Best Budget AC/DC TIG Welder – Top Picks of 2023

As a welder, you must use many things like a compressor, a soldering iron, wire cutters, and more tools to fix the problems on a job site. This may require you to spend a lot of money to buy all these accessories, especially the expensive ones like an AC/DC welding machine.

To save money and have the best AC/DC tig welder, which is very important for you to buy the best tig welder according to your requirements. And this is where you can get many choices from thousands of options available in the market. You can check out the best budget tig welder here.

Before buying your first TIG welder, read my review on the best budget TIG welder that offers many options for welders. Therefore, you can purchase these welders for under $800, which is cheap considering their versatility and ease of use.

How to Choose the Best Budget AC DC TIG Welder

Voltage

This AC/DC tig welder provides a high-quality output voltage and work capacity. So if you are looking for a quality, reliable, and cheap tig welder, this product would be a great choice.

The maximum current output of the welder is 120V, and the minimum is 240V. You can control the current with the adjustable rheostat.

Portable

The best budget AC DC tig welder must be small and portable to carry around your workshop or garage. You must consider these factors before buying.

Material Thickness

It is important to note that AC tig welding is not a strong welding process. Hence, it is recommended to use tungsten electrode wires only for thinner materials, and thicker metals can cause arcing or sparking.

Weight and Portability

The ACDC TIG welder weighs approximately 25 lbs. So if you are planning to take it with you to the job site or the shop, make sure that the carrying capacity of your vehicle is enough for the machine. It will be quite inconvenient to carry such a heavy machine.

Work Cycle

A tig welding machine works continuously. The duration for a complete cycle is 10 seconds, but you can increase or decrease this duration as per your needs. You can weld up to three separate spots at a time. So if you want to weld up to 12 places, you can set the work cycle for 3 minutes.

Safety 

The tungsten electrode rod is connected to an AC source with varying AC voltage and frequency to pass the current through the tungsten wire and to the workpiece. The material gets heated and melted and eventually cools to form a joint between the two parts.

To learn how to use AC tig welding safely and effectively, follow these steps:

1. Keep a constant distance from the electrode tip.
2. Move away from the workpiece when starting and ending welding cycles.
3. Keep your face shielded when welding.
4. Weld small parts slowly.
5. Always keep safety goggles and ear protection nearby.

6 Best AC/DC TIG Welder

1) YESWELDER TIG-250P 250 Amp AC/DC Tig Welder 

This is my first TIG Welder. I got it because my old welder was old and started leaking gas every once in a while. I wanted something quiet, so I decided to go with the TIG-250P.

The TIG-250P is an AC/DC square wave inverter welder. I was initially apprehensive about how it would work since I’ve always used a DC welder. But after using the TIG-250P for about two months, I’m very happy with it. It’s got a potent motor, and I have no problems using it. It seems more powerful than my DC welder. I used this welder for small projects, and the TIG-250P for bigger ones, and the difference was quite big.

The foot pedal is great. I like how you can program the exact time of start, upslope, etc. It’s easier than trying to set it by hand. There’s also a “time” button for immediate start. And the welding gun works excellently too. You can now ( read full reviews of YESWELDER here. )

One thing I did notice is that it has a little bit of play in the foot pedal. You won’t notice it unless you’re using the welder for a prolonged period, but I’ve seen it move slightly back and forth. It’s not too noticeable, but you must watch out for it when operating the machine.

Overall, I’m very pleased with the TIG-250P. I hope to continue to use it.

2) ESAB Rebel EMP 205ic Welder

So we’ve tested out the Rebel EMP 205ic AC/DC TIG Welder and found it to be a mighty and capable machine. It’s ideal for thick welding steel and stainless steel (up to 6mm thick) as well as mild steel and aluminum (up to 2.5mm thick).

I particularly liked that it had four memory locations, making it easy to set up for different processes.

The other big advantage is that it has a 5-handle roll cage design, which makes it super portable. It’s only 50 pounds, and you can easily lift it onto your cart or into a vehicle.

The welding speed is also pretty fast, with speeds of up to 8 amps, and it’s also got a 7-position power knob, so you can easily change the output. It’s a lot easier to control than some other welders out there too.

In addition, there are six programs on the welder. You can choose between Stick, MIG, STICK (including 6010 electrodes), Flux Cored electrodes, and DC TIG and AC TIG industrial applications.

These are all great options to have for different applications.

While it’s not the lightest of welders on the market, it’s extremely powerful and perfect for large-scale weldments.

If you’re in the market for a compact MIG/STICK/TIG welder, then you really need to check this one out.

3) AHP AlphaTIG 203Xi AC DC Tig/Stick Welder 

At under 800$, this is an absolute steal for anyone who wants to get into welding.

However, it comes with an LED welding light you can use while outside. Its tig welding feature has an LCD screen that will display a wide range of information.

It’s also highly portable, thanks to a handle on the side and wheels at the bottom. It can easily fit inside a backpack or car trunk and easily go to work.

Welding performance-wise, this is the best tig welder on the market.

With a low current rating of 200 amps and a higher voltage of 220 volts, this welder will produce enough amperage for many smaller jobs. It’s got plenty of power and doesn’t need a lot of room to work.

It’s also versatile, capable of different welding metals like aluminum, copper, steel, nickel, and chromium.

But, the main drawback is its lack of speed. While you can still get a decent amount of power, you must use an extension cord. So if you’re a regular welder and love portability, look elsewhere.

You can use its tig welding capability for large and small workpieces and the stick welding functionality for smaller projects. It has a maximum welding output of 7018, which makes it ideal for household and hobbyist use.

Overall, this is a great entry-level tig welder. It has good value for money but will likely not satisfy professional welders.

4) PRIMEWELD TIG225X 225 Amp IGBT AC DC Tig/Stick Welder 

The Superflex TIG torch is a compact, versatile welder that does a great job at melting and welding a variety of metals, including aluminum, brass, steel, copper, bronze, and stainless steel.

Its large, easily accessible flame makes it easier for beginners to operate, and the flexible hose, which is attached to its head, allows you to use it without a stand.

The 200 Hz pulse frequency works great for welding thin metals, and it delivers very consistent heat so you can concentrate on the weld instead of keeping track of the timer.

This TIG welding system comes with a good amount of accessories like the quick connect hose, safety guard, and wire feeding system. However, you should note that the wire clamp won’t fit in the welding head, but you can use the clamping gun to clamp the wires.

While the Superflex TIG torch is great for beginners, if you are advanced, you may want to consider the CK Superflex TIG torch. However, the CK 18 Series Superflex TIG torch requires users to be more attentive to its functions because it can cause severe damage to the tool if not used correctly.

So if you’re new to welding, the Superflex TIG torch is the way to go. The CK 18 Series Superflex TIG torch is the better choice for intermediate and advanced welders.

5) S7 Tig Welder

With a weight of only 13.6 pounds, the S7 is very portable and even more compact than the original S2. It has a clamp stand, so you can also use it for welding outside, making it very versatile.

You can use a cable connection so you don’t have to mess with any gas lines, and there are two different ways of connecting your welder to the power source. The first is AC power, which works with 220V and is suitable for all of us.

The AC input is handy when plugged into an outlet but has some drawbacks. There’s a possibility of the current fluctuating, which could cause problems during welding.

A switch on the handle also changes between AC and DC output. It allows you to select a better output for the job and makes the welder more versatile.

When you turn on the power, the light indicator goes on, and the power is activated. However, if you want to start welding, you need to press the trigger, and there’s no indication to show that the welder is on. If you’re in the middle of a job and don’t realize it’s on, you could accidentally start welding.

Because this welder runs on an inverter, you won’t need to worry about fluctuations or voltage spikes. It can also be used with AC power if you want, but the DC option is perfect for external jobs because there won’t be any fluctuating current.

This makes welding much easier and allows you to focus on the work.

6) LOTOS TIG200ACDC 200A AC/DC Aluminum Welder 

This is a really standard Tig welder. I had no idea how much I would love using one, and I’m not exaggerating here.

I’ve been trying to sell my old tig welder for years, and nobody would take it. Then, a few days ago, I was browsing Amazon and came across this model.

I didn’t know much about the welder other than 200 amps, so I decided to try and get my hands on one.

The delivery was speedy (it only took about a week), and it’s so well packaged and secured that it could go through any airport or customs.

The tig welder itself has a nice feel to it and is sturdy. It has a nice ergonomic grip on it, and you can make multiple adjustments.

It has a foot control that makes it easy to weld, and the heat can be controlled with the foot pedal. However, it has a TIG torch that’s adjustable, and it has a built-in AC power supply that is rated at 200 amps.

It has a digital display that tells you what you’re doing, and the machine is designed with a large window so that you can see exactly what you’re doing.

Besides, it has many useful features, and it even includes a safety cover that makes it a breeze to store the tig welder.

So if you want a durable, reliable 200 amp tig welder with all of the necessary features and controls, check this one out

Conclusion

In conclusion, when selecting a budget ac/dc tig welder, consider that they come with inevitable tradeoffs such as size, shape, and cost. Some key features to look at when choosing an ac/dc tig welder include size, shape, maximum output, and current ratings. 

It is also important to be sure that you are comfortable with your choice, so you aren’t be disappointed later.