Eight Questions to Ask Before You Buy
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What metal and what thickness will I weld most?
Start with the parts, not the machine. Hinges, tower bolts, brackets and lock cases are mostly mild steel strip and sheet of modest thickness, and MIG welding handles them quickly and cleanly. Brass fittings are a different job: brass gives off zinc fumes when heated, so it is usually brazed or TIG welded with a bronze filler, with good ventilation. If brass is a regular part of your work, make sure the machine you buy can do TIG.
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Is the machine for production or for the tool room?
A production bench that joins the same bracket hundreds of times needs speed, and a MIG machine with a wire feeder does that best. A tool room that repairs press tools, dies and fixtures needs control and flexibility, so a stick (ARC) inverter or a TIG machine is the better buy there. Many Aligarh units end up needing one of each.
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How long will the arc actually run in a shift?
Duty cycle tells you how many minutes out of ten a machine can weld at a given current before it has to cool. Paragweld's industrial machines are rated at a 60% duty cycle at their rated output. If your welders run the arc for long stretches, choose a machine with some headroom above the current you usually use, so it runs cooler and lasts longer.
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Does my unit have a proper three-phase supply?
Paragweld machines are designed for three-phase 415V input with a tolerance of ±15%, which handles the ordinary voltage swings of an industrial area. Before you order, check that the supply to the welding bench is three-phase, that the cable and breaker are rated for the load, and that the earthing is sound. Poor earthing causes more trouble than most buyers expect.
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Do I need more than one process in one machine?
Small units rarely have room or budget for three separate machines. The Paragweld pulse TIG/MMA AC/DC series combines TIG and stick welding in one machine, and its AC mode lets it weld aluminium as well as steel and stainless. Pulse control also keeps heat down on thin decorative hardware, where burn-through spoils the part.
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Will I be cutting metal as well as welding it?
If you cut sheet blanks, templates or strips, an air plasma cutter saves hours compared with shearing and grinding odd shapes. A compact model such as the Paragweld CUT 60 suits the thin material common in hardware work.
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What will consumables cost me through the year?
The purchase price is only part of the cost. Count wire, electrodes, shielding gas, contact tips and nozzles as well. Matching welding wire and electrodes from a maker who understands your machine helps keep the arc stable and spatter low, which also cuts the time spent grinding finished parts.
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Who helps me when something goes wrong?
Ask this before you pay, not after. Find out how troubleshooting works, how spare parts reach you and who will answer the phone. Paragweld supports its Aligarh customers directly by phone and WhatsApp and sends spares from the factory.
Machines That Cover Most of This Checklist
Once you have your answers, these machine families are a good place to start:
A Practical Starting Setup for an Aligarh Hardware Unit
A typical small unit making hinges, brackets and bolts could start with a compact MIG machine for production welding, a stick inverter such as the Paragweld ARC 200 for fixture and tool repair, and a small plasma cutter if sheet cutting is part of the job. A unit that also works on brass, stainless or aluminium fittings should add a TIG machine, preferably one with pulse control. Buy in stages if you need to, but plan the power supply for everything you expect to own in the next few years.
Mistakes Aligarh Buyers Can Avoid
- Buying on amperage alone: a bigger number is no help if the machine is wrong for thin sheet.
- Ignoring duty cycle: a machine run past its rating trips often and wears out early.
- Skimping on cables and earth clamps: loose connections cause an unstable arc and poor welds.
- Forgetting ventilation: brass, galvanised and plated parts give off fumes that need extraction.
- Buying without a support route: a cheap machine with no one to call is expensive in the end.
Get a Recommendation for Your Unit in Aligarh
Send us a photo of a typical part, its material and your daily output, and we will suggest a machine that fits. You can also explore the full Paragweld product range before you call.
Call us at +91 9824099621 or email paragltd@yahoo.co.in and we will help you choose the right welding machine for your work in Aligarh.
