Today, welding machines are used by professionals and DIYers alike. There are many types, almost as many as materials to be welded. These machines are also used in the construction of pipelines carrying critical fluids such as gas, water, and oil. However, not every welding machine is built for this demanding professional task.
Although relatively easy to operate, they require basic to expert welding skills and knowledge. In this article, we will present the best pipeline welders and discuss their operation, the types, and the factors that you have to take into account in its choice.
Other features: Kohler OHV Command CH730 engine, 3-year warranty
Lincoln Electric Ranger 250 Gtx is part of the Ranger line of engine-driven portable welders. The machine is designed for construction and farm use. You will get an 11,000 watts peak of current and 10,000 continuous. It’s also an enclosed case machine. The whole Ranger line has an enclosed case. This keeps elements such as the wind, the snow, and the rain out. It’s powered by a 23-horsepower Kohler Command CH730 engine. It runs on gas and has a 12-gallon fuel tank.
This device is similar to the Ranger 225. It has the same enclosed case as the Ranger 225. It has the same 23-horsepower Kohler engine and is gasoline-driven. Both have the same 12-gallon fuel tank, but this is AC/DC.
Other features: color LCD; two gas connections; Auto Spool Gun Detect
Multimatic 215 is also another multi-process welding machine that can be used for welding pipelines, using welding processes such as metal inert gas, known as MIG or GMAW, flux-cored process (FCAW), stick welding, also known as MMA or SMAW. It can also run the GTAW-DC welding process.
When running on MIG, it can work on thicknesses from 24 gauge to 3/8″ (0.6–9.5 mm) in carbon steel and aluminum from 18 gauge to 3/8″ (1.2–9.5 mm) using Spoolmate 100 or 150. On TIG, it can work on thicknesses from 24 gauge to 3/16 “(0.6–4.8 mm) in carbon steel. Meanwhile, for stick welding, you can run thicknesses from 16 gauge to 3/8 “(1.5–9.5 mm) in carbon steel.
Other features: easy-to-use interface; built-in gas solenoid valve and dual-gauge regulator with gas hose
The MIG process of the Multi-Handler 200 might be one of the best you will ever like most users have commented. It can run 16 gauge steel. The Auto-Set Elite and the performance is outstanding due to its inverter engine. It’s also lightweight portable and multi-voltage. You can plug it into 120 or 240-volt input power.
The multimatic 215 multi-process welder is a multi-process machine that can do MIG, TIG, and stick welding. This machine features a color LCD screen.
Other features: Non-touch Pilot ARC; ½ in clean-cut thickness
The LOTOS LTPDC2000D Non-touch Plasma Cutter is ideal for a maximum cutting thickness of 1/2 inch. Its maximum parting thickness is 3/4 inches. The multipurpose machine has a plasma cutter with 50 amperes maximum power, a TIG welder with 200 amperes, and a stick welder with 200 amperes.
Its TIG welder function which can produce 15-200 amps DC electrical current output can make high-quality TIG welding on stainless steel and precise welding of fine measuring materials. The MMA or electrode welder can produce 15-200 amps of power. It has a simple arc ignition, a stable arc for welding, and a beautiful welding shape. It has an adjustable arc heat current which can greatly improve the arc ignition function, suitable for welding with different types of electrodes.
Other features: color LCD
The MIG 210 LCD was just released by Weld Pro and has an awesome new feature set. This is a brand-new multi-process welder that’s capable of working by using the MIG, flux core, stick, TIG, and aluminum spool gun processes.
The color LCD shows you your current amperage and voltage reader. There’s also an instant display on the left that shows you your material thickness, the gas that you’ve selected, your wire size, and the current process you’re running. Pressing the large adjustment dial will take you into a menu where you can adjust things like your run and wire feed speed. There are several spot timer options as well as inductance settings.
Other features: generator-friendly; 20A–15A adapter
The Forney Easy Weld 140 MP is capable of MIG, TIG, and stick welding. This is a single-phase inverter multi-process welder. The input is 120 volts and the max output is 140 amps. This machine is designed to hold 10 pounds of gas. The right knob is for the wire feed speed. The selector switch allows you to choose and make stick or TIG welding. The left knob is for voltage and amps depending on what mode you are in.
For stick welding, you can use up to 1/8-inch electrodes. This is the perfect machine to learn the basics of welding and get experience with different processes. It’s ideal for do-it-yourselfers, maintenance and repair hobbyists, and metal professionals in construction fields.
When choosing a welding machine for professional construction use, a series of factors and characteristics must be considered. To help you, we are going to offer you some simple tips.
Of all the types of welding machines, electric arc welding machines Trusted Source Arc welding - Wikipedia Arc welding is a welding process that is used to join metal to metal by using electricity to create enough heat to melt metal, and the melted metals, when cool, result in a binding of the metals. It is a type of welding that uses a welding power supply to create an electric arc between a metal stick (“electrode”) and the base material to melt the metals at the point of contact. Arc welders can use either direct (DC) or alternating (AC) current, and consumable or non-consumable electrodes. en.wikipedia.org are the most widely used. They are versatile tools, capable of offering different types of welds depending on the electrode and the energy used for the process. Some of the processes and types suitable for pipeline welding are:
Before buying a welding machine, you should also look at the operating voltage. With 230 volts alternating current, you must secure the power connection. Most models can run on 240V/120V. We’re talking of the Lincoln Electric Ranger 305G and the Hobart Multi-Handler 200. However, some machines can work on as many input voltages as possible. The Miller 951674 Multimatic 215 can run on 110/115/120V and 220/230/240V.
If you are going to use the welding machine for small jobs at home, a device of about 120 or 140 amps will suffice. The ones with the highest power, those ranging between 250 and 300 amps, are suitable for more demanding use such as construction works. Hence they are the best-selling machines. Welders over 400 amps are used primarily in heavy industry.
The duty cycle is an important criterion when it comes to pipeline welding. But first what is the duty cycle? It is the time a machine can be operated without exceeding the limits of temperature its components can endure.
The duty cycle is measured using 10 minutes cycle. If a machine has a 40-percent duty cycle when running around 285A, it will be able to run continuously for up to 4 minutes. So, the higher the percentage, the better.
Check whether your welding machine comes with complete accessories. These should include the electrode holder and some electrodes. If not, you’d have to purchase some.
When choosing a welding machine, it must be manageable. Its weight should range between 20 and 50 pounds if it is an electric arc welding machine. It should also have a handle or strap for easy transport.
As pipeline welding is an outdoor job where you will have to be on the go with your welder, ensure you choose a compact and portable model.
Another important factor in welding machine design is the length of its cables. It is not advisable to extend the ground cable or the electrode cable. This can lead to security problems. The length of the power outlet cable should not be excessive, because in that case, the equipment will require more voltage to function.
In addition to the welding machine, some manufacturers also offer their customers accessories such as a welding shield, welding helmet, or slag hammer. Optionally, you can often purchase additional hose packages or foot pedals.
Welding machines don’t come cheap and you should have a means of protecting your investment. A warranty is always something you can fall back on when you discover an apparent factory problem. Most brands offer between 2 to 10 years on the machine and a lower number of years on the accessories, and spare parts.
The wide variety of welding machines means that prices are also very different. We can find good quality pipeline welders from as low as $400 to $3000 and more, depending on your budget and needs. The inverter models are expectedly some of the most expensive. The type and power of the welder are two of the factors that most influence its price.
The number of accessories it includes also influences the cost of a welding machine. A cheap welder is expensive when we must buy separately all the accessories necessary to work.
On the other hand, we may be overpaying just for the brand, when there may be cheaper welders of equal or higher quality from lesser-known manufacturers.
We find pipes in all areas of daily life. Be it as a drain pipe for a wash basin or as a pipeline for our energy supply, pipes are used everywhere. To connect these pipes, you can use screw connections or you can weld the pipes together. Here, we’re looking at the welding option.
What you need:
Here are some points you should know to expertly weld pipes:
Rated 9.9/10, the Lincoln Electric Ranger 305G is our Editor’s Choice. The machine is designed for construction and other heavy-duty use. It has outputs of 10,500 watts peak and 9,500 continuous. These are partly why it’s our all-round best pipeline welder.
Next up is the Miller 951674 Multimatic 215, our Best Multi-process Welder. Rated 9.8, the Multimatic 215 is also another multi-process welding machine that can be used for welding pipelines, with welding processes such as metal inert gas, known as MIG or GMAW, flux-cored process (FCAW), stick welding, also known as MMA or SMAW.
Finally, our best inverter model is the Hobart 500578 Multi-Handler 200. The Auto-Set Elite and the performance of this welder is outstanding due to its inverter engine. With a rating of 9.7, it is also lightweight, portable, and is a multi-voltage welder.
