10 Best TIG Welders for the Money – Top Picks

Are you looking for the best TIG welders for the money?

Look no more we got you covered.

There are countless articles out there trying to tell you how to save money on this and that.

There are just as many trying to convince you of just the opposite, that buying things is great and should be your whole raison d’etre.

However, as Oscar Wilde famously said, “The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple,” and the same holds here.

Spend too little, and you risk getting burned by cheap products. Spend too much, and you’ll burn a hole in your pocket.

That’s basically the approach that you want to take with TIG welders. They’re often more expensive than their MIG counterparts so you have to be more selective with what you choose to buy.

The balance between budget pricing and a quality product is extremely important and never more so than with TIG welders. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how you can find the best TIG welder.

Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose the best TIG welders for the money.

Short on time? Take a look at my top 10 best TIG welders you can have for your money:

1. AHP AlphaTIG TIG Welder

2. S7 110V/220V TIG Welder

3. Miller Maxstar 150 STL TIG Welder

4. PrimeWeld IGBT AC/DC TIG Welder

5. Weldpro ACDC Stick TIG Welder

6. Everlast PowerTIG 185 TIG Welder

7. Lotos 200 AC/DC Aluminum TIG Welder

8. Amico TIG-225 TIG-Welder

9. Mophorn 160 Amp TIG Welders

10. Lincoln Electric K5126-1 TIG-Welders

Our Overall #1 Rated Pick

In a Rush? Here you can find our Overall #1 Rated Pick.

The AHP AlphaTIG TIG Welder is the best TIG welder you can have for your money.

Purchase: I really like the AHP AlphaTIG TIG Welder. It’s not terribly expensive but gets amazing reviews. If you are interested in this, then just follow the link to Amazon where you can see current pricing.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at what makes a good TIG welder, and how you can choose which one is right for you.

TIG Welder Overview

First, it’s worth quickly going over the basics of TIG welders and how they differ from other options. After all, while TIG welders are, as we’ll see, some of the best welders on the market, they aren’t the most popular model.

Those would tend to be MIG welders, which are more all-around and are often more streamlined and accessible to newbies.

TIG welders are the exact opposite, embracing a more complex setup that allows for more welding options once you know how to use them.

The “T” in “TIG” Welding stands for “tungsten,” which is a vital element of how TIG welders work. These units make use of tungsten in their electrodes, which helps channel the electricity through an arc for welding.

This is in stark contrast to MIG welders, which make use of different materials and feature a different kind of arc.

TIG welders are also a lot more robust than Flux Core welders that don’t make use of the shielding gas, which is another vital aspect of the welding process.

By contrast, Flux Core welders are easier to use and can be used outside.

So why use TIG welders?

Of Steel and Smooth Finishes

Besides its complexity, the two biggest upsides of using a TIG welder are their abilities to weld steel and to give the metal they weld a nice, smooth finish.

The former is one of the biggest selling points of TIG welders. While MIG welders are good at welding all kinds of metal, TIG is superior when it comes to steel.

This is due in part to the fact that TIG can avoid some of the beading and splattering that can occur with MIG welders.

By contrast, while TIG welders may be harder to use, the more complex settings can help minimize splattering if you are able to master them, thus leading to smoother finishes.

These are among the most important features to consider when looking at different TIG welders.

Top 10 TIG Welders for the Money

Whether you’re looking to save or are fine spending a bit more, these ten TIG welders have something for everyone:

1. AHP AlphaTIG TIG Welder

✔️ One of the biggest names among welders and TIG variants in particular, AHP welders are typically a force to be reckoned with and this welder is no different.

It does a fantastic job of welding everything from the finest, thinnest sheet metal to thick fillet welds. Rarely enough for TIG welders, you can even use this TIG welder with aluminum.

Aluminum welding is usually a reason to get a MIG welder but this one is good enough that you can use it for that purpose just as well.

❌ Let’s get the two negatives about this unit out of the way here: the earth clamp included isn’t of the highest quality and the foot pedal could likewise be a bit more comfortable.

That said, everything else about this unit outweighs those minor quibbles. For one thing, it is incredibly budget-friendly at around $800.

If you think that’s expensive, you should see some of the other units on the market. For a top-tier TIG welder, $800 is a bargain.

✔️ This unit makes use of a non-touch torch. It is of high quality and enables your arc to roar to life each time without any risk of contamination.

In addition, it features a finger switch that can be used instead of the foot pedal, which is one reason why the latter being a bit lacking doesn’t matter as much. It also comes with a load of accessories including a torch cup.

✔️ You can switch between AC and DC settings with ease. That’s one reason why this model can be used for thin and thicker metals.

The machine itself features a wide range of settings, making this a perfect example of how a TIG unit can grant a skilled user more options with which to be creative.

All of this makes the AHP the clear favorite among the welders listed here.

2. S7 110V/220V TIG Welder

✔️ As you can tell from the title, this model allows for both 110v and 220v settings, meaning that you can use it with your home setup as well as with additional power sources if you want to crank things up to the higher power setting.

What you won’t find in the title is the unit’s biggest selling point, which is the fact that it sells for so little.

Of the four major kinds of welders, TIG is by far the most expensive, a point which has probably already become clear from the fact that an $800 unit above was called “a bargain.” But if that’s the case, this unit is a steal at just $200 to $300 for some models.

✔️ That being said, it also stands to reason that sometimes you get what you pay for and that’s definitely the case here.

While this is by no means a bad unit and we’ll get to the good stuff in a moment, it simply cannot hold pace with the AHP or other models of that standard.

If you’re looking for a top-tier model, keep looking through our top ten. What’s more, if you’re looking for a learner model, you might also want to keep looking because this unit has a frustrating instruction manual.

It can be incredibly hard to understand, especially if you are a beginner.

✔️ However, if you are a TIG welder just looking for a cheap unit, this might be the option for you. It can go up to 200 amps and work with a wide range of welding jobs.

Finally, at just over 22 pounds, this unit is incredibly lightweight for a TIG welder.

The case is pretty heavy-duty and can take a beating while bouncing around in the back of a trunk so if you’re looking for a portable model, this might not be a bad option either.

3. Miller Maxstar 150 STL TIG Welder

Let’s get this out of the way right away: this model is expensive. There’s no other way to describe a unit that cracks the $4000 mark.

You could literally buy a few of the other models on this list and still not approach that mark. Needless to say, this is a model for experts only.

✔️ That said, that price is justified by the fact that this model is one of the most consistent and reliable welders on the market, TIG or otherwise.

This is a truly elite machine so if you’re looking for something at the top of the top-tier market, this and the AHP are your best options.

Of course, that one’s a lot more affordable than this one (see why we said $800 was “a bargain”?) but this doesn’t mean that this one isn’t without its pros, either.

✔️ For one thing, it comes with a 12” TIG torch, which is larger than many options. The torch itself is also of extremely high quality, as is the entire unit.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a welder of higher quality from top to bottom than this. It features a heavy-duty case and at 40 pounds, it isn’t light but isn’t too heavy to prevent it from being portable if you really want it to be.

This is helped all the more by the fact that the machines are compact and thus even easier to store.

This is not the most complex TIG welder on the machine, though for some that may be a benefit as it makes it more accessible.

Still, for that amount of money, you definitely don’t want something that’s oversimplified. Thankfully, this unit does a good job of striking a balance.

4. PrimeWeld IGBT AC/DC TIG Welder

✔️ This is another model that hovers around $800 which, as we’ve seen, isn’t the cheapest that a TIG welder can be but certainly isn’t as exorbitantly expensive as they can get either.

While it can’t quite match the AHP, it is a similar unit that offers great AC welding for aluminum. If that’s what you’re looking for, this would be a good place to start.

✔️ That being said, you’d better do that aluminum welding at home because this unit weighs a whopping 90 pounds, as much as two or three of the aforementioned units stacked on top of each other.

What’s more, this model is even more complicated to use than the AHP.

✔️ Thankfully, this model from PrimeWeld compensates in other ways. It does come with a foot pedal (albeit not the comfiest of ones) as well as a finger switch, both of which make it way easier to change the amperage of the unit as you go.

✔️ A key feature of the torch is the CK Superflex Torch, which allows for easier low amperage welding. It is highly ergonomically satisfying, incredibly lightweight, and easy to maneuver, making it way easier to work with than other torches.

As long as you take care to make sure that it doesn’t overheat as it reaches higher temperatures, this model still has a lot of positives.

5. Weldpro ACDC Stick TIG Welder

✔️ As you can tell from the name, this is an option that offers both Stick as well as TIG welding options. Once again, we are dealing with a roughly $800 unit and, once again, this unit has a lot of similarities to the others around that price range.

✔️ This model offers good all-around TIG welding action. What’s more, it also offers a foot pedal that, unlike the PrimeWeld, is actually pretty easy to work with.

Add that to the ease with which you can fire up an arc and start welding and that makes this a very accessible machine.

✔️ That being said, the torch itself is different from other TIG torches. It is modeled on a more European style and while there’s nothing wrong with that (especially if you’re a European welder), it can take some getting used to if you’re an American.

This is yet another welder that can weld aluminum but the settings don’t make it easy to do so. It does not have a finger switch for easy changes, though the foot pedal does make it easier to change temperature while you are in the middle of a task.

❌ On the whole, this is a unit that can be harder to learn how to use but can be quite rewarding once you do.

6. Everlast PowerTIG 185 TIG Welder

This model sits at around $900, similar to the PrimeWeld and AHP. Despite that, however, it does not have nearly as many features, has less amperage at around 185 amps, and is not as user-friendly.

✔️ If you’re the type of person who thinks that the ends (or welds) justify the means, however, that all might be worth it because this model can produce some of the smoothest welds of any on this list.

What’s more, it is able to perform at a high level with thin stainless steel, thick aluminum, and everything in between.

✔️ The machine weighs in at around 40 pounds so not exactly lightweight but, again, moveable if necessary. However, it does not include a foot pedal.

It does come with a finger switch but it’s not as useful as an Everlast foot pedal, which you can (of course) purchase separately.

It’s a case of a company making you pay more for convenience and it’s up to you if that cost is worth it.

✔️ That said, you might well decide that it is worth it because while those are some significant drawbacks, as mentioned, the weld quality is extremely good.

This is thus ultimately the kind of welder that you need to fully “invest in,” both time and money-wise. If you don’t want to, that’s totally understandable and there are plenty of other good options on this list in this price range.

However, if you think that the impeccable weld quality is worth it and are willing to put in the time and money, this can be a good model for hobbyists and even some professionals looking for an affordable TIG welder that welds as smooth as butter.

7. Lotos 200 AC/DC Aluminum TIG Welder

✔️ Here again we have that erstwhile rarity, an affordable TIG welder. This model is available for just around $630, making it one of the most affordable units on this list.

This model can be cranked up to around 200 amps and features both AC and DC, which is nice, but you can find those features elsewhere on this list.

✔️ What helps set this unit apart is the fact that the model is far more streamlined.

On the one hand, you might not think that a good feature in TIG welders; after all, isn’t one of the big benefits of this kind of unit supposed to be that they offer more options for welding?

On the other hand, you have to learn somewhere and Lotos does a good job of making their machine an easy one to learn on.

❌ The foot pedal, however, is not necessarily included in that “easy to use” description, though it is nice that it’s at least included. That said, it does not have the same amount of accuracy and responsiveness and it also doesn’t have a finger switch.

Both of these facts combined mean that there is a lot less room for adjustment with this model. That’s bad if you’re trying to finesse things on an expert job or DIY project but fine if you’re just starting out and don’t have the expertise or dexterity to constantly be adjusting things anyway.

What’s more, if you ever really want to, you can upgrade to a superior foot pedal and improve the unit’s capability.

✔️ Finally, this model offers Stick welding as well, which is a nice bonus. This definitely isn’t a top-tier choice but that’s also not the tier or target audience towards which it’s marketed.

If you’re just starting out and want an affordable TIG welder that won’t be a headache to use, this might be a good one to wrap your head around and try.

8. Amico TIG-225 TIG-Welder

This is another cheap model at just around $330. This model has more amperage than your average cheap TIG welder, however, which is a nice touch.

✔️ That said, while the controls are easy to use, thus making it easier to learn on, this is actually a model more valued by some for its Stick welding capabilities.

If that’s what you’re really after and want a budget model, you might consider this, though there are better options in that regard as well.

✔️ Even so, this unit is still lightweight at 30 pounds. This and its heavy-duty case make it another portable unit. That being said, this model also doesn’t do well with light-gauge welding for fine welds.

It isn’t the type of welder that you can expect to handle tiny, thin, nuanced details but in fairness, you shouldn’t expect that of a unit costing just $330.

✔️ Overall, this model is best for hobbyists and those learning to use TIG welders, with the added bonus of having a bit of extra power.

As long as what you’re looking to weld is on the thicker side, this model can be a good one to start with.

9. Mophorn 160 Amp TIG Welders

✔️ This is another model that features dual voltage with a 110v and 220v setup for home and external battery usage, though its 160 amperage levels are a dead giveaway that this is a far less powerful unit.

Still, you can’t complain that much when the voltage levels match the cost range; that’s right, this is a TIG welder for less than $200, costing just about $180 to be precise.

It’s rare for any welder to be so low priced, let alone a TIG welder, so this almost seems too good to be true budget-wise.

And, of course, in some ways it is. For one thing, this unit doesn’t have nearly as sturdy a case as many of the other options on this list so it can get dented a lot more easily.

That’s a shame, because at 21 pounds, it’s also one of the most easily portable. Just make sure that you handle it with care and maybe place it in a protective carrying case.

✔️ That low price also makes this a seemingly ideal unit on which to learn. However, this is yet another unit that has a confusing instruction manual.

Thankfully, it’s easy enough to use but the manual isn’t likely to be much help if you have any questions.

✔️ Then there’s the fact that this model can’t match the power of others. It cannot weld thicker steel sections and it cannot weld aluminum at all.

This is thus a much more limited model. If you don’t mind those limits, however, this model can be an accessible and highly affordable place to start.

10. Lincoln Electric K5126-1 TIG-Welders

We conclude this top ten with one of the strongest and most respected names in the industry, Lincoln.

That said, Lincoln’s reputation rests on models other than this one, which is good because otherwise it would be as flimsy and potentially broken as this model can be.

✔️ There have been some complaints about these models breaking down or being dented due to the lightweight material used.

This is highly uncharacteristic of Lincoln. Even Babe Ruth struck out a few times and while this unit doesn’t whiff entirely, it’s far from the home run we’ve come to expect from this company.

This doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything good about this product. It is easy to use, it includes a decent torch and foot pedal, and, for once on this list, we have an instruction manual that’s actually easy to understand.

Even so, this unit, as mentioned, is far from Lincoln’s usual reliable offerings. What’s more, while it can offer 200 amps, it is still far less powerful than most of these options and doesn’t come with many settings to adjust to your taste.

That would be one thing if this were a budget option but given that this unit costs well over $1500, that’s disappointing.

This isn’t the worst TIG welder out there by far but it is far worse than we’ve come to expect from this industry standard-bearer.

Best TIG Welders For The Money FAQs

With those top ten TIG welders established, let’s take a look at some of the questions most frequently asked by buyers new and old looking for the best value:

1. Should I Buy a TIG Welder for Welding Aluminum?

This is more a side benefit than a core reason to buy one. As mentioned, MIG welders are traditionally the ones that are typically better suited to aluminum, though as we’ve seen, there are many on this list that can hold a candle (or torch) to them.

2. What Price Range Is Right for Me?

That depends on what you intend to use your TIG welder for. If you are using it for professional purposes, you’re likely looking at around $800 and up, such as the AHP, PrimeWeld, and S7, though the latter is incredibly expensive.

On the other hand, if you are just looking for a hobbyist unit or one to work on, $800 and under units such as the Amico, Morphos, Lotos, and yes, the AHP may be a good choice.

3. What About Foot Pedals?

These are important for changing temperatures with ease. Try to find a unit that comes with one included.

That said, not all foot pedals are created equal so look for one such as the Weldpro which is effective, comfortable, and easy to use.

Our Conclusion

Which option is best for you, as mentioned above, depends on your intended usage. That said, there’s no question that the AHP is the king of the TIG welders here.

A fantastic blend of features and affordable at “just” $800, it can handle everything from high-end hobbyist work to professional jobs.

For a budget model, you might want to give the Amico and Lotos a try.

If you’re a professional and are willing to splurge on a high-end unit with high-end expenses, the S7 is worth the considerable money that it costs.

Ultimately, however, which “pure and simple” balance between spending and saving that defines the best TIG welder for your money is for you to decide.

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