5 Different Types of Welding Machines [How to Choose]

Welding is a standard procedure that fuses parts or materials at a high temperature, which melts these pieces to create a weld. The welding process goes beyond bonding two parts together, like soldering; instead, it produces a complete integration of two metallic materials, by applying extreme heat, often with various metals and gases, which are added during the procedure.

There are different types of welding machines that offer various advantages for building and creating items. Welding often involves metal filler material, which can provide a molten pool that aids in the fusion of two or more metals.

Traditionally, welding has played a vital role in many trades over centuries. Blacksmiths used hammering and heating to meld steel and iron together. In recent years, oxyfuel and arc welding has been integrated into the welding process with more advanced materials and methods.

Various welding equipment and machines perform specific techniques depending on the tool, part, or product you’re building. The most common welding machines are MIG welding, TIG welding, inverter welding, stick welding, and multi-purpose welding devices, which provide various welding techniques for a wide range of results.

MIG Weld Machine

MIG welding machines are one of the most common, whether used in a factory, construction site, or home. They are versatile in handling various types of metals, including stainless steel, sheet metal, aluminum, and other types of metal.

The MIG weld method uses the arc welding process, which feeds a solid wire electrode woven through a welding gun into the weld pool as a continuous feed to fuse the materials or metals. It’s a fast-welding technique and is often the best machine for fixing items and objects. MIG welding is also ideal for mounting on a compatible metal surface.

The key advantages to MIG welding machines are their quick performance and the ability to last or provide a long arc, even when not fully charged. These machines provide high-quality results, are durable, and produce minimal sparks, which make them easier to contain and control. MIG machine welding is compatible with various types of steel, including alloy, low carbon, and mild steel.

TIG Welding Machine

TIG welding machines, also known as Tungsten Inert Gas welding or Gas Tungsten Arc Welding machines, provide specialized welding that minimizes sparks, splatter, and fumes, for a cleaner, more precise finish. Gas Tungsten arc welding machines (GTAW) can handle various metals, such as nickel alloys, stainless steel, gold, brass, magnesium, aluminum, and copper.

A TIG welding machine is typically used for repairing damaged parts, though not widely used, and is ideal for specialized pieces and objects. TIG welding uses an electric arc process that creates a weld with a tungsten electrode that’s non-consumable.

This type of welding became popular in the 1940s due to the ability to fuse aluminum and magnesium and quickly replaced manual and gas metal arc welding. TIG welding forms an arc between a tungsten electrode and the workpiece with helium or argon.

Since the arc is small and acute, the weld is precise and high-quality, which is favorable for detailed work. Due to the electrode being non-consumable, TIG welding does not require balancing the heat input from the arc as the metal from the melting electrode is deposited.

Stick Welding Machine (Arc Welding Machine)

Manual metal arc welding is performed with a stick welding machine, which is typically used in construction projects that use electrode welding for pipelines and steel in the metal industry. A stick welder offers many advantages that MIG and TIG welding do not provide, as this process can be done in many settings and allows for many weld seams.

Stick welding doesn’t require shielding gases, which makes it ideal for working outside or under various weather conditions, which allows welders to continue during rain, wind, and colder temperatures.

The welding power source in stick welding involves contact between a rod electrode and the workpiece, which produces a short circuit between two poles within a fraction of a second, and creates a path for the current, where the arc burns and creates a fusion heat. This type of manual arc welding functions with high amperage and low voltage, making it easier to regulate the power source for various objects and materials.

Multi-Purpose Welding Machine

A multi-purpose welding machine is an efficient way to complete more than one welding job at a time. These machines are commonly used on construction sites or in manufacturing facilities and provide many types of processes, including stick, TIG, MIG, and flux-cored welding processes.

One of the main advantages of these welding machines is their versatility, which allows users to switch power sources and work on different projects, saving significant time and money. Multi-purpose welding machines are lightweight due to advanced technology, which provides the functions of three welders in one, with sufficient power, without taking up lots of space. For this reason, they are highly adaptable for various projects and welding functions.

These valuable devices are ideal for use in tight spaces, where there isn’t enough room for large welding equipment, and it’s also financially affordable for projects with limited budgets. While multi-purpose welding machines are convenient on many sites, including industrial settings and workshops, single-process welding machines, including MIG and TIG welders, are best suited for heavy-duty work.

Inverter Welding Machine

An inverter welding machine is a small, compact machine that is portable and uses solid electronic parts to improve overall efficiency for converting the electric current. These conveniently sized welders often feature digital functions, making arc control easier than a stick welder and other traditional welding machines.

Inverter welders are created with silicon-based technology, which makes them simpler to handle than heavier aluminium or copper transformers, which are familiar with standard welders. Inverter welding technology is highly reliable, portable, and often more cost-effective, especially for smaller projects and objects.

This sleek, lightweight welding machine is perfect for use in small, narrow spaces and areas where large welding machines and related tools are inefficient or do not fit. Inverter welders are compatible with any 110-volt wall socket, which means you won’t need a high voltage current and can easily accommodate many workspaces or manufacturing sites.

For this reason, you won’t require an industrial generator, reducing overall costs. Inverter welders are regulated electronically, giving you greater control and a more comprehensive adjustment range to set specific levels for precise work.

Where to Get Welding Machines

Sunbelt Rentals offers a wide selection of excellent welding and plasma cutting equipment rentals for many projects and sites year-round. You’ll find an impressive variety of plasma cutter machines, MIG, TIG, multi-purpose, inverter, and stick welders for various construction needs at an affordable cost without making a considerable investment in welding equipment and machinery.

You’ll find everything you need when you consult a welding machine specialist at Sunbelt Rentals, whether you require an inverter welder for a short-term assignment or several welding machines for ongoing construction development.

Our technicians offer the expertise and support needed to choose the right welding equipment for your manufacturing or construction needs. Visit Sunbelt Rentals to inquire about our impressive selection of high-quality welding equipment for your upcoming on-site project.