Buying Your First Welder: A Practical, Informative Guide for Do-It-Yourselfers

Get objective, informative and practical help and information in buying your first welder.

Getting started

Unfortunately, there is no single welding process suitable for all applications, so let’s begin with an overview of the basic processes and highlight the capabilities and advantages of each. This will help match a process to your specific needs.

If you have previous welding experience, feel free to skip ahead. If you’re a beginner, this section will give you a better understanding of the types of welders available, how each performs and the degree of welding skill required to operate each. In addition, you’ll find examples of specific applications best suited to each process.

Matching your needs and welding skills with a process is critical before moving on to discuss specific welder model options.

Overview of welding processes

The most common welding processes are MIG, TIG and stick. Each process has its own benefits and limitations and is better suited to certain applications. There’s no “one size fits all” approach.

MIG Welding / Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) — MIG welders use a wire welding electrode on a spool that is fed automatically at a constant pre-selected speed. The arc, created by an electrical current between the base metal and the wire, melts the wire and joins it with the base, producing a high-strength weld with great appearance and little need for cleaning. MIG welding is clean, easy and can be used on thin or thicker plate metals.

Similar to MIG welding, flux-cored arc welding (FCAW)* is a wire-feed process but differs in that self-shielded flux-cored welding does not require a shielding gas. Instead, flux-cored wire is used to shield the arc from contamination. This is a simple, efficient and effective welding approach, especially when welding outdoors, in windy conditions or on dirty materials. The process is widely used in construction because of its high welding speed and portability.

Both MIG and flux-cored welding are easy to learn and can create extremely clean welds on steel, aluminum and stainless. Both processes have the capability to weld materials as thin as 26-gauge.

*The FCAW welding process is offered through Miller MIG machines.

TIG Welding / Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) — TIG welding is an arc welding process that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to produce the weld. The weld area is protected from atmospheric contamination by a shielding gas (usually argon) and a filler metal, though some welds, known as autogenous welds, do not require it. A constant-current welding power supply produces energy that is conducted across the arc through a column of highly ionized gas and metal vapors known as plasma.

TIG welding is most commonly used to weld thin sections of alloy steel, stainless steel and nonferrous metals such as aluminum, magnesium and copper alloys. The process grants the operator greater control over the weld than other welding processes, allowing for strong, high-quality welds. TIG welding is comparatively more complex and difficult to master than other processes and is significantly slower.

Stick Welding — If you learned to weld years ago, you likely learned using an arc welder. Stick welding for many years has been the most popular method for most home-shop welding needs. This process uses an electric current flowing from a gap between the metal and the welding stick, also known as an arc-welding electrode. Stick welding is an effective method for welding most alloys or joints and can be used indoors and outdoors or in drafty areas. It’s also the most economical welding method and provides the ability to create an effective bond on rusty or dirty metals.

However, this method is limited to metals no thinner than 18-gauge, requires frequent rod changing, emits significant spatter and requires that welds be cleaned upon completion. Stick welding is also more difficult to learn and use, particularly the ability to strike and maintain an arc. Arc welders are available in AC, DC or AC/DC, with AC being the most economical. It’s used for welding thicker metals of 1/16 inch or greater. These machines are a good choice for farmers, hobbyists and home maintenance chores.

The diagram below summarizes each welding process. Consider these factors in deciding which process might be best for your general needs.

MIG Welding

Easiest process to learn
High welding speeds possible
Better control on thinner metals
Cleaner welds possible with no slag to clean
Same equipment can be used for Flux-Cored Welding

TIG Welding

Provides highest quality, precise welds
Highly aesthetic weld beads
Allows adjustment of heat input while welding by use of a foot control

Flux-Cored Welding

Works as well as Stick on dirty or rusty material
Out-of-position welding
Deep penetration for welding thick sections
Increased metal deposition rate
More forgiving when welding on dirty or rusty metal

Stick Welding

Better suited for windy, outdoor conditions
More forgiving when welding on dirty or rusty metal
Works well on thicker materials

What process best fits your needs?

Identify the types of welding projects and materials you will weld most of the time. Are you creating metal sculptures? Do you intend to restore an old muscle car in your garage? Does the motorcycle you bought years ago require some fabrication? Maybe you need to do basic repair on farm equipment.

Possible Projects	Average Material Thickness
Auto body	3/16-inch or less
Trailer frames and fencing	1/4-inch to 5/16-inch
Farm, ranch and landscape	5/16-inch to 3/8-inch
Thick structural components	Over 3/8-inch
Bicycles, lawnmowers or tube frames	1/16-inch
Boats, cars and motorcycles	1/16-inch to 1/8-inch
Hunting stands and utility trailers	1/16-inch to 1/8-inch
General to heavy repair	3/16-inch to 1/4-inch

Taking the time up front to identify the projects that will occupy the biggest percentage of your welding activity will help you determine the specific thickness of metal you will likely weld most often — and ultimately help you select the most suitable welder.

Time to get a bit more specific. Let’s take a look at what welding process you can use for each metal type. Keep in mind that many of these materials are also processed using varying combinations of two or more metals to reinforce strength and functionality.

Metal	Weld Process
	MIG	Stick	TIG
Steel	X	X	X
Stainless Steel	X	X	X
Aluminum Alloys	X		X
Cast Iron		X
Chromoly			X
Copper			X
Brass			X
Exotic Metals (Magnesium, Titanium, etc.)			X

What factors should you consider when determining a budget?

You may already have an estimated budget in mind.

The type of welder you purchase should be suited for the specific functions you require as well as the projects you will work on the most. Think about your end goal and consider opportunities to expand the usefulness of your welder. Will you want more power or amperage in the future?

It is important to take note of the varying amperage and power requirements as well as the duty cycle necessary to achieve the most effective and economical operational results for the projects you’re looking to complete.

In addition to the cost of the welder itself, don’t forget to include costs for the accessories and supplies you’ll need to operate your new welder. This includes welding protection (helmet, gloves, jacket, etc.) as well as gas and consumables.

Don’t feel rushed into making a purchasing decision right now. Take some time to define your needs. If you have questions or something is unclear, Miller can answer any questions you have about welding processes, benefits, limitations and machine operation. When you’re ready to match a specific model with the task, hobby or business — Miller can suggest the model or product that is the best for you.

Miller has provided quality welders since 1929. When you’re ready to buy, we’d be honored if your first welder was a Miller® welder.

What machine is best for you?

Now that you’re more familiar with each welding process and which one best fits your needs, let’s review the recommended models Miller offers for each process.

MIG/Flux-Cored Welders

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