MIG welding (metal inert gas welding) (also sometimes referred to as Gas Metal Arc Welding or GMAW) is a process in which an arc forms between a wire and electrode and the piece you are welding. This process heats the metals, causing them to melt together and fuse. MIG welds are typically high strength and clean in appearance. This is considered one of the easiest welding processes to learn, making it ideal for beginners and DIY welders!
Finding the right MIG welder for your needs depends on a few factors. Some questions you should ask yourself when shopping for a MIG welder include the following:
What is my budget?
Where will I be welding?
How much power do I need?
What materials will I be welding?
Is this welder MIG ready?
Let’s talk about budget to start. Welding is not a cheap hobby, and many MIG welders can easily cost over $1,000. Here at WeldPro, we strive to supply our customers with quality welders at affordable prices. If your budget is tight starting out, a lower power welder like our MIG155GSV should do just the trick. It’s one of the most affordable MIG welders on the market at just $580 (on sale now for just $290!) If you are looking for something with more power and versatility, you may want to invest in something more like our popular 200 Amp Inverter Multi Process Welder which is currently on sale for $698
But what about Amps? Amps are the measurement of the amount of output voltage and electrical power a MIG welder can produce. More Amps and output voltage mean more heat and power for your welding arc. The more output your MIG welder can produce, the thicker the metal you can weld will be. The ability to weld thicker metals means you can weld a greater variety of metals as well. For example, you need quite a bit of Amps to weld stainless steel and aluminum. MIG welders with more Amps tend to be more expensive, but if you need a lot of power for less money, our 200 Amp Inverter Multi Process Welder may be exactly what you’re looking for! Remember the greater the input voltage that is supplied to the welder, the greater the flexibility for welding thicker metals.
On the subject of voltage, you may want to consider where you plan to be doing most of your welding. If you are welding at home and only have access to a standard outlet, 120 voltage is all you’ll need. But if you’re working from a shop and need a little more power, you’ll want a MIG welder with higher voltage. If you plan to be going back and forth with your MIG welder between multiple locations that might have different outlet capabilities, dual voltage is the way to go! Both of our MIG welders have dual voltage to make the transition from home to the shop a breeze. If you are planning on welding using a 110 voltage source, understand it is best suited for thinner material, while supplying the welder with a 220 voltage source will release its full welding potential.
Another thing to consider is the MIG welder’s duty cycle. The duty cycle tells you how long a MIG welder can be used before it overheats. For example, a 20% duty cycle means you can weld for 2 minutes continuously before the welder overheats and has to rest. Our 200 Amp Inverter Multi Process Welder has a 30% at 200 Amp rated duty cycle.
If you are shopping for your first welder, you may also want to consider what all your new MIG welder comes with. It can save you quite a bit of money in the long run to purchase a MIG welder that is MIG ready right out of the box, meaning it comes with everything you need to get started. Our MIG welders include everything a beginner will need including torches, gas hoses, power adapters, and more!
Lastly, beginner welders need to pay attention to the ease of use of a new MIG welder. This can be a difficult thing to ascertain just from browsing products online, but reading customer reviews can help you get a feel for which welders are easy to use and which ones are more complicated. Our 200 Amp Inverter Multi Process Welder, for example, was created with ease of use in mind! The synergically designed MIG/Flux Core welder takes the worry out of adjusting voltage and wire speed. The model MIG 200 automatically adjusts and compensates both voltage and wire speed together while at the same time allowing the user to fine-tune voltage independently if they so desire .
Here is a little more information on both of our MIG welders so you can get a better feel for what type of MIG welder is right for you:
2020 Weldpro 200 Amp Inverter Multi Process Welder with Dual Voltage 220V/110V Mig/Tig/Arc Stick 3 in 1 welder/welding machine
- 200 Amps
- Goes beyond MIG and Flux Core welding!
- Also capable of true lift TIG welding, stick welding, and aluminum welding.
- Optional spool gun.
- Welding Amperage Ranges230V: MIG: 40-200A; MMA: 40-200A; TIG: 15-200A115V: MIG:40-120A; MMA:40-120A; TIG: 15-120A; 30% at 200 Amp rated duty cycle
- MIG welding wire diameter: 0.024/0.031/0.039, welding thickness: 19ga- 0.197 in; TIG tungsten needle diameter: 0.063 0.094, welding thickness: 25ga- 1/4 in; MMA electrode Dia: 0.063-0.157 acid electrode, alkaline electrode, welding thickness: 14ga-0.315in
- Easy to read dual voltage digital display
- Easy to set wire speed and amperage for repeatable welds.
- VRD high temp and overload protection with indication.
- User adjustable inductance settings.
- High power in a light and compact unit, ideal for travel.
- Advanced Inductive settings allow for smoother, cleaner, welds with less spatter than other machines of the same price range.
- Capable of performing MIG, Lift TIG and Stick welding equally well at maximum 200 amp output.
- Includes MIG torch, TIG torch, electrode holder, earth clamp, gas hose, face mask components, and a power adapter.
MIG155GSV 155 Amp Inverter MIG/Stick Arc Welder With Dual Voltage 220V/110V
- Dual input power capability (120-Volt input power for home and generator-driven environments or 230-Volt input for shop applications with thicker materials)
- 30 to 155 Amp welding range.
- Welds up to 1/4 in. mild steel both MIG, flux-cored and stick welding
- Feeds wire at 78 in. to 472 in. per minute and has infinitely adjustable wire speed and heat settings.
- Cold contactor safety feature keeps welding wire electrically cold until gun trigger is pressed.
- Lightweight and portable with a compact design.
- Both MIG and self-shielded flux cored welding machine, equipped with unique electronic reactor circuit, which can precisely control the short-circuiting transfer and mixed transfer resulted in better performance than other machines.
- Stable wire feed rate.
- Energy-saving and electromagnetic noise free.
All of our products come with a 2 year warranty and 5% back in rewards! If you have questions about any of our MIG welders or other products, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our technical support team at (651) 329-2686.