Best TIG Welder Under $2,000: Lincoln Square Wave K5126-1
Unsurprisingly, the best of the best TIG welder under $2,000 is the Lincoln Square Wave K5126-1. This is a hard-hitting TIG welder designed to tackle thick plates of mild steel in both home and light-industrial settings.
Here are the K5126-1’s key specifications at a glance—
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 115V/230V Input Power
- 25% Duty Cycle @ 200A
- Pulse Welding Function
If you work from home or at a metalworking garage, the K5126-1 is arguably the best TIG welder you could ever own.
In a single pass, this Lincoln welder can join plates as thick as a quarter-inch without the slightest indication of trouble.
The K5126-1 runs on either 115V or 230V power, with max amp output of 125A and 200A, respectively. If you need to take do some welding outdoors, its portable design and stick welding function will let you do so.
When welding out of position, you won’t need to worry about spatter or anything else, thanks to the pulsing function with 20-PMS action.
This descriptive video by Lincoln will show you everything about the K5126-1 in detail:
Pros
- Deep penetrating power
- Durable, portable, and easy to operate
- Usable on aluminum sheets
- Comes with foot pedal
Cons
- 10A minimum output can be too powerful
A high-quality machine from a reputable manufacturer, the Lincoln K5126-1 is one of the industry’s best home and commercial-line TIG welders you’ll ever find or need.
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TIG welders fall into a number of different categories, including price range. If you’re looking for a more high-end TIG welder, we’ve got the perfect list for you.
In this guide, we’ll show you our pick of the best TIG welder under $2,000.
After putting more than a dozen TIG welders of that price range to rigorous research, we’re confident you’ll find our test results to be more than satisfactory.
Top TIG Welders Under $2000 Compared
Here’s a comparison between Top TIG Welders Under $2000:
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best TIG Welder Under $2,000 – Lincoln Square Wave K5126-1 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Premium - Miller Multimatic 215 |
| Check Today's Price |
| Best Budget - Hobart EZ-TIG 165i |
| Check Today's Price |
|
 | ESAB EMP215IC |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Everlast PowerTIG 210EXT |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of the Top TIG Welders Under $2000
Of the 15 models we tested, what say we about the other TIG welders? Well, there are quite a few notable alternatives that we’d like to show you below.
Best Premium - Miller Multimatic 215
Key Specifications
- 3/8-inch Welding Capacity
- 120V/240V Input Power
- 60% Duty Cycle @ 150A
- Auto-Set Elite Interface
The Miller Multimatic 215 is a top-of-the-line MIG welder that functions as a TIG and stick welder on demand.
It has a 3/8-inch welding capacity on mild steel, and on MIG mode, it can deal with similarly sized sheets of aluminum without trouble.
The control board is as simple as you’d expect from a MIG welder. The Auto-Set Elite Interface lets you choose between different welding applications, material thicknesses, and voltage and wire speed settings quickly.
A parameter sheet can be found by swinging the side panel upward for your convenience. Make sure you pick up a TIG gun with your purchase.
Otherwise, you’ll be stuck on MIG and flux-cored welding modes for the time being.
See how the Multimatic 215 works in an auto racing garage:
Pros
- Deep penetration
- Works on aluminum
- Easy-to-control voltage and speed dials
- Miller-made durability
Cons
- Could come with a TIG gun
As a Miller product, we had high hopes for what the Multimatic 215 could do, and we’re happy to report that it does everything it promises easily and efficiently.
Best Budget - Hobart EZ-TIG 165i
Key Specifications
- 3/16-inch Welding Capacity
- 230V Input Power
- 20% Duty Cycle @ 150A
- Single-Knob Control
The Hobart EZ-TIG 165i is our best budget TIG welder pick, but a look at its performance ratings might not give you that idea.
It has a 3/16-inch welding capacity on both AC and DC welding, allowing you to penetrate all sorts of materials, including aluminum.
The single-knob control board is easy to use. It automatically adjusts wire speed based on the selected power output and material thickness.
To get started, simply plug in your gas tank, and watch as the TIG gun produces beautiful beads instantly.
Pros
- Incredibly user-friendly
- Great for commercial metal workshops
- Can TIG weld aluminum
- High-frequency start
Cons
- Duty cycle could be improved
Although the EZ-TIG 165i is a budget-friendly TIG welder in the $2,000 price category, its features and performance tell a completely different picture.
ESAB EMP215IC
Key Specifications
- 3/8-inch Welding Capacity
- 120V/230V Input Power
- 40% Duty Cycle @ 130A
- DC Welder
The ESAB EMP215IC is another highly versatile welding machine that does MIG, flux-cored, TIG, and stick welding.
By having a 4-in-1 welder in your garage, you can save more countertop/cart space while tackling any welding job at hand.
The EMP215IC can penetrate up to 3/8-inch mild steel sheets and plates with the TIG gun, and it maintains a decent 40% duty cycle at max output.
Since it plugs into either 120V or 230V outlets, homeowners and pro welders will definitely find some value in this ESAB TIG welder.
It’s worth noting that the EMP215IC is a DC-only machine, meaning that it will produce smoother arcs with less spatter.
It’s possible to weld aluminum with the EMP215IC with the MIG torch, but melting aluminum is an even greater possibility.
Pros
- Excellent, near-zero-spatter welding performance
- User-friendly control interface
- Dual-voltage, multi-process machine
- Durable and portable
Cons
- DC TIG welding only
The EMP215IC is easy to use, produces beautiful beads effortlessly, and can weld all sorts of materials of various thicknesses with ease.
Everlast PowerTIG 210EXT
Key Specifications
- 5/16-inch Welding Capacity
- 110V/220V Input Power
- 60% Duty Cycle @ 210A
- Advanced Control Interface
At first glance, the Everlast PowerTIG 210EXT looks like a complicated TIG welder, and if we’re being honest, that’s definitely the case.
The advanced control interface allows you to fine-tune your welding abilities to your exact specifications to join materials of up to 5/16 of an inch, including aluminum.
The 210EXT is the most powerful TIG welder on our list. With a 210A max output, there’s plenty that this TIG welder can do for you.
If you work in a more demanding location such as at an auto repair shop, or just need something for welding around your home or barn, the 210EXT is more than capable. On AC mode, there a special pulse mode of up to 250 Hz.
The customizability of the Everlast PowerTIG 210EXT is a double-edges sword—first-time users will be left scratching their heads, but professional welders will enjoy every configurable setting.
FAQs
As always, we’ll end our guides by answering some of the most FAQs.
A lot, that’s what. Not only do they offer better penetration and enhanced customizability, but they come with a wide range of additional features and/or accessories for use in nearly all situations. You’ll have to look at each TIG welder to see what the manufacturer includes, but many models have pulse welding capabilities, AC balance, and waveform selection.
The greatest problem new users have with TIG welders is holding the torch in one hand and the filler material in the other, unlike MIG welders that shoot out a constant flow of welding wire. For those of you who don’t have years of welding experience under their belts, consider investing in a multi-functional TIG, MIG, and stick welder, or take a look at our list of the best MIG welders under $500.
Always check with the operator’s manual to see what consumables or supplies you need to use your TIG welder, but in general, 100% argon or a 75/25 argon-helium mix will work for most TIG welding jobs. Additionally, you can use gas-less flux-cored wire when TIG welding, but it involves working at a reduced current rating on DC mode. Flux-cored wire is ideal for welding non-ferrous metals.
If you’re considering getting a multi-function TIG welder, such as the Miller Multimatic 215 or ESAB EMP215IC, then you should understand the basics and differences of MIG and TIG. TIG welding produces less spatter, and a more appealing bead opposed to MIG and stick welding. It can also be used on thinner materials without leaving burns or pools of molten metal, whereas MIG and stick will require more filing and cleaning afterward.
Summary
In this guide, we’ve shown you not just our number pick of the best TIG welder under $2,000 but also several noteworthy alternatives for everyone based on several factors.
By trying our hand at 15 TIG welders priced around $2,000, we’re sure you’ll find the perfect fit for your home or place of business from this list.
If you have anything on your mind, the floor—i.e., comments section—is all yours.
Last update on 2024-12-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API