You’ve picked up welding as a hobby. Now that you’re no longer just a novice welder, but not quite a professional, you’re looking for some guidance to find the best MIG welder ( metal inert gas welder) on the market.
This article is perfect for novice welders and also the pros who want to upgrade their welding gear but have no time to go through hundreds of models! We will present the different features and things to consider when buying MIG welders and then introduce you to the best ones available for anyone from beginner's to professional skill level.
You will need to know what you’re using the MIG welder for before shopping. There is a difference between the best MIG welder for home use and welding shop MIG welders. You also need to know whether it’s going to be a heavy-duty machine or lightly used every once in a while.
You don' want to end up with a MIG welder that has too much or too little power. One will cost you extra money and one will leave you wanting more and purchasing another MIG welder sooner than expected.
11 Best MIG Welder Reviews
Editor's Rating: 4.8/5
Our top pick of the best MIG welders on the market, Miller 215 welder is going to amaze you.
This multi process welder your best option considering the overall quality and the features it comes with.
The Miller Multimatic 215 Welder is a well-built product that runs on 110V or 230V right out of the box. The welder does not require configuration as the user only needs to change the plug on the power wire.
The machine has an onboard power inverter, and its interface can sense the voltage input. It comes with a 2-pound spool of wire, but with the spool adapter, it can easily switch to the larger 10-pound spools.
Opening the side door of the welder provides access to the wire spool and adjustments for friction on the wire feed. The digital interface provides easy-to-follow instructions for the setup, and a spreadsheet tutorial is stuck to the side door of the machine for further assistance.
The welder is heavy-duty and solidly built, with cables, stinger, and leads of exceptional quality. The machine also comes with a metal thickness gauge for the keychain and a free spool of .030 MIG wire.
The welder's setup is simple, and the auto set function allows for fine-tuning of wire or voltage. The Miller 215 welder is portable, making it easy to carry around and use even on the roof.
The display is clear and intuitive, and the machine comes with a nice protective cover for the LCD screen.
Despite the availability of cheaper welders, owning an American-made product with American customer service adds significant value.
Customer service is also exceptional, with immediate access to an actual person when technical questions arise. My warm recommendations overall!
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Editor's Rating: 4.6/5
If you like getting a lot of features for an affordable price and want to balance these traits, then consider the Hobart Handler 210 MVP MIG Welder. We think it’s one of the best MIG welding machines for the money!
This Hobart is extremely flexible. It's a multi-voltage plug (MVP) machine that can run on 115 volts or 230 volts.
Hobart 210 MVP is easy enough for even low skill levels to handle. It’s suited to mild steel and stainless steel in mild ranges like 3/8 inch for 24-gauge mild steel.
Regardless of your provided power source, Hobart 210 can automatically adjust itself to the correct power input so you get superior arc performance no matter what you’re using. It’s also pretty portable and very rugged.
The flexibility extends to various welding projects covered in our MIG welder reviews. You can use Hobart 210 MVP for anything! Make auto body panels, fix exhaust systems, create tool carts, trailer frames, and hitches. You can also fix mower decks, weld gun and bow racks for weaponry, work on lawn and garden equipment, or even make metal sculptures. Farm equipment is easily repaired with this unit, and you can fix fences so your livestock stay put. You can even MIG weld aluminum using the Spool Runner 100 direct plug-in spool gun.
This portable MIG welder also offers a lot of precision. It's got 7 different voltage settings to help fine-tune your projects and penetration. The out amperage is 115 to 140 and 25 to 210 on the 115V and 230V input respectively, with a 20% duty cycle at 115 volts and a 30% duty cycle at 230 volts.
The box includes the Hobart Handler 210 MVP with its built-in gas valve, a 10 foot H100S4-10 MIG welding gun, a gas delivering hose and dual gauge regulator, a 10-foot work cable with clamp, a power cord with a plug, a sample spool of .03 flux core wire, extra contact tips, an 8-inch wire spool adapter, and an owner’s manual, plus 115 and 230-volt multi-voltage plug.
To sum up, this is one of the MIG welders with an amazing penetration and power – you can work much faster with this machine! What you get is a high-quality performance for significantly less money than comparable competitor models. The Hobart 210 MVP MIG will still run smoothly after heavy use for over a year and deliver absolutely perfect beads on steel! This is truly one of the best MIG welders for your buck!
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Editor's Rating: 4.5/5
This Miller 220 welder, AC/DC PM MIG welder is one of the best MIG welders for professionals. It’s a little more expensive than other options but it will help you nail your every job.
This unit is a welding machine that simplifies the process of switching between welding processes, which makes it super-easy to use.
With QuickTechä technology, the machine automatically determines the correct polarity and process when the trigger is activated, making it easier to connect a MIG gun and TIG torch simultaneously.
The welding rig also features two shielding gas connections to allow for both MIG and TIG gases to be attached at the same time.
This machine is ideal for TIG welders who require fine-tuning of their parameters, with adjustable AC balance and frequency, and DC pulse.
Alternatively, Pro-Setä technology offers pre-set controls designed by Miller weld engineers to eliminate the guesswork when setting weld parameters.
The Miller 220 welder is portable, weighing only 56 pounds and featuring the Miller exclusive Multi-Voltage Plug (MVP™), which allows users to weld in more places by selecting the appropriate plug for a 120V or 240V power receptacle and connecting it to the power cord without tools.
Innovative features that enhance ease-of-use include an angled wire drive using an updated motor in an all-aluminum housing to support longer torch options, delivering smoother wire feeding for better welds. The Quick Select™ drive roll simplifies setup with three grooves: two for different sized solid wire and a third for flux-cored wire. More details in our in-depth Miller Multimatic 220 Review.
Technical specifications:
Welding processes: MIG, TIG, Stick, Flux Core
Input power: 120/240V
Output amperage range: 20-230A
Duty cycle: 40% at 200A
Wire diameter capacity: 0.023-0.045 in. (MIG), 0.030-0.045 in. (Flux-cored)
Tungsten diameter range: 0.020-0.125 in.
Material thickness capacity: 24 ga. - 3/8 in.
AC frequency range: 60-150 Hz
AC balance range: 60-90%
Weight: 56 lbs.
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Editor's Rating: 4.4/5
If you want a comprehensive package with some cool accessories, grab the Lotos MIG 175 Welder. The kit includes: a MIG Torch, Ground Clamp Cable, Gas Hose, Argon Regulator, . 023” (0. 6mm) & . 035” (0. 9mm) Contact Tips, Welding Mask and Wire
This welding machine is solid when it comes to welding stainless steel, mild steel, and welding aluminum.
It’s got an 24 gauge 3/16 capacity on mild and stainless steels and a 3/8 inch or thinner capacity for aluminum.
A spool gun is included for aluminum welding. It works at high speeds and is 10 feet and 4 inches long with a 4-prong end connection and 1 pound of aluminum wire with .9 millimeter diameter so it can weld 3/8 inch plates.
This versatile welder incorporates overheat protection that can be reset to lengthen the lifespan of the product. It’s also able to handle industrial standard 4 or 6-inch wire spools.
Lotos Technology is an American company, headquartered in California. They make high-quality products without the frills with the intention of making welding easy and affordable for DIY welders. Lotos 175 is one of their best MIG welding units.
To conclude, Lotos MIG 175 Welder includes tons of free accessories along with the more the suitable MIG welder itself. It effectively welds everything from 1/32 to 3/8 steel and is an extremely great value for home hobbyist welders who don’t need tons of frills built into their machine. Might be your best home welder at a great price.
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Editor's Rating: 4.4/5
The Everlast MIG140 Welder has gotten some amazing upgrades.
This transformer 140-amp MIG welder has a 25% duty cycle at 140 amps, which is a respectable rating for such a compact welding machine.
It can do this because it operates extremely efficiently and draws much less power. It’s light and even has a smaller footprint despite offering the maximum diameter roll size of 8 inches.
This is one of their units from the line of economy welders. They may have cut down on frills, but they certainly didn’t sacrifice performance at all. This is a powerhouse with an IGBT inverter that blows competitors out of the water.
The cool thing is that you can control the wire speed and voltage with a step-less system. Nothing to tap – jut relax and enjoy your weld! It has straightforward controls to make it easy to use and understand.
This is the perfect choice for anyone who needs a small MIG welder for fast jobs. This works well as the best home welder but also your best small MIG welder for contractors, and people who take odd jobs doing general repair work. It’s very durable and will last a long time, and best of all you get all the control over your wire feed and voltage settings.
The Everlast 140 is an excellent quality machine that offers beautiful welds for affordable prices. It also has a ton of power ad controls over your work. The duty cycle is solid so you shouldn’t experience issues there. It's definitely a very powerful and yet light and portable MIG welding machine for most needs and projects.
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Editor's Rating: 4.3/5
This Hobart MIG welder is extremely popular and versatile. In fact, it can even weld copper, brass, and titanium! It is so user-friendly that you'll feel like you're using a hot glue gun!
The Hobart Handler 140 is of high quality and quite durable. It's also Hobart's most popular wire feed welder because it's such a great value! Zero additional kit is required to make this heavy duty MIG welder ready for MIG projects.
It’s light and portable for easy transportation and offers incredible arc performance. Each MIG machine is made in the USA and backed by a 5/3/1 warranty.
The user guide is extremely easy to follow. This makes set up a breeze. It only takes a few minutes to set up before you’re ready to weld! Even beginners will be able to use this easily.
The Hobart 140 is ideal for a lot of DIY projects. Auto body panels, exhaust systems, trailer frames and hitches, metal sculptures, tool carts, MIG gun and bow racks, PTO attachments, and even fences are easy with this MIG welder!
It’s got a durable feed head with a quick-release lever for the drive roll. It also includes a dual-groove quick-change drove roll and a 20-amp heavy-duty work clamp. There are 5 tapped voltage control settings for his position soon.
In summary, this lightest MIG welder comes with an extremely durable construction from outer shell all the way into the wire feed assembly. The user manual is extremely user-friendly and once you get the hang of it, the Hobart Handler 140 makes gorgeous welds with the very first pass!
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Editor's Rating: 4.2/5
If you want a versatile welding kit with some great accessories, consider the Lotos MIG 140 Welder.
The free accessories kit includes: a MIG Torch, Ground Clamp Cable, Gas Hose, Argon Regulator, . 023” (0. 6mm) & . 035” (0. 9mm) Contact Tips, Mask and Wire.
This welding piece of machinery is solid when it comes to welding stainless steel, mild steel, and aluminum.
It’s got an 24 gauge 3/16 capacity on mild and stainless steels and a 3/8 inch or thinner capacity for aluminum.
The transformer technology is extremely durable and you can rely on it to get the job done well. It will easily connect to any existing 110/120-volt wall outlets and only takes a little time to set it up before welding.
A spool gun is not included with this model for aluminum welding but the upgraded Lotos MIG140 is now available with 2T/4T switch and the 2 digital displays to help welders adjust the wire feeder speed and welding voltage more precisely.
This transformer based MIG welder is versatile and incorporates overload-protection that can be reset to lengthen the lifespan of the product. It’s also able to handle industrial standard 4 or 6-inch wire spools.
Lotos Technology is an American company, with headquarters in California. They make high-quality products without the frills with the aim to make welding easy and affordable for all welders, making it one of the most affordable MIG welders.
If you go for the Lotos MIG 140 , you will get lots of free accessories along with the welding unit! You'll be able to weld any materials from 1/32 to 3/8 steel well plus aluminum and the machine comes at an extremely great value for hobbyist welders who don’t need tons of frills built into their welding unit.
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Editor's Rating: 4.2/5
If you love the Miller Electric 907614 but don’t quite have the budget for it, Miller's 907612 141 welder is a great option that still has plenty of power and features with a less intimidating price tag.
This MIG welder was created as an upgrade to one of their other popular welders.
This is equally great for hobbyists and professionals, and the design goal was to make for excellent user experience and precise control.
The auto-set control is amazing. A blue light indicates that it is activated, and from there all you do is tell it what your wire diameter and metal thickness are then begin wielding. It will set the other controls for you, saving you some time and making it super easy for beginners to find the right thickness for their first ride.
It’s pretty powerful, with a standard 20% duty cycle at 90 amps. It’s also got thermal overload protection to stop you from exceeding your time and overheating your machine. It’s compatible with standard indoor power outlets, so you can take it pretty much anywhere. It’s also got infinite settings for voltage control so you get the best possible quality from your welds.
The good: Miller 907614 offers Infinite Voltage control which allows for maximum quality and control over different metal thicknesses. What's more, its spatter-free starting capability makes for a much cleaner weld and the easy set up with a quick-select feature will give it the fastest setup time of any 140A welder. In addition, the auto-set feature makes it very easy for beginners to use and learn the welding techniques faster than ever.
The bad: the Miller 907614 can’t be used for industrial projects or with thicker metal and its power cord is only 5 feet long, which isn’t much.
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Editor's Rating: 4.1/5
If you’re a fan of Hobart but you don’t necessarily need the power of the 210 then check out the Hobart Handler 190 MIG welder instead! It’s a bit more affordable and still packs plenty of power and features.
The Hobart Handler is a great budget MIG welder that can weld aluminum and steel. It’s very versatile and packs a lot of power despite being easy to use and friendly towards beginners. While it may not be able to match industrial-use welders, it’s got plenty of power for even the toughest heavy-duty home jobs.
It is capable of welding materials that are 24 gauge and up to 5/6-inch thickness. This range means it is suitable for use in maintenance, construction, and automotive projects. It’s also compact and able to run off generators, so you can take it with you to a worksite.
The Hobart Handler 190 MIG comes with an amazing 5/3/1 warranty and coverage. Also, the price to performance ratio makes it a great value for your money, It is a most versatile MIG welder that can weld multiple different metals and the unit includes a lot of great safety features to enhance the lifespan and protect the operator.
It does require a 230 Volt receptacle or a 7000-watt generator to operate despite not being suitable for industrial tasks. It's also more expensive than comparable welding machines because the brand is reliable and associated with quality and performance.
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Editor's Rating: 4.0/5
For another great value that offers power and versatility, check out the Forney 318 MIG welder. It offers a flowmeter and gas hold and can handle both MIG and Flux cored projects.
This Forney welder is a very simple, no-frills MIG welder that allows you to save some money slipping features that you don't need or want.
It can handle simple projects at home up to 3/8-inch thickness in a single-phase and can be used for ranch, automotive, and home welding projects. Can this Forney welder be the best home welder for your needs? Possibly yes if you are on a tight budget.
It’s capable of both MIG and flux core welding thanks to the integrated high-quality wire feeding system. The system is made of cast aluminum and has a drive roll with an improved despoiler. It’s also got a euro-style disconnect MIG gun that lets you remove your MIG torch in a matter of mere seconds.
The aluminum wire feed on this MIG welder allows for a very stable and smooth arc control. We also liked the durable and reliable build and the quick set up accompanied by the user-friendly design that makes the Forney 318 easy to use.
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Editor's Rating: 4.4/5
Lincoln Electric Powermig 210 is another quality lightweight MIG welder.
This Lincoln welder makes some of the best performing MIG welders and this 210MP units is no exception. It's another versatile welder with dual voltage for 115 or 230-volt supply. The duty cycle on this Lincoln is amazing – 40% at 100 amps!!!!
There are 2 fans in the back of the unit that help to keep it cool. It’s also got a good amount of power, especially when you’re tackling up to 5/16 inches of stainless steel or 3/16 inches of aluminum.
At just 40 pounds, this dual voltage welder is also really easy to transport.
The inverter technology prevents it from being insanely heavy, so it’s ideal for contract welders who need to take their gear with them.
Lincoln Powermig 210 MP is also pretty user-friendly thanks to the front digital display. This allows you to remember your settings and start welding quickly as it talks you through the setup.
This multi-process unit is 4 welders merged into a single small unit. It works like a small and a large MIG welder, and can even perform stick welding and TIG welding by connecting the torch through the DC negative terminal and clamping. But TIG welders should remember to change their controls to TIG weld before they start and make sure that their gas is securely connected.
Lastly, we're recommending this versatile and professional welder from Lincoln which is capable of handling any job while excelling at MIG weld works even as the best MIG welder for beginner user. The flux core feature will let you work through thick metals such as cast iron and the great balance of features for the price makes it an excellent value. In addition, it's very easy to set it up and use for novice welders but it's also powerful enough for advanced welders as well.
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Honorable Mention - ESAB Rebel EMP 215ic
We suggest that you check out this great high-end welding machine if you're shopping for the best professional MIG welder:
Top Rated MIG Welders - What to Look For?
Modern MIG welders have some awesome features including auto-set systems, built-in standardized solid quality circuits, and overheat protection. Let's take a look at some of the features and options to have in mind!
MIG/Flux Cored Welders vs. Multifunction Units
The good news is that these days the market understands a need for versatility. Most of the top MIG welders on the market support flux core welding wire as well. Not all of them have migrated to this level yet, though, so make sure that you buy a multifunctional unit if you need one or get the best flux core welder for your needs.
The multifunctional MIG welder is preferable for people who need the reliable welder for a diverse set of functions. These multipurpose welders can be used for home repair, on the ranch, for work on car repair and maintenance at an auto body shop, and more. They enable MIG, TIG welding and stick welding in one unit. For those who want a reliable machine for a quick job, you won't spend that much money if you opt for the best stick welder for your needs.
Input Voltage and Output Power
You need to know how much power you need and what your MIG welder can support. The best small MIG welder for home projects runs at around 115 volts. This is because your best home welder doesn't need a lot of voltage to work with very thin metals. Your home welding can be efficiently done with the 115-volt welders and thin iron sheets.
This type of welders doesn’t have the power required to weld thicker metals. If you need a handy MIG welder that gives lots of power and can handle thicker jobs, then go for the more powerful welders. The extra cost will be worth it for the extra power.
An all in one MIG welder is the best option for a wide range of products to work on because many of them are able to toggle settings between 120 and 230 volts of operating power. You would just switch from the high voltage plug to the low voltage one for smaller jobs. Although it still can't handle industrial-strength projects, it's suitable for most low-demanding welding projects.
Output power is also important to the purchasing decision with the top-rated MIG welders. The output of these machines is measured in amperage and voltage. Also pay attention to the welder's rated duty cycle.
Size and Transportability
Portability and weight rely on how you need to use the MIG welder. Is it going to be staying in 1 spot or do you plan to move it and have a mobile welding shop? If you want a totally mobile shop, then you’ll need to worry less about the weight and more about finding a fantastic welding cart to move your MIG welder around when you need it.
The Duty Cycle
The duty cycle relates to the amount of time a MIG welder can run at a certain output without overheating due to the temperature limits of each component's parts. Usually, this is measured by using 10 minutes’ cycles. If a MIG welder has a 30% duty cycle at 240 Amp, then it can handle welding for 3 minutes at this power output. After that, it will need 7 minutes to cool. As simple as that! The same MIG welder will have longer duty cycle of 60% when being used at lower power.
As more experienced welders kindly pointed out to me, overheating is not as common problem in welding as I thought. In addition, rarely will you get the overheat protection to kick in but it's still good to know that most welders are equipped with features to prevent thermal overload and keep your electronics safe.
Maintaining Your Welder
Once you’ve got a top rated MIG welder, it will last a long time as long as you take care of it. Without properly maintaining it, you will end up with weak and sloppy welds or a broken machine.
For minimal maintenance and repairs needs, you can save yourself a lot of trouble by purchasing a MIG welder that has quality components, a unit which is robust and has large enough and powerful cooling fans with good quality fins and big ventilation outlets.
Solid quality electrical components and wiring will also tolerate more heat before they need to cool off. All of these will keep the MIG welder from hitting the overheating point. Here are some tips for maintaining the lifetime of the best quality MIG welders.
Drive Rolls
It is important to maintain your drive rolls. If your MIG welder starts to stutter, it’s usually an issue that begins with the drive rolls.
The groove is easily packed with the drawing compound, so you need to clean it regularly with a MIG wire brush and adjust it periodically to eliminate this buildup.
You should also maintain adequate tightness on your drive rolls. When they become knurled, they develop teeth that will wear down your liner and guides.
Contact Tips
Contact tips transfer your welding current through the wire to create the arc. These should feed through with minimal resistance, so you need to keep high-quality contact tips.
Usually, these tips are made from copper. This is very conductive so current will transfer through the wire consistently.
To extend the life of your contact tips, you should keep them free of spatter. Use the right drive rolls so the wire feeds through smoothly and minimize bump backs. Select tips with a smooth surface so your wire won’t snag and use lower operating temperatures whenever possible to reduce the electrical wear and tear.
Other Equipment for Your Welder
Now that you’ve got your MIG welder, don’t forget these essentials to go along with it. Some of them are a crucial part of the MIG welding process and some are for your safety while working.
Welding Helmet and Clothing
It is important to make sure you’re wearing proper welding safety gear before you begin. Wearing the best welding helmet that fits your budget will prevent your eyes from ultra-violet light, sparks and splatter. Reliable welding helmets also prevent you from breathing in the dangerous fumes and gasses that are released when welding.
Wearing flame-resistant clothing will also keep you safe. A leather jacket that covers all parts of your body exposed to welding in progress is a must as leather is non-flammable and it will protect you from the spatter, as well. You should have long sleeves. If you wear shorter sleeves (which is not recommended), then wear welding gloves that cover your entire forearms for safety.
A Spool Gun
You should also ask whether you want a MIG welder that comes with a spool gun. The best MIG welders have the ability to hook up a spool gun which will let you MIG weld aluminum instead of just mild steel.
There are relatively few hobby welders that allow for spool gun, but some of them will offer this option. If you want to successful weld aluminum, it requires a stable arc and with its short feed distance, a spool gun will provide a steady feed of the soft aluminum wire.
Shielding Gas Cylinder
Choosing the right mixture and the right size shielding gas cylinder for gas arc welding is super important. New welders may not know how much welding they will do or how much gas they should expect to use per session. Homeowner and hobby welders can get away with 20, 40, 80, or 125 cubic foot cylinders. The larger end of this range of shielding gas cylinders will offer tons of welding time while still being pretty easy to transport.
Gas Regulators
Gas regulators are essential to welding safety. You need to choose the right welding gas regulator for your project. Match your regulator to the type of gas you are using.
MIG Welding Wire
To weld steel, you can use an AWS classification ER70S-3 for all-purpose steel welding. The ER70S-6 wire should be used when more deoxidizers are necessary for welding on dirty or rusty steel materials.
As for the MIG welding wire diameter, .030-inch diameter is a good all-around choice. You can use it to weld a range of metal thicknesses as a hobby welder or a pro.
To weld any thinner material, we recommend using a .023-inch wire which will reduce heat input. If you need to weld thicker materials at higher heat levels, we suggest using the .035 inch. You can also go for flux-cored wire which doesn't require the use of the shielding gas.
FAQs
1. What's better, Hobart or Lincoln?
Even for beginners, both professional welders are portable, dependable, and simple to use. The Hobart 140, however, outperforms the Lincoln 140 in terms of use, wire drive (the welder's brain), and warranty.
2. Is gasless MIG as good as gas MIG?
Due to all the components in the flux that help to shield the weld, gasless (flux-cored) welding generates far more fumes than when employing a shielding gas. Gasless MIG welding is therefore far superior for outdoor application.
3. Are Hobart Welders made in China?
No, Hobart Welders are not made in China. Since 1917, Hobart welders have been produced in the United States. The company has a long history of giving consumers all over the world high-quality welders, and its products are created in Ohio.
4. What welder should a beginner buy?
The best sort of MIG welders for beginners are those that have a wire welding electrode on a spool that is fed through a welding gun at a predetermined speed. Gas metal arc welding (GMAW or MIG), which is an automatic or semi-automatic procedure, is the simplest to learn.
5. What size MIG welder do I need?
For a MIG welder, in general, 140 amps are required for 115 volt welders to weld up to 14" thick steel, while 200 amps are required for 220 volt welders to weld up to 12" thick material.