Best Stick Welder: Lotos LTPDC2000D
The Lotos LTPDC200D is out top-pick of the best stick welder for all situations. It’s a great 3-in-1 machine that TIG and stick welds, as well as cuts through thick mild steel plates easily.
This is a brief overview of the LTPDC2000D’s key specifications—
- 3/8-inch Welding Capacity
- 110V/220V Input Power
- 60% Duty Cycle @ 200A
- Non-Touch Plasma Cutter
As a stick and TIG welder, the LTPDC200D exceeds all expectations. It’s great for working with rough, corroded, and/or painted metals using the stick function.
You can also crank the output down from 200 to 10A for careful TIG welding on thinner objects.
It delivers a 3/8-inch penetrating weld through stainless steel and cast iron, though it isn’t the best at aluminum. Although it works decently well on 110V power, we highly recommend sticking to 220V for the best results.
The plasma torch can go as high as 50A for clean cuts through quarter-inch plates and sever half-inch materials. Being able to both cut and join pieces together with a single machine lets you cover most metalworking jobs.
Pros
- Excellent TIG and stick welding performance
- Works on 110V and 220V power
- Fantastic duty cycle on 220V
- Doubles as a non-touch plasma cutter
Cons
- Could come with 110V pigtail
If you weld thinner materials, weld outdoors, or slice metal plates into multiple pieces, the LTPDC2000D is the only machine you’ll need.
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Finding the best of the best stick welders in this day and age is a tremendous challenge.
Not only does it require sifting through literally hundreds of different models but also taking time to assess the capabilities and every model and pitting them against each other in head-to-head combat.
We went through the trouble of doing that, so you won’t have to. After comparing over 100 models, we were able to find the best of the best stick welder available today.
Top Stick Welders Compared
Here’s a comparison between Top Stick Welders:
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Stick Welder – Lotos LTPDC2000D |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Premium - Miller Millermatic 215 |
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 | Best Budget - Super Deal PRO Commercial MIG 130 |
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 | Best Stick Welder for Beginners - Hobart Handler 140 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Stick Welder Under $500 - SUNGOLDPOWER MIG 200 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Stick Welder for the Money - AHP AlphaTIG 200X |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best 110v Stick Welder - Forney 298 |
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 | Best Stick Welder Under $200 - VIVOHOME MIG 130 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Lotos TIG200ACDC |
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 | PrimeWeld CT-520D |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of the Top Stick Welders
While we were blown away by the Lotos LTPDC2000D, we were also in the presence of several impressive stick welders. Here are several more stick welders you should know of.
Best Premium - Miller Millermatic 215
Key Specifications
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 120V/240V Input Power
- 40% Duty Cycle @ 150A
- Auto Spool Detect
If you’re in search of a MIG and stick combo welder, the Millermatic 211 is the best option.
Deemed one of the best of its class, the 211 excels at both MIG welding, including aluminum, and stick welding quarter-inch materials using 1/8-inch rod consumables.
Using this machine is headache-free. Simply plug in either the MIG welding gun or stick holder and take the lightweight Millermatic 215 wherever you need to go.
It’s also portable generator-ready, allowing you to work virtually anywhere on the planet. The two dials control voltage and amps while wire speed is synergic with the voltage settings.
This video shows the Millermatic 215 in action in a professional auto shop:
Pros
- Amazing MIG and stick performance
- Detects spool gun
- Fantastic duty cycle efficiency
- Dual-voltage
Cons
- Cheat sheet isn’t entirely accurate
The Millermatic 211 offers premium-grade MIG and stick welding performance at a competitive price.
Best Budget - Super Deal PRO Commercial MIG 130
Key Specifications
- 1/8-inch Welding Capacity
- 110V Input Power
- 10% Duty Cycle @ 105A
- All Accessories Included
Like the Millermatic 215, the Super Deal MIG 130 AC is a MIG and stick welder.
It primarily functions as a MIG welder for welding thick materials, but you can switch to the stick holder and arc weld rough, corroded materials up to 1/8 of an inch thick with ease.
The MIG 130 is a single-voltage machine that runs on 110V power, so homeowners won’t need to worry about flipping switches to the correct input setting before starting the arc.
However, with a 10% duty cycle at 105A, there’s only so much you can weld before its thermal indicator lights up.
Pros
- Simple control board
- Portable construction
- Accessories and welding helmet included
- Excellent stick performance
Cons
- Could have better duty cycle
The Super Deal MIG 130 AC is a straightforward welder with limited capabilities but offers excellent stick welding performance.
PrimeWeld CT-520D
Key Specifications
- 3/8-inch Welding Capacity
- 110V/220V Input Power
- 60% Duty Cycle @ 200A
- HF Plasma Cutter
The Primeweld CT-520D is a super-versatile machine, like the LTPDC2000D. It functions as TIG and stick welder but also comes with plasma-cutting capabilities that can help salvage old metal pieces.
Its plasma cutting function works at a max of 50A, letting you sever-cut half-inch steel in a single sweep with little spatter.
On welding mode, it can operate at up to 200A output to join 3/8-inch plates of mild steel quickly and easily.
When it comes time to TIG weld, you can crank it down to 10A for slow, careful welding on thinner materials. It’s not the cleanest stick welder on the market, but it gets the job done, albeit with lots of filing and cleaning afterward.
Pros
- High-amp output ratings
- Efficiency duty cycles
- Dual-voltage
- Comes with HF plasma cutting ability
Cons
- Could produce less slag
Most buyers choose the CT-520D for its TIG and plasma cutting abilities, but with a bit of patience, you can grow to love its stick welding function as we did.
Lotos TIG200ACDC
Key Specifications
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 110V/220V Input Power
- 60% Duty Cycle @ 200A
- Works on Aluminum
For those of you with years of welding experience under your belt, the Lotos TIG200ACDC is most likely the best option for your workshop.
Plug it into a 220V outlet, and you’ll get quarter-inch welding capabilities at max power and with fewer breaks in between.
If you work with aluminum regularly, you can switch this machine to AC TIG mode and work with the soft material without worrying about melting or leaving unsightly marks.
Using this machine doesn’t require a lot of tinkering around on your part; flip switches lets you choose between AC and DC, TIG and stick, and the turn dials control all of the parameters you need to produce stable arcs and high-quality welding beads.
Pros
- Incredible versatility
- Durable build
- Comes with foot pedal
- Perfect stick welding action
Cons
- Could be lighter
For the pro workers who prioritize productivity, the TIG200ACDC by Lotos is for you.
Best Stick Welder for Beginners
The model we feel would be the best fit for beginners is the Hobart Handler 140.
This is what the Handler 140’s key specifications look like—
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 115V Input Power
- 20% Duty Cycle @ 90A
- MIG + Flux-Cored
The Handler 140 offers incredible welding power that joins quarter-inch mild steel sheets in a single pass. Best of all, it works on a standard 115V receptacle, making it a super-homeowner-friendly MIG and stick welder.
This machine can use gasless flux-cored welding wire, so you don’t need to purchase or drag around argon or helium gas tanks while working.
It also features all of the necessary hardware to get started almost immediately, save for rod consumables.
The 20% duty cycle at mid-range output can be somewhat disappointing, but for beginners and homeowners who don’t require max productivity, this shouldn’t pose a problem.
Check more options of best Stick welders of beginners here>
Watch the Handler 140 in action in this video:
Pros
- Great MIG and stick combo welder
- Can use flux-cored wire
- Portable and rugged construction
- Simple controls
Cons
- Duty cycle could be more efficient
Simple design, user-friendly controls, and powerful MIG and stick performance—the Handler 140 by Hobart is the perfect beginner-friendly welding machine in almost every way.
Best Stick Welder Under $500
If you’ve set a budget for $500 on a stick welder, the one model we recommend above the others in its price category is the SUNGOLDPOWER MIG 200.
Below are the MIG 200’s key specifications—
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 110V/220V Input Power
- 60% Duty Cycle @ 200A
- MIG + Flux-Cored Compatible
From its name, you can correctly presume that this machine is a MIG and stick welder. With a 200A max power output, it can weld quarter-inch mild steel with minimal effort using 1/8-inch rod consumables.
It mainly functions as a MIG/flux-cored welder that can also be used to join aluminum sheets together.
It doesn’t come with a spool gun or aluminum wire, but it comes with a brush, stick holders, and a neat but flimsy welding helmet.
At its max output rating and on 220V, this machine can work for six minutes within a ten-minute window.
That’s pro-level efficiency in a budget-friendly stick welder!
Pros
- MIG and stick capabilities
- Wide current range capped at 200A
- Simple stick welding functions
- Stable arc every time
Cons
- Could be easier to move
The SUNGOLDPOWER MIG 200 offers a lot of value for its price tag that both pros and beginner welders would appreciate.
Best Stick Welder for the Money
If you’re looking for the best value for any price range, the AHP AlphaTIG 200X is undoubtedly the option
Key Specifications
- 3/8-inch Welding Capacity
- 110V/220V Input Voltage
- 60% Duty Cycle @ 200A
- Works on Aluminum
From the outside, the 200X doesn’t appear to be anything special, but it’s actually a solid TIG and stick welding machine made for heavy-duty projects.
At 200A and 220V input, the 200X can weld 3/8-inch mild steel sheets with 1/8-inch rods. Plus, it’s incredibly economical in terms of rod consumption.
The 200X is one of the rare TIG welders that can join aluminum sheets of up to a quarter-inch-thick together.
This is thanks to the AC and DC welding action that lets you work with thick, ferrous materials and thin, non-ferrous sheets.
It’s a dual-voltage machine, but we feel that you’d get the best value when working on 220V power. However, you’re free to swap between the two input options since it comes with a 110V pigtail and voltage detection.
Pros
- 200A max power
- Lightweight and easy to move
- Comes with pigtail and foot pedal
- Flexible welding capabilities
Cons
- Control board could be less complicated
The AlphaTIG 200X is an incredible TIG and stick welder that covers all of your needs for a reasonable price.
Best 110v Stick Welder
The Forney Easy Weld 298 is easily the best 110V TIG and stick welder, even though it’s technically a 120V machine.
The Forney 298’s key specifications can be found below—
- 5/16-inch Welding Capacity
- 120V Input Power
- 30% Duty Cycle @ 80A
- Portable TIG+Stick Welder
For a single-voltage machine, and one that runs on 120V power at that, the Forney 298 delivers incredible stick welding penetration.
A 1/8-inch-diameter rod can penetrate and join plates as thick as 5/16 of an inch with every sweep of the stick holder.
And to make matters even better, this machine weighs just 7.5 pounds after assembly. Lifting and carrying the 298 around shouldn’t cause any muscle problems, let alone wheeling it around on a cart.
The 298 comes with everything you need to begin stick welding right away. If you want to weld thinner materials with the TIG welding function, you’ll need to pick up the hardware separately.
Check more 110V Stick Welders choices
Gabby from Forney demonstrates the awesomeness of the 298 in this video:
Pros
- Incredible lightweight
- Great for medium-scale home repairs
- Decent duty cycle
- Deep-penetrating power
Cons
- Doesn’t leave much room for growth
The Forney 298 is a magnificent, beginner-friendly stick and TIG welder for use at home or around the farm.
Best Stick Welder Under $200
If you’re shopping on a super-tight budget, the best under-$200 model we can recommend is the VIVOHOME MIG 130.
Here are the MIG 130’s main performance ratings—
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 110V Input Power
- 20% Duty Cycle @ 130A
- MIG + Flux Cored Capabilities
As you can see from the MIG 130’s key specifications, it doesn’t appear to have anything special in its sleeve. But don’t get us wrong—as a stick and MIG welder, this tiny, inexpensive machine works wonders.
The budget-friendly MIG 130 can stick weld mild steel of a quarter-inch in thickness without trouble.
Plus, the MIG welding function supports gasless flux-cored wire, so you don’t need to worry about purchasing shielding gas or adjusting its outflow pressure.
The controls on this machine are super-simple; by turning the wire speed dial and slipping the voltage switches, the MIG 130’s amp ratings are automatically adjusted to produce the best results.
It’s somewhat inflexible, but first-time users looking for an inexpensive MIG/stick welder will appreciate the minimal effort needed to choose the correct settings.
Pros
- Decent MIG and welding performance for its price
- Can weld aluminum (spool gun not included)
- Easy-to-configure voltage and wire speed settings
- Lightweight
Cons
- Construction could be more durable
If you can get past the somewhat fragile exterior, the VIVOHOME MIG 130 is the perfect under-$200 MIG and stick welder you can hope for.
FAQs
Before we end our guide, we’d like to take a few moments to answer the most FAQs about stick welders.
No, they do not. The rod consumable is “built” with shielding gas in its center. When the rod melts, the gas is released, thereby protecting the arc from airborne contaminants that potentially ruin the structure of the weld. When switching to MIG or TIG welding, if the model has such capabilities, if you don’t use flux-cored wire, then you’ll need to get the appropriate shielding gas. As for plasma cutting functions, compressed air from an air compressor should do the trick.
Yes, they are. Stick welders offer certain benefits that you won’t get with MIG or TIG welders. The first and most prominent advantage is that stick welding can be done outdoors, regardless of how windy it is, simply because the shielding gas is found in the rod consumable. Next, stick welding can be used to patch or join corroded or painted metal objects together without requiring prior scraping and/or cleaning. Third, stick welders, at least stick-only welders, are typically cheaper than other types of welding machines.
The main reason anyone would want to choose a brand-name stick welder is that you can receive better after-sales service, as opposed to obscure manufacturers who may not have service centers available in the US. Also, the warranties of name-brand stick welders typically last longer, so you won’t need to worry about the machine dying prematurely in your workshop.
Whether you want the addition of TIG welding or MIG welding is entirely up to the buyer, though we will say this: MIG welding is more beginner-friendly than TIG welding. Also, if you don’t have a plasma cutter in your shop, you should consider getting a 3-in-1 model that offers a plasma cutting function for light-duty cutting jobs. Just a suggestion, folks.
Summary
After weeks of research, we have concluded that the best stick welder of all time, at least until this very moment, is the Lotos LTPDC2000D.
However, if you’re looking for extra versatility form your machine, a lower price tag, or anything else that the Lotos may not have, our list of some of the best stick welders should contain the best model for your needs.
If not, please yell at us in the comments section.
Last update on 2024-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API