If you’re seeking the best MIG welder under $500 almost anyone may start welding or pursue it as a hobby, but only with the right tools. The MIG welder is the most user-friendly and adaptable form of welding equipment for beginner welders. Check out these 7 cost-effective MIG welders that can handle the easiest or trickiest welding operations if you’re seeking the best welder under $500.
7 Best MIG Welder Under $500
Here we enlist the best MIG welder under $500 for your convenience.
2. Sungoldpower Stick Dc Welder 200amp
3. Lotos Mig Wire Welder 140 Amp
4. Lincoln Electric Handy Mig Welder K2185-1
6. Yeswelder Mig Welder Digital Mig-205ds
7. Suncoo 130 Mig Welder Flux Core
Best MIG Welder under $500 Reviews
We’ve reviewed the best MIG welders under $500 from well-known manufacturers in our article. They can be useful for home operations like farm maintenance, automobile repairs, and industrial fabrication.
So, Let’s start.
1. Forney Easy Weld 271
Key Features:
- Output MIG 30% @ 90 Amps
- Weight is 24.8 lb
- Amp Output Range is10 – 140 Amps
- Wire Feed Speed is79 – 197 ipm
- Input Voltage is 120 v
- Input Phase is 1-Phase
When mastering the craft of welding, everyone must start somewhere. The majority of the skills I learned came from experimentation with the Forney Easy Weld 271, just like I did when I first entered this world as a total novice with no knowledge of even the most fundamental welding technique.
The Forney’s Easy Weld 271 is a multifunctional welding tool that may be used as a stick welder, DC TIG welder, and MIG welder. So you won’t have to worry about this problem if you’re having trouble deciding which welding machine is best for you. It also allows for a three-position switch, which makes switching between processes a breeze.
The rated output voltage and the current range of the Forney Easy Weld 3-in-1 welder are 12 to 24 and 43 to 110 amps, respectively. Rolls of wire weighing two and ten pounds can fit inside. I like that you can totally customize the wire feed speed, which gives beginners the freedom they need to produce a flawless weld.
Forney’s Easy Weld 271, which can be used both with and without gas, requires a gas pipe and regulator to function. This equipment is essentially a portable welder because it weighs only 25 pounds and is compatible with any typical three-prong outlet.
Anyone may start welding right away with the Forney 3-in-1 welder. It’s helpful to know that you may progressively add more accessories, such as a torch, welding nozzles, and contact tips, a diffuser, and more when you’re ready to advance your welding techniques and abilities.
Beginner welders will verify that the Forney Easy Weld 271 will serve you well if you don’t expect a high-duty cycle from it.
Likes
- Speedy stick welder
- All-metal, tough case
- A convenient handle with a torch wrap
- Generator-friendly
Dislikes
- Compared to other welder settings, the MIG welder “starts up” a little slower.
2. Sungoldpower Stick Dc Welder 200amp
Key Features:
- Dimension19.6×9.4×14.9 inch
- Weight is 42lbs
- Flux Cored range: 0.03~ 0.039 in (0.8~1.0mm)
- Solid Steel Wire Range:0.03~ 0.039 in (0.8~1.0mm)
- Rated duty cycle 60%
- High amperage
- Many setting adjustments
- Due to the 110v/220v dual voltage
The stylish SUNGOLDPOWER 200Amp Welder functions as a MIG, MAG, ARC, and MMA welder. Since you will only need one adapter regardless of whether you choose gas-shielded MIG welding or gasless flux-cored welding for your current project, it was built with flexibility in mind.
Although a spool gun is not included in this set, the SUNGOLDPOWER 200Amp welder is equipped to accept one when you chose to expand your welding equipment. I do value the selection switch since it makes switching from a spool gun to a MIG gun quite simple.
Dual voltage support is SUNGOLDPOWER’s best feature. Welders no longer need to purchase additional equipment to use in locations where the necessary voltage is not available because it runs on 110V/220V Dual Voltage. Additionally, the dual voltage feature makes the welder powerful enough to be used for the majority of projects, thus this brand and model are not just for hobbyists. Even skilled welders can use it when providing on-site client service.
You can change the welding power and wire feed on this welder as necessary when switching from stainless steel to aluminum and other metal types.
Any material can be welded using the 200 amp SUNGOLDPOWER welder, including steel that is up to 1/4 inch thick. The lack of spatter welds, which is frequently a problem for multipurpose welding machines like it, pleased me about this.
Out of all the equipment I listed here, SUNGOLDPOWER’s MIG DC Welder offers the best value for the money. Simply because it has features that are flexible, a sturdy housing, and the ideal amount of weight for mobility without having the flimsy feel of other inexpensive welders.
Likes
- Supports a variety of welding methods on a single device.
- High duty cycle and amperage
- Many settings
- Generally compatible with metals
Dislikes
- Not the most beginner-friendly instruction book
3. Lotos Mig Wire Welder 140 Amp
Key Features:
- Medium quality
- Medium amperage
- Many setting adjustments
- Voltage 110/120v
The LOTOS MIG 140 is more than capable of assisting you in accomplishing your goal if finding welding equipment that can work with aluminum is your top priority. If you’re experimenting with welding the thinnest materials, like an exhaust pipe, to heavier steel, you’ll be able to weld with the LOTOS MIG140 flawlessly because it was made with all levels of welders in mind.
The LOTOS MIG 140 was not intended for industrial application, it should be noted. This LOTOS model would be more than adequate if you purchased it for home use to do the majority of welding tasks involving up to 3/16-inch steel.
The MIG torch, argon regulator, gas hose, ground clamp cable, wire, welding mask, and contact tips are already included with the LOTOS MIG 140. This MIG welder can be quickly and easily connected to your existing 110/120v wall outlet right out of the box.
The aluminum wire feeder (and how you may change its settings) and the amperage control are two features of this MIG weld machine that I enjoy. These two help you greatly reduce spatter while allowing you to fine-tune your weld. It’s a plus that the torch is simple to use; novice welders won’t be put off by it.
Likes
- Compatible with gas and flux
- Simple and quick setup
- Affordable
- Adjustable voltage and wire feeder settings
Dislikes
- Spool gun is supported as an add-on but is not included.
4. Lincoln Electric Handy MIG Welder K2185-1
Key Features:
- Weight is 46lb
- Wire Feed Speed is 0-300 ipm
- Input Voltage 110/115/120 V
- Rated Output is 70A/17V/20% duty cycle.
- Amperage Range 35A -88A
- Single – Phase input
- Current Type is DC
- Weld Range up to 1/8 in
The Lincoln Electric K2185-1 Handy MIG Welder may pleasantly surprise you if you require a MIG welder with a maximum 110v power source.
It is lightweight and portable in terms of design, but it still has the weight required to keep it in place while working. The MIG welder from Lincoln Electric is intended for amateurs, novice welders, and anyone preparing to start a project with light gauge mild steel.
The continuous wire feed and dial on the Lincoln Electric K2185-1 Handy MIG Welder allow you to change the speed whenever you see fit.
The welding gun and cable assembly, the gasless flux-cored welding nozzle, and the hose, gas nozzle, and gas regulator for MIG welding are all included with this Lincoln Electric welder. In order to get you started, there is also a 2-pound spool of 0.025-inch solid MIG wire and a 1-pound spool of 0.035-inch flux-cored wire supplied.
Likes
- Sufficient for use with body panels
- Worth the money
- Play around with welder (comes with everything out of the box)
- Dependable, simple-to-read manual
Dislikes
- After use, takes some time to cool off
- Not suitable for long work
5. Hobart 500572 Handler 100
Key Features:
- Rated Output is 80A @ 20%
- Amperage Range: 30 to 100 A
- Wire Range is .030”.035” Flux-Cored
- Weight is 44 lbs
- Flux Core Welder (FCAW)
- Weld Thickness Range up to 3/16 inch
- Input Voltage is 115 V 60 Hz
I once knew a skilled welder who suggested Hobart 500572 Handler 100 to me if I wanted to handle my own light fabrication, steel repair, and other minor maintenance. Additionally, his guidance was spot on.
The Hobart Handler 100 has a dependable 100 amps of power and can weld up to 3/16-inch flux-cored steel. It has a very helpful wire feed that enables any user to experiment with small- to large-sized spools of wire as they discover which wire best suits their present welding needs.
The flux-cored wire welding is sufficient for the majority of domestic or agricultural applications even though there isn’t any shielding gas present. It has served me well, assisting me in welding with 0.30 Flux core wires, which you must buy separately in order to get the most out of this equipment.
Hobart offers excellent customer service as well. After the wire stopped feeding, my machine needed to be fixed, and they were very helpful throughout (without any fee that I had to pay out of my pocket).
Like
- Dependable construction
- Affordable
- Complete welding set, ready to use
- Power of 100 amps
Dislike
- Freebie plastic mask that was distributed
6. Yeswelder Mig Welder Digital Mig-205ds
Key Features:
- Weld Thickness Range is 24 ga up to 3/4 in mild steel
- Input Voltage is110/220 V, 60 Hz.
- Single phase input
- 60% Duty Cycle 160 A
- Amperage Range is 200 Amp
- Weight is 33 lbs
The controls and knobs of the YESWELDER Digital MIG-205DS MIG Welder are easily accessible, allowing you to adjust the wire feed speed and wire thickness. The welder automatically sets the recommended amperage and voltage based on your present setup once all settings have been finalized.
I was aiming to broaden my knowledge of welding beyond MIG when I purchased YESWELDER’s MIG welder, and I quickly realized that I had made the proper choice. I was able to weld right away on 110v thanks to this 4-in-1 welder’s around 90% complete assembly out of the box, and I quickly learned how effectively hot start works.
The multifunction welder from YESWELDER has a “one button selection” feature that enables users to swiftly choose between welding needs. Its 2T/4T design, which enables you to continuously weld for extended periods of time and provides better control for spot welding, will make any work simpler. Additionally, it has the ability to weld using 1/16 stick electrodes.
The hammer and brush in this YESWELDER kit aren’t particularly special, and the instructions aren’t very clear either, but the 110V/220V converter, MIG gun, electrode holder, ground clamp, spools of wire, and contact tip are ideal for getting things going.
Likes
- Lightweight but robust design
- Stunning design with user-friendly buttons and stainless steel accents
- YESWELDER provides exceptional customer service.
- Automatically adjusting voltage
Dislikes
- The instructions are not very clear.
7. Suncoo 130 Mig Welder Flux Core
Key Features:
Welder on wheels
Automated flux core wire feed
No-gas welding
Contrast the SUNCOO 130 MIG Welder Flux Core’s inexpensive cost with the high level of performance it offers. I borrowed one to try it out, and I was pleasantly surprised.
One 1-mm tip is already installed (along with one extra), along with one 0.8-mm tip, a free spool of flux-core wire (0.25 pounds of 0.8-inch wire), and two backup fuses.
In terms of design, it resembles any other MIG welder in its price range. But as soon as you turn that transformer on and start using this 110 MIG machine, you’ll notice how practical SUNCOO’s design is. The four-button options for variable feed speed control, which let you modify wire feeding using a rotary knob, are my favorites.
Due to the fact that SUNCOO flux core welder can weld thin steel and iron, you can use it to fix pipes in your home on a regular basis.
This model, in my opinion, stands out because of the thoughtfully positioned air vents that help to lower the warmth while you work. Given that small welder like these frequently heat up quickly and cool down slowly, it is a fairly cool feature (not a design flaw, but more on a size issue).
Likes
- With new anti-rust yellow paint, the construction is simple and effective.
- Tiny and transportable
- Created to stop heat from dissipating
- Includes thermal safety protection and a safety button.
Dislikes
- For improved weld quality, the provided wire must be replaced.
A Guide For Best MIG Welders Under $500
Before buying the Best MIG Welders Under $500, first read this guide.
High heat is released during the welding process to melt and join diverse materials, including metals and thermoplastics. Depending on the welding process, the materials being welded, the speed of the welding, and other criteria, several welding procedures are utilized.
Among these choices are:
When welding thicker materials, electro slag welding, or ESW Cast iron is handled by stick welding, also referred to as SMAW or shielded metal arc welding.
Thin stainless steel pieces are frequently joined with other non-ferrous metals such copper alloys, magnesium, and aluminum using tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding.
Beginner welders are advised to start with MIG welding (metal inert gas welding or gas metal arc welding/GMAW) since it can deal with stainless steel, steel, and aluminum alloys with ease.
Based on variables like welding power, amperage, and unique characteristics like spool gun capability, these welder machines are priced in a wide range. The best MIG welder under $500 is usually sufficient for usage at home, though.
Amperages Range And Welding Strength
You’ll need a MIG welding gun with a continuously-fed, consumable spool of wire if you’ve made the decision to start learning MIG welding. An inert gas is used to power the MIG welding gun, which generates heat that is intense enough to melt the wire of your choosing.
After choosing the wire-feed speed, wire diameter, and metal thickness of the materials you’re going to weld, the majority of MIG welding equipment automatically adjusts the right voltage and amperage range for you.
It’s critical to consider the types of projects you’ll be taking on if your machine requires you to manually configure the amperage range.
Small MIG welders – A MIG welder that can generate up to 140 amps is required if you intend to weld steel that is less than 1/4 inch thick. For this job, 110 to 115-volt welders might be adequate.
Larger 220-volt machines are able to weld up to 1/2-inch thick steel in a single pass using medium- to large-sized MIG welders.
Some welders can utilize the same voltage setting for the duration of their machine as long as they don’t switch to different materials for their projects because the voltage settings depend on how thin or thick your materials are.
A higher amperage machine is advised if you are unsure of the projects you’ll undertake but only need the MIG welder for domestic use (and not for commercial use). You can have deeper welds, welds that seem uniform, and generally more welding possibilities with higher amp MIG welders.
Welder Quality
It’s crucial to select the right tools for the work because your choice will have an impact on the welder’s quality. And the likelihood of a subpar weld rises when you choose the incorrect machine.
Weld quality assurance is crucial since improperly welded materials may crack or leak, as you are already aware. Sometimes a failed weld will simply result in a minor inconvenience, like a leaky faucet. However, a poor-quality weld can be disastrous if it weakens the structure of a bigger component, like gas pipes.
Duty Cycle
Duty cycle refers to how long a welder can run at a specific amperage. In terms of duty cycle, which is expressed as a percentage, 10% of duty cycle corresponds to one minute of welding time.
Therefore, a MIG welder with a 20% duty cycle at 90 amps can be used continuously for two minutes before needing to rest for the following eight minutes.
There are two potential problems:
Imagine how much time will be lost from all the resting time since your project demands longer amounts of welding time.
Expect the duty cycle to decrease as you utilize more amperage.
100% duty cycle is conceivable, but only with premium, commercial-grade welding equipment that is powered by three phases.
Understanding duty cycle can also help you to grasp how changing amperage can allow better welds over longer periods of time.
Other Things To Keep In Mind
Even though a cheap MIG welder isn’t expensive, it can still be helpful equipment. Simply select the appropriate machine for the task at hand. The following features, might not be present in typical MIG welders but which might significantly increase welding capabilities:
Spool gun – The welder needs to be able to connect to an aluminum spool gun if you’re planning to weld aluminum. Unfortunately, the spool gun is rarely included into the machine if you use inexpensive welders. Oftentimes, more expensive MIG welders include a spool gun.
MIG wire is required by all MIG welders in order to melt the wire in the gun and adhere it to other metals. The size, thickness, and features (such as flux-cored) of the wires are all customizable.
Wire feed trigger – While some models have a manual wire feed, others include an automatic wire feed trigger. Make sure your chosen welder has the ability to switch between manual and automated if you wish to be able to do so.
Dial settings: Not all MIG welders come with a dial that lets you adjust the current and wire feeding. No of the position or material utilized, these two settings are important for enhancing weld quality and speed.
Check the machine’s cooling system to see if it is air- or water-cooled. Water-cooled guns are necessary for heavy-duty welding, which necessitates continuous welds of roughly 500 amps to cool the metal. Unfortunately, inexpensive welders do not have this feature. Light welding activities can be completed with air cooling.
Conclusion
Now we conclude on the best MIG welders under $500 in our article. They can be useful for home, farm maintenance, automobile repairs, and industrial fabrication. Keep in mind, nevertheless, that these MIG welders are not the best devices for welding larger metals or intricate welding tasks.
Our top choice among all the products we evaluated was the Forney Easy Weld 271. It has a number of useful features and exceptional functionality, making it one of the best 240v MIG welders available for under $500. With superior quality, outstanding value, and multi-functionality, the LOTOS MIG140 and the Hobart Handler 500572 came in second and third, respectively, in the ratings.
There are more welders on the market with greater features, but the ones on our product list are the best you can acquire for less than $500. You’ll be astounded by how effective they are, and price does not always equal higher quality.
FAQs
With 8 years of experience a senior welding instructor and safety equipment researcher and writes articles, reviews and guidelines on helmets and other welding and safety gears at Welder Choice, and other written works have been published in various publications.