Which Welder Is Best for TIG Welding Aluminum?
Why You Need an AC/DC TIG Welder for Aluminum
There are 2 main ways to weld aluminum.
- MIG with either a spool gun or push pull gun
- TIG using alternating current AC
TIG welding with an AC/DC TIG welder is typically the best choice for anything under 1/8" thickness and is often the best overall choice up to around 1/2" thick aluminum.
What is best value AC/DC TIG welder with the best customer support?
PrimeWeld TIG225X AC/DC TIG Welder With Pulse
This is the best value and best choice for your first TIG welder in my opinion.
The reason I say that because I started a welding side hustle back in the early 1990's with a Miller Syncrowave 250 and I did quite a bit of welding on different metals for different industries.
The Primeweld TIG225x would have handled every job that came along except for one aircraft part that was made from very thin aluminum.
The Primeweld TIG225X has does have one limitation...in that it does not have a low enough start amperage for extremely thin metals like razor blades or coke cans.
But for the type of work I did in my side hustle, I almost never needed a super low amp start.
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PrimeWeld TIG325x with pulse - 325 amps but you add on your choice of tig torches and water cooler - currently $1349 for machine only. Upgrade packages available
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CKMT200 AC/DC TIg welding system - currently $1995 - comes with CK 17 air cooled torch, foot pedal, flowmeter, ground clamp
All three of the welders listed above are priced affordably and both PrimeWeld and CK worldwide have demonstrated excellent customer support.
If you are more inclined to lean toward a legacy brand like Miller or Lincoln, the 2 most affordable options are listed below.
I have welded with both these units and they are both just OK ...in my opinion.
I listed them last because I don't think either one offers as much overall value as the welders listed above.
Lincoln Squarewave 200 TIG/Stick Welder - listed at $2499 online and comes with air cooled 17 style tig torch, flowmeter, ground clamp, stick stinger.
Miller Diversion 180 AC/DC TIG Welder - listed at $2825 and comes with air cooled 17 style tig torch that is hard wired inside machine, flowmeter, ground clamp. Torch options are limited with this welder and AC balance and AC frequency are not adjustable.
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