Welding is a wonderful hobby but there can be no denying that it can be a costly one. The metals used in welding can be of high quality and look fantastic but this doesn’t mean that they come cheap. On the contrary, the more durable or spectacular the metals are, the more they are likely to cost.
Of course, just because you are using high-quality materials doesn’t mean that you want to pay the high cost that comes with them, which is why you’ll want to look for different methods to save money while welding.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at seven cheap ways to save money while welding.
Table of Contents
1. Don’t Cheap Out
It may seem counterintuitive but the cheaper you go in terms of materials, the more expensive the whole process may wind up being. That’s because, quite frankly, you get what you pay for and never more so than when it comes to welding materials. Cheaper welding tips and other welding materials wear out more quickly and weaker flux cords or less sophisticated equipment cause more splattering, which means you have to spend more time, resources, and, yes, money in order to clean it up.
It makes way more sense economically and otherwise to make an up-front investment in high-quality tips and other welding parts. Doing so can ensure that you don’t have to pay for replacement parts over and over, which can save you money in the long run.
At the same time, you’ll want to make sure that you do everything possible to minimize splatter. Take the time to make accurate welds and invest in parts that make it easier to do so.
Related reading: Arc Welding Tools and Equipment List | Buyers Guide
2. Buy an Affordable Welding Helmet
A quality welding equipment is one of the most important pieces of welding equipment that you can purchase. It is vital for blocking out the literally blinding flashes of light and heat that accompany welding and thus isn’t something that you want to cheap out on.
At the same time, however, you may not need to spend that much on them. While you will see helmets listed at hundreds of dollars, you probably do not need to spend that much. Around $50 to $60 should be sufficient for a good welding helmet.
Related reading: How To Choose A Welding Helmet: What To Consider
3. Hit the Scrap Pile
Sure, you might be able to save here and there by using budget welding helmets but you surely can’t do that with the material itself, can you?
Yes, you certainly can. As much as it is important to use high-quality materials when welding, you can still find some as a beginner, especially by hitting your local scrap pile.
4. Buy Online
It is true of clothing, digital supplies, books, and just about everything else, and that includes welding materials: it is cheaper to buy online. Welding materials can be expensive but they do not have to be. One of the best ways to cut down on costs is to look for bargains online, especially when it comes to welding tips and consumables.
One way that you can cut down on your welding expenditures is to buy options with solid wire or a flux core wire, depending on whether or not you are using gas, that are marked as bargains.
We have already noted the importance of not “cheaping out” and how investing in quality products up front is an important step towards reducing long-term costs, and this is true. Nevertheless, there is nothing wrong with bargain hunting and the best way to do that is by shopping around online. Needless to say, the online world also offers the best range of goods as well so you can choose from the highest-quality products at the best prices from the finest brands on the market.
More choice means better choice-making potential, and all of that is enhanced by shopping for MIG welding materials online.
5. Make Your Process as Efficient as Possible
One of the biggest money wasters in the world of welding is a lack of efficiency. If you are burning metal inefficiently, you are essentially burning money. You definitely don’t want to do that, which is why you’ll want to follow various efficiency-improving welding tips.
For starters, you should look to follow welding processes that minimize the amount of welds in the process. While that may sound counterintuitive given that welding is our whole raison d’etre here, it makes sense insofar as you certainly don’t want to waste money on unnecessary welds. If you only need to weld something once for the project to be completed, why would you want to weld it twice or thrice?
Doing so just indicates that you haven’t welded it as well as you could or should have the first time and are thus losing money with each subsequent weld.
Weld smarter, better, and more efficiently, and thus weld in a more money-saving matter.
Related reading: How to Start & Grow A Welding Business In 11 Steps
6. Consider Robot Welding
It may sound like a sci-fi solution but it’s more and more becoming an everyday welding reality in some fields. With pre-programmed robotic welders, you can achieve more precise welds than ever before, which in turn allows you to cut down on inefficiency and the wastage that comes along with it.
By embracing preprogrammed welding for fields that call for it, you can weld more accurately, efficiently, and at a lower price.
7. Take Care of Your Welding Equipment
Last but not least, you need to make sure that your welding equipment remains in good condition. Again, the more you allow it to degrade, the sooner you need to replace it, which in turn means spending more money, all of which makes welding that much more expensive. What’s more, poor equipment increases the chance of splatter, which likewise increases the chances of — you guessed it — having to spend more money in the long run.
A little basic TLC for your equipment now can save a ton of heartache and cash later.
By following these steps, you can cut down on the amount of money you spend on welding, thus allowing you to focus more on what really counts — the welding process itself.
Related reading: The Right Way to Store Welding Equipment