The combination of gases, metals and gear needed to provide the electrical arc and other components for arc welding require a lot of welding accessories and supplies. The industrial process of welding is not one of your easier setups so you'll also need the mechanical equipment, safety gear and more.

If welding purchases are a little overwhelming, you do have some advantages. The boom of the Internet makes it easier to "shop" for welding accessories and supplies online. Business leaders look for a variety of gear for welding:

1. To replace worn-out, obsolete or malfunctioning equipment or anything that could cause a hazard to welding operators.

2. To set up a brand new arc welding process in a facility, or to automate a welding process for faster production with robotics and other welding equipment.

3. To add to gear for a staff of welding operators, where buyers need to get additional helmets, gloves or other safety equipment, as well as guns, torches and other tools.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get your welding supplies from big welding e-sellers

Lots of industrial welding equipment dealers put specialized product lines on the net for arc welding. Choose from among their catalog lines to find products you need to get your shop in order.

I recommend: Find products at MB Industries Inc. to make the welding operator's job a little easier. MB focuses on products with environmental improvements like rust inhibitors and non-carcinogenic supplies for welding. Unidex, Inc. specializes in supportive positioning equipment and other tools to maximize arc welding processes.

Get welding accessories from dedicated distributors

Online distributors collect welding equipment from various manufacturers and present it to you for sale. These suppliers of welding equipment deal with welding related sales every day. Contact them to get the necessary gear onto your floor.

I recommend: GTS-Welco is a distributor of welding supplies, selling gas, metal and support gear from manufacturers like Real Gear, Vantage and Pro-Star. Get electrodes, safety gear, cables and more from Smith Welding, another distributor of a range of welding supplies and products.

Get safety welding accessories for your operators

One main component of welding that you need to look for is safety gear. In terms of welding accessories, nothing gets done without the proper safety equipment. Find deals on safety welding accessories from dealers who routinely sell welding products to keep a workplace safe.

I recommend: Get helmets, gloves and more from Mohawk Industrial and Nuclear Supply, Inc. You can find more gear for welding safety at Orr Safety, a comprehensive provider of the gear welding operators need for protection from welding "fume" and environmental hazard.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always keep your process in mind when buying welding equipment. You'll need to match tools to what kinds of TIG, MIG, plasma or other welding you'll be doing, and ensure that safety gear is provided. Make informed, holistic buys on welding supply products and equipment.