What Welder Do I Need?
MIG, TIG, stick, or flux-core — the right process depends on what you're welding, how thick it is, what power you have, and how much time you're willing to invest learning. This quiz scores your answers against each process and recommends the best fit with a specific machine, price, and the honest trade-offs most guides skip.
Question 1 of 6
What material will you weld most?
How This Quiz Works
Each answer assigns weighted scores to four welding processes: MIG (GMAW), flux-core (FCAW), TIG (GTAW), and stick (SMAW). The process with the highest combined score across all six questions is your recommendation. The scoring reflects real-world trade-offs documented in manufacturer specifications and welding trade literature — not marketing preferences.
Why "Who This Is NOT For" Matters
Every welding process has failure modes and limitations that the manufacturer doesn't emphasize. A MIG welder won't help you in a field without power. A TIG welder is wasted on a beginner doing fence repairs. A stick welder is wrong for sheet metal. Knowing what to avoid saves more money than knowing what to buy.
Related Guides
- Best MIG Welders for Beginners — full spec comparison of entry-level MIG machines
- Best TIG Welders for Beginners — AC/DC TIG machines for aluminum and steel
- MIG vs TIG vs Stick — deep comparison of all three processes
- MIG vs Flux-Core — when to skip the gas tank
- Welding Setup Cost Guide — complete budget breakdown by tier
- Best Auto-Darkening Welding Helmets — you'll need one regardless of process