Are you new to the world of welding? Whether you’re a hobby of welding occasionally or your professional in both situations, you might want to get your hands on the best welding tools without breaking your bank.
If you’re a professional, you’d have the idea of how crucial the welding tools are, and without them, the task will be difficult. Without the right instrument, you’ll not be able to meet the task requirements.
By using the right welding tools, you’ll be able to turn the impossible tricky welding tasks into possible ones. The devices will help you make the right cut, take precise measurements, perform the weld up to the mark and whatnot.
Besides the essential tools like welding machines, there are so many other tools that a welder requires while performing any task. If you want to make the precise cut or need to have the best result, you should look at the best welding tools we will discuss below.
Whether you’re creating slag or want to mark the weld in both situations, an instrument will be helpful. Here’s the list of necessary welding tools that will help you do the job correctly yet perfectly.
Best Welding Tools:
1. Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
This is one of the most common and best welding tools used by welders. If you’re a beginner or planning to start welding, this is the first safety gear you should buy yourself. The primary purpose of an auto-darkening welding helmet is to keep your eyes safe from the harmful radiations, sparks, spatter and provide a shield to your face while dealing with the fire.
During welding, the heat and sparks produced could damage your skin and eyes. This is why it is a must to wear a welding helmet, especially the auto-darkening, which does not require any additional settings. It is the best welding protective equipment.
2. Welding Gloves
Let’s move towards the following staple tool for welding, which is sturdy yet secure gloves. It is the best welding gear for sure. The welding gloves are created with solid fabrics and insulation to deal with heat, sparks, or fire safety. You can find the gloves easily anywhere on amazon or at a nearby welding shop.
But before purchasing, you should know which type of welding gloves you need. There are generally two types of welding gloves, including MIG welding gloves and TIG welding gloves. Following are the difference between these two types:
MIG Welding Gloves:
The MIG welding gloves are thicker and equipped with padding to protect the hand from any damage. In addition, the MIG welding gloves are based on the looser fitting allows the user to take off the gloves if they become too hot.
TIG Welding Gloves
The TIG welding gloves are pretty soft and thinner as compared to the MIG welding gloves. Nevertheless, these gloves come with tight-fitting to allow perfect movement while holding the torch.
3. MIG Welding Plier
While doing the MIG welding, some welding pliers are helpful to make the tasks hassle-free. Suppose you have no idea what plier is, then let me tell you. The MIG welding pliers are considered best welding equipment to remove the splatter from the nozzle to allow smooth gas flow.
With the help of a plier, you can trim the wire whenever needed. Furthermore, this tool is also used to remove the nozzle. Above all, the welding pliers are available in an affordable price range, multi-functional, and highly durable.
4. Sheet Metal Gauge
While making the changes in the welder setting, you might want to find the thickness of metal you’re dealing with for any purpose.
To know the accurate metal measurements, you need to place the sheet metal gauge in a groove where it can fit accurately. Thus, after learning the metal thickness, you’ll be able to make the perfect setting accordingly.
5. Welding Magnets
This is one of the most versatile tools, which is highly useful during welding. With the welding magnet, you can easily hold the metal in its place without using clamps. You can use the welding magnets to mount the metal rightly at any position or any angle.
Overall, the welding magnets work perfectly to weld the metals at any tricky angle, which can’t be done with the clamps.
6. Chipping Hammer
One of the main issues while doing the MIG welding is that slag mainly sticking occurs when the metal melts during welding. With the chipping hammer, you can easily take out the slag in no time.
The hammer comes with the two-point one is for the tricky corners while the other is for the flat side. You might not need the hammer after every task, but if you want to perform the welding at a cleaner yet manageable area, purchase a hammer to remove slag.
7. Tip Cleaner
After the slag cleaner, another tip cleaner was used to clean and maintain the welding tips correctly.
The tip cleaners are equipped with a variety of flat and welding files to remove the residue from the welding tip. These tip cleaner sets are available in every size, from small to large.
8. Speed Square
A speed square is one of the essential tools that you need while welding. With the speed square, you can easily measure any metal or any piece at 90 degrees or other angles.
This angular measuring device in the right triangle shape allows the welder to measure the parts at different angles. Without measuring each piece, you won’t be able to weld correctly.
9. Metal Brush
With the metal brush, you can remove slag or debris from the cooled weld machine giving them a new clean look.
Although not every welding task creates the charring, the metal brush or chipping hammer is a must for the one that causes slag.
10. Angle Grinder
Are you someone who welds regularly? An angle grinder is a must for you. You can easily cut the sturdy metals with the angle grinder. By using the cutting wheel, you can easily cut the sheet metal to bars effortlessly.
It is undoubtedly one of the best welding tools. An angle grinder is the essential tool mainly required to prepare the metals before starting the welding process.
You can also save time by shaping metals with the angle grinder. It is also considered the best tool for cleaning and giving the finishing touch to metals.
11. Soapstone
You might be thinking that this tool is made up of soap. Well, no, but the tool has the same consistency as a soap. It is used as the marking implement that you can remove after completing the task.
Or in simple terms, this tool works like chalk during welding. Soapstone is more premium than graphite and comes with the ability to combat the heat. With the soapstone, you can quickly draw different shapes, lines, and other designs too.
12. C Clamp
By C Clamp, we mean the clamps that come with a C shape. With the clamps, you can apply pressure on materials above and below at the same time. This is a standard tool that is used for multiple hardware projects.
C clamps put far more force than pinch clamps or other welding clamps. It offers a high-end solid hold so that tasks will be more manageable.
14. Welding Boots
One of the most common issues faced by welders is foot injuries. Although this is the most miniature focused work-related accident, it could cause prolonged life disability.
This is why you should concentrate on foot protection before dealing with hot metals. Make sure to purchase welding boots that are robust enough to provide ultimate protection.
15. Welding sleeves
Welding sleeves are as crucial as welding boots. It is the best welding safety equipment. This means the welding sleeves are equally essential while dealing with challenging welding tasks. The welding sleeves are made up of leather or non-flammable materials that are detachable too.
These sleeves work to protect your clothes, skin, and body from any damage. Most of the products come with aprons, too, while others have partial collar and chest attached.
16. Safety glasses
Safety glasses are best for those who avoid wearing the welding helmet. You can also wear safety glasses along with the welding mask or helmet.
The reliable safety glasses run longer than the welding helmets. The safety glasses are created with durable plastic and work to stop sparks, spatter, or fire.
17. MIG Nozzle Gel
Nozzle gel is the next important thing to consider before starting welding. People often overlook this feature, but nozzle gel works miraculously to prevent metal from sticking to the nozzle. It is one of the best welding tools used to protect the MIG gun from any spatter.
You can maintain the quality of the MIG gun by applying a little nozzle gel on it whenever required. The product has a wax-like appearance and is relatively easy to use.
As soon as you start working, the waxy material changes into liquid create a barrier between the two metal surfaces to prevent sticking issues.
19. Flint Striker
This is one of the crucial tools from any welding project that works to light the welding torches. The striking sparks that come from this striker are pretty reliable yet consistent.
It is also equipped with nine triple rotatable flints, which are 27 in total and long-lasting.
20. Welding gauges
The welding gauges are an easy-to-use tool mainly used to check if the filled weld comes with proper throat thickness and maximum length.
With the welding gauges, you’ll be able to do the quality welds effortlessly. By having this welding gauge, your time and effort will be saved.
21. Automatic Center Punches
Are you looking for a mark metal, punch, or scribe? We’d suggest you for the automatic center punches. These center punches are created with the spring inside and can be operated with one hand easily. It does not require any hammer or clamp.
The automatic center punches are set with the six or 5inches center punch and equipped with the ball at the end. It is one of the best welding tools for high-end works.
22. Welding apron
Another essential yet one of the best welding tools is a heavy-duty apron that is mainly manufactured for welders. It is suggested for beginners and professionals both to wear the welding apron.
Most welding aprons are created with genuine leather or flame resistant material that protects your body from the spatter and sparks.
In addition, with the welding apron on, you’ll not need to wear the jacket. Just pull on the sleeves, and you’re all set to deal with the high-end tasks.
23. Oxy-Acetylene Setup
It is one of the favorite yet best welding tools due to its versatile features. You can weld, bend, cut, and use it for many other purposes too. Whether you want to cut the metal in perfect circles or need to bend the materials or for any other tasks, you can use the Oxy-Acetylene setup.
However, one has to be careful while dealing with this material as it is considered a dangerous tool in the workshop.
In addition, if you’re new to the welding processes, avoid purchasing this setup and start from the easiest one to learn efficiently.
24. Hacksaw
This is one of the best welding tools that you can use when there are some power issues. Likewise, those who face electric power problems often should get a hacksaw to cut the metal manually without any trouble.
However, in some situations, this hacksaw becomes a life savior. If you’re someone who’re new in the welding world and needs to learn but afraid of the electric powered gadgets then start cutting the metals with the hacksaw to gain some experience plus to remove the hesitation.
25. Welding Jacket
During welding one of the important things to do is to protect yourself from the fire. Although the welding jacket or shirts do not consider as the best welding tools but these are the essential items that everyone should wear before starting the welding tasks.
The welding jackets are created with the genuine leather, or the flame resistant materials to provide you the ultime safety. However, make sure to check the breathability too so that you’ll not feel discomfort while wearing the jackets.
Likewise, find the correct size that won’t be too tight or too lose so that you’ll be able to focus on the work precisely.
Conclusion:
All the tools we’ve discussed above are pretty helpful for welding. Whether you’re a beginner or professional welder, both will require these best welding tools to perform the tasks efficiently yet perfectly.
However, we’d suggest the beginners start the welding from MIG welders to get a better idea about things and then purchase the high-end tools.
Nevertheless, safety is a must whether you’re a professional or beginner. Every welder should protect themselves while dealing with heat, sparks, spatters, and fire.