Best Welder for Exhaust [2021] – Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

It is quite possible to have your car exhaust fixed from time to time. For that matter, a good welding machine is required that can deliver the best results. Exhausts are not usually very thick unless they are used with some heavy-duty machinery. Not every welding machine can fix the exhaust issues so you need some specific exhaust welders. This is where the best welder for exhaust comes into play. A welder is and should be a one-time investment as you don’t want a machine that can’t last for long.

Let’s check these machines and what they have to offer….

Comparison Table –Best Welder for Exhaust

Best Welder for Exhaust – Product Descriptions

1. Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder

Hobart doesn’t compromise on the quality of the device and not in the case of this exhaust welder as well. This 140 MIG welder is a great quality welder that is in high demand as well. It operates on a standard household current of 115V. It is perfectly designed to cover your exhaust welding needs having a versatile design. You can effectively use it for repairing household products, automotive working, and various farm projects as well.

Hobart 500559 MIG welder has a tapped voltage control selector with 5 adjustable positions. It gives the user an excellent arc tune irrespective of the thickness. This welder has been constructed with industrial-grade aluminum to help during heavy-duty load. Its gun is 10 feet long that eases the comfort level along with a clamped working cable. It also features a dual-gauge regulator with a built-in gas hose and solenoid valve. The hub spool can accommodate four to eight inches spools easily.

One can use this Hobart welder effectively for farm, ranch, house, and other fabrication projects. You can also use this best welder for exhaust in applications like bracket grills, mower decks, firewood racks, and fences. This welder is famous for its brilliant performance using a cast aluminum system of wire drive. You can quickly change the polarity and the sloped panel for ease of use. It has an easy setup with a three groove system.

Quick Features

• 57 lbs. product weight
• Stainless steel and aluminum material
• 5-position voltage control
• Welds 24 gauge up to ¼ inch mild steel
• 40 – 700 IPM wire feed speed range
• 20% duty cycle at 90 amps

Pros

• Operates at standard household current
• Very easy startup
• Stable performance and smooth arc
• 5-year product warranty
• Can weld any type of material

Cons

• Requires electricity source.
• Don’t use a generator for electricity

2. Lincoln Electric Weld Pak 140 HD Welder K2514-1

If you are having some trouble finding the best welder for exhaust, this Lincoln 140 HD Welder can do the job perfectly for you. It is a great welder for both beginners and expert users. It is a versatile machine that can be used for exhausts and other household and professional tasks. It provides a great value for money and worthy of becoming your first choice welding machine.

Lincoln K2514-1 Welder is also lightweight compared to some other top exhaust welders weighing 71 pounds only. This also makes it a portable machine that can be easily shifted from place to place. You can easily operate it at household current, i.e. 110V. With this welding machine, you can work all day long without constant interruptions. It will only stop two to three times for rest during all this period.

There is a gas regulator that helps it to run as a MIG or flux core welder. It is designed in such a way that both beginners and expert users can use this welding machine with ease. It is a refurbished product but it is completely tried and tested like any new product. The whole refurbishing process includes basic cleaning, functionality testing, inspection, and repackaging.

Quick Features

• 71 lbs. product weight
• Works for both beginners and professionals
• Stainless steel material
• 110V voltage

Pros

• Suitable for all users
• Operates at standard household current
• Adjustable drive
• Brass to brass gun for more conductivity

Cons

• Utility card isn’t included

3. LOTOS TIG200ACDC 200A Aluminum TIG Welder

LOTOS 200A Aluminum TIG Welder is one of the most compact welders that operates on the dual-voltage mechanism. It is also a versatile machine that provides the operator with a wide array of options that you don’t find in most welders. It can provide the desired results under a wide range of control options and demanding situations. It has a smooth operation by virtue of the built-in square-wave inverter.

This machine is regarded as the most accurate when it comes to aluminum welding. It allows the users to switch quickly when required from 220V t0 110V using the adapter plug. This helps in the production of AC/DC 200amps for the welder machine. It is a highly affordable welding machine that delivers industrial-grade performance and can be self-taught as well. You also get a built-in square-wave inverter 200 SC/DC making it an MMA Stick Welder.

The operation of this LOTOS TIG Welder is based on the dual voltage of 110/220 V with a dual-frequency of 50/60 Hz through pigtail. There is an HF torch control with an HF start and heat-controlled welding through a foot pedal. You can use this welder on aluminum, mild steel, welding steel, and certain other materials.  It is best suitable for small-scale industrial, and home applications and result in great welds.

Quick Features

• 58 lbs. product weight
• 200A AC Square-wave inverter
• 80% power efficiency
• Automatic dual voltage
• 15 – 200AMP DC Electric Current Output

Pros

• PAPST advanced cooling system
• Dual voltage input
• Pedal is included
• Easy to start and use
• 1-year warranty

Cons

• No MIG option

Best Welder for Exhaust – Buyer’s Guide

Like any other machine, you should be definitely interested to know about the exhaust welder you want to buy. Therefore, it is essential to know about the features required before purchasing the best welder for exhaust. Here are several important things that you need to consider in an exhaust welding machine before purchase.

1. The Power

There are two main factors regarding power, i.e. power output and power input. Power output depends on the kind of work you will be doing and what is the frequency of that work. For minor tasks and projects, a 100 amps welder is more than enough. But for a heavy application, you need a welder with 140 amperage value. In the case of power input, it should be a little lower than output power, i.e. a 140 amps welder will be needing 120V to power.

2. Portability

Exhaust welding machines can vary in weight depending on their size. Bigger welding machines have high output power but they are heavy as well. These machines also take a bit more space than normal. If you need to shift your machine from time to time, you should consider the one with a smaller size. Remember, some small-sized machines can also deliver higher power outputs.

3. Duty Cycle

The duty cycle is the amount of time within 10 minutes that a welder can perform without overheating. It is expressed in percentage. For example, if a welder has a 40% duty cycle at 100A, it means the welder can operate non-stop for 4 minutes before requiring 6 minutes to rest. A lower power output allows the user to weld for longer periods without requiring rest.

4. Safety Features

When buying a machine for exhaust welding, one must look for appropriate safety features. Good exhaust welders always have built-in safety features for maximum protection while welding. Thermal overload protection is a must-have safety feature one should look for. It helps to prevent you from going beyond the mentioned duty cycle by shutting the machine automatically at the end of the cycle. Another important feature is the built-in contactor that instantly cools down the wire till the trigger is pulled.

5. Wire Feed Speed

Wire feed speed is the speed at which the welding wire is fed to the gun. The wire feed speed must be adequate, if it isn’t, the welding wire will disappear when it touches the metal resulting in an uneven, messy, and poor weld. If the speed is too high, it will result in wire stretching from the gun and will cause wire spattering problems. The best welder for exhaust always has the automatic wire feed settings for speed adjustments according to the power.

Best Welder for Exhaust – FAQs

1. Is it possible to MIG weld stainless exhaust?

It is definitely possible to MIG weld stainless exhaust but not much easy. You need to use a gun liner in which regular MIG wire has never been used for a long-lasting weld. You also need the right kind of shielding gas in order to bond stainless with MIG.

2. Can you weld an exhaust pipe?

Yes, you can weld an exhaust pipe with almost every welding machine depending on its amperage output. If you have a heavy-duty welder, it might be not a good idea to weld such a thin material with this sheet. You can still get the job done with small spot or tack welds.

3. Is it possible to use a Stick Welder for an exhaust pipe?

Yes, it is possible but normally, the results are not much encouraging. It is better to use a 6011 rod with a stick holder to lower the chances of weld leakage.

4. Is it better to weld or clamp the exhaust?

Welding can provide you a much stronger bond than a clamp. This in turn affects the overall life of the exhaust. Moreover, it is not hard to weld before you attach the clamp but once you did, it will make the job difficult.

5. Can you use an ARC welder for exhaust?

In the case of old exhaust, using an ARC welder will not have decent results. It will work to some extent but the weld will surely have slag holes and leaks.

The Bottom Line

All the above-mentioned best welders for exhaust consist of distinctive and remarkable features. All of them have the capacity to meet your requirements and produce great results. We have made your job easier by reviewing the top products regarding the best welder for exhaust. The mentioned products enable you to perform great welds that suit the best according to the desired applications. We hope that you can easily figure out which one is in line with your demands.