Machines

What to look for

Size the machine to the thickness you weld most and the power you actually have: single-phase inverters suit home and light-fabrication work up to around 8-10mm, while heavier or all-day production usually wants three-phase and a higher duty cycle. Check the duty cycle at the amperage you'll really run — a 200A set rated at 60% will weld far longer between cool-downs than one rated at 20% — and factor in what comes in the box (torch, regulator, leads) plus whether you need multi-process MIG/TIG/MMA flexibility or a dedicated single-process machine.