One of the most useful tools when it comes to metalworking is a welder. Even though there are only a few welding projects that you can undertake from home, a MIG welder offers a convenient and reliable tool to work with on such projects.
- It is very affordable
- It is easy and quiet to use
- It can use different basic and acid power
- It is portable
- It is durable with steel casing
- Automatic Dual voltage capability
- It is a great starter unit for stick welding
- It is lightweight
- Great for home tasks and repairs
Whether you are a professional or a do it yourself enthusiast, MIG welders are easy to operate and they do not need any expertise or experience in order to use it. The best MIG welders available on the market will definitely save your energy and time because they will allow you to join even the thickest metals uniformly hassle-free.
Shopping for the best MIG welder that is suitable for your tasks, however, isn’t a walk in the park. With the many brands flooded on the marketplace, finding the best MIG welder can become an uphill task. In this post, we review 9 of the best MIG welders that you can find in the market today and give you a comprehensive buyer’s guide that will help you choose the right MIG welder for your needs. Some of the products we review here are meant for professionals as well as for beginners and DIYers.
Without much ado, let’s look at what these products have to offer.
9 Best MIG Welders Reviews
PROS:
- It is portable
- It is durable with steel casing
- Automatic Dual voltage capability
CONS:
- The ground clamp is too weak
- Cuts to large and wide
Lotos LTP5000D 50 A is a welder that delivers a strong continuous cutting performance on rough surfaces or dirty metals. If you are looking for an excellent welder for DIY tasks and light duty small professional projects, then this is your perfect choice.
It features a non-touch pilot arc torch that efficiently cuts through dirty, rusty, and painted metal surfaces with minimal slag. The pilot arc design allows the cutting without touching the tip, thus providing a better cutting quality and a durable consumable life.
Moreover, the dual voltage capability enables the welder to run directly on 220V 50/60 Hz power or on 110V 50/60 Hz with the use of a pigtail.
It can cut all manner of metals presented to it with a lot of ease.
PROS:
- It is a high-quality MIG welder kit for small tasks
- Easy to use and learn by beginners
- Lightweight and portable
- Reasonably affordable
- It comes with a leather welding glove
CONS:
- It might not come with electrodes
Forney 100ST is one of the respected Forney MIG welders that are manufactured with great attention to serve DIYers. What Forney understood when making this model is the fact that most DIYers want performance. As such, they made this MIG welder in that respect.
Forney Easy Weld 29801100ST is designed to be easy to use even with non-experienced DIYers. It is designed with an amazingly small footprint that allows you to carry it easily to wherever your welding tasks take you. Since it is easy to use, maintain, and even repair, Forney Easy Weld 29801100ST is among the most preferred MIG welders for beginners.
This MIG welder can handle up to 1/8-inch electrodes with a power input rating of 120V and 90 amps of output. It features a duty cycle of 30 percent at 80A, which is good enough for domestic-based welding projects. If you are looking for a MIG welder with Stick Welder and Lift arc TIG capable welder, then Forney 100ST is your pick. It comes with everything already installed, implying that it is ready for use right from the package. If not, the individual part numbers are included for easy reordering and installation.
It is designed to weld 16 gauges and up to 5/16 inches of material. Moreover, it can accept various recommended accessories such as medium-duty electrode holder, 200amp: 56000, ground cable and clamp, 150 amp, 15′:85667, 9V TIG Torch among other accessories recommended in its manual.
Overall, Forney Easy Weld 29801100ST is a great performing MIG welder for domestic and small welding tasks. Owing to its easy to operate nature, it is perfect for beginners and inexperienced DIYers.
PROS:
- It is easy to use
- Lightweight for portability purposes
- It is great for beginners
- It comes with black leather gloves for wearing when operation the welder
CONS:
- It may splatter inconsistently regardless of the speed setting
If you are planning to start your welding experience as an armature or a professional, Forney Easy Weld 29901 125 FC MIG Welder is a great welder to start with. This is because it comes with a whole lot of features that are excellent and easy for beginners to use and master.
Forney Easy Weld 29901 125 FC is an ideal model for those who prefer flux-core jobs while preferring small and compactly designed units for easy handling and portability. It is lightweight at just 57 pounds. With this, you can travel with your welder to any place where you might want to carry out a project.
Its quick-fit 5-point adjustable geared headband is fitted with a sweatband mechanism that significantly reduces head and neck straining and the general fatigue that results from the frequent lowering of the helmet during welding.
It also features two optical arc sensors that work to protect against the dangers of arc flash. It is UV/IR coated in order to minimize scratching and discoloration of the lens. With a 1/16,000 per second switching speed, this model is fast enough to allow you to finish your projects earlier.
In general, Forney Easy Weld 29901 125 FC is yet another MIG welder model from Forney that performs well and is greatly recommendable for use by beginners and DIYers. It comes with leather welding gloves that are durable, thus protecting your arm whenever operating this machine.
4. ARC 200 Welding Machine IGBT Inverter Welder, AC DC 110V 200AMP Welding Machine Mini Welder Suit 2.5-3.2 MM Welding Rod Equipment With Accessories Tools – Best MIG Welder with Flexibility
PROS:
- It is of high quality
- It is easy to start and operate
- It comes fitted with great safety features
CONS:
- Works well with small jobs
ARC 200 Welding Machine IGBT Inverter Welder is a product by Hiwenson that is designed and manufactured to offer simplicity in operation by use of just one button. If you are looking for a stress-free start in an easy to operate MIG welder, then ARC 200 is your best option.
This is an excellent welder designed and built to adopt advanced inverter techniques, pulse width technique, as well as excellent raw material. It offers higher efficiency and a longer lifespan as compared to most normal welders available in the market.
This MIG welder is designed and constructed to be compact and lightweight yet it provides more power, higher energy efficiency, and an appealing inner and outer structural design. The compact and lightweight design makes it possible to be carried to wherever the welding projects take you.
Since it is a 110V 200Amp arc welder, it comes with protective equipment that is set within in order to protect it against overcurrent, overheating, and lack of collage. This ensures a safe operation for you.
In a nutshell, this is an excellent MIG welder that is great for both beginners and professional welders.
5. S160-AM 160 Amp Dual Voltage Input DC Welder IGBT Inverter Welding Machine – Best Dual Voltage MIG Welder
PROS:
- It is a dual voltage welder
- It comes with longer electrode and cramp cables
- It performs well on domestic light welding tasks
- It is very affordable
CONS:
- It tends to pause and sticks a lot
S160-AM 160 AMP Dual Voltage Input Dc is a product from Amico that is not only great in terms of the features it comes with but also its price tag. This MIG welder is absolutely affordable.
It features a dual voltage input of 115V/230V while the output power is rated at 20Amp.
This stick welder comes already installed and ready to weld right from the package. You only need to add the welding electrodes to start your welding experience.
S160-AM provides an unlimited amperage control with an LED meter that allows you to set the welding machine to your desired settings. It features a standard DC160, an electrode holder, work clamp and up to 10ft cable, input power adapter cable, and plug Quick facts process.
This dual voltage welder performs well in light metal fabrications, maintenance, repair home projects, and domestic welding projects.
6. ARC-160D 160 Amp STICK ARC IGBT Inverter DC Welder 115/230 Dual Input Voltage Welding Soldering – Best IGBT Inverter DC Welder
PROS:
- It is a great starter unit for stick welding
- Has quick-disconnect cables and decent ground clamp
- It is lightweight
- Great for home tasks and repairs
CONS:
- Not great for heavy-duty welding projects
ARC-160D is yet another Amico welder model that comes at an affordable price but with great features that rival some of the high-end welder models on the market.
It is designed and compactly manufactured to be lightweight. This makes it energy efficient and a quiet operator. Its ergonomic rubberized handle makes it even easier to carry whenever your welding jobs take you.
It features a well-advanced power control module IGBT dual 115V and 230V that significantly improves its performance. The automatic compensation for voltage variation can effectively work normally against input voltage variation. It comes with an LCD display that allows you to set the machine setting easily and accurately. What’s more, the ARC is easy to start and simple to operate. It produces a stable small splashing welding with great penetration.
For a safer operation of this machine, it comes fitted with over and under voltage protection, over current protection, as well as overload protection.
The ARC current is adjustable, implying that it can substantially improve the ARC starting function. As such, this makes it easy and suitable to weld with various types of Basic and Acid power.
7. ARC-140 Amp ARC Stick DC Inverter Welder Digital Display LCD Welding Soldering Machine – Best Priced MIG Welder
PROS:
- It is very affordable
- It is easy and quiet to use
- It can use different basic and acid power
CONS:
- It doesn’t maintain the arch
Amico has overtime built its reputation in making excellent and high-performing MIG welders at affordable prices. Among the reviewed Amico products, the ARC-140 amp has the lowest price tag although it comes with top-performing features.
This model comes with a powerful digital display IGBT for easy power setting and other required settings. It also features a complete welder that is ready for use right from the package. It is designed to be compact and portable; it weighs 9.0lbs. This makes it an ideal choice for those who will want to carry a welder to wherever they go welding.
It is also easy to start and use this welder. Despite the fact that it is one of the most affordable welders in this review, it offers a stable welding arc while providing you with a deep weld pool of beautiful welded shape. You can also adjust the arc current to maximize the rate of the input voltage.
PROS:
- Great for both domestic and professional projects
- Uses high-quality wire feeding
- It is a multifunctional 3 in 1 MIG/TIG/Stick Arc
CONS:
- Quite expensive
- All plastic casing material
TOSENBA MIG Welder is a 3 in 1 multifunction welder that is capable of welding a variety of alloy materials such as mild steel, copper, stainless steel, and cast iron. It also performs well with flux cord wire as well as the solid wire.
This multifunctioning welder features TI torch and Stick function for welding steel and stainless steel flawlessly. It also comes with easy to adjust output setting in line with the thickness and changing the polarity of the wires.
The use of a high-quality wire feeding machine ensures a smooth wire feed and an adjustable welding current and voltage. With a full-size MIG platform and a 60 percent duty cycle, you will be sure to have a longer period of welding.
Generally, if you want a welder to use both at home and for professional welding, then this is the ideal pick for you. It comes with various safety features that enable it to perform well.
9. HYL MIG130 Combo MIG Welder –2YR USA WARRANTY WITH USA BASED PARTS AND SERVICES – Best Professional MIG Welder
PROS:
- It is portable
- Easy to use
- It is multifunctional
CONS:
- It is very expensive
If you want a MIG welder for light professional applications, then HYL MIG130 Combo is your ideal pick. This model can effectively handle light metal fabrication, farm, and home maintenance and repair, art sculpturing, an auto body, as well as education and training.
It is capable of welding all types of weldable metals that include steel, stainless steel among other metals in TIG/ MIG/STICK. It also features three input power adjustments (110/1115/120V) with current DC input of 50/60Hz. With the adjustable power input, this welder is able to achieve a high duty cycle that is great for professional use.
It features a lot of other important features such as a TIG torch with a dinse connector of 12ft, an electrode holder with a dinse connector of 10ft, a ground cable with dinse connector, a MIG trigger start, and a scratch start. It is lightweight and easy to carry to and around the job site.
What to Look for When Choosing the Best MIG Welder – Buyer’s Guide
Power Input Rating
Before you pick your MIG welder, first think about the kind of project for which you will be mainly using it. Is it for small-scale home projects like joining sheets of aluminum or is it for professional projects? Your power needs are what will determine the kind of power input rating that you need in a welder. Basic welders that are frequently used for small home tasks feature adjusted power input from between 115v and 40v. However, higher and demanding industrial projects such as joining thick materials will require a higher power input rating. As such, it is important to keep in mind the kind of tasks you will be using your welder so that you can buy the required power input rating.
Portability
In order to have a stress-free welding, consider having a portable MIG welder. You won’t want to carry an enormous welding machine wherever your projects take you. This is important, especially for beginners who will find it cumbersome to run the bead on the right welding area owing to the extra weight that comes with the tool. It is imperative, however, to not emphasize too much on weight at the expense of performance.
Wire Size and Material Thickness
The type and size of wire weld can basically be divided into two classes: ER70S-3 and ER70S. ER70S-6 is usually used to weld rusty and untidy surfaces in which more deoxidizers are needed while the ER70s-3 is great for all types of welding purposes. As such, keeping in mind the kind of material to weld will be crucial at determining the configurations, voltage setting, and wire diameter, among other features that are important for the intended project. Models that offer auto-set feature are great for professional welding projects.
Duty Cycle
This refers to the time limit under which a machine runs at a pre-set voltage as well as amp output minus surpassing the temperature of its component parts. As such, the output is entirely proportional to the welding output. In case the duty cycle of a welder is 20 percent at the power input of 180A/240V, this means that the model runs for 2 minutes while it requires to be cooled for 8 minutes before you restart it again. So, make sure that the welder you intend to buy fall under the duty cycle you will be comfortable doing your tasks with.
Advantages of MIG Welding
One of the main reasons why both professional and DIYers ought to choose MIG welding over other variety of models is that it can be used with nearly any metal material, be it thick carbon steel, iron, thin aluminum, or alloy. Moreover, the self-shielding wire required for this technique is cheap and the easiness of the welding process leads to excellent control.
Another reason you will most likely choose the MIG welder is that you won’t be changing the rods or brush the weld frequently to remove the slag. The TIG welder often consumes a considerable amount of time for someone to learn how to grip it properly. The MIG welder, however, will only take you a few minutes to master how to hold it right for easier pointing and shooting even for beginners.
Conclusion
When shopping for the best welder, you must be aware of your needs well. You should also know how to look for the best MIG welder based on your needs. As such, you will have a high chance of investing in the best MIG welder. You can keep visiting our site in order to benefit from reviews of future products that will be available soon.
Our best product in this review is Forney Easy Weld 29801 100ST. We recommend this product because it is not only great for DIYers and professionals but also comes with great, high-performing, and versatile features at a reasonably affordable price.
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