MIG welding is an arc welding process that is utilized not only in small repair shops and businesses but also in high-end metal and steel manufacturing companies around the world. You might be wondering, what exactly is MIG welding and why you need to purchase a MIG welder for your welding business. Well, this guide will answer all your questions.
In this guide, we're going to talk about what MIG welding is, what you need to consider before buying the perfect MIG welder for your welding needs and we've also created a list of the best MIG welders under 500$ that you can choose from. So, sit back, relax, and read this article till the end.
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What is MIG Welding?
Metal inert gas welding or more commonly known as MIG welding is a consumable electrode welding process which is also simply known as wire welding. MIG welding is a part and parcel of large metal and steel industries and is used to weld not only aluminum but also stainless steel, copper, nickel and other metals.
The Best MIG Welder Under $500 Comparison Chart
Product | Rating | Price | Operating Voltage/Input | Welding Thickness | Duty Cycle | Weight (lbs) | Made In | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.7/5 | 227$ | 120V | Up to 1/4" | 30% @ 90A | 19 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.6/5 | 279$ | 115V | Up to 1/8" | 20% @ 70A | 45 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.5/5 | 336$ | 220/110V | Up to 1/4" | 30% @ 155A | 21.2 | USA | 3 Year | |
4.4/5 | 150$ | 110V | 0.8-0.9mm | 60% @ 150A | 43 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.6/5 | 430$ | 115V | Up to 1/8" | 20% @ 70A | 26 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.7/5 | 391$ | 110/120V | Up to 1/8" | 30% @ 110A | 25.8 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.5/5 | 245$ | 110/220V | 0.8-1.0mm | 60% @190A | 34.1 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.7/5 | 310$ | 120V | 3/16" | 30% @ 90A | 22 | USA | 3 Year | |
3.8/5 | 190$ | 220V | Over 0.8mm | 40% @ 120A | 10.14 | China | 1 Year | |
4.3/5 | 360$ | 220V | Over 0.8mm | 30% @200A | 21.38 | China | 1 Year |
Top 10 Best MIG Welders under 500$ in 2022
We want you to get the best price to feature combo with your purchase of a decent MIG welder. That is why, we've created a list of the top 10 best MIG Welders under 500$ available in the market so you can choose easily.
1. Forney Easy Weld 261 MIG Welder
Product Specifications:
- Power Output: 140Amps Maximum.
- Wire: Flux Core.
- Voltage and Speed Control: Both are available.
- Adapter: 20-15Amps adapter.
Overview:
One of the best entry-level MIG welding options for beginners out there, the Forney Easy Weld 261 MIG Welder is equipped with 140Amps of max power output allowing you to weld moderately thick metal objects with ease at a very reasonable price point.
The great thing about this welder is the fact that it utilizes a flux core wire electrode in order to fuse two metals together. Plus the amazing price really makes the Weld 261 a great choice for your welding needs.
Pros
Cons
2. Lincoln Electric K2278-1 Handy Core MIG Welder
Product Specifications:
- Power Output: 35-88Amps.
- Wire: Flux core wire.
- Power Outlet: 20Amps.
- Welding Capability: Can weld up to 1/8 inch.
Overview:
This K2278-1 Handy Core MIG welder is one of the best beginner MIG welders out there in the market. It's simple and easy to use and it costs much less than 500$, so you're set for the start of your MIG welding journey. However, it is useful for fairly smaller-scale welding work and would not be an ideal choice if you're looking for a bigger industrial scaled welding machine.
Pros
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3. MIG155GSV 155 AMP MIG Welder
Product Specifications:
- Power Output: 30-155Amps
- Speed and Heat Settings: Both available.
- Welding Capabilities: Welds up to 1/4 thickness.
- IGBT Inverter Design: For protecting against overheating and over current in the welding process.
Overview:
One of the more mid-ranged MIG welding options for you in this list price wise is the Weldpro MIG155GSV which has a maximum output of 155Amps ensuring thick welds at a fairly decent price range.
It comes with an IGBT inverter design which ensures the safety of the welding process and makes sure that the machine doesn't overheat or get into any other problems during the process.
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4. SUNGOLDPOWER MIG 150A Welder
Product Specifications:
- Power Output: 80-150Amps.
- Wire: Flux core electrode.
- Controls: Speed, safety control, thermal protection and many others.
- Body: Stainless steel.
Overview:
Arguably one of the best options in this list of MIG welders is the SUNGOLDPOWER Gasless MIG 150A welder which maximum output of 150Amps which is enough for a good deal of welding work and it comes for a very amazingly small price. This welding machine is capable of doing welding work with metals as thick as 5 millimeters and more. So, for a decent price, you're set for different kinds of welding work.
Pros
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5. Lincoln Electric K2185-1 Handy MIG Welder
Product Specifications:
- Power Output: 35-88Amps.
- Weld: Both gas and flux core options.
- Power Outlet: 20Amps.
- Cold Contactor: Keeps welding wire electrically cold until the trigger is used.
Overview:
Welding with both flux-cored wire and shielding gas options, the Lincoln Electric K2185-1 is one of the more expensive choices when it comes to moderate MIG welding. This welding machine is more focused on hobby welding and isn't the ideal choice when it comes to industrial welding. That's why you should try to use it for that purpose only.
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6. Forney Easy Weld 140 MP MIG Welder
Product Specifications:
- Power Output: 10-140Amps
- Power Outlet: 20-15Amps.
- Output Voltage Requirement: 12-23V.
- Multipurpose: 3 in 1 welding options.
Overview:
One of the best options on this list is the Forney Easy Weld 140MP which is a 3 in 1 multipurpose welder which can do stick welding, MIG welding, and even TIG welding for a very generous price to value ratio. The design is really great and the size of this machine is quite compact. This machine isn't going to set you back too much in terms of price and you're going to get a lot out of it.
Pros
Cons
7. MIG MMA 190A Welder
Product Specifications:
- Power Output: 20-190Amps.
- IGBT Inverter: Yes.
- Wire speed: Controllable.
- Stick Welding Output: 10-200AM.
Overview:
This 190Amps maximum output MIG welder is from SUNGOLDPOWER and it is actually a dual voltage IGBT inverter welder which can do MIG and stick welding as well for a fairly cheap price. The 190A MMA MIG welder is actually one of the best options for MIG welding because of the design and power capability. So, you should definitely keep it on your buying list.
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Cons
8. Klutch MIG 140i Flux-Core/MIG Welder
Product Specifications:
- Power Output: 30-140Amps.
- Welding Capability: 1/5 inch.
- Inverter System: Handles power fluctuations for better consistent output and welds.
Overview:
The MIG 140i welder by Klutch uses an inverter system in order to handle voltage fluctuations and provides 30-140Amps of power output so you can weld metals thick in composition for a fairly decent price. Usable for hobby welding and business welding work, this amazing welder is what you need in your life. However, the functional value isn't too great so it's better if you check out other options as well.
Pros
Cons
9. HITBOX 3 in 1 120A Welder
Product Specifications:
- Power Output: 120Amps max.
- 3 in 1 Welder: Stick, TIG and MIG welder.
- Safety Feature: If the voltage fluctuates or the thermals are high, it turns off on its own.
- Voltage: 220V.
Overview:
HITBOX is already known for their amazing welding machines and this is no exception. This 3 in 1 welder offers stick, TIG and MIG welding capabilities at 120Amps maximum output for a very reasonable price. The power output may not be as high as other options but the price and the multiple welding options really make this welding machine stand out in this list of MIG welders.
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10. HITBOX 4 in 1 200Amp MIG Welder
Product Specifications:
- Power Output: Maximum 200Amps.
- 4 in 1 Welder: ARC/MIG/TIG/LIFT welding.
- Gas and Gasless Options: Allows both gas and gasless welding options.
- Great design: It features a beautiful design.
Overview:
Outdoing their previous entry, HITBOX comes with a 4 in 1 welder option which allows for TIG, MIG, ARC, and LIFT welding capabilities at a whopping maximum output power of 200Amps for a generous price to value ratio. One of the best prices to value ratio welding machines in this list, the HITBOX 4 in 1 200Amp MIG Welder is definitely one of the more effective candidates for your welding needs.
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Buying Guide for MIG Welder
If you're new to MIG welders and want to use them for hobby welding, vehicular welding, or larger scaled purposes, it is very important for you to know how to buy the best MIG welder for yourself. Now that we know how a MIG welder works, let's take a look at what to consider before buying the ideal MIG welder. Here is a list of things you need to look for before you buy a MIG welder for under 500$.
Power Output
This is one of the most important features that you need to look for in your ideal MIG welder. The reason for this is, a MIG welder can perform better and sharp welding work on thicker base metals as long as their power output is good enough. This simply means that your power output per millimeter of metal thickness should be around 30-35 amps. For example, if you're looking to do automotive welding of around 5-millimeter thick metal parts of the car, you should get a 150-180 amps power output MIG welder so that you don't run into overheating and other issues.
Welding Gun
Another very important aspect that you need to look into before you get a MIG welder is the type of torch that it comes with. There are multiple types of MIG welding torches that you can opt for. The more common option is the fixed torch which is cheaper and can cause problems in cases of wear and tear. The better options to use are Direct Connect Torches and Euro Fitting Torches. They're more expensive than fixed torches but the installation process along with the overall quality and welding capability is higher. For this reason, MIG welders are better than other types of welders.
Wire Spool
Another key component that you need to take a look at in terms of getting better value and welding work done is the size of the wire spool. The wire spool is going to be extremely important since the wire will be used as the filler metal between the base metals. The better option for you would be to get a bigger spool of wire or the maxi spools because in doing that you'll get a better price per the weight of the metal wire and it will last much longer than a smaller spool of wire or the midi or mini spool which may actually eventually cost more than the larger one in the long run in terms of value.
Shielding Gas Solutions
Shielding gas is commonly used in the metal inert gas welding process. However, gasless MIG welders are also a viable option. If you're looking to get the best MIG welder for under $500 for yourself then you need to explore the best shielding gas option for yourself. There are different types of shielding gas solutions available for use. You can use disposable shielding gas options as well as refillable shielding gas containers. The former is usually less costing than the latter however, refillable gas cylinders actually provide you better long-term value since gas refill is less pricey as compared to buying whole disposable gas cylinders.
Additional Features
If you're looking to buy one of the best MIG welders for your welding purposes, getting a welder with additional features and functions is also something you need to look out for. These additional features include speed control, voltage meters among other buttons that are usually set on the machine itself. They can be changed depending upon the requirements of the welding project itself.
FAQs about MIG Welders
There are a lot of unanswered questions on the internet about MIG welders. So, we figured that we'd take a moment and answer some of the questions that you might have regarding MIG welders in order to clear things up.
Q. How Does a MIG Welder work?
A. A MIG welder utilizes a filler metal in the form of a metal wire which is constantly pulled from a spool attached with the welding gun that acts as the electrode. An electric arc is formed between the gun and the base metals to be adjoined which melts the metals as well as the electrode to provide filler metal ultimately joining them together. The shielding gas containing argon and carbon dioxide prevents the metals from reacting with atmospheric elements.
Q. Why is MIG welding better than TIG welding?
A. The reason that MIG welding is better than TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding is that MIG welding uses a feed wire which constantly moves through the welding gun while TIG welding utilizes long rods to fuse metals together.
Q. Are MIG welders AC or DC?
A. There are both DC and AC MIG welders available but DC welders are much more commonly used in the welding field.
Q. Do MIG welders always need gas?
A. No, not really. There are gasless MIG welding options available as well that use flux core wires and not shielding gas. You can get multiple purpose welders as well which can work both ways.
Final Notes
At the end of the day, it's a matter of personal preference whichever one of these amazing MIG welders under 500$ you're going to choose. But one thing we can assure you is that you're going to have a great time doing welding work with each of these options. So, we hope you make the right choice and get your welding done right.