Handheld fiber laser welders have moved from novelty to standard equipment in stainless fabrication within three years. Here is what actually changes when you put one on the floor.
Speed
On 1.5–3 mm stainless a laser weld runs 3–4× faster than TIG. A cabinet that took a day is done before lunch.
Distortion and finish
The heat input is a fraction of TIG, so thin sheet does not warp and there is almost no discolouration. Most seams need no grinding — a real saving on visible stainless work.
Skill
A new operator produces acceptable welds after a day of training. The gun fires only when the nozzle touches metal, and wobble width and speed are set from a touch panel.
Where TIG still wins
- Thick sections above 6 mm in a single pass.
- Highly reflective copper without a 3 kW source.
- Awkward joints where the nozzle cannot reach.
Our 1.5, 2 and 3 kW handheld units ship with wire feeder, chiller and safety kit. Bring a part to our works and weld it yourself before you decide.
