What does a professional need in a welding machine
When you have been welding for a while and have gained some experience with different types of welding you will start to realize what small things and big things you will want in a welding machine.
When you weld you don’t want it to be an uphill battle where you aren’t happy with the final weld. Resulting in you feeling down and feeling like you don’t know what you are doing, even if you have been welding for years.
We all fall into this hole and sometimes you might have an off day, but most likely the machine isn’t working correctly. A welding machine is a type of computer that can glitch or underperform at the task at hand.
The machine
That is why when you weld professionally you will want a sidekick (welding machine) to be able to keep up with what you want to do. If you are looking to weld MIG one day and TIG the next you will want a machine that can do both fully.
There are four main types of arc welding and you will want a machine that can truly do all of them. A machine that is dedicated to all the welding methods and not just a secondary function of the machine.
What to avoid as a professional welder
When you are a professional or even a semi-professional at something you would want your work to represent you this goes for any trade, not just welding.
Imagine someone asks you to weld something for them because you claim to be a professional, but the machine you use just isn’t up for the task even if you know you can do it.
In the end, your weld looks subpar and now this person might think you aren’t what you say you are. Even if at work you are amazing at your job and have great welds every time.
That is why you should avoid using cheap or low-quality machines that don’t adhere to the criteria I have set. When looking at machines try to avoid the following.
- Cheap build quality
- Lack of setting
- Earth clamp or torch is fixed to the machine
- Not using standardized connectors
- Very heavy relative to amp
What to check for when buying a professional welder
Things to quickly check for first on surface-level before buying a welding machine.
- Is it truly multi-process
- What are the Amps
- Good build quality
- Size/weight
- Dual voltage
- Dedicated voltage and amp(wire speed) knob
- Is it AC/DC (Optional)
- 2T/4T function (Optional)
Best welding machine for professionals (MIG, TIG, and Stick)
ESAB Rebel EMP 205ic AC/DC Multi-Process MIG/STICK/TIG Welder
Pros | Cons |
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I choose the ESAB Rebel 205ic as the ultimate welder for professionals because of how advanced it is and how small and lightweight it is compared to most competitors.
It is very expensive but it does everything a professional welder will need in one small package. It doesn’t just do it, it excels at all the different welding types and even beyond
A feature like the “sMIG/smart-MIG” is a great feature for beginners and professionals alike. The sMIG works by automatically adjusting to the welding style of the operator to achieve consistent and smooth welds.
It can weld AC so you get all the benefits of welding AC TIG on aluminum and you can high frequency start TIG or lift start. This small machine literally does it all and I doubt you will need something else in the future.
There are a ton of settings also available that are just too much to cover. Here’s a youtube video by bakersgas covering this machine.
Features | Features met |
Multi-function | Truly |
Welding types it can do | MIG/TIG/MMA/Flux-core |
AC/DC | AC/DC |
3 or single-phase | Single |
Max wire spool weight | 10lbs |
Max amp output | MIG 235 TIG 205 Stick 180 |
Max thickness weldable | ¼ inch |
Dual voltage | 120/230 |
Requires gas | Yes (MIG/TIG) |
Includes extras (torch, earth) | Yes |
Beginner-friendly | Yes |
Home use | Yes |
Can weld aluminum | Yes (AC) |
Portability | Very |
Item weight | 49 lbs |
Price | $$$$ |
Conclusion
As a professional you will need something tough and that can do the job you need it to do. That is why the ESAB Rebel AC/DC machine will be your best bet.
Everyone I saw says that no matter what type of welding you will be doing this machine feels like it is a dedicated machine for the welding process you are doing. Meaning there’s no shortcoming in whatever welding process or material you are looking to weld.
It is a bit expensive but well worth the money in the end. Most machines cheaper lack the AC function or are just dedicated TIG machines.
If you are looking for a MIG welder on a budget or an MMA welder you can go and check out my posts on the topic.
