5 Favorite Budget Welding Tools

[@darkwinter6028]

I’ve never had a hand tool (ratchet/socket set, screwdrivers, etc) from harbor freight fail on me. Cordless tools? Yup... died in 6 months, with minimal use. But hand tools just haven’t failed on me.

[@tonylawton6513]

When buying gloves i like using tig gloves on my right hand and i have a big thick leather oven glove thats wrapped in a fire blanket for my left hand i love the feeling i get with the nice soft tig glove , i like to feel the trigger on my mig gun, and the best bit is everytime i go get a new pair i put two right-hands together not bothered about the left one, no sales man has cottoned on to this yet, i feel bad lolololol.

[@practicalman45]

Bulk gloves, yes, but if you can choose ones sewn with Kevlar thread. The ones I switched to were like $4/pr (by the dozen..) instead of $3.50/pr for the identical same brand but cotton thread sewn ones. The Kevlar thread sewn ones last me 4 times longer. The cotton thread just doesn't like welding sparks and were often falling apart in one day.

[@nicholasbentley7351]

A metabo will outlast any grinder. Yeah makita or dewalt or ryobi will last about the same, but the reallly high end stuff is gonna outlast em all threefold.

[@lawrencedilworth9753]

Amen. Money wasted on cheap tools will buy you ONE good Metabo that will outlast the cheap ones 5 x

[@markdog3355]

I bought 3 cheap grinders in my life. All 3 died within 5 minutes of use. 2 were $20 Princess Auto specials, and one was a $25 Hitachi on sale. My 6 Bosch grinders, $50 each on sale, all work great after 6 years of non professional use.

[@jamestaylor8217]

When teaching apprentice classes, Would always recommend buying cheap tools at first. Then see what wears out and what you use the most. As they wear out, replace them with quality. You have the right idea. Thanks.

[@intjonmiller]

Cheap grinders have far less power and really cheap bearings. You can hear it by just spinning them by hand at the store. Ryobi, Ridgid, and Milwaukee, for instance, are all made by TTI, but with three different grades of motors and bearings. Cheap bearings means they're louder from the start and they overheat faster. Nicer grinders can also have better ergonomics and variable speed. They are truly **not** the same.

[@KUGW]

I buy TIG gloves because they are thin and use them for everything, they have nice feel to them... I just dont use them on a grinder lol

[@frigginpos]

Some people don't understand, don't use a bolt cutter on a hardened steel shack of a lock. They are not made for that.

[@politicalpartyagnostic268]

YAY!!! Great Tips!!! Thank you!!

[@matttora106]

I love me my cheap riggers gloves best things for welding

[@frigginpos]

The grinders will last longer when you buy the appropriately balanced disks. Extremely less wear on the tool. Cost is more, but life span of tool is absolutely increased.