Decisions? Decisions? Your Guide to Building Your Welding Kit!

At Earlbeck Gases & Technologies, we know that quality welding comes from practice and skill- and while you can’t buy experience, you can invest in quality tools that make the job smoother. For over 100 years, we've helped welders—both professionals and students—achieve excellence by providing them with the best equipment in the industry. As a leading welding supply company and welding school, we believe in setting our students and customers up for success from the very beginning!

So whether you’re just starting your career or just looking to refresh your kit, here are our recommendations on the basics! This list features brands and tools we trust so you can make informed decisions!

Welding helmets protect your face and eyes from sparks, debris, and harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiation. A quality helmet is essential for both safety and comfort during any welding job! We recommend helmets featuring auto-darkening lens technology for thir ease and convenience!

Miller: Known for their advanced auto-darkening technology that provides welders with seamless transitions between light and dark, Miller helmets offer excellent clarity, comfort, and large viewing areas. Perfect for welders who prioritize visibility and accuracy during their work. Miller helmets also feature ergonomic designs that reduce strain, ensuring long-lasting comfort.

Lincoln: Lincoln Electric helmets are trusted by welders for their strong  construction and innovative features. Designed to withstand tough welding environments, with high-quality optics and auto-darkening features, makes them a top choice. We love the Viking 1740 series for it's 4C lens tech that offers perfect 1/1/1/1 optical clarity, eliminating color saturation and imperfections to reduce eye strain and improve weld quality.

Weldmark: Known for their affordability without compromising on protection, these helmets offer welders a blend of classic reliability mixed with modern technology, making them a solid choice for welders at all experience levels. We love their Steel Works Auto Darkening Welding Helmet- it's an economical option for welders looking for value with clear lenses and dependable auto-darkening filters. 

Optrel: This Swiss company has a knack for designing some of the most comfortable and innovative equipment. Our favorite of their helmet offerings is the Helix 2.5. This is a slide-up welding helmet with a huge panoramic field of vision. Two visor positions allow you eye protection when welding and then a crystal clear view when grinding or doing other tasks! It's built sturdy for welding in the toughest conditions- with a light level of 2.5 for welding and a shade range from 5 to 12, it’s the ideal choice for a wide range of applications!

Safety should always come first, and a good pair of welding gloves is the foundation of personal protection. Designed to protect your hands from heat, sparks, and molten metal, these gloves are essential for staying safe on the job. In addition to gloves, we also think fire resistant sleeves are a great safety choice!

Tillman: Tillman gloves are renowned for their exceptional comfort and protection. Made from high-quality leather, they offer great dexterity while keeping your hands safe from the intense heat generated during welding. If you're looking for a good all-purpose pair from them then their 48M MIG/TIG Gloves fits the bill. We also recommend their 1001 Shoulder Split Stick Gloves and their Leather and FR Cotton Sleeves!

Miller: These welding gloves are built with both protection and comfort in mind. They feature flame-resistant materials and are engineered to withstand high temperatures, making them ideal for welders working in demanding environments. Miller gloves also prioritize fit and flexibility, allowing welders to maintain precision and control even while handling intricate tasks.

Revco: Their Black Stallion line is known for superior craftsmanship and heavy-duty protection. Designed for welders who work in intense heat conditions, Revco gloves offer excellent durability without compromising comfort. With reinforced stitching and rugged materials, these gloves are built to last, ensuring that your hands are protected during long, tough jobs.

Angle grinders are some of the most versatile tools in a welder's arsenal. They can be used to cut metal, grind down and smooth welds, bevel edges for strong joints and polish surfaces, making them invaluable for preparation and finishing work. They can also be used for shaping rebar, notching, slotting, and even creating detailed metal sculptures!

Metabo: If you need a grinder that can handle the most demanding tasks, Metabo's angle grinders are built to last. Get control and accuracy with their powerful motors and high-performance components that ensure they can withstand heavy-duty industrial work.  With corded, cordless, and pneumatic options, these powerhouses can grind down to narrow angles up to 39° - making them ideal for removing rust, lacquer or welding slag in tight spots.

DeWalt: Known for their rugged construction and reliability, DeWalt angle grinders are a favorite among welders. They offer impressive power, user-friendly designs, and dependable performance, making them a great choice for anyone looking to achieve smooth results with ease. We love their 4-1/2in Small Angle Grinder with No Lock-On- this lightweight aluminum tool is ergonomically designed with a cushioned grip for control and comfort on the job!

Jackson: Something you might be in the market for if you're doing a lot of a grinding is a grinding shield! We love their MAXVIEW Clear Grinding Shield- a lightweight visor that protects your face and eyes from flying dust and debris. The extra-large polycarbonate window allows for a clear panoramic view of your work. The integrated side and chin guard protect against splash and flying debris, while the extended top of head coverage protects from above. The oversized adjuster dial allows you to turn for a precise fit, and it even works when wearing gloves! Designed to be worn with safety glasses and fits well with most respirators and goggles.

Welding clamps are crucial for holding your workpieces securely in place while you weld. A stable work surface is key to ensuring your welds are accurate, clean, and precise!

Irwin: Their clamps are built with heat treated alloy steel for durability, with a reduced hand-span for improved comfort on the job. Our favorite is their Locking C-Clamp R11- it features an easy to open, no-trigger release and hardened teeth. This allows you to grip your fixturing from any angle. There are many sizes of this same style clamp, so there's something for every job!

Strong Hand Tools: Looking for innovative, quick-adjust clamps that save time on setup and improve overall efficiency? Strong Hand Tools has a wide variety of options and their versatile clamps allow you to reposition and align your workpieces easily, making them perfect for multi-tasking welders! One of our favorites is their Third Hand Clamp, which allows you to position your workpiece at any angle for full weld access!

Wilton: These high-quality, heavy-duty clamps can handle even the toughest jobs. Whether you're working with large structures or small components, Wilton clamps provide a strong hold, ensuring that your welds come out flawlessly. They produce your regular F and C-clamps as well as speciality clamps like their Welding Shoe Clamps that can reach where conventional clamps cannot and can be located anywhere on a fixture, table, or fabricated piece.

Welding pliers, sometimes called welpers are a multi-purpose tool that should never be missing from a welder’s belt. These tools are designed to handle a variety of tasks, from gripping and cutting wire to removing spatter and cleaning nozzles, making them essential for day-to-day welding tasks.

Strong Hand Tools: If you're always misplacing smaller hand tools, then Strong Hand's pliers are the ones for you! They offer a variety of multi-functional options that double as slag hammers but our favorite is the PM12 model that features a retention chain you can attach to your worktable to prevent your pliers from disappearing when you need them! 

Best Weld: For welders who need an affordable yet dependable option, Best Weld’s pliers feature a durable carbon steel construction and easy to use spring operated handle. Designed for comfort and precision, they allow welders to easily maintain their equipment, ensuring that every job goes smoothly!

A clean weld is a quality weld! Wire brushes and chipping hammers are essential tools for preparing your work surface and removing slag after welding, ensuring that your final product is as smooth and professional as possible. 

Best Welds or Inweld: If you're looking for cost-effective wire brushes and chipping hammers that are built to last, both of these companies produces high-quality tools are designed to handle tough jobs.

Remember, to avoid contamination, use a dedicated brush when working with stainless steel or aluminum!

We are big fans of Strong Hand Tool's line of tables! They offer quality products in a range of prices for wherever you're at in your welding journey. Below are two of our favorites from both ends of the spectrum.

The Nomad Table: If you're looking for a quality table that covers the bases of: affordable, transportable, and versatile, this is it! The tabletop is 30" x 20", featuring 3 slots that allow for insertion of clamps to reach any point on the table. It also easily tilts to three positions and folds for transporting. The two retractable, perpendicular steel guide rails can be used as stops or clamping edges and the tabletop height can be adjusted from 26″ to 32″. Great for small workshops and garage welding, it's built on sturdy casters, allowing you to easily move it!

Build Pro MAX Table: If you're looking for something a little more robust, we are huge fans of their Max System Table! It features a fast, accurate, and easy modular fixturing system.
​There's a single-sided heavy-duty option with boreholes on the top surface and patented self-locating and reversible table top plates! And a slotted table option that has open gaps between the top plates that allow for clamping tools or pliers on the open slot edges.

Choosing the right welding screen or curtain is crucial for worker safety. Harmful UV and blue light radiation can happen during welding so you need proper protection. But how do you choose what's right for you? Check out our guide to navigating the size, color, and safety aspects of welding screens here and see our brand recommendations below!  

Best Welds: If you're looking for quick and easy protection, then Best Weld's weld curtain with frame is a great choice. for protection. With easy set up and simple portability, you'll be welding in no time!

Tillman: Another one of our favorites when it comes to screens and curtains, and what we use in our own Technical Center, is Tillman! They offer a variety of solutions, ranging in price and application, that provide excellent protection!

WeldMark's Oxy-Acetylene Torch Cutting and Welding Kit: This kit is an affordable choice for those looking for a general purpose welding and cutting torch outfit. It can cut up to 127 mm (5 in.) with optional tips, and weld up to 31.8 mm (1.25 in.) with optional nozzles. It includes a torch handle, welding nozzle, cutting attachment, cutting tip, oxygen regulator, acetylene regulator, 20' grade T hose, and a striker and goggles!

Victor's Welding and Cutting Outfit with Tanks: This affordable and convenient tote kit comes with tanks included! Featuring an ergonomic carrying handle and built-in storage case, each outfit includes the components needed for jobs like light duty welding, specialized brazing, and cutting steel. It also includes a 0-W-J nozzle, a 2-W-J nozzle, cutting tip 0-3-101, an oxygen regulator, a fuel regulator, a 12.5' dual "A" 3/16" hose, a check valve, and a striker and goggles! 

Inweld:  If you're aiming to get the best bang for your buck, Inweld offers welding wire and electrodes in a solid quantity for an economic price! 

Lincoln Electric: A trusted name in welding for decades, Lincoln delivers both quality and reliability!

To help protect yourself from burns, sparks, flames, and extreme heat, you'll need flame-resistant PPE. These shirts are made of a durable fabric designed to protect against flames and other thermal hazards!

Black Stallion: We love their 7oz FR shirts, they're generously cut for a comfy fit and they come in extended sizes from small to 5XL. Plus, we like options, so we're partial to them for their variety of colors and patterns!

Tillman: Another great option is Tillman's 9oz FR shirt. Available in S-6XL, these shirts are cool, comfortable, and washable, offering you the perfect protection you need!

We believe that the right tools can make all the difference in a welder’s success, and we want to see you succeed! Equip yourself with the right tools, and you’ll be ready to tackle any job with confidence!

Stop by one of our showrooms in Maryland or Pennsylvania to check out your options and get expert in-person help, or reach out today by filling out the form below!

📍BALTIMORE
​8204 Pulaski Hwy
Baltimore, MD 21237

📍BELTSVILLE
10792 Tucker St
Beltsville, MD 20705

📍YORK
​95 Aberdeen Rd
York, PA 17406

📍SCRANTON
4961 Birney Ave
Scranton, PA 18507