Discover our line of welders online now at BEHCO.co.uk. Choose from a range of high-quality machines with various input voltages, wire feed drive systems and connection types to suit you. We carefully select all our products based on quality and price from well-known brands, like Parweld®, Gys®, Telwin®, Esab® and our own brand, Kennedy®.\n\n## What are welders?\nWelding machines utilise high heat and filler metals (often flux-cored wires) to both melt and fuse two separate materials together with a welding torch. The filler metal creates a sturdy joint to provide a solid connection once cooled. \n\n## When are welders used?\nUsed in a production for a range of industries, including plastics production, Metal fabrication, and manufacturing, welding machines also feature heavily in aerospace applications and sheet metal work.\n\n## Welder types\nDepending on the welding application, welding machines can be hand-held, while others are controlled using computer programming. Since there is a wide range of welding types, there are a lot of welding machines on the market. We chose the top five most commonly used...\n\n• **MIG welder**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;-\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Used to weld thicker metals like stainless steel, Metal Inert Gas welding machines operate using flux cored wire as both a filler and electrode. It includes time regulations for safe use depending on the application and should have thermostatic protection.\n\n• **TIG welder**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;-\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Tungsten Inert Gas welding machines are used to weld small projects on thinner metals like aluminium. Working at lower temperatures, they produce precision work.\n\n• **Spot welder**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;-\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;These larger welding machines utilise an electric current to weld two sheets of metal together and are often used in manufacturing for a quick turnover.\n\n• **Plastic welder**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;-\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Suitable for use on a wide range of plastics, including HDPE and polycarbonate, plastic welder machines heat and connect plastic joints and repair breakages.\n\n• **Multi-purpose welder**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;-\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Some welding machines can provide multiple processes, such as MIG-MAG, flux and brazing applications. The technical datasheets for welding machines should provide this information, however; some machines will require additional parts for the application required.\n\n## Considerations when choosing welders\n• **Welding machine type** - choose a machine that matches your skill level as a welder for safety.\n\n• **Finish** - for a visible weld, a TIG welder is the best choice, as it provides a clean and precise finish. For a weld that will be out of sight, a MIG welder is a good choice. \n\n• **Metal type** - think about the types of metal you'll be using and the thickness as this will play a large part in the machine you choose.\n\n• **Conditions** - where you weld will affect the type of machine you choose. For example, in unpredictable weather like wind and rain, a flux-cored welder or a stick welder will provide consistent performance.\n\n### FAQs\n*What type of welding machine is best for beginners?*\n\nThe best starting device is a MIG welder as this is usually the easiest to learn. Most MIG welders are semi or fully automated and allow for pre-selected spool feed through the gun. This allows for the direct attention to be focused on the welding point.\n\n*What are the main types of welding?*\n\nThere are four main types of welding, some of which we have already discussed above (MIG and TIG). The other two are FCAW, which is Flux-Cored Arc Welding and SMAW, Stick-shielded Metal Arc Welding.