The store will not work correctly when cookies are disabled.
Search Icon
Premier Welding Premier Welding
Phone Icon Call Us On 0141 8824514
My Account Sign In & Register
  • Login
    Forgot Your Password?
    Not Registered? Create an Account
  • Trade
  • Blog
  • Delivery
  • Returns
  • Contact Us
My Basket
  • All Categories
  • Welding Equipment Dropdown Icon
    • MIG Welders
    • All MIG Welders
    • Kemppi MIG Welders
    • Miller MIG Welders
    • ESAB MIG Welders
    • Jasic MIG Welders
    • Lincoln MIG Welders
    • GYS MIG Welders
    • Cros-Arc MIG Welders
    • Welding Torches
    • Binzel MIG Torches
    • Kemppi MIG Torches
    • Torch Consumables
    • Contact Tips
    • Nozzles
    • Tip Adapters
    • Gas Diffusers
    • Liners
    • Kits
    • Accessories
    • Water Coolers
    • Wire feeders
    • All Accessories
    • TIG Welders
    • All TIG Welders
    • Kemppi TIG Welders
    • Miller TIG Welders
    • ESAB TIG Welders
    • Jasic TIG Welders
    • Lincoln TIG Welders
    • GYS TIG Welders
    • Cros-Arc TIG Welders
    • Welding torches
    • Binzel TIG Torches
    • Kemppi TIG torches
    • Torch Consumables
    • Collets
    • Collet Bodies
    • Gas Lens
    • Ceramics
    • Back Caps
    • Accessories
    • Water Coolers
    • Tig Accessories
    • Tungstens
    • ARC Welding
    • All ARC Welders & MMA
    • Kemppi ARC Welders
    • Miller ARC Welders
    • ESAB ARC Welders
    • Jasic ARC Welders
    • GYS ARC Welders
    • Lincoln ARC Welders
    • Cros-Arc MMA Welders
    • Accessories
    • Electrode Holders
    • Earth Clamps
    • Dinze Plugs & Sockets
    • Welding Cable
    • Wire Brushes
    • Chipping Hammers
    • Spot Welders
    • Spot Welder
    • Welding Generators
    • Petrol
    • Diesel
    • Generators
    • Petrol
    • Diesel
    • MOSA
    • Mosa Spare Parts
    • Weld Cleaning/Marking
    • Cougartron Machines
    • Binzel Cleaning Machines
    • Accessories
    • Weld Cleaning & Marking Fluids
    • Etching Sets & Stencils
    • MIG Wire
    • M/S MIG Wire
    • M/S Flux Core Wire
    • Stainless Steel MIG Wire
    • Aluminium MIG Wire
    • TIG Wire
    • Stainless Steel
    • Mild Steel
    • Aluminium Wire
    • MMA Rods
    • Mild Steel
    • Stainless Steel
    • Low Hydrogen
    • Discs
    • Cutting Discs
    • Grinding Discs
    • Flap Discs
    • Wire brushes
    • Cup Wire Brushes
    • Twist Knot Pipeline Brush
  • Plasma Cutting Dropdown Icon
    • Plasma Cutters
    • All plasma Cutters
    • Hypertherm Plasma Cutters
    • ESAB Plasma Cutters
    • Jasic Plasma Cutters
    • GYS Plasma Cutters
    • Weldplas Cutting Table
    • Torches
    • Hypertherm Torches
    • Air Compressors
    • Portable Compressors
    • Static Compressors
    • Hypertherm consumables
    • Powermax 30 Air
    • Powermax 30 XP
    • Powermax 45 XP
    • Duramax75° Hand Torch (65/85/105)
    • Duramax Hyamp Torch (125)
    • Hypertherm SYNC Consumables
    • Powermax 45 SYNC
    • Powermax 65 SYNC
    • Powermax 85 SYNC
    • Powermax 105 SYNC
    • Powermax 125 SYNC
    • Hypertherm Machine Consumables
    • Duramax 180 Machine Torch (65/85/105
    • Duramax Mini Machine Torch (65/85/105
    • Duramax Hyamp Machine Torch (125)
    • GYS Plasma Consumables/Spares
    • GYS Plasma Consumables
    • Jasic Plasma consumables/spares
    • Pro Air Cut 45
    • Pro Air Cut 60 & 80
    • Pro Air Cut 100 & 160
  • Gas Equipment Dropdown Icon
    • Gas Equipment
    • Regulators
    • Flashback Arrestors
    • Hoses
    • Oxy-Fuel Nozzles
    • Welding & Cutting Torches
    • Gas Welding & Cutting Sets
    • Gas Cutting Machines
    • Gas Connections
    • Nuts
    • Hose Tails
    • Hose Couplers
    • Gas Accessories
    • Gas Storage
    • Gas Accessories
    • Tape
    • Gas Cylinder Trolleys
    • Gas Purging
    • Oxygen Monitor & Accessories
    • Gas Purging Equipment
    • Tape
    • Hobbyweld
    • Gas Cylinders
    • Hobbyweld 5
    • Hobbyweld 15
    • Argon
    • Oxygen
  • Safety & PPE Equipment Dropdown Icon
    • Welding Masks & Welding Helmets
    • Air Fed Welding Masks (PAPR) Packages
    • Air Fed Welding Masks (PAPR)
    • Standard Welding Masks & Helmets
    • CleanSpace
    • Accesories
    • Lenses
    • Masks & Helmet Spares
    • Safety Clothing
    • Boiler Suits & Rigger Boots
    • Gloves
    • Hi-vis Jackets & Vests
    • Knee Pads
    • Accessories
    • Welding curtains
    • Welding Blankets
    • Eyewear & Visors
    • Dust Masks & Filters
    • Storage
    • Armorgard Storage
    • Fume Extractors
    • Fume Extraction Units
  • Tools Dropdown Icon
    • Air Tools
    • Impact Wrenches
    • Ratchet Wrenches
    • Screwdrivers
    • Drills
    • Percussive Tools
    • Cutting Tools
    • Grinders
    • Sanders
    • Hand Tools
    • Tool Cabinets
    • Rachets & Breaker Bars
    • Tool Kits
    • Power Tools
    • Rotabroach Cutters
    • Pipework Equipment
    • Exact Pipe Cutters
    • Pipe Stands
    • Pipe Cutting Blades
    • Exact Pipe Cutting Blades
  • Brands Dropdown Icon
    • Brands
    • Kemppi Kemppi
    • Jasic Jasic
    • ESAB ESAB
    • Hypertherm Hypertherm
    • Miller Miller
    • Jackson Safety Jackson Safety
    • Lincoln Electric Lincoln Electric
    • CleanAIR CleanAIR
    • GYS GYS
    • Mosa Mosa
    • Shop All Brands ›

Spend £100 for Free Delivery *UK Mainland

reviews.io

0% PayPal Finance on orders over £99*

  • Home Icon Home arrow
  • Alan's Premier Welding Blog arrow
  • Top 10 Tips When Buying a Welder

Top 10 Tips When Buying a Welder

  • 26 Oct 2016



1. Decide on what power supply you require 110, 240 or 415V

Consider what power is available to you whether it's your home or workshop.


2. What type of materials do you want to weld and what thickness of material will you be welding.

For light repair work on steel, stainless steel and aluminium from sheet metal to material 3/16 inch thick, a 130-amp unit with a 20 or 30 percent duty cycle can perform many of the welding jobs required, for heavier repair or fabrication jobs, consider a unit with at least 200 amps and a duty cycle 40 percent or higher.

3. What type of materials do you want to weld

MetalWeld Process


MIG

STICK/MMA/ARC

TIG

Steel

X

X

X

Stainless Steel

X

X

X

Aluminum Alloys

X

X

Cast Iron

X

Chromoly

X

Copper

X

Brass

X

Exotic Metals (Magnesium, Titanium, etc.)

X



4. What welding process suits you best:

|Mma Welding|
-Better suited for windy, outdoor conditions
-Not good on thinner materials
-Works well on thicker materials and dirty or rusty materials.

|Mig Welding|
-Very easy process to learn with high welding speeds possible
-Better control on thinner materials
-Thicker materials possible with Flux Cored Welding
-Possible Synergic Control for extreme ease of set up

|Tig Welding|
-Highest skill level required
-Provides highest of quality of welds with most precise welding
-AC function an option for high quality welding of aluminium

5. Weight of machine – Do you require a machine that needs to be moved around and transported to jobs, or will it remain within a workshop?


6. Take into account the duty cycle of the machine!! You may need 160amps and a machine may state that it does this, but it could only be at 15% duty cycle, which means it could only weld at 160amps for 1.5mins out of every 10mins? Unless you are only do very short welds it's best to work on a 35% duty cycle when choosing your machine.


7. Consider any future opportunities that your welder may bring which could require additional power or amperage, You don't want to outlay a lot of money and a year down the line it doesn't fit your needs


8. Don't forget cost of accessories associated with each process, from gas to consumables to proper welding protection.


9. Consider the warranty term with the machine. 2-3 Years is ideal, but more importantly make sure the supplier is approved & capable to carry out any repairs that may arise.


10. Where is the machine is manufactured and are replacement parts available in your country.

Time and time again we have customers who cannot get spares for their machine when it breaks down.

← PREVIOUS
Our New Ecommerce Site
NEXT →
10 Reasons to Buy From Us
Related Posts
  • Top 5 safety rules for welding
  • 5 Things To Consider When Buying A Welding Helmet
  • What to Consider When Buying a Plasma Cutter
Recent posts
  • What to Consider When Buying a Plasma Cutter
  • 5 Things To Consider When Buying A Welding Helmet
  • Top 5 safety rules for welding
  • A guide to buying a spot welder
  • What To Consider When Buying A Welder

What our customers say...

Signup for News & Offers

Sign up to our email newsletter to get the new arrivals and offers.

NEED HELP

Office Hours

 Monday to Thursday - 8am to 4.30pm 

Fridays - 8am to 1.30pm

Tel: 0141 882 4514

Email: info@premierwelding.com

ACCEPTED PAYMENTS 

Google Pay

B2B/Trade Purchase Order

Bank Transfer

FOLLOW US ON

About Us

  • About Us
  • Find Us
  • ISO 9001
  • Blog

Support

  • Price Match
  • Trade Account
  • FAQ's
  • Delivery Information
  • Returns & Refunds

Premier Welding

  • Welding Equipment
  • Plasma Cutting
  • Gas Equipment
  • Safety & PPE Equipment
  • Tools
  • Brands

© 2025 Premier Welding Ltd, 28 Queen Elizabeth Ave, Glasgow, G52 4NQ, UK, Registration Number SC058575 VAT No. GB 262644066.

  • | Cookie Policy
  • | Privacy Policy
  • | Terms & Conditions
  • | Ecommerce by INDEZ