10 Best MIG Welders

You can be a professional, someone working on a hobby or a total beginner. There is a MIG welder listed and carefully researched and tested that will most definitely suit you. We have studied consumer needs in this particular niche field, and come up with what we think are a wide range of excellent welders currently on the market for you.

We know you have come here with specifics in mind – and we strive meet them, hopefully assisting you choose a machine that suits you.

Best MIG Welders Reviewed

We have compiled a list of the best MIG welders for the money that fits your needs for professional or home use reviewed by a welding machines expert:

1.Millermatic 252

If you want an easy welder to operate that is loaded with features, then the Millermatic 252 is for you. It is a 250 amp, has the highest output in its class and welds metal in 22 inch to ½ inch thick. You can now weld like a professional, with perfect joint every time!

This product works flawlessly right out of the box, without the cumbersomeness of much to set up. Serious welders will benefit from this product, not to mention beginners and DIYers. It is a fairly compact unit, offering a good heavy duty cycle, grinding time can be cut to up to 80% with the great performance of the Millermatic 252. An added bonus is the fan-on-demand feature, which makes the machine run a lot quieter – a big plus if you are working from home. As the fan only runs when you tell it to, energy consumption is also reduced.

One of the best features is the high quality wire feed, as you never need to worry about messing this up. The machine also detects the gun you use automatically, be it a MIG one, spool gun or a push/pull gun, in addition to storing information on the voltage, wire feed speed and timer. Your end result is also cleaner as there is an arc-stabilizing feature built into the machine for consistent arc start. You also do not have to lift up your cylinders with the Millermatic 252, simply roll it on or off the well thought of designed rack.

Nothing beats a silent, well functioning, compact machine. The Millermatic 252 are all these for you – in addition to well thought of features of arc stabilizing, as well as auto gun detection to say the least. Most did not regret their decision on this machine and so won’t you!

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2.Lincoln 256

Very nice rugged and strong metal case front finish that reduces minor scrapes and scratches, the 300 amp Lincoln 256 is a MIG and flux-core wire-feed machine that will satisfy hobbyists and DIYers as well serious welders alike. It comes with a satisfactorily long 15-foot lead and good quality MIG gun as well. Coupled with an accurate chart with spot on specifications for welding different materials with different gases, you will get excellent results, every time with it.

This boasts a core technology aimed at a better-controlled, stable arc. In terms of this, it can be said that this machine delivers arc control at the same standard as others in the same class and prince range. You get less of a splatter and the flexibility of controlling the voltage and wire speed settings are unbeatable, allowing you a high range of uses be it for steel, stainless steel or for aluminium welding. With a duty cycle of 40%, rest assured that your maintenance and repair work, along with light industrial job shop fabrication tasks get done in good time.

With the Lincoln 256 MIG welder, the regulator and gas hose has been conveniently included. Digital displays makes life easy as you can easily read up the voltage and wire speed on the machine. Designed with the user in mind, this also has a gun accessories tray on its top for added convenience.

For someone looking for light industrial work – this is an almost all in one machine that comes with a great deal in the box. This includes a satisfactorily long lead, MIG gun, wheel case, functional chart for guidance and not to mention good duty cycle and stability with your arc, it should definitely be on your list.

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3.Miller 215

This could possibly be all you need in a welder – its multi process capability, which allows for MIG, flux-cored, DC TIG and DC stick welding is unbeatable! You get all this in a lightweight, portable 38-pound machine. its fan technology further reduces energy consumption as well as offering you a quieter welding experience at home. All these features combine to make the Miller 215 MIG welder a rather impressive product!

The Miller 215 MIG welder is really easy to use even for first timers. Its automatic dial-in of settings allows you to be up and running in no time – you get to put down a nice bead using the auto selections! For the more advanced user, it also allows you to fine tune weld settings manually. The multi purpose plug for 110 or 220 volts works great as it is easy to change back and forth if needed. You can also use an 8-inch roll with this machine, and not just the 4-inch rolls.

It comes standard with a colour LCD screen for you to easily adjust settings needed, and in the box you get a good array of stuff too. These are the MIG welding gun, TIG torch with accessories, stick electrode holder as well as a ground clamp. Another good feature is that it automatically detects what type of gun you put in, therefore you don’t need a switch with this machine. Designed for the novice welder in mind, the machine will automatically shut is its duty cycle is exceeded and it overheats, therefore unwanted accidents can be prevented.

An outstanding MIG welder combo that is light, compact, and powerful – a hobbyist or even a pro can enjoy this machine to the maximum. Its versatility plus accurate pre-programme settings makes it such a value for money. It is no wonder that its gotten so many rave reviews!

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4.Lincoln 210

The Lincoln 210 MIG welder is a compact, lightweight and portable multi purpose welder, which offer so much to beginners and professionals alike. At only 40 pounds in weight, this is definitely designed to suit you, especially so if you intend to work on-site or if you are a contract professional due to its portability.

The Lincoln 210 is versatile and easy to use for MIG, FCAW, Stick and TIG welding. This can be considered a good beginners machine, something that you can utilise to build up more experience, develop your skills and increase your welding confidence on. This is due to the push-and-turn digital controls and easy to use interface. The on screen display has uncomplicated and clear instructions where you need to only key in your variables such as the metal thickness, gas mix and wire thickness you are to use and it will set the amps, wire speed and voltage for you. With pre-programmed settings this welder gets you in the ballpark, thus reducing the complication setting it up.

It has a good duty cycle, with 40% at 100A and 25% at 200A, which is comparably better than others in the same voltage category. One mentionable bonus is that there is 2 fans in the back of the welder help it to keep cool. In addition to the four functions it offers, you will also get a Magnum PRO 100SG Spool Gun with it. Warranty is 3 years on the machine and one year on the gun.

All in all, this is one of the best all around multiple process welder that comes well packaged, all at a reasonably great price. It is a Good machine for any small to medium jobs and is unbeatable in its portability, ease of use for beginners and also much suited to those with more advanced skills.

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5.Hobart 210 MVP

This is an unrivalled product with a variety of features, with room to grow with you. With each unit designed and manufactured in the United States of America, expect to receive an item that comes with everything you need to get started, backed with the Hobart quality assurance and warranty.

The multi voltage ability of the Hobart 210MVP MIG welder is very handy as you can easily connect either the 115V or the 230V receptacles for your desired power input. This is done with a simple motion, without the need for tools and the machine then automatically adjusts itself.

This is an undoubtedly excellent wire feed welder, one that gives you satisfactorily smooth welding with very consistent arc and great penetration. Its duty cycle is rated 20% at 115V, 90 amps and 30% at 230V, 150 amps. It also conveniently comes with a regulator and hose to attach to a gas bottle. If you need to weld aluminium, this machine is ready to receive a spool gun as it has the plugs and connections for you to quickly add one to it.

You get a decent amount of accessories with in the package – in addition to what has been already mentioned, namely that it comes with a built-in gas valve, 10 feet work cable with clamp, as well as a sample spool of .030 flux-cored welding wire, extra . 030 contact tips, and an 8-inch wire spool adapter. You will be welding in no time with these, as well as the easy set up on it.

A made in the United States of America product which offers good value for money, versatility and usability, this is a machine you can start to experiment with and sharpen your skills on. It is easy to use for newbies but allows you to elevate you work into much higher levels as you grow with it. Even if you are a seasoned pro this matches up to your knowledge and skill set and you can produce even better results.

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6.ESAB Rebel EMP 215IC

Weighing at 40 pounds, you can take this unit anywhere with a power source, as it runs on 110v or 220v. At this price point and for any small to medium work welding, this product which comes inclusive of a TIG torch and regulator is much kinder to your pocket over other competing models – there is definitely a lot of welder for you in this!

The display on the ESAB Rebel MIG welder is good. It is very intuitive, with optimised factory settings which enables you to conveniently just plug in the size of your wire, what material to be used and its thickness – it does the computing for you. For the more advanced welder – the pre-programming can be customized to your liking. Beginners can benefit from the basic tutorials included.

More importantly, the machine produces arcs that are smooth, stable and steady. With a 200-amp output it will weld anything short of extreme industrial welding, with a good duty cycle and taking a long time to get warm. Being a true multi-process welder, you can weld MIG, Flux-Cored, Stick or TIG – even those tricky 6010 rods! Additionally for TIG welding, the Rebel can be hooked up to a foot pedal, which ESAB also sells.

Overall build of the ESAB Rebel MIG welder is also sturdy and of quality, for example the drive roller system is constructed out of aluminium and you can easily change spools. It has handles placed on the outside to enhance portability. The Rebel is an overall best bang for your buck! Affordable enough for a novice welder that allows you to transform and evolve your skills, and one which you can still find useful and satisfied with once you become more seasoned.

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7.Millermatic 211

The very well made Millermatic 211 MIG welder runs on dual voltage, and can weld up to ⅜” steel and aluminium. You can’t ask for more with this welder – it also allows for MIG and Flux-cored processes, and lots of other features designed to suit hobbyists and professionals too. It is unfortunate that the ground clamp that comes with it feels and looks cheap. It is very thin, and due to this, may not withstand a lot of wear and tear. The Millermatic 211 could also do with a longer ground cable and gun.

You will be impressed with how light the Millermatic 211 MIG welder is – it is only 38 pounds! It has well-placed handles to help you hoist it up your truck or take it anywhere your work requires you to, either welding on trailers or farm implements. Even with its compact and small footprint, you will be surprised that this can still hold a 10-pound spool internally. Additionally, you can run three different sized wires all of one feed roller, therefore there is no need to keep up with multiple roller sets, which saves your time and allows you to focus more on the job on hand.

An easy to set up welder that lets you work with MIG and Flux-cored processes, this is very well made. Its parts are designed with you as a user in mind and its lightness and portability makes this a potentially good investment no matter what level of welder you are.

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8.Everlast Power 230i

This combination MIG/Stick welder has an impressive 50% duty cycle, which its manufacturer described as being close to industrial class for a product in this category. Built for the serious fabricator who wants a simple yet compact machine that can perform medium to high demand welding applications – read on if this is you!

This is a fairly compact machine that can rest on a tabletop or a welding cart. It comes with a cast aluminium heavy duty 2 roll wire feeder, which is a truly industrial feature often found in much bigger machines. It can accept up to 33 pounds commercially sized wires and with its two cooling fans, it will shift more air to cool the machine down fast.

It is simple to use – two dials and two simple read outs, which makes setting up straight forward. It also comes with a solid brass flow metre that is operable on its own. The MIG gun that comes with it is of good quality, ergonomic in design and easy to hook up. There is also an option to connect a spool gun to it, with a ready slot.

The MIG weld works well on thick and thin sheet metal, and for stick welding it performs great in standard mode. It has a dedicated 6010-welding mode, which it does without a hitch. It works on dual voltage – the 110v or 230v which makes the machine easier to take with you should you wish to work in areas with either voltage options. The internal composition is neatly organised and it apparent that this is a well put together product. The Everlast Power 230i offers an impressive 5-year warranty – twice as long as warranty offered by its other competitors.

This MIG welder also remembers your settings – so when you turn it off, it keeps your last keyed in specifications without resorting to factory defaults when it is back on. You therefore spend a lot less time re-inserting values and can focus more on the job at hand. This is a utility welder, a simple machine that is straight to the point. It works well, functions as promised. Built rock solid with a good duty cycle and fantastic cooling system. Very appropriate for the serious welder!

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9.Hobart Handler 140

The Hobart Handler 140 MIG welder is a good beginner model. It operates 115 voltage suitable for simply plugging into any household outlet works with 25 – 140 amps, suitable for use from solid mild steel or stainless, flux cored and aluminium wires. In addition to this it is made in the United States of America – which gives a good quality assurance as with other Hobart products!

This definitely designed for the amateur welder – it is MIG ready, no additional kit required. it comes with everything you need to get welding. The unit comes with flux core wire so all you have to do is plug in and start welding. If you are going to use gas in you welding process, all that is needed is to get is a spool of solid wire (no flux) and a gas tank and you are all set.

This is a well-built sturdy machine, with good cabling and heavy-duty 200-amp ground clamp. Its wire drive motor is made out of cast aluminium, which provides a smooth wire feeding. For better, steady arc this comes with a wider range of voltage control and its performance is great on thin gauge material.

There are a lot of safety features included – these include a built-in contactor and a self-reset when it is overheated, which protects the motor as well. This is understandable as the Hobart 140 is one of the popular choices for beginners. If you’re a novice or even a working professional looking to weld thin metal, this Hobart has what you need. It is an easy to use and set up machine, allowing MIG welding without the need for additional kits! It is loaded with safety features to allow you to work without worry.

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10.Lotos LTP5000D

For the budding artist or the backyard worker – this MIG & plasma cutter goes through almost any metal, in varying degrees of conditions and thickness. It is also portable, therefore rest assured that you can lift it up and take it with you no matter where your next project or your mood takes you!

This can be used with a lot of elements such as stainless steel, alloy steel, mild steel, copper as well as aluminium. It uses non-hazardous compressed air, and its arc torch is able to cut rough material, painted as well as rusty surfaces, as well as flexible enough for cutting thin or thick metal. The machine is able to go through 22-gauge sheet metal with ease and it is even good with 120-wall chromoly tubing. Slag is also minimal with it and furthermore its cools down well.

The Lotos MIG welder comes with a variety of accessories – these include the air regulator, hose as well as its connections. Portability is not an issue as the plasma cutter is compact and handles are included in its design for easy transporting.

A very versatile all round plasma cutter, you get a lot with the Lotos. It is a great all round product with a lot of uses – It does everything from massive industrial structures to fine art! At the price point it is at, this is a good beginner or hobbyist machine that gets the job done without fuss.

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MIG Welders Buyer’s Guide

Beginner or novice, hobbyist or about to go full time with it, you’ve come to the right place. MIG welding can be rather daunting, with the technical specifications and what not – but if help is what you need, we are here for you.

We have compiled a simple but informative guide that we hope will assist you in choosing the right MIG welder, based on what you need. Sit back, relax and read on till the end!

Understanding the Basics

If you are a total beginner, this section is merely to give you an overall understanding on the process. The most common of the processes are the MIG, TIG and stick process. Among the criteria that separate these processes apart are metal types and material thickness. Do bear in mind that as most materials are a combination of many other elements, there is no one size fits all approach.

In this guide, we focus solely on the MIG welder process, as we feel that it is clean, easy and can be used on thin or thicker plate metals.

What is it?

MIG is also known as the Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), where an electrode that is able to weld wire is used on a spool. The spool is fed automatically at a constant pre-selected speed. The electrical current between the base metal and the wire creates what is termed as the arc. The arc is what melts the wire and joins it with the base. What is produced in these processes is a high-strength weld with great appearance and little need for cleaning.

Let us move on to what you need to consider before selecting a good MIG welder to suit you:

Material

One of the first things to think about is what material you are to use, and how often will you be welding. This will help you decide the amperage (amp) needed. Smaller amp values would suit thinner materials, and correspondingly, higher values, for thicker materials. For example, you can use a minimum 30-amp product for 1.0mm sheet and smaller amps i.e. 20 or 25 mm for 0.8mm sheets.

It is also wiser to read the product specification sheet rather than choosing a product based on the amp stated in the name of the product. This is as sometimes marketing tricks may present information in the name that may not be as accurate as what the item can do.

Supply of Power

Take note that in choosing your welder, of the duration and level of current you are to be using. If this is not taken heed of, you may risk blowing fuses, even when using very low output products. For example, while it is possible to use a welder of 150 amps on a 13-amp plug, this plug needs changing each year, as it is not made to withstand or work with high currents at a length of time.

Therefore do respect manufacturer’s caution with regard to fuses and power supply. If you are on a cost saving mission, this will prevent future blows on your fuses not to mention making your work environment less of a fire hazard.

Live torches

Certain welders are designed without a component called the contactor. Minus the contactor, your torch is always on, without you having the option to turn it off with the touch of a trigger. This poses a hazard not to mention a hassle as you get an arc even if you accidentally touch sections not part of what you are working on.

Quality

The last thing you should do in buying a MIG welding machine is buying one JUST because it’s cheap!

Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, a lower costing welder does tend to deliver rather low quality output. Higher priced welders come with specifications and better internal electronic composition, as well as wire feed units.

A good quality welder allows the automatic variation of the wire feed to suit the power. It would also come with a wire speed knob, which does away the trouble when you change power settings. A good-sized wire feeder and its corresponding motor are also what you get in higher end products.

We cannot underestimate how important it is to get a welder with a good wire feed as it makes welding much easier – so much so that we are stating this again!

Bonus

Try to avoid the following mistakes if you want to take care about your MIG welder and use them for a long time without problems

Duty cycle

This is how long you can weld continuously before the welder overheats. Again, depending on what you will be working on, and for how long – consider the duty cycle. A product with fan cooling should be considered if you want a something that allows you to work for longer hours consecutively.

Welder Chassis

A wheeled MIG welder case definitely makes it more portable. Also look for additional criterion such as a shelf for gas bottle – not essential but can make life easier and your time working on your project more simplified.

Conclusion

Indeed MIG welder has its benefits – it is more productive, reduces costs, easy to learn and fast setup, and offers good quality welding output. Remember that ample time should be taken by you to define what exactly would your needs be. Do not be rushed into making a purchase before you have had a clear idea of the points listed above.

Our reviews has been aimed at you the budding welder, or even you the seasoned professional! We have listed out a wide range of brands to suit almost anyone and we hope those questions you have had buzzing in your head has been answered with this compilation of reviews.

Your journey towards finding the right product, we hope, has been assisted greatly with this. If it did do so, or even if it didn’t and we missed something – do write in the section below to let us know. We love hearing from you: