TIG welding is one of the most skillful welding methods that will give you higher quality welds with a cleaner bead. It’s far superior for welding thinner metals and small welds.
To successfully use a TIG welder you need dexterity and patience. With so many TIG welders on the market, we’ve listed our favorite 8 AC/DC TIG welders at a range of different power outputs, to help you choose the best one for you.
TIG Welders Comparison Chart
Below is a comparison chart of the best TIG welders on the market.| Welder | Image | Processes | Voltage | Max Amps | Weight (lb) | Duty Cycle | Price | More |
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PRIMEWELD TIG225X Best Overall |  | TIG/Stick | Dual | 225 | 41 | 40% @ 225A | $$ | |
| Everlast PowerTIG 255EXT |  | TIG/Stick | Dual | 250 | 62 | 60% @ 250A | $$$$ | |
| Lincoln Square Wave TIG 200 |  | TIG/Stick | Dual | 200 | 46 | 25% @ 200A | $$$$ | |
| AHP AlphaTIG 203XI |  | TIG/Stick | Dual | 200 | 50 | 60% @ 200A | $$ | |
| Weldpro TIG 200GD |  | TIG/Stick | Dual | 200 | 31 | 60% @ 200A | $$ | |
| Everlast PowerTIG 210EXT |  | TIG/Stick | Dual | 210 | 62 | 60% @ 210A | $$$$ | |
| Miller TIG Diversion 180 |  | TIG | Dual | 180 | 50 | 20% @ 150A | $$$$$ | |
| Hobart ez tig 165i |  | TIG | 230V | 165 | 50 | 20% @ 150A | $$$$ |
1. PrimeWeld TIG225X
Best all-round
Best under $1000
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(4.5 / 5)
(5.0 / 5)
(4.7 / 5)Our top pick for the best TIG welder is the PrimeWeld TIG 225X. This TIG welder is high power, produces great welds, and is available at under $1000. Don’t let the low price put you off, this produces some quality results. These tend to sell out fast when they’re in stock, so try and get your hands on them while you can.
The 225x is the highest power welder in our reviews under $1000 at 225A max output. It’s dual voltage and on 220V it can weld up to 1/4″ aluminum and 3/8″ steel. We’ve seen this on 225A on 3/8″ steel and the welds are smooth and great quality. The duty cycle is great at 40%@225A. You can also easily switch to stick mode to weld up to 1/2″ steel and is capable of 7018 and 6013.
There’s lot of knobs on the front to fine tune your adjustments and the power output appears on a digital display. The knobs feel good to use, we find them easier to use than scrolling through digital menus, easier when wearing gloves and probably more reliable than a microprocessor, but it’s personal choice.
PrimeWeld are a relative newcomer into the market so they haven’t stood the test of time like the big name brands. That being said, most people seem to be having a lot of success with these machines. We’ve spoken to their customer service who responded pretty much straight away, and they have a 3 year warranty to protect your investment. Inside the box the equipment seems overall better than you’d expect for the price. The pedal isn’t great, it’s a bit lightweight, but it does include a CK17 Torch which is top of the range.
Overall this machine is really hard to overlook, especially at its price. It’s perfect for a hobby welder getting into TIG and even professional welders have started using this machine.
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2. Everlast PowerTIG 255EXT
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This is a beast of a machine and enables you to get a quality, powerful TIG machine at under $2500. It’s similar to the 210EXT except it has more power which enables it to TIG weld 1/2″ steel. It also has some great features, including a programmable memory to save your favorite settings, pulse TIG, and 4 wave forms: Sine, Triangular, Soft Square and Advanced Square Wave. The plastic cover on the front to protect it from dust and spatter is a also a nice touch.
It comes with a 12.5ft 9 series air cooled torch and a 12.5ft 20 series water cooled torch. The machine has a built in receptacle for PowerCool 300 water cooler, but the 20 series torch can’t be used unless you buy the water cooler for it separately.
This probably isn’t the best unit if you’re a beginners. The user interface is a little intimidating if you’re new to welding and you probably need all the features and power. But if you’re looking for a quality machine but don’t want to pay the price for red or blue, then this is one to look at. Everlast also do a 325EXT welder for anyone looking for ultimate power.
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3. Lincoln Square Wave TIG 200
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(4.0 / 5)
(4.6 / 5)This award winning welder is really popular due to its ease of use, excellent user interface and exceptional quality and is used by lots of different skill levels. Lincoln welders made in the USA are built to last and stand the test of time. The user interface is ideal, as you have the ability to simply dial in settings and start welding.
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4. AHP AlphaTIG 203XI
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The AlphaTIG 203XI is one of the best value welders on the market that allows you to perform quality TIG and Stick welds without spending too much money.
The old AlphaTIG had lots of knobs on the front, but this new model has a quieter fan and has switched to a digital LCD display which features their new rapid set function. Rapid set allows you to simply input the metal and tungsten thickness and you can start TIG welding.
The digital interface also allows you to easily switch between AC and DC, run with or without pulse, 2T or 4T, HF start or lift arc, and more. It doesn’t have a CK17 torch like Weldpro, but the digital interface is really well designed, we find it the most intuitive digital display of the TIG welders under $1000, making it an easier setup for beginners and a great choice for an entry-level AC/DC TIG welder. It’s also slightly cheaper which is why it just gets the nod above it.
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5. WeldPro Digital 200
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Weldpro have been around a few years now and have proved a lot of people wrong by standing the test of time. This inverter machine is super-lightweight but is well-built and they don’t have a reputation for breaking. It is slightly more expensive than AHP, but you do get a better torch, so there’s not much between them. At a similar price you can also opt for the Primeweld 225X and get an extra 25A amperage.
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6. Everlast PowerTIG 210EXT
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The Everlast PowerTIG 210 is a powerful, top of the range welder that’s industry leading in its settings and features. The microprocessor control helps provide better precision in welding parameters and the ability to fine tune them to the perfect requirements. The 210 is great for welding aluminum and features 3 different wave forms: Advanced Square wave, Soft Square wave, and Triangular. If you’re a beginner, don’t let the settings overwhelm you, the flowchart interface really makes it much simpler to understand.
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7. Miller TIG Diversion 180
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(3.5 / 5)
(4.4 / 5)This AC/DC TIG welder will give you great results on both aluminum and steel. This also has a simple interface and the ability for both 115 and 230V power input so it’s a good choice for hobbyists and more experienced welders. The multi-voltage plug also allows you to easily change the input voltage without any tools. Miller machines are normally a bit expensive for the hobby welder, but Miller have made this TIG only one as a great way to get started with a quality TIG machine at a more affordable price. It doesn’t have that much power, but if you’re looking for a top range TIG machine for thinner metals, this is the one. Miller pride themselves on excellent manufacturing quality, so this machine is build to stand the test of time and maintain amazing quality.
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8. Hobart EZ TIG 165i
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The Hobart EZ-TIG 165i is a great quality TIG welder that has a simple user interface with just one knob on the front. The Amperage setting offers infinite control for more flexibility and finer control to help achieve better welds. It’s only compatible with a 230v power supply so you won’t be able to use this with your standard household power supply, but if you have a generator then you’ll be ready to plug it in and start welding in no time.
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How to use a TIG Welder?
A TIG welder requires more skill than a MIG welder because you have three things to control: the filler rod, the torch and the foot pedal. However, this allows for much more control of heat input as you can adjust these elements to achieve more specific results.
The system works by using an electric TIG torch in one hand to strike the arc with a filler rod in the other hand to feed the filler metal into the weld pool. The foot pedal controls the amperage released by the welder. You can set the maximum amperage on your TIG welder, then use the pedal to change the amperage. Holding the pedal all the way down will give you maximum amperage. This flexibility is great as it allows you to slowly start the welding process and help to prevent thermal shock in the metal. When you set up your TIG welder you need to make sure your ground clamp is attached to the workpiece or you metal workbench.
Through the TIG torch you’ll also release Argon gas into the weld pool to protect to weld from contamination. You’ll have to hook up a gas bottle and regulator for this. Make sure you choose the right welding gas (Argon) as your MIG bottle won’t be appropriate.
Factors for Choosing a TIG Welder
Voltage
You need to decide what your primary voltage requirements are when choosing a TIG welder. The 3 options are a 120V input which is your normal household power supply, a 240V input which requires a generator, or a 120V/240V which offers both.
If you’re just welding from your home workshop, then you’ll be comfortable with a 120V TIG welder. I like to have 120/240V for maximum flexibility which allows me to get more power. Don’t buy a 240V input if you’re looking to use the welder from your household power supply.
Material Thickness
Consider the thickness of the material you’re going to be welding. This will determine the amperage range of the welder you need to buy. A welder with a higher amperage range will be able to weld thicker metal. Remember, you can turn a powerful welder down but you can’t turn a low power welder up past its limit – so if you’re not sure about the metal thickness then go for a powerful one.
Budget & Warranty
The price of the welder is an important consideration. TIG welders aren’t cheap but you’re paying for quality results. We’ve included brands that make high-quality machines that have been proven to stand the test of time. Consider the warranty as well on welders to help protect your purchase if anything goes wrong.
Multi-process or just TIG?
When you buy a TIG welder, some will allow you to perform other welding applications such as stick welding. Depending on what equipment you’ve already got, you may consider a multi-process welder as a better option. If you’ve already got a good stick welder, then you might be better off choosing a straight up TIG welder.
Weight and portability
The weight is an important factor if you’re planning on moving the welder about. You’ll probably be best putting these machines on a welding cart as they’re not easy to transport.
Duty cycle
The duty cycle indicates the length of time you can weld continuously without overheating. A TIG welder with a 20% duty cycle at 200A could be operated for a 2 minute period at 200A and would need an 8 minute cooldown period.
We hope you liked our article “The Best TIG Welders in 2022” if so, we’d really appreciate it if you could rate and share it.