29 Must-Have Welding Tools and Accessories List

by James Anderson | Last Updated on February 17, 2023

Before you start learning to weld there is something important that we miss out which is the welding accessories. Welding requires plentiful of welding hand tools, accessories, welding protection equipment, clamping and marking tools, power tools, measuring equipment for a great start of your welding career.

Welding hand tools are your constant companions when joining the joints of uncoordinated metals so it is indispensable to prepare a welding tools list before welding. Before getting into the welding tools list, let’s know what are welding tools and equipment and why is it necessary to have welding accessories.

What are Welding Tools and Equipment?

Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins two metals together permanently and tools that are used to help smooth out joints, to clean metal surfaces, measure and leveling objects, personal safety kits are known as welding tools and materials.

What makes Welding Accessories Mandatory for Welding?

Welding accessories are important because they are your constant assistants when you are welding. To get the most out of your work you will need welding tools and equipment to hold your metal at a perfect position, melt your metals, and trim the wires. Moreover, welding tools are used to check the thickness of your workpiece metal and help maintain the quality of your welds. These tools also certify that you are completely safe when you are busy welding and clean up the weld to clear up slag once the weld is completed. Here are some of the beneficial welding tools that are necessary to start your welding.

1. Welding Helmet

Welding helmets are an absolute must-have to cover up your face completely to protect yourself from excessive heat and sparks. Helmets also protect your face from any sudden bursts of flame which can injure you seriously.

2. Safety Glasses

Cutting and grinding used to prepare materials is intense and often helmets are not enough. So safety glasses are useful especially for fine welding when the helmet exterior makes it difficult for you to see what you’re doing when you’re working.

3. Welding Gloves

Your hands and wrists are in direct contact when handling the tools and hot metals. Gloves are an essential safety tool needed to tackle the intense heat of welding. Gloves can keep your hands clean and help pickup tiny or thin objects easily inclusive of ensuring your maximum protection.

4. Welding Jacket

A heat-resistant leather jacket or a welding apron is important because welding usually involves sparks and molten metal shooting in all different directions. Make sure the protective clothing is not made of synthetic material.

5. Steel Toe Welding Work Boots/Shoes

Why damage your feet when you have welding work boots that save you? Steel toe welding work boots can protect welder’s foot from major injuries, swelling, sparks, or fire accidents. These boots are different from random boots as they are electrically safe, fully waterproof, oil and fire-resistant, and comfortable as well.

6. Welding Apron

Welding aprons are heat resistant and save welder from sparks, electric shocks, molten gases that are produced constantly when melting metals. Aprons come in different prices, quality, and material. Make sure you get a welding apron that serves your purpose best.

7. Welding Machines

Welding machines are available in different sizes from small to large depending on your workplace or the size of your work. There are bountiful different types of welding machines but the most common types of welding are MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux- Cored. Each welding machine has its specific pros and cons and can be selected depending on the use of energy sources, metals intended to weld, adjustability, thickness, and strength of the material.

8. Ear Protection

Protect your ears by wearing earmuffs or earplugs as the welding process produce a lot of noise.

9. Welding Table or Workbench

Welding table provides a platform to keep all your welding equipment organized and close to your hands which ensures you waste the least time in finding those. Besides welding table welding carts are user-oriented when moving machines and heavy welding tools from one place to another.

10.Wire Brush

Before welding on to any surface it is necessary to clean the surface first. It helps clear up the slag wire and scrub the area around the weld wire brush is extremely beneficial to make your surface as smooth as a smoothie.

11. Soapstone

Soapstone is a great tool that you can mark directly on the metal and are easy to see even when the metal gets hot.

12. Pliers

Pliers are great for snipping off the wire can also use them to remove the nozzle to corroborate a smooth gas flow.

13. Sheet Metal Gauge

This tool is very useful when you are not sure about the metal’s thickness. It lets you decide whether or not a piece is right to use in a model.

14. Welding Magnets

Welding magnets help to ensure two pieces don’t slip out of place in the process of welding. They are quite easy to use and allow you to work more safely and freely with both hands.

15. Speed Square

Speed square is a handy tool for measuring angles when you are working with steel. This tool is superb for measuring 45 or 90 degrees.

16. Welding Clamps

Clams are used to secure metal tightly in place before welding. C-clamps, Vise-Grips, pipe clamps are different types of clamps and you may need lots of them. It features a 3.25-inch jaw opening.

17. Welding Nozzle Gel

Often spatter keep sticking to the tip of your gun. To prevent gas flow and reduce the quality of your welds applying just a little bit of gel will ensure a finer quality of your weld.

18. Angle Grinder

Angle grinder is a great tool to confirm there are no gaps between the two metal pieces that need to be joined and also helps reduce noise so that you don’t disturb your neighbors.

19. Scribe or AWL

This welding tool lets you aim your welding flame at the right spot throughout the process. It can help you to keep track of leaving marks on the metal.

20. Metal File

A metal file is used to give precisions to the small metal. It’s a very cheap tool with great efficiency.

21. Squares

Carpenter squares are great for checking joints and marking pieces to be cut.

22. Tape Measure

Measurements are crucial for accuracy counts. A tape with a magnetic dual-end hook is of great help as it allows you to take measurements without the help of another person.

23. Metal Cutting Saw

All of those angles and tubes aren’t going to cut themselves so chop saw is an essential tool for swiftly cutting metal pieces. The blades of this chop saw are replaceable and you can also use it for angle cuts while welding. A specialized saw called miter saw is available to cut steel and aluminum at different angles. For cutting metals, metal cutting band saw is a powerful tool to shape a substantial amount of metals in unusual sizes.

24. Cutting Torches

Cutting torches are prominent for cutting applications. These tools are capable of cutting and heating a variety of metals. Cutting torches can be extremely dangerous as they produce flame up to 3,480 degrees Celsius. Cylinders of fuel gas and oxygen, two pressure regulators, two gas hoses are used to heat metals and cut them down.

25. Oxy Acetylene Setup

A setup that is used to do bend, cut, weld, etc. These processes use fuel gases (or liquid fuels such as gasoline) and oxygen so you need to be very cautious as it can lead to deadly accidents.

26. Fire Extinguisher

For most welding, a combination extinguisher (Class A, B, and C) is best. Welding and cutting operations produce smoke, spark, and slag which could lead to fire accidents at any time. Make sure your workplace has a fire extinguisher that is approved for the types of fires that may occur.

27. Framing Jig

Framing jig is beneficial to create a square frame. By using framing jig it’s easier to tighten your work-piece together and start your welding. It’s not a mandatory tool for beginners but you can get it for further use.

28. Adjustable Wrenches

An adjustable wrench also called an adjustable spanner which can be used to loosen or tighten the adjustor of a gas welder. It has a “jaw” which can open to 1.5 inches and of adjustable size.

29. Chipping Hammer

Chipping hammer is a light-weight tool used to remove welding slag from a weld and can be easily positioned to break vertical and overhead surfaces.

These are some of the must-have welding tools that you need before you start welding. Although some of them might seem quite expensive but as you know the famous saying “Welders make more money than philosophers” you better invest some today to get rich tomorrow. So now you are ready to sit down, roll up your sleeves, and throw some sparks.