Prices & buying smart
Why are some welders $200 and others $2,000?
Quick answer
The gap is duty cycle at real amps, arc-quality engineering, component lifespan and the service network behind the badge — not just the amp number on the box. Cheap machines quote maximum amps nobody can use; expensive ones deliver rated output all day and parts for a decade.
What you actually pay for
- Sustained output: duty cycle at working amps
- Arc electronics: stable low-amp arcs, clean starts
- Componentry: IGBT/MOSFET quality, cooling design
- Consumable ecosystem: torches, tips, liners available locally
- Service network: warranty that answers the phone