instead, they float into the air and are pushed by wind or a breeze into your eye area from the peripheral side. Make sure you have side shields or wrap-around framed eyewear.

You also want to make sure that the fitting is not too tight around your head. This could create pressure and stress which in turn creates headaches and reduces your working efficiency and quality.

Impact Resistance

The American National Standards Institute z87.1-1989 states that clear polycarbonate lenses are the standard for industrial impact resistance. Essentially this means that your lenses can handle a shard of something flying off and hitting them and that they won’t weaken or crack due to it. This is all about keeping your eyes safe.

UV Protection

Welding gives off a very high volume of light that is capable of producing severe eye damage if you do not use proper protection. Welding also gives off potent UV rays, so make sure you purchase eye protection with proper shading and filters for the job. Auto-darkening welding glasses and goggles are becoming more and more popular specifically for this reason.

Dust Protection

Dust protection can potentially be remedied when ensuring a proper fit. Foam liners are a great way to protect from dust while still providing comfort.

Anti-Fog Coating

This is specifically key if you are in a high humidity area or a place where condensation can form. The welding safety glasses are typically labeled if they use this coating.

Welding Goggle Reviews

Each of these items will be checked for their ability to follow the guidelines listed above as well as for their overall functionality.

Miller Electric Shade 5.0 Welding Glasses

If you’re looking for an inexpensive option that will provide adequate protection for your eyes with ease, a possible purchasing option would likely be the Miller Electric Shade Glasses. These may look like basic welding goggles but, they have features that directly transfer over to the welding practice. Of these, a few very important ones to make note of would likely be the UV protection, Electric lens, and the polarized lens featured in the item.

As we all know, welding is an activity that exposes one to the harmful level of UV rays. These rays can deal an immense blow to one’s skin health and overall well-being if not properly checked. Let’s also not forget the fact that they can easily cause damage to one’s eyesight as well. This is where the ArcArmor UV protection comes in handy – it provides one with the coverage that one would need for their eyes to be fully protected which results in the individual prolonging the overall health of their eyes. Also, if scratching was an issue with your other glasses, or you simply don’t want to deal with the trouble of buying an item that will likely scratch up easily after being used for a period of time.

The price of the Miller Electric Shade 5.0 is reasonable – if not cheap. It can be found in various places for well under 50$; for a pair of welding glasses, this is a steal. These would be a great option if what you’re looking for are cheap welding glasses.

Jackson Safety V30 Nemesis Safety Glasses 

The Jackson Safety V30 Nemesis is a great option for an individual who likes to make sure that they have coverage in case anything happens. These glasses come in a pack of 12 which basically means that if something happens to a single pair, you have 11 more of them left over. The great thing about the high count of the item is that Jackson still made sure to place care into their production. They come with a standard mirror coating which aids in providing protection for the pupils and preserving one’s overall eye-health. Also, make note of the fact that they have a design that is up to the standards of the ANSI (American National Standards Institute).

For those price conscious individuals, the Jackson Safety V30 Nemesis Safety Goggles will definitely make sure to provide one with a level of value. A package of 12 of these glasses sells for just under 50$; meaning that each pair costs roughly 4.17$.

Servore Auto Shade Darkening Goggle Arc-513

The Servore Auto Shade Darkening Welding Goggles are chock-full of useful features. While they may not have the simplicity to be utilized in the way that one would like, they do have a design that allows them to be used in a wide variety of circumstances though. For instance, for those individuals who wear prescription glasses, the Servore Auto-Darkening glasses have a frame that can have prescription lenses fit into it. They may not have an auto-powering feature but, their design does have a power button included into it that can easily be switched on. Not to mention that they have auto-darkening features that can easily be utilized to their maximum potential with a quick perusal of their instructions.

These items have a price that is actually well-justified by the features included in the item itself. They can be found on various different sites as well as in various different stores for less than 160$.

Miller Electric Welding Goggles

This is definitely an item that “comes with it all”. It features a dual-lensed design made up of both an outer and inner lens. The outer lens provides UV protection as well as an extra layer for prevention against flying pieces of material from popping into one’s eyes. They also feature a full-facial covering that allows the item to provide one with a more protection from stray materials – something that isn’t afforded by more minimal welding covers. This protection is one of the things that qualifies these Miller Electric goggles as one of the best welding goggles on the market currently.

The glass ABS frame material also ensures that the item provides full-coverage for one’s facial features during the activity. The goggles also have an adjustability feature for sensitivity, which can be helpful for protecting more sensitive eyes from welding activities that give off violent light or radiant energy.

For the functionality, one should fully expect to pay a low price for an item that provides full facial coverage for welding activities. With that being said, for the features, the price range of below 180$ is definitely nowhere near where it should be listed – it has more value than that.

Welding Glasses & Goggles Wrap-Up

It isn’t always the easiest thing to find welding goggles/ glasses that effectively protect the eyes while also having functional qualities added to their design. Many of the goggles on this list have auto-dimming or visual coverage properties that basically allow the item to protect not only the outer area of the eye but the actual site of the user as well – this is incredibly helpful simply because of the fact that the eye is an essential tool for welding. It’s suggested that you view the items on this list as sort of basic to exceptional tools(starting from the bottom up).

Miller Dynasty 210 DX Review

by

The Miller Dynasty 210 DX is a quality made welder featuring Miller Electric’s exclusive advanced inverter technology with Auto-Line tech.

Miller Dynasty 210 DX Review

Some consider the Dynasty 210 DX to be the most flexible welder with regards to AC/DC, TIG/Stick power supply. Its maximum voltage is around 460 volts and contains SquareWave Arc designed to increase the welding capabilities for aluminum and magnesium welds.

The “DX” represents a mode that allows for an air-cooled fingertip controlled contractor kit. Meaning it offers pulsing capabilities, pulse frequency adjustments, a peak percentage time, and a variety of amperage, slope time, and control settings.

Pros of the Miller Dynasty 210 DX

  • Longer tungsten life due to a cleaning control setting
  • AC frequency control range of 20 – 250 kHz
  • Build in pulse minimizes the risk of overheating
  • Automatic fan cooling system
  • Auto line power management makes power connections diverse
Cons of the Miller Dynasty 210 DX
  • User review online mentions that Miller can sometimes be difficult to get ahold of if an issue arises.

Our Favorites About This Welder

  • Top of the line TOG / Stick arc performance on a variety of voltages
  • Easy to use design
  • Circuit design makes add-on voltage reducers unnecessary
  • Non-contact arc eliminates the worry of Tungsten contamination
What Some Users Don’t Like
  • A rear attached power switch can sometimes make it difficult to turn the welder on and off.

Best Welding Clamps of 2023

by

[thrive_headline_focus title=”Best Welding Clamps” orientation=”center”]


[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTlfudf_ZiA”]

Having a good quality welding clamp is critical to getting a good weld… sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, many first time welders either don’t use a clamp at all and end up with a poor quality weld, or they use a cheaply made c-clamp that gets them nowhere.

We’ve seen stories of both situations, and don’t want either of those situations happening to you. For this reason, we have compiled a list of the best welding clamps on the market – which can be seen if you look below.

Welding clamp uses:

  • Holding two pieces of metal together for tacking
  • Pressing a piece of material to your welding table
  • clamping items for non-welding related tasks

Popular clamp styles for welding:

  • C-clamp
  • F-clamp
  • Angle Clamps
  • Bar clamps
  • Pipe clamps

Popular brands:

  • Bessey
  • Vise grips
  • Cleco
  • Kant twist

What is Spot Welding – Reviews & Buyers Guide

by

[thrive_headline_focus title=”What is spot welding?” orientation=”center”]

Spot welding specifically involves heat generating directly at the interface utilizing the joint’s electrical resistance. This process joins two metal surfaces by relying on heat from the metal’s resistance to the flow of electric current, without the utilization of an arc. This process is also considered a form of resistance welding.

In the spot welding process, two sharp copper alloy electrodes are used to deliver a small current to a specific sight, while it fastens the workpieces simultaneously. This creates a noticeable current between the two pieces, eventually melting them for the welding process. The great part is that it’s a very quick process, only 10 milliseconds, not enough time to cause warping.

What should I look for when purchasing a spot welder?

Because a spot welder is so versatile, there is no need for component preparation.

When looking for the right spot welder, you will notice the market is well saturated. This can create some confusion for even the best of welders or metal fabricators. There is a wide range of prices, which again can be confusing, as some higher priced spot welders appear similar to those at lower prices.

Welding units come in the conventional air-cooled to industrial liquid cooled.

Make sure you purchase the correct welding gun

Do yourself a favor and don’t make a costly mistake by buying the wrong type of spot-welding gun.

Using an improper unit can create a rupture in the fused area and create a tear off of the base metal flanking the weld. The correct spot welder for your specific needs are dependent on factors such as enabled duty cold by the unit, output needed, amount of welding you plan to do, and last, power supply.

Explore, your specific needs. Consider the types of metals you will be welding. A resistance spot welder is the preferred tool for welding metals such as galvanized steel, titanium, stainless steel, low carbon steel, and copper. This type of unit can weld clean, mild cold rolled steel sheet, wire mesh, and sheet metal. A key thought is some models can weld any type of metal, however, a few metals are welded by a specific spot welder.

You should consider the thickness of the metal or project to be welded. This is a very important step and factor when selecting the proper spot welder. All metals possess a different level of thickness, which can determine what power requirements a specific welder needs.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Detailed Comparison And Buyer Guide”] [/thrive_text_block]

Product Name Customer Reviews Editor Rating
Electrode Electric Spot Welder Welding (30 Rated Duty)
 		3.4 /5 Stars
Chicago 120-Volt Portable Air-Cooled Spot Welder 
 3.1 / 5 Stars
Pulse Sparkle Spot Welding Machine 200W Welder
3.0 /5 Stars
US. Solid Handheld Spot Welder Machine
 		3.2 /5 Stars

Other things to consider when spot welding

Consider the type of material, the thickness, and the components shape prior to making your decision.

Also the need for single or multiple applications tools, which can help you buy an affordable welder in case you do not need it for multiple applications. Keep in mind, each type of welder is designed with a specific use in mind.

There are a variety of spot welders to consider depending on your work. A stationary single spot welding unit is not considered portable and come in 2 different types; rocker arm or horn and press.

About the Horn Units

The horn units have a rocking or pivoted upper electrode arm activated by pneumatic or operators physical power. The rocking motion of the arm applies pressure today and left the upper electrode up-and-down the stationary electrode is mounted on a pivot arm which is then brought up and down onto the workpiece by the manual or pneumatic method.

This type is more affordable and easier to use but is limited to task not more than 50 kg volt amps it’s also great for metals having a high gauge and other words then metals for bigger jobs requiring more than 50 kg volt amps depressed type unit is the preference in this unit the upper electrode shifts in a straight line along the machine, motion in the pressure are given on the upper electrode by pneumatic or hydraulic means or by motor. These units have side position electrodes for giving you several wells in a short time.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”About Press Spot Welders”] [/thrive_text_block]

Press spot welders are usually the preferred in metalworking work areas due to their versatility and easy obtainable throat depth choice and transformer capabilities with required electrode forces. If you require a more portable unit a single spot welding machine should fit your needs. Smaller, and with a more compact design, they can be corded or cordless.

Spot gun machines: a number of welding guns are used to work with Spot welders and are designed to work with larger pieces. These units are also portable and are connected to transformers using a long cable, then moved to where the welding is taking place. The electrodes generate a contact area that renders the current density via the workpieces. In this type of welding gun, the welding pressure is delivered hydraulically, pneumatically, or manually, depending on the spot guns size and shape.

Multiple spot welding machines: The name says it all. These units are good for high-volume jobs, as in the automotive industry. They are available as press units in which separate guns hauling electrode tips are placed. To keep all electrodes from holding the current, sells are created sequentially. This equipment is relatively affordable and simple for flexible units.

Seam Spot Welding Machines: These units function with the help of sophisticated control technique featuring a travel speed as well as the current flow’s sequence to retain overlapping welds. The actual routine, welding tempo, and spots every centimeter are interdependent.

Spot Welding Machines: These units function with the help of sophisticated control technique featuring a travel speed as well as the current flow’s sequence to retain overlapping welds. The actual routine, welding tempo, and spots every centimeter are interdependent.

Bench spot welding machine: These are very versatile units and often used in production and workshop settings. They have a top quality welded steel body that occupies a minimum bench space. The top arm extension is combined with the frame, and the secondary sum at the bottom may have some tooling.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Materials to be Welded”] [/thrive_text_block]

Steel

Low carbon steel is ideal for spot welding. Alloy steels and higher carbon steel result in hard welds that are prone to crack. However, tempering can bring these risks down. You can even spot weld austenitic stainless steels having the 300 series grade along with ferritic stainless sheets. However, the harder martensitic stainless steels are not apt for spot welding.

Aluminum

Aluminum is suitable for welding through a high power and neat oxide-free surface. You need to clean the surface which increases your cost. You cannot spot weld dissimilar items due to different thermal conductivity points and melting properties. Chrome and nickel-plated steels are simple to spot weld, although zinc, tin, and aluminum require an elite preparation, as is the case of coating metals.

Spot welding is specifically for joining metals having a thickness of up to 3 mm (0.125in).

Due to the high rate of production, a spot welder is bound to increase the productivity at a workplace as well as restore a metallic tool or vehicle to its healthy state before a mishap. One of the major applications of such a unit is in the industry of automobiles, wherein metallic sheets are used for making the body of cars. Other applications of spot welding include in designing stuff such as batteries, nuts and bolts, metal buckets, and batteries.

There are many spot welders for professionals, hobbyists, and several industrial applications. The biggest advantages of using spot welders are high speed, dimensional accuracy, adaptability for automation in highly productive tasks, and economical range.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Choosing the Best Spot Welder: The Buying Factors”] [/thrive_text_block]

A spot welder is a versatile tool and does not need any kind of component preparation. However, the market is flooded with different spot welders and selecting the right one can be a bit confusing even for a somewhat experienced welder or metal fabricator. This is perhaps because of the price differences that are at times tough to comprehend as well as justify. The welding units are available from conventional air cooled to industrial liquid cooled ones.

Choosing the wrong spot welder can actually prove to a costly affair. With such a unit, instead of a proper spot weld, you will encounter a rupture in the fused zone along with a tear of the base metal flanking the weld. Selecting the right spot welder is actually dependent upon several factors such as the enabled duty cycle by the unit, output required, extent of welding that you wish to do, and power supply. Let’s explore all such influential factors.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Your Major Requirements”] [/thrive_text_block]

Well, you should start by knowing your key needs without which you seriously cannot choose the right model with the required features. Following is what you need to find out or consider, even before finding out about the different spot welding units.

A list of metals that you will be spot welding

A resistance spot welder is preferred for welding metals such as galvanized steel, low carbon steel, stainless steel, titanium, and copper. Such a unit can weld clean mild cold rolled steel sheet, wire mesh, stainless steel sheet, and plates for tubing, nuts, studs, and bolts. A few models can weld any kind of metal but a few metals are welded by using a specific spot welder.

Consideration of thickness of the metal or product that is to be welded

This is a vital factor for selecting a welder. All metals possess a different level of thicknesses due to which power requirements differ due to which using a special welder might be indispensable. The required weld current, which depends on the type of material to be welded, its thickness, and component’s shape. The need for single or multiple applications of the tool, which can help you choose a more affordable spot welder in case you do not need it for a variety of applications.

In short, you should know the primary purpose for using the welder, which can be automotive, heavy production, fabrication, and farm-based. This is because each type of welder is designed for some specific use.

Electrode Material and Geometry

Electrodes are a critical factor to consider for best resistance welding process although they are the most abused ones. In fact, you need to consider their material, cooling power, tip profile, shape, and size. Technically, the shape and size of individual welds depend heavily upon the shape and size of the electrodes. Electrodes tend to differ in terms of electrode geometry or shape and consequently in terms of function. For example, the right electrode boosts the electrical, mechanical, and thermal performance due to the increase in the cross-sectional area from the workpiece.

Even the electrode contact area’s diameter has a role to play. If it is too small, it gives shorter welds with inadequate strength. Similarly, if it is too large, you get unstable as well as inconsistent welds. In short, the electrodes should conduct current to the metal piece, constrain it, and conduct heat from the piece. To ensure all these three functions, it is essential to choose the right electrode material.

The electrode material needs to maintain high loads at elevated temperatures as well as retain sufficient thermal as well as electrical conductivity. A variety of refractory- and copper-based materials are suggested, as per the application. Resistance Welding Manufacturers Association (RWMA) has prescribed materials for electrodes and has split into three groups or classes:

Group A: Includes copper alloys and is split into two classes. Class 1 includes materials made using 1% cadmium and 99% copper and is recommended due to great electrical and thermal conductivity. These alloys are suitable for spot welding bronze, brass, magnesium alloys, and aluminum alloys. Class 2 includes 0.8% chromium and 99.2% copper. These materials are general purpose ones and are suitable for production seam and spot welding of maximum metals.

Group B: Includes refractory metals as well as metal composites.

Group C: Includes special materials.

Conductive materials such as copper and dispersion strengthened copper (specialty material) are ideal for resistive metals such as stainless steel and nickel. These higher conductivity alloys are beneficial while welding coated steels because the ensure less heating due to low contact resistance. On the other hand, resistive materials such as molybdenum are for welding conductive stuff such as copper and gold.

Described by International Organization for Standardization – ISO 5182, electrode materials can vary. Mostly, copper alloys are used for boosting hardness as well as retaining good conductivity. Some of the commonly used materials belong to Class 2, which are copper with chromium or zirconium. They are preferable for high strength and low carbon steels to be welded.

For spot welding, harder sheets such as stainless steels, lower welding current but higher electrode forces are needed. Thus, they are better welded with the harder electrode materials belonging to Class 3, such as an alloy of silicon, copper, and nickel. Refractory materials, such as molybdenum, tungsten, and tungsten with copper, are ideal for projection welding inserts. This is because the electrode contact area is thrice of that the weld size and that the materials feature more hardness and lower conductivity than those of Class 2. However, these are not meant for spot welding because they localized heat at the contact’s tip that can invite electrode’s cracking. The exception is for using them for high conductivity metals, where the heat comes from within the electrode tip and conducted into the metals to be joined.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”RWMA Recommendations”] [/thrive_text_block]

Following these recommendations is essential for choosing the right welder. The RWMA have committed to improving industry standards for more than 50 years. At present, it represents around 40 manufacturers selling resistance welders, components such as controls and transformers, and electrodes.

Performance Measures

Any spot welder is rated in its thermal rating measured at KVA. The RWMA rates it by considering a 50% duty cycle for standard units. Nevertheless, not all manufacturers meet these standards. So, you need to check that out. Short-circuit current of the unit is another performance measure to check out. RWMA states this current as per the unit’s size, throat dimensions, KVA rating, and permissible duty cycle under short-circuited situations.

For adhering to this standard, a spot welder should possess sufficient copper areas in the secondary loop, KVA rating as per 50% duty cycle, and sophisticated water cooling system. You should also consider the weld force, which contributes to the overall strength of the weld. Most modern welders are run with air cylinders of different diameters, which apply the force via a lever mechanism (rocker arm) or directly (press). The press-type unit’s force is calculated from the cylinder’s diameter as well as from the applied air pressure.

In case of a rocker arm unit, extending the length (throat deep) of the arm affects the maximum welding force, as the latter decreases proportionately as the throat depth increases. RWMA states the maximum force to gain from both these types or from the frame size of the unit.

Lastly, you also need to consider the durability and the frequency of using the welding machine. You can discuss this with the manufacturer who can accordingly aid you in choosing the right spot welder.

[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Spot Welder Reviews Below”] [/thrive_text_block]

Electrode Electric Spot Welder Welding (30 Rated Duty)

Electrode Electric Spot Welder Welding (30 Rated Duty) Spot Welding Reviews

This unit is designed for home jobs. You can rely on it for spot welding up to 16 gauge steel, over 1 mm rails into AK47 receivers of 1 mm, and 2mm thick sheet metal. Consider it if you need a spot welder to operate from a typical 115VAC circuit within 15A. Except for power switch and insulators, all parts are metal, which indicates a fairly solid metallic build. The four copper tongs are also solid and thick and have a length through which the tips can reach around 7.5 inches into a piece. The unit has two sets of tips, which are readily available. This unit is for welding two metallic pieces each up to 1mm thick, which means it is not for 1/16′′ thick sheet metal. You can consider using thinner sheets for welding, of plain, stainless, or galvanized steel or even of tin.

[thrive_link color=’red’ link=’https://amzn.to/44EkgLV’ target=’_self’ size=’medium’ align=”]Click here to see the lowest price for the Electrode Electric Spot Welder Welding (30 Rated Duty)[/thrive_link]

Chicago 120-Volt Portable Air-Cooled Spot Welder

Chicago 120-Volt Portable Air-Cooled Spot Welder Spot Welding Reviews

This one is ideal for a hobby type people and individuals performing little jobs. The unit is perfect for welding nickel terminals of high temperature to the nickel-based wire. You can even use it with uncoated stainless, galvanized, or mild steel sheet. The unit is portable enough to carry it easily anywhere. It features six tongs with standard tips, locking firmly onto the workpieces.

[thrive_link color=’red’ link=’https://amzn.to/3Le1tQJ’ target=’_self’ size=’medium’ align=”]Click here to see the lowest price for the Chicago 120-Volt Portable Air-Cooled Spot Welder[/thrive_link]

Pulse Sparkle Spot Welding Machine 200W Welder

Pulse Sparkle Spot Welding Machine 200W Welder Spot Welding reviews

This is a small-scale welder dedicated to making jewelry. It is not for those who have no experience in welding but for those who have can use it easily. The unit can weld alloys of precious metal such as Titan, Palladium, Silver, Gold, Tungsten, Platinum, and high-grade Steel. It can even weld most brass alloys, tin, and aluminum with some limitations along with alloys having differing properties. You can make thousands of welds without any issues. Because it is a gas-less pulse welder, avoid using it on precious stuff such as gold if you do not know about how to use the welder on them. It is easy to weld 1.6mm stainless steel with this unit. Consider it for welding for purely ascetic purpose or on less significant objects, as the chain is strong even at 1/4 weld pen. While welding 1.0mm stuff on max setting, a single weld can give you 100% weld pen.

[thrive_link color=’red’ link=’https://amzn.to/2DRJbnx’ target=’_self’ size=’medium’ align=”]Click here to see the lowest price for the Pulse Sparkle Spot Welding Machine 200W Welder[/thrive_link]

US. Solid Handheld Spot Welder Machine

US. Solid Handheld Spot Welder Machine Spot Welding Reviews

This one is another spot welder dedicated for precision welding of batteries of laptop and mobile phones. You only need to hold the battery and raise it up to one of the welding needle butts at the right spot. Each needle applies reliable pressure, as it is regulated independently. The welding current is quite stable for offering a clean spot with smaller sparks but without blackening. There is also no moisture emission in the case of lithium models. The unit comes with a single chip microcomputer that enables dual pulse welding. Further, the LED controls make it easy to set up several parameters accurately. You can use this welder for welding high-grade batteries such as lithium, nickel-hydrogen, and nickel-cadmium.

[thrive_link color=’red’ link=’https://amzn.to/2S5SGSL’ target=’_self’ size=’medium’ align=”]Click here to see the lowest price for the US. Solid Handheld Spot Welder Machine[/thrive_link]

Accessories

Battery Pack:

This lighter unit is dedicated to hold spot weld batteries as well as recharge them. The charging function is reliable, which can recharge any voltage batteries for mobile gadgets. While the instructions are no obvious, it takes no time to get used to this unit. The welder cannot be beaten in terms of price and functionality. It comes with achieved precise micro-computer, MCU start control, wider current range ability, single/double pulse soldering modes, digital battery recharge function, touch digital control, short circuit protection, and temperature display with accurate spot soldering.

Best Arc Welders – Reviews & Buyers Guide

by

The purpose of this guide is to introduce you to Arc welding as well as to introduce to you the best Arc Welders on the market right now. Arc welding is a type of welding which uses electricity for creating a weld between two different metals. In this process, an electric arc is formed between the electrode and the grounded metal which causes the metal to melt and fuse to form a weld. The electric power used can be either DC or AC power, and the process can be manual or automated.
The welding region in arc welding is protected by some inert material to prevent contamination. Contamination may result in weak joints which can interfere with the integrity of the welds. Today we discuss in brief how to select the right welding machine based on usage as well as some tips and how-tos for arc welding.

Detailed comparisons and buyers guide

Product Name Customer Reviews Editor Rating Voltage
Amico Power - DC Inverter Welder - 110/230V Dual Voltage IGBT Welding Machine - 160 AMP Stick Arc
 		4.5 /5 Stars 160 Amp
Forney Easy Weld 298 Arc Welder 100ST, 120-Volt, 90-Amp
 		4.4 / 5 Stars 90 Amp
C.M.T Pitbull Ultra-Portable 100-Amp Electric Arc Welder - 110V
https://amzn.to/2DO7YIP 		3.5 /5 Stars 100 Amp
Karomch ARC 200 Welder IGBT AC DC 110V Inverter Welding Machine 200 AMP
3 / 5 Stars 200 Amp

Things to consider when looking for an arc welding machine

With the huge variety of arc welding materials available, it becomes very confusing to choose the right product based on the need. Hence, today we look at some prerequisites as well as different options available in the market for arc welding nowadays. The factors to consider when searching for the best arc welding machines are:

Power of the machine

 It is very important to know what type of arc welding one is going to do- whether he/she wants to weld small things for a short time or do large scale welding for a longer period of time. Thus, depending on the usage, an appropriate powered welding machine is selected. Power of arc welding machines typically ranges from 100A to 300A. It is very important to choose a proper powered welding machine, as under-powered machines lead to bad welds as well as longer times for completing the same amount of work.

Duty Cycle

A very important factor while selecting a welding machine, but is often overlooked. Duty cycle refers to the uninterrupted operation that can be done by a welding machine safely without overheating in unit time. It is often given in percentage form with higher being the percentage, higher the time will the machine be able to work.

Size and Features

Another important factor to consider, especially if one wants to weld for a longer period of time. A machine that is lighter, as well as ergonomic, will be a lot better for welders in enhancing their productivity and saving money and time in the longer run. Also, more features equal better usability as well as greater value for money.

Work Area and Ancillary Equipment

It is very important to have a large as well as a well-ventilated area for welding, as it is a hazardous process. Also, there needs to be a proper amount of equipment like clamps and holders for proper hassle-free welding.

Safety

In my opinion, the most important point for any machine to perform well is its ability to ensure 100% safe operation at full load. A safer machine will give peace-of-mind to the welder as well as lead to lower costs and good ratings from agencies.

Cost and Depreciation

We need to keep in mind the costs accrued not only at the buying cycle of the new machine but also along its lifetime in the form of service and spares. Also, as every other thing, even welding machines have a depreciation rate, so we need to buy the machine which is suitable for our usage so that it doesn’t feel overpriced in the long run. We also need to check warranties and labor costs, as these things consume a lot of money in a long time.

How arc welders judged? 

Output Signal

There are 3 main types of output signals available for today’s arc welders: DC, AC, AC/DC. Each of them has their individual pros and cons. For example, AC (alternating current) arc welders tend to be a bit more responsive to the level of voltage that is running through the welder. It’s for this reason that AC Arc welders can be a bit tedious for use when you’re just beginning to learn the welding craft. On the other hand, DC (direct current) Arc welder tend to provide a bit more stability in regards to the electric current. For those who would like to have the advantage of both the AC and DC current you can opt for the AC/DC welder.

Amperage

The average level of output would be 140 amps. The amperage capability of the welder plays a large part in the type of rods that can be used with the Arc welder. For example, the above rod type has the capabilities to weld rods of up to 3.2 mm. As the amperage goes down, the rod capabilities goes down as well. For example, a welder that has amperage capabilities of 100 amps would be limited to welding rods up to 2.5 mm. We will be looking at the amperage of the machines in this review to base each of their versatility.
Take the video below for a better point of reference on how to choose rods for welding.

Video credits to Kevin Caron. It discusses ways to select rods for Arc Welding.

Thermal overload protection

The protection that the machine provides against thermal overload is also a very important factor to consider when it comes to it’s viability for use. Not all machines include this capability and thus don’t have the features necessary to provide safety when the output power to the torch overheats. With that in mind, those machines that have this feature will receive a higher rating than those without.

Arc Welder Reviews

Amico Power – DC Inverter Welder – 110/230V Dual Voltage IGBT Welding Machine – 160 AMP Stick Arc


If you’re looking for a highly mobile, yet powerful arc welder, your best bet would likely be to try out the Amico Power DC Inverter Welder. This welder has a compact design yet, holds enough power to allow it to work for the larger stick welding materials. A cool feature of the Amico Power DC Inverter Welder is that its amperage can be adjusted – it has a knob which can be turned to adjust to the needs of the materials you’re welding. Let’s also not forget that this tool can be used for a wide range of strong metal materials as well.
Price: People typically like to hold to the old adage that if something is inexpensive it is likely cheap. It would be fair to say that that statement does not apply to this specific Arc Welder.
Advantage: Compact welding machine for the individual who doesn’t like to haul around the larger variations.

Video credits to Chris Does What. This is a video review of the Amico 110/230V.

Forney Easy Weld 298 Arc Welder 100ST, 120-Volt, 90-Amp


Weighing in at an astonishing 6 lbs, the Easy Weld by Forney is on this list because of its practical usage and its versatility. While it was decided to feature the Forney Easy Weld 298 Arc Welder because of its Arc Welding capabilities, it made much more sense to include it on the guide because of its ability to be used as a TIG welder. To use it in such a way all that one would need to do is purchase the torch needed for that activity. With that being said, the Forney Easy Weld 29 can be used for rods up to 1/8 of an inch wide. It is also corded/electric with a cord measuring roughly 6 ft long.
Price: This model is yet another that manages to be relatively inexpensive due to the fact that it’s so compact.
Advantage: Versatile and very easy to use.

C.M.T Pitbull Ultra-Portable 100-Amp Electric Arc Welder – 110V


This Arc welder would work extremely well for the individual who is just getting started/has a tighter budget. It has all of the capabilities that other welders in its class have, with just a few areas that may need improvement. For starters, the voltage on this model is a bit less than that which one may need. With that being said, the voltage is also relatively low because of the lower pricing point that it comes at. On that same token, the lower performance capability of this particular item is justified by its price. This is a starter item.
Price: As mentioned in the above sections, the price of the C.M.T. Pitbull is relatively low. It’s a very affordable option for those individuals who are just entering the field.
Advantage: Great starter item.

Karomch ARC 200 Welder IGBT AC DC 110V Inverter Welding Machine 200 AMP


It may not look like it initially but, this mini Arc welder packs quite the punch. The Karomch Arc 200 has a 110V inverter and is highly mobile due to its small size. It comes with all of the necessary tools and, for the price, will serve any beginning or novice welder well while they are picking up the skill. It has an adjustable which allows the item to go up to 200 amperage – more than enough to serve you with the functionality you need while welding. The Karomch Arc Welder also uses a ferrite material that allows the machine to basically save energy.
Advantage: Powerful machine with a low pricing point.

Conclusion

Although there are machines made by several different companies, it is better to stick with a brand that provides all of the above features in a small and convenient package. It is also very important to check user reviews from different sources, as they paint a nice picture of the product and how are consumers feeling about the product over a longer period of time.

Video credits to Howcast. It discusses how to arc weld.
Watching videos describing the product are a huge plus too, as one can see what the machine looks like in real life. Price is also an important factor, and one should not hesitate to find the best prices both online and offline for the best deal on the machine

error: Content is protected !!