20 best inverter welding machines

Welding inverters are modern devices that greatly facilitated repair work and caused a significant leap in electric welding. With the help of special transformers of small dimensions, the weight of the inverter is several times less than the weight of welding generators, rectifiers, which were widely used earlier and significantly complicated the work process due to their weight.

When choosing the best models, we took into account the following important characteristics and indicators:

• Switch-on time at max. current (%) - the ability of the device to operate at maximum current as long as possible. The higher this indicator, the better, because from continuous work at max. current, the inverter may be damaged by overheating.
• Open circuit voltage (V) - output voltage of the device without load. The higher the open circuit voltage, the faster the welding arc forms and the more stable it is. Optimal indicator: 40-80 V.
• Arc afterburner - the presence of the arc forcing function at the welding device automatically adjusts the strength of the welding current during welding, increasing it if necessary. The function will be useful for professional welders and advanced users.
• Anti-stick is an important function of the welding machine, which recognizes the initial moment of sticking of the electrode to the metal and automatically resets the welding current and voltage, preventing electrode failure.
• Hot start - the function is in demand when igniting poor quality electrodes, when welding rusty metal and in the presence of power outages.
• Weight - the lower the weight of the unit, the easier it is to move it. This parameter is especially important if the inverter is planned to be moved frequently during welding.
• Price is an important indicator for any product. Ideally, the best product should be 100% worth its price.
• Reviews - the absence of frequent negative reviews on the quality of the welding machine, premature failure, etc. Reviews from online stores and specialized forums were taken into account.

The best inexpensive welding inverters

Inexpensive inverters are mostly amateur equipment designed for welding non-critical parts in a private house or summer cottage. As a rule, such machines have a minimal set of functions, low power and, accordingly, a small characteristic of the welding current.

5 Eurolux IWM-190

At home, there is always an application for the skills of electric arc welding, so the desire to master them is quite justified. The first step towards its implementation is the purchase of a welding machine, preferably affordable, easy to set up and unpretentious to working conditions. The IWM-190 unit fully meets these requirements. On the farm, they can cook almost everything - from a fence to a car body, the device supports 220V and is connected to a household power supply.

For an entry-level welder to be able to master it and put a more or less even seam, he will need a maximum of 1 hour, and then it's up to practice. More experienced users point out the drawback - short cords for the electrode and mass, but they themselves make a reservation that this is, rather, the fulfillment of the laws of electrical engineering. In general, even professional welders sum up that for a house, a summer residence and a garage, there is no better option for this cost.

Advantages:

• super lightness - 3 kg;
• metal case;
• low price;
• large switch key.

Disadvantages:

• "Toy" appearance.

4 Wester MINI 220T

This device has a lot of advantages: it is very compact (in height the size of a smartphone), and therefore convenient for storage and transportation, easily welds metal sheets up to 10 mm thick, copes with the most popular diameters (from 1.6 to 5 mm) of electrodes,"Knows" to automatically stabilize the voltage and is able to adjust to the welding current from 30 to 220A with an accuracy of 1A. A wider range of adjustments - from 250A - already have semi-professional models, which cost accordingly, and are not always appropriate for use at home.

Despite the fact that the inverter is designed for MMA welding, the seam is of high quality, "for centuries". From the responses of the owners, it is a pleasure to work with it, the functions "Anti-Stick" and "Hot Start" are very helpful. The design provides protection against overheating, against the ingress of scale inside the body and metal splashes on the operator's clothing. We also took care of the convenience of the worker: the specified settings are displayed on the LCD screen, two LED indicators indicate the status of the device, and there is a shoulder strap for carrying it. Almost every review confirms that the assembly is done neatly and from solid materials.

Advantages:

• digital indication of current;
• five welding;
• the best recommendations from professional welders.

Disadvantages:

• unreliable clamping of mass.

3 FUBAG IR 200

If such an indicator as the mass of the welding machine is extremely important for you, then we certainly advise you to pay attention to the model of German origin (made, however, in China) FUBAG IR 200. The mass of this inverter is only 3.8 kg, and the width is only 12 cm! This is one of the best (if not the best) indicators among modern inverters of this capacity. And the strength of the welding current FUBAG IR 200, meanwhile, is 200 A, which indicates sufficient welding efficiency for repair and summer cottage needs. The device can be freely put in the trunk of the car, welding can be performed without actually releasing the device from the "shoulder". Everything light and compact are the main advantages of the FUBAG IR 200.

This model also has the functions of anti-sticking, hot start and even arc afterburner. The latter function is useful for experienced welders who need automatic regulation of the welding current during operation. The FUBAG IR 200 is very easy to use. Stable arc burning is achieved by using the Arc-Force technology. It makes the process of droplet transfer through the arc gap clear and uniform. The only drawback that I would like to draw your attention to is not the highest operating time at maximum current, only 40%. In other words, for many, this is not a critical factor when choosing a device for "garage" needs.

2 Cedar MMA-200

Cedar MMA-200 is another quality model on our list of the best inverters. Produced in factories in China, but is of Russian origin. It has a high efficiency - 85%, there are functions of cold start, anti-adhesion and protection against heat load. The model is quiet, it is one of the quietest devices in our review. With Cedar MMA-200, you can make welding with a short arc. The fact that the device is manufactured by a Russian company is of great importance for those who are worried about warranty cases. In principle, there should be no problems with the delivery of spare parts and timely repairs.

According to user reviews, it can be seen that most often the Cedar inverter is praised for its compactness, mobility and great performance. This is one of the best options for garage and suburban welding. The relatively high price and low popularity of this device somewhat thicken the colors. Nevertheless, we did not find any negative reviews about the quality of work of Cedar MMA-200.

The domestic market of welding equipment is represented by a large number of companies that have gained popularity for the excellent quality of their products. Let's get acquainted with the most prominent representatives of this caste.

Resant. Supplier of professional welding equipment, headquartered in Latvia. Over the past ten years, the production of devices has been focused mainly on Russia and the CIS countries, where numerous branches of the company are located.

Svarog.A Russian manufacturing company with a history of only ten years. Despite such a “young” age, Svarog Group of Companies is a full-fledged competitor of foreign brands and successfully wins their share of the domestic market.

Aurora. Nominally a domestic manufacturer of welding equipment, whose production lines are located in China. It enjoys great popularity on the Russian market largely due to such series as OVERMAN, SPEEDWAY, ULTIMATE, etc.

Fubag. German manufacturer of professional electrical equipment for construction and repair, whose history began more than forty years ago. Currently cooperates with leading Asian concerns: Honda, Mitsubishi, Daishin, etc.

BLUEWELD. Italian firm founded in 1963. From the same year to the present day, it has been one of the most important players in the welding equipment market. Delivers products to the leading countries of the world, including Russia.

1 Resanta SAI-220

A very high quality modern device is offered by the Latvian company "Resanta". For a total of 8000 r. you get a welding inverter with an indicator for the duration of work at maximum current equal to 70%. That is, the device can work up to 7 minutes at maximum load. Most of the more expensive models can barely last 6 minutes. Add to this one of the highest in the budget class indicators of the maximum welding current of 220 A. It is known that the higher the welding current, the more productive the welding process is.

Resant SAI-220 also has such important functions as hot start, overheating protection system and anti-sticking. The weight of the device is also one of the lowest among competitors - only 5 kg. Many users have been operating Resanta SAI-220 for a long time and are not aware of any problems with breakdowns. Indeed, this is one of the best devices in terms of price and quality.

Welding inverters of the "Resanta" company are one of the best-selling in Russia and the CIS countries.

Advantages:

• Does not overheat
• Lightness and compactness
• Power
• Works even on low-power networks
• Excellent value for money and quality

Disadvantages:

• There are questions about the quality of the wires included
• Short wire to connect to the network. Featured by most users. However, one must take into account the fact that any welding cable should not exceed a length of 2.5 meters.
• There is no indication of the set current
• Dangerous of dust, like most modern inverters.

The best TIG welding inverters

TIG welding inverters are irreplaceable when working with products made of alloyed and carbon steels, as well as copper and aluminum alloys. Argon is an inert protected gas that practically does not enter into chemical reactions with molten metals. Welding in this way is characterized by a high seam quality.

4 ELITECH IS 200H

Dusty environments are the enemy of any inverter: small particles are quickly sucked in by the cooling fan and pollute the entire system. Water droplets and high humidity affect the appliance. If you intend to use the welding machine in an unheated garage or in production, it is better to pay attention to models with protection class IP23. Usually these are professional-grade welders, but the ELITECH line has a more affordable "semi-professional" IC 200H that can withstand dust and slanting rain.

Of course, this does not mean that you should cook the metal in any weather (electric welding in the rain is prohibited by safety precautions), but you can count on a longer service life of the unit. In addition, it is not afraid of network voltage drops up to 160V, since IGBT transistors are used as power switches. Confirmation of the durability of the device are reviews of owners who have been using inverters of this model for several years without any problems.

Advantages:

• slight splashing;
• soft arc;
• compactness;
• work from 160V.

Disadvantages:

• loud fan;
• short wires.

3 FUBAG IN 176

A worthy inverter operating in MMA or TIG welding mode is offered by the German brand FUBAG. In our roundup of the best TIG inverters, the FUBAG IN 176 has the lightest weight at just 4.5 kg and the most compact size. Compared to Resanta (18 kg), FUBAG is exactly four times lighter. In terms of cost, this device also outperforms its competitors, and in comparison with the same "Resanta", it costs the buyer half the price.

The functionality of the device, despite the relatively low price, is in no way inferior to competitors. It also has anti-stick, hot start and arc afterburner functions. A huge number of services for the repair of FUBAG tools and equipment in every major city of the Russian Federation and the CIS allow you not to worry about the warranty and post-warranty service of the device.

2 Resanta SAIPA-190MF

Resanta SAIPA 190 MF is a welding machine for professionals in their field. This is the most expensive inverter considered in the review. But the price in this case is justified. The device is capable of operating in two modes: gas-shielded arc welding with MIG / MAG wire and manual arc welding with disposable electrodes. Semi-automatic welding with this unit produces a high-quality, even seam, and the welding process itself is fast and with a high degree of metal protection with the help of gas.

Of the positive reviews about this device, first of all, it is worth noting maintainability, high-quality penetration (it easily takes metal up to 10 mm at 220V), and the availability of components.

Of the minuses, according to user reviews, there is a lack of a TIG torch in the kit, as well as short ground and electrode welding wires. Of the characteristics, the only significant drawback of Resant SAIPA 190 MF is the weight (over 18 kg) and dimensions of the device. But here you have to choose, either lightness and portability (there are cheaper options for this), or high performance and functionality.

1 Svarog TECH ARC 205 B (Z203)

For welding in a private household, a garage or a small car service, a device of Russian origin - Svarog TECH ARC 205 B is perfect. The operating time at the maximum current for this inverter is 80%! This is the highest figure in our review. At maximum load, the device can work as much as 8 minutes. No wonder Svarog TECH is called one of the most reliable and durable TIG inverters in the budget price segment.

Of the pleasant features of the device and user reviews, it is worth highlighting the presence of a display that displays all operating parameters and helps to carry out visual control. Absolutely all users note the easy ignition of the arc, the functionality and quality of the design of the device itself. Among the machines under consideration with argon-arc welding, Svarog TECH has the smallest weight - 8 kg and the smallest dimensions. So for frequent movements around objects Svarog is the best fit.

Svarog TECH ARC 205 B - the best ratio of price and quality.

The best mid-range welding inverters

Transitional equipment, widely used by both amateurs and professional welders. Unlike budget models, such inverters can have a number of additional functions, as well as combine several types of welding at once (more often manual arc and semi-automatic).

4 Torus 250 Extra

A worthy competitor to foreign analogues is the Torus-250 welding machine from the well-known Russian company Tor. Its predecessor, the Torus-200 inverter, received an award at an international exhibition in 2013, and today several lines of welders for home and industrial use are being produced. Among the advantages of the 250-ki is the ability to work with electrodes up to 3 mm from 220V, giving out an increased welding current of 250A with an on-time of 60%.And if the current is reduced, then the unit is ready to operate continuously (100% duty cycle), during a full work shift.

It is not surprising that the device is equally in demand by home craftsmen, as well as construction and auto repair teams, and is considered indispensable in the event of frequent job changes. With small dimensions (125X19X330 mm) and a weight of 5.7 kg, it cooks excellently, including thick (up to 15 mm) metal, with welding electrodes up to 6 mm in diameter with stable arc parameters. As befits a serious professional equipment, the device has a 3-year warranty and is certified by the National Welding Control Agency - when buying, you need to look at the marking with the NAKS designation.

Advantages:

• comfortable in operation for welders of all categories;
• thoughtful design;
• a large margin of power and current.

Disadvantages:

• no protection for polarized transistors;
• sensitive to moisture.

3 RESANTA SAIPA-165

Slightly weaker in characteristics relative to the category leader, but good-quality inverter for semi-automatic welding. Due to the lack of information about the real power, it makes no sense to talk about the magnitude of the welding current. We can only conclude that its maximum value fluctuates around 160 amperes, while the setting allows you to underestimate the characteristic up to 20. In terms of ergonomics, 11.5 kilograms of the inverter's mass should be noted: however, the entire line of products from RESANT differs in considerable dimensions and parameters weight.

The main disadvantage of SAIPA-165 is still the poor logistics of the company - it is very difficult to find spare parts and consumables for this unit. This is the main repulsive factor for consumers who praise the design itself, but fear problems after purchasing the devices from the Latvian company.

Advantages:

• low price;
• good welding ability;
• reliable "filling" that can withstand power failure.

Disadvantages:

• there are very few consumables and spare parts in the domestic market.

2 Svarog REAL MIG 200 (N24002)

A device designed for manual arc and semi-automatic welding of metal products. It is very popular on the territory of Russia, mainly for its outstanding characteristics. At not the highest price, this device has a full power of 7.7 kVA - not entirely economical, but it is possible to weld thick metal. With manual arc welding, the value of the welding current can vary from 10 to 160 A, and with semiautomatic - from 30 to 200 A. burn-through. All in all, this is an excellent inverter, the only real drawback of which is the lack of a standard electrode holder.

Advantages:

• very powerful apparatus;
• possibility of welding in manual and semi-automatic mode;
• simplicity and practicality in use;
• the ability to change the polarity of the current.

Disadvantages:

• no electrode holder included.

1 Aurora OVERMAN 180

Semi-automatic welding machine, which is the flagship of the Aurora company. Looking at the characteristics, you can understand why users in most cases prefer this particular model. Despite the power of 4.7 kW, the device supplies a welding current of 175 amperes, which makes it possible to work with a wire with a diameter of up to one millimeter.

Several convenient features set the OVERMAN 180 apart from a number of other semi-automatic inverters. The first is the ability to manually adjust the stiffness of the current-voltage characteristic depending on the type of metal being welded. Also noteworthy is the post-gas function - carbon dioxide is fed into the sleeve for a second longer than the welding lasts, in order to protect the seam from oxidation and subsequent weakening.

Advantages:

• high reliability of the device;
• possibility of flexible adjustment of the welding arc;
• the presence of a post-gas system.

Disadvantages:

• the wire feed speed is electronically controlled.

The best welding inverters for plasma cutting

An alternative to traditional electric welding equipment, plasma inverters have long left the lines of specialized production. Now these devices are also available for everyday use, finding more and more use in the everyday household sphere. Despite the fact that plasma cutters are capable of performing welding operations, their main purpose is the process of cutting metal, the thickness of which in some cases can reach more than ten millimeters.

3 RESANTA IPR-40

Achievement of Latvian production in the field of welding machines, a little weak in ergonomics, but very stable when performing cutting work. The main advantage of RESANT IPR-40 is the balance of operating parameters. The user can vary the value of the cutting current in the range from 15 to 40 A - the region of small values ​​is very important for the possibility of cutting metals with a low melting point. Control over all parameters is carried out using a pressure gauge provided on the front wall, which is standard for all products of this type.

But, despite all the advantages, RESANTA IPR-40 has a very significant drawback. Many consumers complain about the lack of consumables (such as nozzles and electrodes) in many cities of Russia. This is an obvious logistical problem for the company, resulting in general resentment, and, as a result, negatively affecting the prestige of the products.

Advantages:

• high cut quality;
• optimal balance of parameters;
• high degree of reliability;
• the ability to regulate the cutting current in the range from 15 to 40 amperes.

Disadvantages:

• disgusting company logistics - it is very difficult to get consumables;
• high price.

2 Aurora AIRHOLD 42

Aurora AIRHOLD 42 - one of the leaders in sales in the domestic market, a good plasma cutter not the highest price. The main quality of this inverter lies in the assembly - its reliability is beyond doubt. The same trend applies to performance. With a power of 6.60 kVA, the AIRHOLD 42 provides cutting currents ranging from 20 to 40 A at an air pressure of 4-5 bar. The device is capable of cutting sheets up to 12 millimeters thick, which is a standard (common) size.

The weakest point of the plasma cutter is the efficiency, equal to 80%. From the point of view of the layman, this does not play too much of a role, however, in terms of productivity (especially in comparison with more efficient devices), the presence of additional losses will be noticeable.

Advantages:

• high power (6.6 kVA);
• economical air consumption due to directional action (80 l / min);
• balance of performance.

Disadvantages:

• efficiency value (80%).

1 Svarog REAL CUT 45 (L207)

In fact, the most inexpensive plasma cutting machine on the inverter market is extremely successful. Of course, the nuances of use cannot be avoided, however, in terms of the main indicators, it more than suits consumers. Metal cutting takes place with high frequency current from 20 to 45 amperes under 4 bar air pressure. The maximum thickness of cut metal is 12 millimeters, an acceptable value found in the constraints of most competitive machines.

According to users, the most valuable qualities of the inverter are its small size, the accompanying lightness and good cutting ability.

Advantages:

• high level of efficiency (about 85%);
• small size and weight of eight kilograms;
• wide range of cutting current (from 20 to 45 A);
• attractive price.

Disadvantages:

• not identified.

The best premium welding inverters

Machines designed for professional welding, combining high power and associated characteristics (such as welding current or output voltage).There are often cases when three types of welding are found in one equipment at once: manual arc, semi-automatic and argon-arc, each of which has its own adjustable parameters. It is impractical to use such inverters for single work in a summer cottage or at home - they are focused mainly on workshops and small production lines.

4 Cedar MIG-300GD

"Kedr" MIG-300GD is a high-power, professional-level 300A machine for semi-automatic welding in shielded gases. It is characterized by convenient and simple operation, excellent component quality and performance. Welding values ​​are infinitely adjustable and in a wide range, accurately displayed on the digital display. Users of the inverter respond positively. The feed mechanism is considered sensible, the wire, according to them, is fed smoothly, and the seam is formed neat and visually aesthetically pleasing.

For effective cooling of the device and at the same time protection against contamination, a sophisticated system based on the principle of tunnel ventilation is provided. This solution makes the machine unpretentious and allows it to be used in dust-generating industries. The electronic control system is responsible for quick settings for any material and thus ensures a stable welding process. In general, the inverter fully justifies its cost, it is a reliable and thought out device to the smallest detail.

Advantages:

• power, productivity, resource reserve;
• extreme clarity of settings;
• comfortable swivel wheels;
• unpretentiousness.

Disadvantages:

• the preset mode cannot be changed.

3 BLUEWELD Megamig 300S

A machine of a completely different caliber, which is a real welding station for professionals. As a rule, BLUEWELD Megamig 300S is purchased for workshop equipment, since its capacity will be in excess in everyday life. Versatility is out of the question: the inverter is designed exclusively for semi-automatic welding. 11.5 kW of power produce up to 300 amperes of welding current, which makes it possible to weld large thicknesses of metal.

Actually, the main feature and, in some cases, a disadvantage is the ability to power the semiautomatic device from a three-phase network. However, both dimensions, and power, and weight have this - although the device has transport wheels, it was created more for stationary use.

Advantages:

• high power (11.5 kW);
• extensive setting range of welding current (from 20 to 300 A).

Disadvantages:

• high price;
• powered only by a three-phase network.

2 Aurora SPEEDWAY 175

Another striking representative of the Aurora company is renowned as one of the best universal inverters in its price range. Despite the active power of 4.8 kW, it allows you to cook manual arc, semi-automatic and argon-arc welding with a maximum current of 175 A. And if everything is more or less clear with the peak current, then it is quite difficult to understand its minimum values. Welding of thin sheet metal (from 0.8 mm) at a minimum (10 A) can be done only by the argon-arc method, since the minimum of the manual welding method is limited to 20 A, which can lead to the notorious burn-through.

If in terms of ergonomics problems usually do not arise, then it can be quite difficult for users to deal with TIG (argon arc welding). As for the rest, there are rare isolated complaints, which, as a rule, are of a purely subjective nature.

Advantages:

• versatility and versatility;
• the presence of post-gas supplied for three seconds after welding.

Disadvantages:

• difficulties in mastering argon-arc welding.

1 Fubag INMIG 250 T

The INMIG 250 T model has been produced since 2015, which undoubtedly testifies to its technical relevance. Due to the high rates of welding current in MIG / MAG mode (up to 250A) and duty cycle (60%), it can be used with equal success in continuous production, in auto repair shops and on construction sites.The panel of the robust metal case has a control panel, which is closed during operation with a transparent cover. A proprietary burner with a sleeve length of 3 m, a gas hose and an earthing cable are included with the device.

The device for supplying electric current is air-cooled, withstands high loads and guarantees a high-quality and durable solution to any welding task. The burner is connected in the most versatile and fastest way - using a Euro connector. For an instant and safe start of work, a useful function of currentless wire threading is provided, and the welding machine is protected from overheating and power surges by a multi-level system.

Advantages:

• high quality seam;
• two-roller wire feeder;
• everything you need for welding included;
• the minimum weight for a professional apparatus is 25 kg.

Disadvantages:

• possibly overpriced.