Best Welding Machines for Students
Are you a student welder looking for the best welder to learn on? Find the perfect first welding machine to get you started on your path to becoming a better welder. These machines are designed to work with 110V household power, 220V industrial power, or both. Brands like Miller, Lincoln Electric and ESAB are industry staples that deliver trusted, reliable results.
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Welders Supply Pick - Best Welder for Students 2024
Lincoln Electric Power MIG 262MP Educational One-Pak®
New in 2024, the Power MIG 262MP from Lincoln Electric packs the power, functionality and ease of use you need to start your welding journey. A true multi-process welder, this machine can tackle MIG/flux core, TIG and stick welding.
The POWER MIG 262MP Educational One-Pak® offers precise control with advanced features and an intuitive LCD display. This comprehensive package includes essential welding accessories, providing a complete setup for educational institutions for classroom training and hands-on learning in welding.
Four Power MIG 262MP Options for Students:
- K5376-1 Power MIG 262MP (Base)
- K5637-1 Power MIG 262MP Aluminum One-Pak® (Push-Gun)
- K5638-1 Power MIG 262MP Aluminum One-Pak® (Push Pull Gun)
- K5636-1 Power MIG 262MP Educational One-Pak® (RECOMMENDED)
Compare models - Power MIG 262MP Spec Sheet
Best Welders for Students: 4 Tips for Welding Students
You’ve been welding for a while, and you’re probably looking for a new machine so you can learn new skills. That's great, but don’t spend thousands without doing your homework first.
1: Try Something New
If you learned to weld with a MIG welder, it might be time to invest in a new machine to learn a new skill. Consider a stick welder to gain more experience working with heavier materials like cast iron or thicker steel. If you learned to weld using a stick welder, maybe it’s time to try MIG welding, or try honing your skills on a TIG welder.
2: Find Something Versatile
There’s no one size fits all welder, but there are plenty of great products that can perform multiple roles. Look for MIG welders capable of handling diverse wire diameters or even different spool sizes. Try to find welders capable of TIG and Stick welding, or even MIG welding.
3: Try Going Mobile
Welders today are becoming more compact, and many even come with carts. Having a mobile rig makes it easy to learn to weld on new materials and new locations outside of your shop. There are also gas powered welders available for students looking to learn anywhere.
4: Understand this is an Investment in your Education
The welders available for students tend to be more expensive than entry level welders, but are also much more powerful and effective. Your first welder plants the seed, the second one helps you grow.
Start Small with a Versatile Welder
If you started learning on a MIG welder and want practice with stick or TIG welding, you can’t go wrong with the Lincoln Electric Power MIG 140. This welder is actually three machines in one. Choose between a MIG welder head and a two-in-one TIG/Stick gun to move on from MIG welding. Mobile and affordable, the Power MIG 140 is an excellent choice for beginner students and one of the best welders for students looking to practice new skills. Plus, it comes with a Magnum PRO 100L gun, consumables and welding wire.
MIG Welders for Students
Students looking to improve their MIG welding skills at home or in the shop will find everything they need in the Millermatic 211 Auto-Set MIG Welder. Our top pick for MIG welding students, the 190 replaces the 180 and is one of our top selling inverter welders. Suitable for solid steel, stainless and flux cored wires of most diameters, the 190 is ideal for countless MIG welding applications. The 190 also comes standard with a cart, making it a great mobile flux core welder.
Stick Welders for Students
Trying to improve your stick welding skills? The ESAB Fabricator 186 is an excellent choice for welding students who want to expand into stick welding. Welding students who use the Fabricator 186 have the flexibility to perform stick welds and even TIG welds if they feel confident enough. The Fabricator 186 is the perfect machine to help students learn new skills and improve their welds overall.
TIG Welders for Students
While there aren’t any TIG welders designed for beginners, a good choice would be the Miller Diversion 180 TIG welder. Featuring the latest in inverter technology, it's the perfect way for welding students to invest in their future earning potential. With a simple three step start up system, the Diversion makes TIG welding incredibly easy. Simply power up the machine, select material type and thickness, and you’re ready to start making beautiful welds. Plus, the Diversion can help cut down on shielding gas costs with its auto-post flow feature, which optimizes post-flow time.
Industrial Welders for All Welding Students
Whether you’ve spent the last 25 years working as a stick welder and want to move on to TIG welding or you want to move on from MIG welding to something more exciting, Welders Supply has a number of affordable industrial welders for students of all experience levels who are looking to broaden their horizons.
