Yeswelder TIG-205DS Review – Is It Worth It?

The YesWelder TIG-205DS is dirt cheap for a TIG welder. But don’t overlook this bargain as it offers very good performance, making gas tungsten arc welding (“GTAW”) available to a broad swath of the market.

It’s the most affordable TIG welder with a high-frequency (“HF”) arc start. So, this machine more than satisfies a DIY hobbyist’s needs, but an included HF start elevates it from every other inexpensive machine.

In this article, we’ll discuss its pros and cons. But, we’ll also see how the TIG-205DS fares against the rest of the TIG welder market.

Review Summary

Technical Specifications

Rating Overview

• Performance: 4/5
  You can’t find better TIG welding performance at this price. Comparing the TIG-205DS with machines that cost up to ten times more doesn’t make sense. However, it provides performance on par with models two times its price.
• Power: 5/5
  This machine is designed for hobbyists and its 205A output at 60% duty cycle is more than enough power for all DIY projects. You can weld thin and thick mild and stainless steel. But most importantly, the 110V input outputs as much as 145A. So, you can perform meaningful work even at home.
• Features 5/5
  Considering the price of the TIG-205DS, YesWelder has provided more features than we’d expect. The inclusion of a High-Frequency start alone makes it a worthwhile purchase.
• Portability: 5/5
  The low weight of 23 lbs, dual voltage support, and an integrated handle makes the YesWelder portable and easy to move around. Plus, the ability to stick weld adds to its portability. You don’t have to transport argon bottles if you need to weld something on-site.
• Price: 5/5
  This is one of the best value welders, period. While such a rock-bottom price certainly raises concerns about its durability, it’s so inexpensive that its price makes it a bargain, even if it lasts for just one year. However, we will explain later in the article why YesWelder can offer this welder at such a low price without compromising quality.
• Manufacturer Support: 5/5
  The TIG-205DS is geared toward DIY use, so its 1-year warranty is in line with the price. YesWelder’s customer support is readily available if you have any issues with the machine or the shipping.

Overall Verdict: 4.5/5
There is hardly anything bad to say about this welder due to the low price that includes a High-Frequency start. The YesWelder TIG-205DS is a rare gem for beginners and hobbyists, allowing you to learn TIG welding without spending a fortune.

Where to buy:
You can buy the TIG-205DS from Amazon, however, you will usually find it cheaper on their own website with a current deal they are running, or, with a coupon like “WELDGURU10” which I found online.

What To Know Before Buying The Yeswelder TIG-205DS

Since there aren’t many negatives we can point out about the TIG-205DS, let’s discuss some of its limitations to help set realistic expectations. After all, it costs less than a used iPhone, meaning you can’t do everything like the more expensive machines. Plus, its foot pedal feature is limited, and we will cover that more in a bit.

It Can’t Weld Aluminum

If you are interested in welding aluminum, the 205DS is not for you. While this is a TIG welder, it doesn’t support the AC output necessary to weld this metal. This is more than understandable at this price because AC output welders cost at least five times the price. But this is just something to keep in mind. 

The “Foot Pedal” Doesn’t Control Amperage

The TIG-205DS’s foot pedal doesn’t vary the amperage output as you apply or release pressure. Instead, it functions as a simple on/off switch, just like the switch on the TIG torch.

So, you don’t have full foot pedal support. When I first saw that the 205DS had pedal support, I was taken aback. A foot pedal support at sub $300?

Really? But then I saw that it doesn’t offer a true TIG foot control experience and found it more realistic.

However, some foot pedal support is certainly better than none. It’s more convenient to start an arc with your foot than the torch button. This lets you properly hold the torch at arc ignition and achieve better control over the arc and shielding gas coverage when it matters the most – at the start.

How The Yeswelder TIG-205DS Stacks Up

Since this is an entry-level TIG welder with a low, low price, we can’t compare it to more expensive welders. But, keep in mind that some machines that cost five times as much don’t include an HF start.

YesWelder can sell this and other welders at such a low price because they manufacture and sell their equipment directly to users. By cutting out a “middle-man,” YesWelder keeps the costs down. They have become a popular brand for hobbyists and beginners in the last few years. Typically, they offer decent quality and many features at a low cost, which attracts many rookies.

Still, some competing models have similar features and power like YesWelder TIG-205DS. But, none provide the same value. For example, Primeweld TIG 200-D costs almost twice as much as the YesWelder unit and offers many of the same features. 

The Primeweld’s advantages are a 3-year warranty and true TIG foot pedal experience. So, if you need to weld thin metal and achieve maximum weld quality, the Primeweld has the advantage.

But, Primeweld is so expensive that it belongs in the next price tier. For YesWelder to compete with much higher-priced welders speaks of its price-to-value ratio. Both of these machines support an HF start, have high-duty cycles, and come with everything included. But one is much more expensive.

The table below outlines the differences between these two welders:

Best Features of the Yeswelder TIG-205DS 

Some may assume the YesWelder TIG-205DS is a basic machine based on the price tag. But the low price is not its only strong suit. So, let’s examine the most significant features that stand YesWelder apart from the competition.

Arc Quality

This little welder outputs a stable arc with a minor stutter at times. So, it performs similarly to more expensive welders like the Primeweld TIG 200-D we mentioned before. While you can get a more stable arc from a welder like Eastwood 200 DC TIG, it has a significantly higher price.

If you look closely at the TIG-205DS’s arc cone, you’ll notice that the light is a bit shaky, meaning that the arc is not surgically precise. However, it has the most stable arc you can get at this price. It’s stable enough to lay beautiful welds once you achieve the necessary eye-hand coordination, making this welder a good choice for beginners.

The stick welding mode also outputs a fairly stable arc, as expected in low-cost welders. Don’t expect it to run E6010 electrodes properly, but standard rods like E7018 won’t give you any issues. 

High-Frequency Start

The HF start we discussed already is not available at this price elsewhere. Typically, low-cost DC TIG welders offer lift arc start or, even worse, a scratch start.

The lift TIG arc start method initiates the arc once you touch the metal piece with the tungsten electrode and quickly raise it upwards. But, this is not the best way to achieve an arc because it may contaminate the weld with tiny tungsten inclusions. These inclusions create hard spots in a weld and often cause weld failure. 

An HF arc start is reserved for more expensive welders. It’s the cleanest way of starting a TIG arc because the tungsten electrode never touches the metal. The arc is formed between the electrode and the workpiece thanks to a high-frequency generator in the welder.

The YesWelder TIG-205DS has a reasonably consistent HF start. It successfully initiates the arc 99% of the time, but sometimes you may have to retry the ignition if it fails the first time. This happens even with more expensive machines, so it’s nothing to worry about. 

DINSE Connectors

Almost all sub $300 welders have integrated welding leads, which is not good. If you wish to replace the ground clamp, a torch, or the cables, you’ll have to open up the unit and rewire it manually. Such welders were never considered “serious” enough for manufacturers to even bother providing standardized DINSE connectors.

But this is changing, and nowadays, you see many entry-level machines with DINSE plugs. But even so, offering it at such a low price is still relatively rare. So, we are happy that the YesWelder TIG-205DS lets you switch leads with ease.

Digital Display

Like the DINSE plugs, digital displays are not commonly found at this price. The addition of a digital display perfectly rounds out the TIG-205DS as a hobbyist welder. That’s because you can precisely tune your amperage output and learn as you go.

Usually, cheap welders offer arbitrary numbers like 1-10 for power output. This is not a good practice because you can’t get a feel for amperage levels and how the material responds to different settings. By knowing exactly how many amps you are using and observing the produced results, you gain more experience and achieve better results.

Ease Of Use

The YesWelder TIG-205DS has one infinitely adjustable knob on the front and a button to switch between TIG and stick. You won’t even need the instruction manual with such a simple control panel. The digital display outputs your amperage while the knob is used to set the output power, and there is nothing else to it.

While this is undoubtedly a limited TIG welder (no advanced settings like TIG pulse, for example), this is helpful for beginners. If this welder were priced more, I would find a flaw having just two control points. But at this price, the absence of professional features is reasonable, and the resulting ease of use is welcome.

What’s Included

• YesWelder TIG-205DS
• 17-Series TIG torch, 13-feet
• Electrode holder, 10-feet
• Ground clamp, 10-feet
• Two-pin foot pedal,
• One set of TIG consumables (no tungsten electrode)
• 110V/220V adapter
• Instruction manual

Final Verdict

The YesWelder TIG-205DS is a no-brainer if you have a limited budget. The HF start will help you make better welds than any competing lift arc TIG welder, even if it costs more. Plus, the relatively stable arc, high amperage output, and long duty cycle satisfy most users’ needs.

Since this welder is built quite well, and comes with a 1-year warranty, it’s a true bargain at such a low price. So, if you don’t have the money for something like Eastwood TIG 200, consider this YesWelder model. You won’t be disappointed as long as you use it for hobbyist-level work.