A TIG welder is one kind of electric welder that uses a tungsten electrode as its filler metal. Tig welders are specialized to be great at building components of both ferrous and nonferrous metals.
TIG welding is a non-invasive method of welding metal and to be used for materials that are not conductive. Most TIG welders have self-cleaning capabilities so as to prevent clogging from happening.
If you are trying to find the best TIG welder under $500, then you are in the right place. The following are the top 10 best TIG welders that you can buy for its affordable price.
Quick Comparison
The 10 Best TIG Welder Under $500
1. Forney 291 Easy Weld 180 ST 120V Welder
The Forney 291 Easy Weld 180 ST features an easy start design, DC stick and tig welder. It is capable of welding up to 1/2″ mild steel at 10-90 amps for 120 volts or 10 -180 amps for 230 volts.
The machine’s easy start technology allows it to be started easily and produce a stable arc. It is also very portable with its integrated handle and cable wrap. The TIG feature has a lift start, negating the need for a foot pedal. The machine weighs only 14 lbs.
Need a welder that is capable of welding up to 1/2″ mild steel at 10-90 amps for 120 volts or 10 -180 amps for 230 volts? The Forney 291 Easy Weld 180 ST is a welder that can weld anything with its dual voltage, DC stick and tig welder.
The Forney 291 Easy Weld offers a touchpad digital voltage control feature which makes it easy to maintain your set arc voltage level. The TIG welder also features a built-in wire feed speed control that allows for setting of desired welding speed.
Lear more on the 6 best welder for automotive sheet metal.
2. YESWELDER TIG-205DS HF TIG/Stick/Arc TIG Welder
If you looking to have an best TIG welder with a competitive price range then YESWELDER TIG-205DS is perfect for you, the value of money in this current market.
The YESWELDER TIG-205DS 205 Amp Aluminum TIG Welder is an inverter welder with a foot pedal that is not included inside the product. It has a digital set of pre-gas time, start current, up slope and down slope time, finish current level and post gas.
The TIG has a Time with the choice of 2T or 4T trigger function that allows you to control your welding process at a professional level from start to finish. This machine has an auto saving of the last used welding parameters while it is not plugged in. It also has an auto recovery of last time’s welding parameters when it is plugged in again.
This machine features pre-flow and post-flow time control (0.1s-10s), up/down-slope time control (0.1s-15s), and fine control of current reversal. It also has crater/start/pulse current control (5A-250A for TIG, 10A-160A for MMA). You can also adjust the arc force current that is self-adjustable to make the machine work well under long distance welding.
The YESWELDER TIG-205DS TIG Welder can perform multiple welding processes, such as AC square wave TIG, DC tig, DC pulse TIG, stick and argon arc spot welding (DC, pulse or AC). The machine is equipped with HF arc starts built in pressurized arc ignition circuit and will work for any tungsten electrode sizes.
3. PrimeWeld 200A TIG Welder – Best Overall under $500
The PrimeWeld 200 Amp TIG Welder has a lot of features that make it a versatile tool in the welder’s hand. It is capable of cutting many different types of metals up to 1/2″ thick, using the 50A plasma cutter. It is also capable of welding various types of metals, from aluminum, stainless steel and more. Aside from this, the tig can weld magnesium and copper.
PrimeWeld 200 Amps TIG Welder is inexpensive considering its solid construction made of durable materials with characteristics such as electrical protection and maintenance free design that are non-corrosive and corrosion resistant.
The PrimeWeld 200 Amp TIG Welder features a duty cycle at 60% at maximum amps on all processes. Because the duty cycle is so high, this welder is perfect for those who weld for long periods of time or want to use this machine to weld right away. It also easily switches from DC TIG welder to DC stick welder.
In this list the PrimeWeld 200A is the best TIG welder less than five hundred dollars, you can easily use it even if you are beginner.
4. Mophorn MIG Welder 160 Amp MIG TIG Arc Welder
Mophorn MIG Welder 160 Amp MIG TIG Arc Welder is a multi-function welding machine. You can use 0.024″, 0.031″ and 0.039″ flux-cored welding wire and solid welding wire with this welder, which makes it the perfect entry-level welder choice for those who are just starting out in their careers or need an inexpensive option for home use.
It has knobs to support different current adjustment needs, voltage adjustment needs (110V or 220V), and wire-speed control to make it easier for newbies to learn how to use it before they have advanced knowledge of other settings such as gas shielding technique, grounding or electrode selection that may be more difficult to handle.
The Mophorn MIG Welder 160 Amp MIG TIG Arc Welder has a built-in protection device that will automatically shut down the machine when it overheats or overloads, and it is protected against splashing water with a protection level of IP21, which has great water resistance.
This welder weighs only 21.7 pounds, making it light enough to be lifted by anyone from three feet off of the ground. It also includes a comfortable handle for easy carrying.
5. ANDELI TIG Welder MOS Tube Multifunctional Cold Welding Machine
ANDELI TIG Welder is the perfect solution for general maintenance work. The welder is lightweight and easy to use, so you can take it anywhere with confidence. It also features a variety of different settings and options, making it the most versatile welder. You can use TIG or COLD welding processes with the welder, and also weld in both directions, making it a top-notch choice for those who need a fast and effective solution.
This powerful TIG torch with COLD function is designed for residential and light industrial construction and repair. Its multitude of features make it the perfect tool. With the cold welding function, you get a copper-like color with less distortion, and with the COLD function you can produce a beautiful weld with little or no melting of the base material. The welder is easy to use, requiring only a few minutes for installation and adjustment.
The ANDELI TIG Welder does not have presets or other settings that require you to learn how to use it before you can start welding. The machine has controls for speed, current, and voltage, but it is not necessary to adjust those settings in order to start welding. Simply enter the desired settings in the keypad on the front of the welder, plug it into the wall outlet, turn it on and you’re ready to start working.
6. TOOLIOM 200A TIG Welder
This TOOLIOM 200A TIG Welder is a high-performance, high-quality machine that allows for greater productivity. If you are just starting out in your welding career and you want to do better at it and have more success than those who came before you, then this is the machine for you. There’s no question about that. This welder will make your days fly by faster and will prove to be one of the best investments that anyone can make!
The TOOLIOM 200A TIG Welder is perfect for all users, ranging from novice to expert, as it is built with a set of default weld settings and a user-friendly interface. The welder has the functions for MMA welding, flux MIG welding and gas MIG welding, making it more versatile than other welders in this price range. This allows the welder to work with several different types of materials, including mild steel, stainless steel, and carbon steel. The welding machine can be operated on a single 120V outlet or on two separate 220V outlets.
The features of this TIG welder help make it easy for new users to learn how to handle the machine, even if they have no experience with similar welding machines. These features include automatic learning of wire feed speed and current settings that are based on each individual user’s welding needs. This is ideal for both residential and commercial applications where other welders can be hard to set up and make adjustments without an experienced welder available.
7. Taishi TIG MIG Welder
Taishi TIG MIG Welder is a 110V water cooler designed to work with TIG welders and provide the maximum cooling capacity. The plug can be removed or changed for applications with other brand of welders; the unit features color coded quick connectors for rapid and correct connection of the torch lines. It also features an industrial motor, stainless steel pump and reservoir, generous circulation capacity, and TIG welding parameters. The radiator is made from copper for maximum cooling capability; its pump is made from stainless steel with a bronze impeller for maximum wear ability.
When the TIG MIG Welder is in use, it runs cool because it has a powerful thermostatically controlled pump that circulates the coolant quickly around the machine. The Taishi TIG MIG Welder can be used with either straight or fluxed gas electrodes. The welder comes with two nozzles: one works with flux core wire and another works with solid core wire. The extra-large cooling capacity allows the welder to continuously weld up to 4mm plate. When the water runs out, more coolant can be added without interrupting the welding process. The TIG MIG Welder is easy to use and comes with an easy-to-read instruction guide for quick setup and adjustment.
8. LOTOS LTPDC2000D Non-Touch Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter Tig Welder
The Lotos LTPDC2000D Tig Welder is a 10-50AMP Plasma Cutter that allows for cutting through thick or thin materials with different electricity inputs. It will use a DC TIG welding torch to produce high quality welds of stainless steel, alloy steel, mild steel and copper. It features an automatic dual voltage that is compatible with the majority of compressor systems.
The whole machine can be setup quickly within 1 min. The pre-installed NPT 1/4” industry type D plug and air filter regulator allows the welder to easily be connected to your compressor system by using the stand coupler existing on your air compressor.
With its automatic dual voltage range and powerful plasma cutter, this product lets you start welding within minutes with minimum setup. You’ll be able to focus on the task at hand and get it done instead of trying to figure out how to use the welder. The Lotos LTPDC2000D Tig Welder comes with a gas connector as well as two probes for easy setup and use
9. HZXVOGEN 110V-220V TIG Welder
The HZXVOGEN 110V-220V Tig Welder is a 30-200AMP Plasma Cutter that allows for cutting through thick or thin materials with different electricity inputs. It will use a DC TIG welding torch to produce high quality welds of stainless steel, alloy steel, mild steel and copper. It features 4 different functions that allow for tig welding nickel or higher in carbon steels. You can use HF arc start hand torch control and Precise Foot Pedal Weld Heat Control (Foot Pedal NOT Included).
The welder comes with arc force, non-stick function. This product has been updated recently with new functions that allow for high quality welds of nickel or higher carbon steels as well as better performance in thicker metals. Its automatic dual voltage allows you to start welding within minutes with minimum setup. You’ll be able to focus on the task at hand and get it done instead of trying to figure out how to use the welder.
With its automatic dual voltage range and powerful plasma cutter, this product lets you start welding within minutes with minimum setup. You’ll be able to focus on the task at hand and get it done instead of trying to figure out how to use the welder. The HZXVOGEN 110V-220V Tig Welder comes with a gas connector as well as two probes for easy setup and use.
10. Hynade 200 Amp TIG Welder
This machine is a plasma cutter, TIG welder, and stick welder all in one. It has a 50 Amp Plasma Cutter that can cut through rough, painted and rusted workpiece with less dross; with harmless compressed air, it can cut stainless steel, alloy steel, mild steel, thin copper and aluminum.
This welder is perfect for metal welding projects of stainless steel and thinner materials. It has been updated recently with new functions that allow for high quality welds of nickel or higher carbon steels as well as better performance in thicker metals. Its automatic dual voltage allows you to start welding within minutes with minimum setup. You’ll be able to focus on the task at hand and get it done instead of trying to figure out how to use the welder. The HYNADE 200 Amp TIG Welder comes with a gas connector as well as two probes for easy setup and use.
It features 4 different functions that allow for tig welding nickel or higher in carbon steels. You can use HF arc start hand torch control and Precise Foot Pedal Weld Heat Control (Foot Pedal NOT Included).
With its automatic dual voltage range and powerful plasma cutter, this product lets you start welding within minutes with minimum setup. You’ll be able to focus on the task at hand and get it done instead of trying to figure out how to use the welder. The Hynade 200 amp TIG Welder comes with a gas connector as well as two probes for easy setup and use.
The Advantages of TIG Welder under $500
- TIG Welders under $500 offer a variety of features that allow for high quality welds on a wide range of metals.
- Welding capabilities include aluminum welding, stainless steel welding, pipe welding and mild steel welding as well as a host of others.
- A good welder can be used in different applications from ship building to storage tank construction and trailer manufacturing.
- A good TIG Welder design is easy to operate and get started quickly so you can concentrate simply on the task at hand and finish it quicker with higher quality results than if you didn’t have the welder.
- You’ll be able to tackle a wide range of welding jobs with your new TIG Welder.
- You’ll be saving yourself a lot of money on not having to hire high priced welders to get the job done for you.
- A TIG welder is an investment that will pay for itself in no time if you put it to good use.
- You’ll have this welder for years to come so it makes financial sense to buy the best quality one.
- You can always use this TIG welder for home improvement projects to save yourself a lot of money over time.
- You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you have a good quality machine that will last you for years to come.
- TIG Welders under $500 are designed with user friendly features which makes it easy to set up and use.
- A good welder will give you good reliable service for years to come so it’s worth spending the extra money to get a quality one.
- TIG Welders under $500 will give you the power and quality welds you’re looking for for many years to come.
- With a high end TIG welder you can know that the quality of welds are going to be in the same league as those of welders costing much more.
- A good TIG Welder design is easy to operate and get started quickly so you can concentrate simply on the task at hand and finish it quicker with higher quality results than if you didn’t have the welder.
- You’ll be able to tackle a wide range of welding jobs with your new TIG Welder.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
What is the best brand welding machine for TIG?
Best brand TIG welding machine: PrimeWeld, PrimeWeld 3-in-1 50A Plasma Cutter, 200A TIG Welder.
How much is a good welder at Amazon.com?
A good quality TIG welder from Amazon.com will be in a range of $500-800. The price for you depends on the features you need and whether or not you also want an extra torch or special features like automatic dual voltage range and special features like Automatic Welder start Arc Torch Control.
Are 110 TIG welders any good?
Yes, 110V TIG welders are just as good as 220V welders. If you want to run it on 110V then you will need a convertor/converter to change the voltage.
What is TIG welder for steel?
A TIG welder is used for welding steel and aluminum with a very fine puddle of molten metal (called tungsten). Welding speed is quite fast due to good penetration, but somewhat slower than with the MIG or ARC welding process. It is a good choice for welding thin-gauge steel as well as aluminum.
Is TIG stronger than MIG?
MIG welders are generally easier to use than TIG (TIG is also more complicated to set up). In most cases, MIG welders are stronger than TIG, but only if the workpiece is the same size and thickness. Some experts claim that MIG welding is more efficient than TIG welding.
Which kind of wire for TIG?
#6 or 8 AWG wire for your tig welder. Both have similar characteristics, but you may find that one works better in your particular application. The TIG electrodes are also available in a much wider range of sizes and shapes than MIG electrodes – from tiny rods to large circular discs.
Why do most welders use 220 volt power?
Most welders use 220 volt power for several reasons. The most important is that it’s easier to find replacement welding electrodes as they’re often compatible with both 110/120 and 220/240 volt power supplies. And many distributors such as PrimeWeld and YESWELDER supplies make a lot of parts for both 110 and 220 volts allowing you to mix and match to create a custom weld machine that works best for your application. Another reason is that you are accustomed to using this type of power when you work around other machines (like saws, drills, motors, etc). The down-side is cost – the important part is that your welder should not generate more than 5 amps at 120 volts (or 15 amps at 240).
Final Verdict
If you are looking for a good quality TIG welder for home use, then PrimeWeld is the one you should go for. It has advanced features, sturdy construction and is easy to operate. TIG welders under $500 are designed with user friendly features which makes it easy to set up and use. A good quality welder will give you good reliable service for years to come so it’s worth spending the extra money to get a quality one.
For a good price on a professional grade TIG welder, go for the one from Forney. It also has top of the line features and is easy to operate. You should also consider buying an extra torch accessory or two as they will make your life a lot easier and your welds come out better.
If you are looking for an affordable TIG welder to upgrade your home welding power, then the PrimeWeld 3-in-1 50A Plasma Cutter would be a great choice. The machine can be used by both beginner or experienced owners and it is designed with user friendly features that makes it easy to set up and use.
Good luck and enjoy.
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Walton M. Edwards was born in 1994 in a coal mining town, he has worked as a welder, a hardware salesman, and as a pipe fitter and has been employed as a laborer for about fifty years. Walton is a native of Wabash County in Indiana, but he now resides in Bloomington, Indiana.