Best mig welding equipment according to redditors

We found 40 Reddit comments discussing the best mig welding equipment. We ranked the 25 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.

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Top Reddit comments about MIG Welding Equipment:

u/Caedus_Vao · 8 pointsr/guns

This guy is a lot of welder for the money.

It's better than the Harbor Freight models, and not much more money. However, for light-duty work, the Harbor Freight stuff works just fine.

u/NorthStarZero · 5 pointsr/Welding
u/rygarski · 3 pointsr/Welding

i got this welder as a "play welder" to see if i am good at it or if i want to proceed. and to do a couple basic fixes in the house. with the plug available in my garage i want to see if i can get a better stick welder.

https://www.amazon.com/ARKSEN-MIG-130-Welding-Machine-Automatic/dp/B00CLG1VVI


also, for that plug on the breaker box end, is there anythign that can be done to up the AMP? i have a friend who is an electrician so i would have him do it, not touching that bad boy.

u/Nate_with_tKoR · 3 pointsr/TheKingofRandom

These.

I think I said the size wrong, it's probably .025" or .6mm, but I'm not sure the size is super important, most of those welding contact tips (sold with other welding equipment at most hardware stores) should work about the same.

u/Vahalla_Bound · 3 pointsr/Welding

2017 Everlast i-mig140e MIG welder 110/120 volts FLUX 140AMP https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWLCISQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_OIrszbWW31SGZ This one? Looks like it does mig and flux so that works just fine.

u/SomeRandomMax · 3 pointsr/Skookum

Why are you wanting to do gas welding? Unless you have a specific need you are probably better off getting a cheap MIG-style machine. MIG welding is a lot easier for beginners. Check Youtube for plenty of tutorial videos.

Harbor Freight sells a very basic MIG-style machine that will work for your needs for as low as $89 on sale. This one uses flux-cored wire, so no gas is needed to weld.

If you can spend a bit more, check out the Everlast MIG welders. Unlike the HF model linked above, this one is a true MIG welder, meaning you can use inert gas with it. That gives you a much cleaner weld, so you won't need to spend as much time cleaning up your welds. Of course you can still run it with flux-core wire, so you aren't forced to get a tank right away if you are on a budget. Everlast welders are also better quality than HF, and they offer much better support.

HF does offer some models that work with both flux core and with gas, but they are all 220V only. Make sure you have access to 220V before buying one of those.

u/Sundance37 · 3 pointsr/Welding

Just one for now, disclaimer: I have no experience welding, I am just designing something, and more or less projecting cost. I want to get a welder and this will probably be one of my first projects.

I was looking at the forney 324 for a beginning welder that I could grow into with the multiple functionality. Anyone have suggestions? Thanks again.

u/kennys_logins · 3 pointsr/Welding

How cheap is it? Does it run? Do you actually need a portable welder? That thing is a beast. Does it come with anything, leads, wire feeder...

OK, I'm going to address your list.

>1 Is this a good machine to have around? Is the power sufficient to grow with?

It's not about power. It's about utility, I've never used all 180 amps my machine will put out.

>2 Is it versatile? What kinds of welding will this do?

It will stick weld, assuming it comes with leads and an electrode holder. It could do much more if you had the accessories, wire feeder for MIG, High Frequency box and torch for TIG, etc. BUT it's old and finding gear and making it work could be expensive and time consuming.

>3 What is a no-brainer price, assuming full functionality but no accessories?

$2000?

But it's not really worth that to you as a total newbie. Go buy one of these: Lincoln Electric K2185-1 Handy MIG Welder

Why? Because you can plug it in anywhere, It comes with a gas flowmeter so you can do true MIG instead of just FCAW and you can do what you need to do, which is practice, practice, practice.

And when you need more capabilities? You can buy bigger machine and still own a small one for little jobs or sell it to fund your upgrade!

Good Luck.


u/NBQuade · 2 pointsr/Welding

They have kits to let you upgrade to the euro-style guns on old machines like that.

https://www.amazon.com/Welding-Torch-Connector-Socket-Binzel/dp/B01EZJI1AM

That gun looks really beat. One thing I ran into with my torch and finding a new nozzle is that I didn't notice there was a rubber insert in the old nozzle that I could have pulled out and fitted to the new nozzle. Your pic looks like there's an insert in the old nozzle.

u/IAmNotANumber37 · 2 pointsr/Blacksmith

I doubt the 3/4" will make a big difference, at least not inside the forge but that's just a guess. The mixing tube length is important because the air/propane need time to....well...mix so they can burn.

Mig tips are threaded to match the welding gun. Different welding guns have different threads. Some are 1/4-28, but some are metric. I can't tell you which are which, but I can say that

I ordered my mig tips from a place called Welding City. They sell mig tips on Amazon in 10 packs, but I ended up calling and buying from them directly (I can PM you the details) - for the same price (less than $10 delivered to the US) they were willing to make me a mixed pack of different sizes and I'm pretty sure they confirmed the thread-size for me too.

u/schplat · 2 pointsr/pics

Welding is pretty easy actually. You can get a good beginners mig welder for $350. If you drop in price, quality suffers, but for a beginner, you can go down to like a $150 model an be serviceable.

Add in another $100 for good gloves (very important imo), a mask, and weld, and maybe some scrap metal for practice.

It shouldn't take much more than 10-20 minutes of practice to get comfortable enough to make a solid weld. And if you do it, and it looks like crap, you can grind it off, and do it again.

Edit: This is a really good welder for $350.

Edit 2: shouldn't* take much more

u/barryp_ · 2 pointsr/woodworking

I would go with something decent.. I hate seeing people discouraged by anything because their tools suck, not because of their technique.... maybe equivalent to recommending a very cheap hand plane?

If you're not going to do any structural welding, I would recommend a 110v mig. I like Hobart... like a Miller without paying for the brand I guess.

http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500559-Handler-Wire-Welder/dp/B009X43F38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456964203&sr=8-1&keywords=hobart+mig+welder

u/saripeters · 2 pointsr/Welding

Thanks for the quick replies. I've been reading as much as I can, but I really wanted to hear from people with actual experience. As long as I have your attention, would this be a good unit:

http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500559-Handler/dp/B009X43F38/

I'm not buying anything before I take a class, but this is in my price range and has excellent reviews.

u/ecclectic · 2 pointsr/Welding

Should be, but it depends.

https://www.amazon.com/Drico-MIG-150D-Multifunction-Voltage-Soldering/dp/B01H81KKDU/ref=sr_1_6?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1492666630&sr=1-6&refinements=p_36%3A20000-35000 this one pulls 31 amps on 120v

https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Electric-K2185-1-Handy-Welder/dp/B000QFNZ74/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1492666630&sr=1-1&refinements=p_36%3A20000-35000 while this one is fine an a 20 amp circuit.

At the end of the day, it will depend on how much you're going to need it. I've done a lot of on-site work with 110v GMAW machines and a 20amp breaker is the minimum to ensure good performance.

u/Private0Malley · 2 pointsr/ElectricalEngineering

Yep. It's a Lotos Mig 140. The older version of this one. That's the amperage output, not draw. I'm not sure what the draw is.

Definitely hard to beat $250, but I'm trying more than anything not to add too much to the equipment I have to haul which is pretty substantial already.

Thanks!

u/JunkmanJim · 2 pointsr/Welding

I would either buy a cheaper welder off Craigslist or a pawn shop or an [Everlast.] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KTNKKPI/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_40kFAb2PQ2V8W) This is a dual voltage unit and handles heavier material using 110v much better than any brand name 110v only machine I have used. If you do go with a strictly 110 machine, you can preheat with a propane torch to help on thicker material. Once you get started, the heat travels ahead of the weld and you can weld 1/4" material. I wouldn't weld a pressure vessel this way but good enough for bumpers, fences, gates, etc.

u/Skillet_Lasagna · 2 pointsr/Welding

I don't know anything about welding. If I wanted to just do something small like make my own table like this, would it be enough to just pick up a cheap welder like the Campbell Hausfeld WS0990 115-Volt Stick Welder or would I just be wasting my money?

u/9600_PONIES · 1 pointr/Welding

I had an Everlast before I bought my 220v machine that I was very happy with. The only reason I didn't go with them for my upgraded machines is because their customer support over the phone was garbage.

u/skyth540 · 1 pointr/Welding

there's a whole class of terrible $100ish AC "MIG" welders. they're really just flux core, no gas.


'AC Flux Core welder' :

SUNGOLDPOWER MIG 150A Welder Flux Core Wire Automatic Feed Welding AC Welder Gasless Machine Free Mask NO Gas https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071141JQ9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Oa8WDbDY9FR2Q

Super Deal PRO Commercial MIG 130 AC Flux Core Wire Automatic Feed Welder Welding Machine w/Free Mask 110V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XXVFH2Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Gb8WDbEKVX30T

Goplus MIG 130 Welder AC Flux Core Wire Automatic Feed Welder Welding Machine w/Free Mask Commercial (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4OXVAY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Yb8WDb2C6P95X

they're pretty much all the same specs and design, probably all the same China

u/MR2FTW · 1 pointr/Skookum

I just picked up one of these, as in it just came in the mail yesterday. I'm picking up a gas bottle today, hope to start practicing soon.

u/trucipher · 1 pointr/Justrolledintotheshop

There's a bunch of these flux-cored buzz boxes on amazon. I picked up a Pro-Series MMIG125 and it was worth every single penny. It doesn't look like it's still that cheap ($179 at the time), nor available anymore. I know the limits of the machine, but for having a welder at the ready when you really need it, they're not bad.

u/tmarie656 · 1 pointr/Welding

I'm not sure I know enough detail to get help but I figure it's worth a shot.
My husband needs a welder to fix his truck. It has to do with his back window, I believe. I think it's broken and he needs to weld the frame back in. I honestly am not too sure but he hasn't been able to use his truck since whatever happened.

He has this welder saved in his list.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D57V897/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_-vM4DbWHH4X8Z


I'm worried about the reviews and that it has so few reviews. I have zero knowledge so I have no idea how to search for another one or if that one should be good enough. I can't spend more than 300 on it.

I want to get him one for Christmas, he's talked about getting one for a while, even before the truck thing. He's also resotring a 57 chevy, so I figured it might help with that as well, but again I don't know.
He would have researched and asked around before adding it to his list. So whatever the specs are, is probably what he wants.

Any suggestions?
Or is this just too complicated for someone with no knowledge and being too unsure of what his project requires?

u/TheCoolDood · 1 pointr/DIY

I've only used an Oxy-Acetylene torch once - it was actually to loosen up some really rusty bolts with heat. Sucks about the cracked hose. Cutting steel easily is cool - I know Harbor Freight sells a plasma cutter now too, but that certainly seems like overkill.

As for a decent MIG welder, I have to figure that out myself. Here is the Harbor Freight MIG, which is a step up from the one I have now, and is probably decent.

If you're willing to spend a bit more, here are some MIG welders with good reviews on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500549-Auto-Wire-Welder/dp/B002VECKTC/ref=sr_1_3?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1411992701&sr=1-3&keywords=mig+welder

http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500559-Handler-Wire-Welder/dp/B009X43F38/ref=sr_1_1?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1411992701&sr=1-1&keywords=mig+welder

http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Electric-K2185-1-Handy-Welder/dp/B000QFNZ74/ref=sr_1_4?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1411992701&sr=1-4&keywords=mig+welder

Glad I could inspire you with my post! I can understand having a kid could definitely slow things down, but I wish you the best of luck. Send me a message if you build anything cool, I'd love to see it!

u/Oneiropticon · 1 pointr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

hmm. the laser could help me get arrested, which is a pretty big life change.

honestly, a MIG welder would make a huge difference. I could do functional side projects, and make more and better trees to start selling, help me get out of the debt cycle.

u/taycky22 · 1 pointr/Welding

Thanks!

Yeah -- my expectations for TIG is low. I'm excited to take the free class -- even though I believe it's meant to get people introduced and excited about continuing on welding -- but I'm definitely not expecting to come out of it comfortable with TIG.

Stick is the only type of welding that I've done. I'm placing a pretty high value on whatever machine I'm getting having MIG & Stick capabilities. I'm glad you re-iterated the value for a newbie. I'm the paralysis by analysis type, so I need to harden on my requirements here :)

I could always get a cheaper MIG and pick up a used tombstone, but frankly, my area is horrible for secondary tools. I've never perused pawn shops for tools, but maybe that's a direction I need to go.

I don't see a ton of application for 1/16 for what I'm aiming for. But again, I'm ignorant in this world.

I think the one application/idea that I want to incorporate that's maybe a bit different than your average table legs is that I want to incorporate some decorative, mid-century (geometrical) patterning inside of my rectangular table legs. MIG seems like the way to go for that, correct?

In reading some feedback I'm leaning toward the:

u/Serkaugh · 1 pointr/knifemaking

There’s this one, very cheap
Didn’t think of checking amazon..

u/REInvestor · 1 pointr/Welding

Awesome. Thanks so much for the reply.

Is something like this what I would be looking for?

Given the amperage draw of 130, how can a regular household outlet supply it? And I can't imagine running extension cords is safe, right?

Thank you again for your response.

u/ShawnS4363 · 1 pointr/Welding

How about THIS one?