Is Laser Welding Fake? We Put It Up Against MIG and TIG

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We tested the xTool MetalFab laser welder against MIG and TIG on real 18-gauge auto body sheet metal — no gap-free bench demo, no favorites picked.

Every laser welder video online shows a perfect joint and a first-timer stacking flawless beads. So instead we ran a real side-by-side: MIG vs TIG vs laser welding, same coupon, same prep, timed and measured at every stage — tack distortion, full weld time, metal finishing time, and a blocking-mallet strength test on all three welds. One of them cracked. It's not the one you'd expect.

If you've seen the "is laser welding fake" debate in the restoration and fabrication world, this video is our answer — using an actual auto body panel, not a lab sample.

Full disclosure: xTool sent us this machine free of charge to test.

xTool MetalFab specs, pricing, and financing:

Code: MIKE500 for $500 off.

0:00 Intro
1:09 Spot Welds — Tack Test (MIG, TIG, Laser)
5:14 Full Welds — MIG, TIG, Laser
11:31 Grinding & Metal Finishing
14:03 The Mallet Strength Test
17:03 Cost & Skill Breakdown