Based on experience and extensive research, I found that the Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder 115V is the best welder for exhaust.
I am a welder who researched the best welders for the exhaust to help you find the best welder for your welding needs.
Welding an exhaust requires experience and a good welder to deliver an excellent job.
Thus, we’ve put together this comprehensive list to minimize the troubles and confusion in your selection process.
This article will guide you in making the best choice.
Overall Best
Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder 115V
- It comes with a sample spool of flux-cored wire and a material thickness gauge.
- Its wire feed speed ranges from 40-700 IPM and 50-740 IPM at no load.
- It offers a 5-position voltage control selector that adds a smooth and stable arc.
Best MIG Welder
MILLER ELECTRIC MIG Welder,120/240VAC,1 Phase
- It offers an advanced auto-setTM.
- It offers hook-and-loop cord wraps.
- It comes with a 10 ft. M-10 MIG gun.
Best Multi-Process Welder
Forney Easy Weld 261, 140 FC-i Welder, 120V, Green
- It is big enough to handle 2-pound and 10-pound rolls of wire.
- It offers an integrated handle with torch wrap and a 20A-15A adapter.
- It has an infinite voltage and wire feed speed control so that you can dial in the perfect weld!
Quick Overview of the 9 Best Welders for Exhaust
1. Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder 115V (Overall Best Welder for Exhaust)
2. MILLER ELECTRIC MIG Welder,120/240VAC,1 Phase (Best MIG Welder for Exhaust)
3. LOTOS TIG200ACDC 200A AC/DC Aluminum Tig Welder with DC Stick/Arc Welder (Best TIG Welder for Exhaust)
4. Hobart 500554 Handler 190 MIG Welder 230V (Best Heavy-Duty Welder for Exhaust)
5. LINCOLN ELECTRIC CO K2697-1 Easy MIG 140 Wire Feed Welder (Best Spot Welder For Exhaust)
6. Amico ARC-160D, 160 Amp Stick ARC IGBT Inverter DC Welder 115/230 Dual Voltage Welding Soldering (Best Stick Welder For Exhaust)
7. SUNGOLDPOWER 200Amp MIG MAG ARC MMA Stick DC Welder (Best Tough Cut Welder for Exhaust)
8. Forney Easy Weld 261, 140 FC-i Welder, 120V, Green (Best Multi-Process Welder for Exhaust)
9. Lincoln Electric 90 Amp FC90 Flux Core Wire Feed Welder and Gun,120V (Best Flux Core Welder For Exhaust)
Complete Details About the Top 9 Best Welders for Exhaust
Below are the top 9 Best Welders for Exhaust and everything you need to know about them:
1. Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder 115V
Brand
Hobart Welding Products.
Durability
It comes with a 5-position voltage control selector and adds a smooth arc at all welding thicknesses.
Maintenance
Frequently checking your cables is just as crucial for safety as maintaining this equipment.
Amperage
25 – 140 amps.
Duty Cycle
40% duty cycle.
Size
19 x 11 x 13 inches.
Weight
57 pounds.
The Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder 115V has a max power output of 140 amps. Such makes it a perfect choice for 24 gauge thin metals and metals up to ¼ inches in thickness.
It comes with a ground clamp, a 10-foot MIG gun, and all other needed equipment for welding.
This welding machine is lightweight and portable. Such makes it highly mobile.
This welder has five voltage settings, allowing you to set it to suit the metal thickness you are welding. Such makes it the best choice for welding exhaust.
The only major downside is that you cannot use this welder with a generator.
2. MILLER ELECTRIC MIG Welder,120/240VAC,1 Phase
Brand
Miller Electric.
Durability
It has a built-in gas solenoid valve, dual gauge regulator with gas hose, and sample spool of 0.030.
Maintenance
Inspect the gas hoses and fittings and make sure they are always secure.
Amperage
120 – 240 amps.
Duty Cycle
40% duty cycle.
Size
23.8 x 15.2 x 16.2 inches.
Weight
49.9 pounds.
The MILLER ELECTRIC MIG Welder,120/240VAC,1 Phase, can handle many different tasks due to its high level of durability.
This welding machine comes with an on-demand cooling fan. It is also tranquil when welding.
This welder has a dual voltage capability, making it suitable for 120v or 240v power outlets.
It comes with a ground clamp, a 10-foot work cable, and all other needed equipment for welding.
This welder is portable and lightweight for a high-end heavy-duty welder.
It is pretty expensive but offers an excellent reward for your cash.
3. LOTOS TIG200ACDC 200A AC/DC Aluminum Tig Welder with DC Stick/Arc Welder
Brand
Lotos Technology.
Durability
It comes with an HF start hand torch control and a precise foot pedal heat control.
Maintenance
It would help if you formed the habit of cleaning your liner whenever you change your wire spool.
Amperage
10 – 200 amps.
Duty Cycle
60% duty cycle.
Size
28 x 13 x 17 inches.
Weight
58 pounds.
The LOTOS TIG200ACDC 200A AC/DC Aluminum Tig Welder with DC Stick/Arc Welder is a dual-voltage welding machine with numerous excellent features. Such help prevents any heavy or stalled setting from being put to use.
This welding machine is an excellent choice for welding exhaust pipe because it produces AC/DC 200 amperage, which ultimately gives an industrial-grade performance.
This welder comes with heat-control welding through foot pedals. Such makes it very easy to use.
It is also lightweight and portable for small-scale industries and has an in-home welding exhaust system.
4. Hobart 500554 Handler 190 MIG Welder 230V
Brand
Hobart Welding Products.
Durability
It has seven voltage selections for better magnetics and infinite wire feed speed control.
Maintenance
Always dust it after use.
Amperage
25 – 90 amps.
Duty Cycle
30% duty cycle.
Size
12.3 x 10.6 x 19.5 inches.
Weight
68 pounds.
Top-notch quality and durability are what this Hobart 500554 Handler 190 MIG Welder 230V offers.
This welding machine is an excellent choice for automotive bodywork and exhaust systems. Such gives you a two-in-one welding purpose.
This welder offers speed control for wire feed, which permits the welding of thinner metals. Such makes it an excellent choice for welding various types of exhaust systems.
You can also use it with an outdoor generator.
The only major downside is that the 30% duty cycle might not be what you need for heavy-duty projects.
5. LINCOLN ELECTRIC CO K2697-1 Easy MIG 140 Wire Feed Welder
Brand
Lincoln Electric.
Durability
It has a 50 – 500 IPM wire feed speed control.
Maintenance
Always inspect the drive rolls and check the tension.
Amperage
10 – 200 amps.
Duty Cycle
20% duty cycle.
Size
20 x 15 x 16 inches.
Weight
62 pounds.
The LINCOLN ELECTRIC CO K2697-1 Easy MIG 140 Wire Feed Welder is a user-friendly welder with an excellent setup. Such makes it easy to use right after unpacking.
This welder can weld exhaust and other specialty metals up to 3/16 inches.
This welding machine offers an easy-to-use interface. Such lets you choose the thickness range and material for the best response.
It also offers an HF start and an on-demand fan that protects the machine and materials from contamination.
Yet, some users complain about quality control issues with this welder.
6. Amico ARC-160D, 160 Amp Stick ARC IGBT Inverter DC Welder 115/230 Dual Voltage Welding Soldering
Brand
Amico Power.
Durability
It incorporates advanced IGBT inverter technology with superior arc characteristics and has excellent arc stability.
Maintenance
Cover the welder when you are not using it.
Amperage
160 amps.
Duty Cycle
80% duty cycle.
Size
14.1 x 6.2 x 11.3 inches.
Weight
14.0 pounds.
The Amico ARC-160D, 160 Amp Stick ARC IGBT Inverter DC Welder, is a small welding machine with significant capabilities.
This welder has a dual input voltage setting and can run on a 115v or a 230v power input.
With 160 amps capacity, it churns out sufficient power to weld thicker metal sheets. But you can still use it for thinner metals.
It also has inbuilt voltage protection. Such help prevents voltage fluctuations.
This welding machine also has an LCD that helps you keep tabs on your welding settings.
In all, this stick welder is inexpensive and easy to use.
7. SUNGOLDPOWER 200Amp MIG MAG ARC MMA Stick DC Welder
Brand
SUNGOLDPOWER.
Durability
It has a selector switch for MIG gun or spool gun operation, making switching guns quick and easy.
Maintenance
Sometimes do apply grease to different parts of your welding equipment.
Amperage
110 – 220 amps.
Duty Cycle
60% duty cycle.
Size
19.6 x 9.4 x 14.9 inches.
Weight
42 Pounds.
The SUNGOLDPOWER 200Amp MIG MAG ARC MMA Stick DC Welder is among the most popular MIG welders.
The welder offers dual voltage capabilities. You can plug it into a 110v or a 220v power outlet.
This welding machine offers speed control for wire feed, which permits the welding of thinner metals.
It also comes with a 10-pound wire spool and a 118-inch MIG torch.
It is an excellent MIG welder for the exhaust pipe.
8. Forney Easy Weld 261, 140 FC-i Welder, 120V, Green
Brand
FORNEY INDUSTRIES INC.
Durability
It has infinite voltage and wire feed speed control so that you can dial in the perfect weld.
Maintenance
It uses more than 205 amps.
Amperage
140 amps.
Duty Cycle
30% duty cycle.
Size
16.7 x 12 x 8.1 inches.
Weight
19 pounds.
The Forney Easy Weld 261, 140 FC-i Welder, 120V, Green is highly durable and affordable.
It offers an enormous amperage range and a great duty cycle. Thus, at 90A, you can weld for 3 minutes nonstop before you will need to give the machine some rest.
The machine is lightweight and portable. It is an excellent choice if you move around a lot when welding.
This welder is also affordable.
9. Lincoln Electric 90 Amp FC90 Flux Core Wire Feed Welder and Gun,120V
Brand
Lincoln Electric.
Durability
The small, lightweight inverter design allows for portability, perfect for small weld jobs.
Maintenance
Frequently take off the covers of the welder and blow filled air into the welder’s units. Such will remove all dust and debris from the essential parts of the welding machine.
Amperage
90 amps.
Duty Cycle
30% duty cycle.
Size
11.25 x 5.75 x 17 inches.
Weight
16 pounds.
This Lincoln Electric 90 Amp FC90 Flux Core Wire Feed Welder is an excellent choice for contractors and at-home welders.
This welder has a colorful digital screen and a beneficial welding chart within the interior that helps you see and tweak settings to your preference.
This welding machine is excellent for many welding tasks that include exhaust welding.
Buyer’s Guide: What You Should Know Before You Buy
Below are the fundamental factors you should consider before buying a welder for exhaust:
Safety
Your safety is essential when welding.
Some welders come with a contactor or thermal overload shutdown. Such will cool the machine until you exhaust the trigger.
Duty Cycle
The duty cycle of a welder is how long it can run before you would need to shut it down to cool off.
You can’t do without the duty cycle of a welder. Welders made for heavy-duty jobs usually have longer duty cycles.
A 40% duty cycle welder is an excellent choice for exhaust tube welding. Yet, a 60% duty cycle is also okay.
Wire Feed
The speed of your welder’s wire feed is a significant factor. It will provide too much wire and spatter if the speed is too fast.
But if the speed is too slow, the wire will disappear when you touch the exhaust. Such will leave a messy weld.
A welder with automatic settings on the wire feed will usually adjust to the power output when you weld.
Power Input
When you weld, you usually plug your welder into a power source.
Exhaust welding does not require much power.
140v is perfect. Yet, welders with dual voltage input are also good picks. Such is because they are compatible with 200v power outlets.
Power Output
The welder’s power output determines the type of metals you can use when welding.
If your welder’s power output is high, you can use it on thicker metals. But that is not what you need to weld an exhaust.
Generally, a welder with 20 amps to 140 amps power output is your best pick for welding exhaust. You can use 140 amps for thicker metals and 20 amps for lighter metals.
Mobility
The weight and size of a welder determine its level of mobility.
Suppose you will be moving around frequently when welding. The lighter your welder, the better. But if you won’t be moving around, you can settle for a larger welder with greater output.
How to Stay Safe When Welding Exhaust
1. It is important to withdraw the pipe from the vehicle so you don’t damage the car when welding the exhaust.
2. Exhaust pipes are usually fragile, so do well to use a low amperage. A high amperage could burn the metal.
3. You need to clean the exhaust tubing well, so you don’t have much slag build-up and a less solid weld.
4. When welding exhaust pipes, always put on closed-toe welding boots. Such protects your feet from sparks flying from the welding.
5. Wear durable, long welding pants to protect your feet from sparks.
6. If you would be welding the exhaust pipes with a MIG welder, put on thick welding gloves to prevent your hands from getting burnt by the hot arc.
7. Wear welding goggles to keep your eyes safe from fumes and UV rays that are harmful to your eyes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you weld a rusty exhaust?
Yes, you can. But such is very unlikely.
The best you can do is to weld in a new section or patch a small hole.
Can you weld the exhaust while it is in a car?
Yes, you can. But it is better to detach the exhaust system to deliver a good job.
You can detach the exhaust in less than an hour.
Between welding and clamping, which is a better choice for exhaust?
Welding is always a better choice as opposed to clamping. This is because welding is much more robust, and the bond could last forever.