MIG welders have some advantages over the other welding types. It is the easiest welding process to learn, with high welding speeds and more control on thinner metals. The welds are also cleaner, plus you can often use the same unit and equipment for flux-cored welding for added convenience. That’s why we’ve collected the best 110V MIG welder models that you can use at home for this review.
To help you make your decision, we’ve reviewed over 30 MIG welders available. Among the top six models, in our opinion, the top choice is the Forney Easy Weld 140 MP, due to its 3-in-1 design that allows MIG, TIG, and stick welding with one unit. It’s versatile, using both flux-cored or solid wire with gas, plus includes a rugged metal case, voltage and wire feed speed controls, and multiple accessories. There are also a few other models with varying features and portability to choose from.
When choosing a MIG welder, there are a few features to consider, such as the current range, which needs to be adjusted to the materials you’re using to get the proper weld. The duty cycle tells you the length of time you can weld before the unit will overheat. You may also want to look at the dimensions of the best 110V MIG welder to see how compact and portable it is. In this article, we’ve created a comparison table for the products we’ve chosen and added in-depth reviews for each one. There is also a buying guide at the end to cover all their various features.
More features: comes with a ground clamp, an electrode holder, 20A-15A adapter
The Forney Easy Weld 140 MP is one of the most versatile models for home use on the market. It has a 3-in-1 design that allows you to use it as a MIG welder, a DC TIG welder, and a stick welder with only a few simple adjustments. The TIG accessories, including the torch, regulator, hose, electrodes, and gas all need to be purchased separately, but you have everything you need for the other functions.
For the MIG welder, this unit is fully setup for use with flux-cored wire, but you can swap this out and use mild steel with gas instead. You can also control the weld using the voltage and wire feed speed controls, making this unit fully customizable to suit almost any light-duty project.
If you want to do some stick welding instead, just add the stick electrodes. The ground clamp and stinger are included for added convenience, allowing you to weld with almost any electrode up to 1/8-inch.
As well as being easy to use, this model is extremely rugged, with a durable metal case that can withstand even the most rigorous use. It has enough room to fit both 2- and 10-pound wire rolls, plus it includes a full-metal wire drive assembly.
Included with the Forney Easy Weld 140 MP is a large, comfortable handle with an integrated torch wrap, MIG gun, electrode holder, ground clamp, 20-15A adapter, and an extra .030-inch contact tip.
More features: cold contractor safety feature
If you’re a beginner to welding and want model that is easy to start out with, the Lincoln Electric K2278-1 may be the best 110V MIG welder for the money. It has a reasonable price that won’t empty your wallet.
It comes with all the needed parts, including the gun and cable assembly, work clamp, work lead, and input power cable. These pieces are all attached before it is shipped out to you as well, so there is almost no setup needed when you’re ready to start using it. Also included are a spool of self-shielded flux-cored wire, a welding handshield, and a chipping hammer/brush to get you started with this welder.
This unit plugs into any standard 115V 20-amp outlet, so you don’t need any adapters or spend your money upgrading the ones in your garage or workshop. It offers four output levels, ranging from 35 to 88 amps, so you can adjust it as needed using a simple dial.
Though it isn’t designed for heavy-duty welds, this model is perfect for some simple home repair or any of your hobby projects that require the use of light-gauge mild steel up to 1/8-inch.
There are a few safety features included as well to keep the K2278-1 running smoothly. It includes an internal fan to keep the components cool and a cold contactor safety feature that keeps the wire cold until you press the trigger on the gun.
More features: 5-position voltage control selector
Though you may not want to spend a lot of time carrying it around, the Hobart Handler 140 one of the easiest MIG welder models to use. It is also built well, using quality materials that won’t fall apart after only a few uses.
This unit includes some great features, such as the Quick Select drive roll that reduces your setup time. It has three grooves, one for flux-cored wire of .030/.035 inches. The other two are designed for solid wire of either 0.24 inches or .030/.035 inches. A sample spool of .030-inch self-shielding flux-cored wire is included to get you started.
The wire drive system is made of industrial cast aluminum for durability and increased performance. The polarity changeover also makes it easier to quickly change the polarity when you swap out the wires.
The Handler 140 offers a smooth, stable arc on a variety of material thicknesses. The 5-position voltage control allows you to fine-tune the arc as needed using a simple knob on the front of the panel. This panel is sloped as well, making it easy to see and make your adjustments accordingly during the welding process.
There are also a few safety features included with this model. The self-resetting thermal overload protection protects the unit’s power transformer from overloading for increased reliability. There is also a self-resetting motor protection that protects the wire feed system for overloading, so you never have to change or reset any circuit breakers.
More features: dual voltage (110V/220V), multifunction IGBT Inverter Technology, fan-cooled, over-heat protection
Your determination to get a high-quality MIG welder may lead to you choosing the Sungoldpower MIG-140. We also like it for its features and benefits. One such benefit for buyers is added control.
You can choose the wire feed speed that you want. If you add the control you have over the welding current, you can see that making mistakes with this machine is almost an impossibility.
Additionally, beating this MIG welding machine’s duty cycle is a tall order for other such devices in the market. It also seems that this is a dual-voltage selection meaning you have more chances of getting a socket to work with wherever you take this machine.
You can even take pride in this MIG welder’s overheat protection as it will translate into a longer life for your investment. Note that this welding machine can be used for flux-cored welding as well. Of course, this extra feature means the tool is more than just a simple MIG welder.
Lastly, the interface on this welding machine should be a cinch to hack. The minimal controls shouldn’t even take you too long to figure out how they work.
More features: 10-speed control knob; 4-level current flow setting
As well as being the best low cost 110V MIG welder on our list, the VIVOHOME MIG130 is also one of the most portable. It is lightweight, compact, and even has a handy storage area in the top of the unit, right underneath the comfortable carry handle.
This compact unit is designed for use with mild steel and stainless steel, allowing you to achieve a professional finish for your auto body work, art projects, supports, and a variety of other thin steel welding projects.
The MIG130 uses flux-cored wire, which will self-release the metal inert gas as you weld, so there is no need for an extra tank attached to your unit. This also prevents oxidation on the welded area.
Another handy feature is the adjustable welding speed. This gives you four levels of flow settings. All you do is set the buttons to Min or Max and 1 or 2, then choose one of the ten welding speeds on the variable feed control knob. This makes it easy to adjust the welder to suit your chosen project, regardless if you’re working on thin steel or welding some thicker pieces together.
The VIVOHOME MIG130 is equipped with two air vents to keep the unit from overheating. It also comes with a welding helmet to protect your face and eyes while you work and a wire brush to keep your work surface clean and free of debris.
More features: Auto-Set; Smooth-Start
Though the price tag is a bit high and it`s a bit heavy when compared to some other MIG welder models, the Miller Electric MillerMatic 141 still has some great features that make it a great model for home use. It`s a great 110V MIG welder for argon or AR/CO2 since it includes a mix flow gauge regulator and a gas hose for this use.
This model features a Quick Select drive roll that offers quick setup with your chosen wire, due to the three grooves that fit either solid wire or flux-cored wire that doesn’t need the additional gas. This drive system is made of aluminum for increased durability as well.
The Auto-Set feature allows you to set the wire diameter and the material thickness. Then the unit automatically adjusts the welder according to these settings to make it even easier to get started. There is also a manual mode that lets you adjust the settings as needed for welding stainless steel, aluminum, or mild steel, so you always get the weld you want.
Another great feature is the Smooth-Start technology that gives you a spatter-free start every time. The Auto Spool Gun Detect knows when the MIG or spool guns are connected, so there is no need for a switch. Safety features like thermal overload protection and Tip Saver short circuit protection protect the internal components of this unit and extend its life at the same time.
If you’re new to welding or have yet to try out MIG welding, you may be unsure of what the process entails. That’s why it’s a good idea to check out exactly what a MIG welder can do. If you are a hobbyist or a beginner, a small 110V MIG welder may be a good place to start since these units are usually a bit cheaper than the larger models, plus are simple to use without sacrificing quality when it comes to the ready weld.
MIG stands for metal inert gas. A MIG welder uses a solid wire electrode that is continuously fed through the welding gun into the weld pool. This then joins the two materials you’re using together. The MIG welder also uses a shielding gas that is sent through the welding gun at the same time as the wire is fed through it, which protects the weld pool from contamination.
Many of the models in our reviews, such as the Forney Easy Weld 140 MP, also include flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), which replaces the solid wire with flux-cored wire. This eliminates the need for shielding gas since the wire itself can prevent contamination in the arc.
When choosing a MIG welder for home use, there are a few features to consider.
A decent 110V MIG welder should have a wide current range, like the 10-140 Amp range on the Forney Easy Weld 140 MP. This is because the output needs to be specific to the materials you’re welding, as well as their thickness, which we’ll discuss more below. Using the wrong output will affect the quality of the weld, which is why most brands include an amperage chart to help you choose the proper levels.
The 110V MIG welders in our reviews aren’t heavy-duty models. They generally handle materials with a maximum thickness of about ½-inch. Of course, this depends on the unit you’re using, so be sure to check out the instructions. If you go over this size, the weld may not hold as well as you expect, so a heavy-duty unit may be needed for thicker materials.
The wire feed speed also affects the quality of the weld. If you have it set too slow, the wire burns back after contact with the metal and possibly clog the tip. If it’s too fast, the wire bends when it touches the metal, where it could cause blow-through and a lot of spatter.
Thinner materials usually need lower speeds, while corners need higher speeds.
The length of the cord tells you how close you need to be to an outlet to run your welder. Shorter cords may have you working to close to a wall, requiring the use of an extension cord to give you the room you need to work. Longer cords give you much more room, allowing you to work wherever you like.
The duty cycle is usually displayed as a percentage. This tells you how long you can run the welder in a 10-minute period at a specific amount of amps before it will overheat and need to cool down. For instance, the Miller Electric MillerMatic 141 has a duty cycle of 20%, so you can run it for 2 minutes out of 10, then cool it down for the extra 8 minutes before using it again.
The higher the duty cycle, the longer you can run your MIG welder.
The unit’s dimensions tell you how portable and compact it is. If you’re doing your welding in a huge workshop with plenty of space, this may not be an issue. Those with limited space or who take their welder with them to various places may need a unit like the Miller Electric MillerMatic 141, which is the smallest one in our reviews.
The weight of the unit is also something to look into, especially if you need to move it around or take it back and forth between home and a job site. The heavier it is, the harder it’s going to be to travel with it. The Hobart Handler 140 is the heaviest model at about 57 pounds, plus adding a spool of wire will increase this weight, so it isn’t the most portable model around. On the other hand, the Sungoldpower MIG-140 is very light at under 23 pounds, making it much easier to transport.
A good warranty protects you if the unit you buy isn’t working as it should. The longer the time frame the warranty has, the more time you have to try out the MIG welder to ensure all of its parts and features are working correctly.
There are a few extras you may want to look for to ensure you’re getting the best 110V MIG welder for the money. A few extra accessories, like helmets, brushes, or spools of wire, are handy to have. A comfort grip handle makes it easy to carry. If the unit has both gas and gasless functions, this increases its versatility. You also may want to look at safety features, like overload protection.
Whether you’re new to welding or a pro, there are a few safety tips to remember to ensure you are well protected as you work.
Whether you’re welding as a beginner or a professional, the best 110V MIG welder is a great unit for some light auto body work, framing, or even some metal art. Of course, you need the right one for the job.
Our top choice is the Forney Easy Weld 140 MP, which has a 3-in-1 design, uses both flux-cored and solid wire, and has voltage and wire speed controls. It also includes a rugged metal case, a large handle with an integrated torch wrap, and multiple accessories.
The Lincoln Electric K2278-1 has a decent price and comes fully assembled. It includes four output levels, several safety features, and even comes with some extras, like a handshield, hammer, and a spool of flux-cored wire.
The Hobart Handler 140 is easy to use and built with quality materials. It features a Quick Select drive roll, cast aluminum wire drive system, polarity changeover, and five-position voltage control.
