Methodology
The WeldBase Price Index: Methodology
Our price index is original observed data. This page documents exactly how a price makes it onto a category page — and how to cite it.
What we record
Every row is a price observed displayed by an Australian seller for a specific model: source, date, and displayed price including GST as shown. We record what the market shows, not RRP press releases. When a listing vanishes or a model is superseded, it drops out at the next refresh; category bands are recomputed from the surviving set.
Sources
- National retailers (Total Tools, Sydney Tools, TradeTools, Bunnings, Repco, Supercheap)
- Specialist welding suppliers (WeldQuip, National Welding, Renteca, QWS, Capital Machinery)
- Brand storefronts (au.xtool.com, vevor.com.au, laser-welder.com.au)
- Marketplace listings (eBay AU) — flagged as import tier where service support is absent
Refresh and honesty rules
Categories refresh as listings change — at minimum monthly, and we stamp each page with the observation date. We do not interpolate missing prices, and we do not accept supplier-supplied numbers as observations — every figure is an independent retail observation. If our number is wrong, the correction note carries the fix with a date.
Citing the index
Cite freely with attribution and a link, quoting the category page and its observation date — e.g. 'WeldBase, MIG welder prices, observed August 2026'. Journalists and forums: the underlying per-model rows are on each category page; custom cuts available on request.
Frequently asked questions
When do welders go on sale in Australia?
Welding machines discount predictably at EOFY (June), Black Friday/Boxing Day, and around Father's Day promotions in Australia — with 15–30% off trade-tier machines common at Total Tools, Sydney Tools and TradeTools member events. Laser systems negotiate more than they 'sale'.
Why are some welders $200 and others $2,000?
The gap is duty cycle at real amps, arc-quality engineering, component lifespan and the service network behind the badge — not just the amp number on the box. Cheap machines quote maximum amps nobody can use; expensive ones deliver rated output all day and parts for a decade.
Spot an error? Report it — corrections carry a dated note on our verification ledger.
Need a machine? Get 3 quotes
Suppliers know they're up against other quotes — and you'll know the observed market range before you talk to any of them.