You can’t beat TIG welding for good-looking, clean welds. The problem with buying a TIG welder is that major manufacturers like Miller and Lincoln have priced their machines way out of reach of the average person and cost way more than $1,000.
The good news is that other players in the welding machine game offer welders with similar features at a fraction of the cost.
While it wasn’t possible to test all TIG welders under $1000, I used my experience with the machines I have used, as well as some help from some fellow welders.
When choosing the best options, I looked for:
- Arc stability at lower amperage
- Machine build quality
- Brand reliability and support
- Overall user satisfaction
My personal favorite is the Eastwood 200A AC/DC, which ticks all the boxes above and is excellent value for money if you’re comparing it to a big brand name like Miller.
Note: I purposefully avoided the cheapest Chinese MIG welders as I have had bad experiences with them. Either they weren’t reliable, the parts were hard to find, or their support was non-existent.
With that in mind, let’s dive in.
A Quick Look At The Best TIG Welders Under $1000
- Eastwood 200A AC/DC – Best TIG welder for Auto-body work. Used in many workshops, it has excellent arc stability at lower amps, is simple to use, and comes with everything needed to start TIG welding. Excellent choice for most people wanting to avoid the cheapest welders.
- Yeswelder TIG-200P AC/DC – Best TIG welder for beginners. A popular choice for new welders looking to dip their toes into TIG welding. Decent performance for the price tag.
- Primeweld TIG225X TIG Welder – Best TIG machine with advance features. A popular choice for those wanting to fine-tune their TIG welds or for aspiring pros who want the extra functionality.
- ARCCAPTAIN TIG200P AC DC – Best bang for buck TIG welder. The new kid on the block is a good place to start if you’re looking for a cheap TIG welder. Has a lot of advanced features for the money.
- Everlast PowerTIG 185DV – Everlast has been around for some time, creating quality machines and this is no different.
- Weldpro Digital TIG 200GD – A fully adjustable TIG welder makes this another top seller. It’s a cut above your usual cheap TIG welders and delivers on good performance.
Note: Expect less arc stability with cheaper models as they normally struggle with their claims. This is not a criticism, just an expectation as you get what you pay for. This quality is why the TIG welders in the $2000+ range usually have better arc performance.
6 Best TIG Welders Under $1000
Here’s my list of TIG welders to consider under $1000.
1. Eastwood 200 Amp AC/DC TIG Welder
Best TIG Welder for Auto-Body Work
WeldGuru Rating: 4/5
The Eastwood TIG 200 can weld aluminum and steel up to ¼” thick, making it an excellent choice under $1000 for small shops or homeowners. Even though it lacks some advanced features, the simplicity and ability to do low amperage welding makes it ideal for projects like auto body work.
| Processes | GTAW/SMAW |
| Input Voltage/s | 120/240V |
| Current | AC/DC |
| TIG Duty Cycle @ Maximum Amps | 60% |
| Screen Type | None |
| Control Type | Analog |
| Starting Method | High-Frequency |
| AC/DC Pulse? | No |
| Pre & Post Flow? | Adjustable |
| Upslope/Downslope? | Fixed |
| Foot Pedal Included? | Yes |
| Torch Included? | Yes |
| Machine Weight | 38 pounds |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Price Range | $$$$ |
The Eastwood TIG 200 is an AC/DC TIG welding machine that has everything you need to TIG weld steel, stainless steel, or aluminum right out of the box for under $1000. The machine is lightweight and portable, making it ideal for small projects like auto body work.
With 200 amps of output current, it’s capable of welding up to ¼” thick material but can also deliver stable welding currents of as little as ten amps which is rare at this price point.
It was recently updated to provide an improved rocker foot pedal, which is essential, and a flex head TIG torch, which accepts industry-standard cups, collets, and collet bodies. This makes finding consumables and accessories a breeze, unlike most cheap welders.
The TIG 200 has a high-frequency start and adjustable pre and post-gas flow but cannot adjust the up and down slopes. This is not a feature that most DIYers would look for. However, if you’re looking to fine-tune your weld, the ability to make these adjustments is something you may want.
You’ll get everything you need to start welding right out of the box except a stick welding electrode holder.
Pros
- Extremely simple and easy to setup & use
- Great arc stability at low amps
- Good duty cycle
- AC & DC TIG
- High frequency starting
- Square wave
- Pre & post flow control
- Popular among auto-welders
Cons
- Does not include a stick welding electrode holder
- No pulse control
- No adjustable slope
2. Yeswelder TIG-200P AC/DC
Best TIG Welder For Beginners
WeldGuru Rating: 3.5/5
If you’re looking for a simple TIG welder with some advanced features but is still simple enough for beginners, the TIG 200p is an option you should consider.
| Processes | GTAW/SMAW |
| Input voltage/s | (120V, 240V, 120/240V) |
| Current | AC/DC |
| TIG Duty Cycle @ Maximum Amps | Not Listed by Manufacturer |
| Screen Type | Digital |
| Control Type | Analog |
| Starting Method | High-Frequency |
| AC/DC Pulse? | Yes |
| Pre & Post Flow? | Adjustable |
| Upslope/Downslope? | Adjustable |
| Foot Pedal Included? | No |
| Torch Included? | Yes |
| Machine Weight | 28 Pounds |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
| Price Range | $$$ |
The Yeswelder TIG 200P has several advanced features, such as slope control, pre and post-flow, and a pulse mode. This machine can do aluminum and steel welding, and its 200 amps of output current will handle most small TIG jobs. The machine is also light and portable enough to move around the shop or wherever you need welding done.
Like most TIG welding machines, this model can also stick weld, and out of the box, there’s an included electrode holder.
Unfortunately, the machine does not have a gas regulator or a foot pedal. So, you’ll have to buy these items separately to fully use the machine. The foot pedal is unnecessary since the TIG torch has a hand control, allowing you to use the high-frequency start and weld aluminum effectively.
Pros
- Dual voltage
- AC & DC TIG with pulse
- Includes stick electrode holder
- 200 amp output
- Advanced features
- High-frequency start
- Can weld aluminum and steel
- Portable
- Affordable
Cons
- No foot pedal included – must buy separate
- No gas regulator
- Not recommended for professional use
3. Primeweld TIG225X TIG Welder
Best TIG Welder with Advanced features
WeldGuru Rating: 4.5/5
If you’re looking for a good TIG welder with all the features you’ll need at a great price point, the TIG 225X is a great option.
| Processes | GTAW/SMAW |
| Input Voltage/s | 120/240V |
| Current | AC/DC |
| TIG Duty Cycle @ Maximum Amps | 40% |
| Screen Type | Digital |
| Control Type | Analog |
| Starting Method | High-Frequency |
| AC/DC Pulse? | Yes |
| Pre & Post Flow? | Adjustable |
| Upslope/Downslope? | Adjustable |
| Foot Pedal Included? | Yes |
| Torch Included? | Yes |
| Machine Weight | 41 pounds |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Price Range | $$$$ |
The PrimweldTIG 225X comes with everything you need right out of the box to TIG weld aluminum and steel. The machine has many advanced features that most beginner welders won’t need. However, these settings will become invaluable as you grow and become a better TIG welder.
The TIG 225X lacks a detailed display for setting up the machine. It instead has a display for amperage and a lot of control knobs for adjusting the advanced features.
This can be confusing or intimidating for beginner welders, but once you get good at TIG welding, you’ll use all these knobs to dial in your welds.
One great feature of this welder is that you can connect a water cooler to it. This may not be a feature you need right now, but it come in handy in the future.
Pros
- Advanced feaqtures
- Can weld aluminum and steel
- Portable
- Optional water cooler
- Dual voltage
- High output current
- AC & DC TIG with pulse
- Included stick electrode holder
- Great arc stability
Cons
- No color display
- Has a lot of control knobs, which can be confusing
- Difficult for a beginner to grasp
4. ARCCAPTAIN TIG200P AC DC TIG Welder
Best Bang for Buck TIG Welder
WeldGuru Rating: 4/5
As cheap welders go, this does exactly as you’d expect; the TIG200P gets job done with a suite of great features at a very reasonable price. Just don’t expect superior arc quality.
| Processes | GTAW/SMAW |
| Input Voltage/s | 120/240V |
| Current | AC/DC |
| TIG Duty Cycle @ Maximum Amps | 60% |
| Screen Type | Color LCD |
| Control Type | Analog |
| Starting Method | High-Frequency |
| AC/DC Pulse? | Yes |
| Pre & Post Flow? | Adjustable |
| Upslope/Downslope? | Adjustable |
| Foot Pedal Included? | No |
| Torch Included? | Yes |
| Machine Weight | 26 pounds |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Price Range | $$$ |
Like the other welders on this list, the ARCCAPTAIN TIG200P can weld aluminum and steel. It has all the advanced features you need, like pre and post-flow, slope, frequency, and AC balance control. You also get a very nice digital display that you use when adjusting the various settings and features.
Like the other welders on this list, the TIG200P doubles as a stick welder, and you get a stick-welding electrode holder with the machine.
The machine weighs only 26 pounds, which makes it easy to transport virtually anywhere you need.
You get everything you need to get started except for a foot pedal out of the box. You can order one of these machines from the ARCCAPTAIN website with the foot pedal as an add-on if you want one.
The combination of power and features makes this welder a great value regardless of your experience level.
Pros
- Dual voltage
- AC & DC TIG with pulse
- Can weld aluminum and steel
- Affordable
- Advanced features
- Nice clear LCD digital screen
- Good value
Cons
- No foot pedal
- Not recommended for professional use
- UL & CSA certificates could not be verified
- Struggles to reached claimed amp output
5. Everlast PowerTIG 185DV
Best for sheet metal
WeldGuru Rating: 4/5
Compared to other TIG welders in its class, the PowerTIG 185DV gives you everything you need to start TIG welding without breaking the bank.
| Processes | GTAW/SMAW |
| Input Voltage/s | 120/240V |
| Current | AC/DC |
| TIG Duty Cycle @ Maximum Amps | 35% |
| Screen Type | Digital |
| Control Type | Digital |
| Starting Method | High-Frequency |
| AC/DC Pulse? | Yes |
| Pre & Post Flow? | Adjustable |
| Upslope/Downslope? | Adjustable |
| Foot Pedal Included? | No |
| Torch Included? | Yes |
| Machine Weight | 40 pounds |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Price Range | $$$$ |
The Everlast PowerTIG 185DV has a bunch of great features that match or exceed a lot of its competitors but at a much lower price point. You can adjust the post-flow and slope, but the pre-flow is set.
Also, the pulse is adjustable but only has two settings: 1 or 50 Hz. It doesn’t have a nice digital display; instead, it uses one digital readout to tell you what amperage you’re running.
The TIG duty cycle is lower than many of the other welders reviewed here but higher than many name-brand welders of the same size. Also, while the machine can weld DC TIG at low amperages, it doesn’t weld well at low amps on AC TIG. This would make it difficult to weld thin gauge aluminum effectively.
Like other welders listed here, this machine doesn’t come with a foot pedal, but it’s available as an add-on option.
Pros
- Dual voltage
- Advanced features
- Solid build quality & reliability
- Portable
- Can weld aluminum and steel
- Good value
- AC & DC TIG with pulse
Cons
- Only two options for adjusting the pulse
- Low duty cycle
- Foot pedal is only available as an add-on option
- Doesn’t weld well using low current on AC
6. Weldpro Digital TIG 200GD
Best for aluminum
WeldGuru Rating: 4/5
The Weldpro Digital TIG 200GD is a great option if you want to start aluminum welding without spending an arm and a leg on a machine. It gives you all the features you’ll need while still being easy to set up and use.
| Processes | GTAW/SMAW |
| Input Voltage/s | 120/240V |
| Current | AC/DC |
| TIG Duty Cycle @ Maximum Amps | 40% DC, 60% AC |
| Screen Type | Digital |
| Control Type | Analog |
| Starting Method | High-Frequency |
| AC/DC Pulse? | Yes |
| Pre & Post Flow? | Adjustable |
| Upslope/Downslope? | Adjustable |
| Foot Pedal Included? | Yes |
| Torch Included? | Yes |
| Machine Weight | 31 pounds |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Price Range | $$$$ |
The Weldpro Digital TIG 200GD is a dual-voltage welding machine that outputs AC and DC TIG. This means that you can weld aluminum, steel, or stainless steel. The control panel isn’t fancy but is well laid out and displays all the information you need without needing a digital LCD display.
The machine has all the advanced features you need if you want high-quality aluminum TIG welds. You can adjust the AC balance, frequency, pulse, and pre/post flow, which will let you dial in the welding to get the best result.
The only downsides of this machine are that you cannot connect a water cooler for the TIG torch and that the DC duty cycle is much lower than the AC duty cycle. Even with these minor downsides, this machine will serve DIYers, homeowners, or even small fab shops well.
Pros
- Dual voltage
- Advanced features
- Portable
- Well-laid-out control panel
- AC and DC TIG welding
- Includes everything you need out of the box
- Able to weld aluminum or steel
Cons
- No ability to connect a water cooler
- Duty cycle on DC TIG is low
Under-$1000 TIG Buying Guide
The low-cost TIG marketplace is getting crowded. These are things you should be thinking about while shopping.
Power Needs
- Input Power – Do you need dual 120/240 volt capability? If your chosen machine isn’t going to output more than 140 amps, you can get by with 120 power. If you need to move your welder around to different sites and aren’t sure whether you will have 120 or 240 power, you need dual input voltage.
- AC/DC – If you want to TIG weld aluminum, that’s an AC process and you need an AC/DC machine. If you’re only welding steel, a DC TIG machine will do.
Output Amperage
Thin sheet metal is the real province of TIG welding, due to its highly controllable heat level. MIG, flux core and stick arcs produce too much heat and burn through thin sheet. Welding thinner than 24 gauge sheet metal means reaching down to 5 amps or less.
At the other end of the output scale, 140 amps can weld 3/16-inch steel in a single pass and you can get that from a 120 volt input source.
Anything more is going to require 240 volts. For ⅜-inch steel you’ll need 165 amps and welding ½-inch material in a single pass will take 200 amps.
Options and Accessories
Optional process modifications include pulse modulation, different types of arc starting and adjustable AC balance control.
- Pulse width modulation allows adjusting the width of your weld bead. Pulse frequency helps control the quality and ease of welding. By pulsing the current on and off, it can be easier to weld uphill by allowing the weld puddle to cool momentarily.
- High-frequency arc starts make it possible to start an arc without touching the workpiece, by starting a momentary high-frequency current that causes the arc to jump. This can interfere with CNC machinery, phones and computers.
- Lift starting means a light touch on the workpiece, lifting the electrode to start the arc and doesn’t produce interference.
- AC balance is the relative amount of time spent in each cycle of alternating current, either less or more time on positive or negative polarity. This cleans surface oxidation to keep impurities out of the weld puddle.
Accessories like heat control pedals and water coolers are not included with some welders. Sometimes accessories need replacement with higher quality pieces.
Wrapping Up The Best TIG Welders under $1000
Best for Auto-Body Work – The Eastwood 200 Amp AC/DC TIG Welder is a great option if you plan to use the machine for any auto-body work. Its ability to weld at lower amperages but still deliver the power to weld ¼” material makes it a great choice for automotive welding jobs.
Best for Beginners – When you’re starting out and trying to learn TIG welding, it helps to have a machine that’s simple to set up and operate. It’s also nice to have a selection of advanced features. The Yeswelder TIG 200P fits this bill nicely. It has a simple, easy-to-use control panel and a suite of features to help you along on your welding journey.
Best for Advanced Features – One look at the control panel for the Primeweld TIG225X shows you that this machine has the most adjustable features out of any other welder on this list. The front control panel has a dozen knobs that allow you to adjust every aspect of the weld, giving you the best results.
Best for Sheet Metal – Most of the welders on this list are good for welding sheet metal, but I’ve selected the Everlast PowerTIG 185DV as the best. If you’re only going to weld steel or stainless sheet, this machine will do that without all the unnecessary bells and whistles.
Best for Aluminum – I picked the Weldpro Digital TIG 200GD as being the best on this list for aluminum welding. It has the advanced features you want, but the control panel makes adjusting those settings very straightforward. Being able to tweak your welding settings is an essential part of aluminum TIG welding, and this machine allows you to do that quickly and effectively.
Best Bang for Buck – The ArcCaptain TIG Welder does everything you want in a TIG welder with a nice digital display. The features are like what you would expect on a higher-end machine, which is why I’ve decided that it’ll give you the best bang for your buck. Just don’t expect the smoothest arc experience.