MIG Welder for Beginner/Light Use

[Yogi05]

if welding in 110-go cheap. Why because 110v will be a light duty cycle mig anyway. Get one that will weld both flux core wire and gas. Practice a bit using flux core wire then go to gas-you will see a huge difference in your welds-properly set with gas sounds like cooking bacon

I gave my Harbor Freight away to my nephew so he could practice to be a professional at home, that was 4 years ago and now he works for a company building destroyers for the navy.

Thats all you need for now....then once you get the hang of it-upgrade to something better.

I was a professional welder before I became a Microsoft Windows Engineer. Built everything from oversized logging trailers and trailer truck headboards to fuel or oil tanks and 5x8 trailers.

From the first spark I heard bacon frying. I played with the amps (my only choice of setting for some reason (synergeric) and I got different effects from different amperage of course. 100, 75 (best on my small scrap) then 50 (no good). Quite thin metal.

 

[cdaigle430]

Make sure you have good ground too. Sometimes with thin metal you have to spot weld a little at a time. I made alot of thin metal tanks that way.

 

[cdaigle430]

I mentioned earlier that I was a licensed mechanic from 1987 to 2005 and I had to learn to weld to get my license.
I have a 40+ yr old flux core mig in the basement right now that never worked right - and the last time I needed to use that was around 2004.
So I do see a need coming up for a couple small projects, but nothing beyond that in the plans, so a very inexpensive ("cheap" implies poor quality)
suits me for my need of a couple times per decade.

Cheap and inexpensive doesnt mean its bad unless your rebuilding dozer treads. They are just light duty, meaning thinner metal capacity and cheaper transformers mean the less you can run a bead before it overheats. My Harbor Freight was that way-weld for 5 minutes and let it cool off for 30 minutes kind of light duty. Its fun playing with the little pool of magma

 

[Yogi05]

Cheap and inexpensive doesnt mean its bad unless your rebuilding dozer treads. They are just light duty, meaning thinner metal capacity and cheaper transformers mean the less you can run a bead before it overheats. My Harbor Freight was that way-weld for 5 minutes and let it cool off for 30 minutes kind of light duty. Its fun playing with the little pool of magma

Perfect. Just my style

 

[paulsharvey]

For anyone getting started, as our OP is: your gonna need a bunch of scrap metal, a good wire brush, wire wheel, flap discs, and cut off wheels. Clamps are bonus, but I would work on first just how to burn 6" in a sort straight line; followed by welding stuff together, and over all, just have fun with it.

I am a crap welder, But I have managed to save myself several thousand dollars through the last 20 years, just by able to fix a Kubota seat bracket, grill legs, exhaust pipe, gates, ect. I have also fabricobbled 2 plows, some gates, boat anchors, grill legs, fire pits, ect.

New steel is crazy expensive unless you have a local source for drops, so keep an eye out for ferrous scrap. It might have Been a lawn mower blade, but who knows what you can turn it into.

 

[paulsharvey]

Oh, and I'll get you the same advice I give the kids; with welder, as everything else in life; When it comes down to catching on fire or going blind, always choose catching on fire, its not that big of a deal, it happens, that's why we learned stop drop and roll in elementary school

On a serious note, keep a bucket of sand, water, or a fire extinguisher around, slag, dropped rod butts, ect will light grass on fire quick, and keep oil based paint away.

 

[Yogi05]

Oh, and I'll get you the same advice I give the kids; with welder, as everything else in life; When it comes down to catching on fire or going blind, always choose catching on fire, its not that big of a deal, it happens, that's why we learned stop drop and roll in elementary school

On a serious note, keep a bucket of sand, water, or a fire extinguisher around, slag, dropped rod butts, ect will light grass on fire quick, and keep oil based paint away.

Sound advice.
Back in my auto days we would watch someone cutting an exhaust down.
In anticipation of what the sparks falling into his Bic lighter pocket might do.

 

[crazyjake8493]

I've been using a cheap MIG170 from Harbor Freight for the last 7-8 years. $180 and it still works great. Built yard art, shelving, tractor implements, you name it.

If you really need something that's 120-volt for portability, the Titanium 125 flux welder from Harbor Freight is supposed to be several times better than their old $99 flux welder. I'm thinking about picking one up next time there's a coupon, just to keep in the truck with a backup helmet for mobile stuff, or if I need it at work.

 

[California]

The Titanium 125 is good, I've seen nothing but positive reviews by owners.

But I went to buy one in 2021 and it required pre-order for delivery 6 months later, so looked on Amazon instead. I discovered there are many dual voltage flux welders, that back then cost less than the Titanium. I bought an Amico. Now, 2.5 years later, I love it and still feel it was the better choice.

Choosing what to buy on Amazon - dual voltage is a huge advantage, it will do a lot more than 120 only. Use it on 120v with the included adapter when that's all that's available, 240 when you can. Project Farm on YouTube has reviews of various under-$200 flux welders. Amazon allows 30 day return, and alongside the welders listed is a third party 'extended warranty' offer that will assure you get four years use, for about $30.

Here's a review of the Amico I posted here. It references more details I posted over on Muhammad's Welding Site.

Review over on WeldingSite - Amico MIG-130A, 130 Amp Flux Wire Welder, 110/230V Dual Voltage

I just bought this and posted a review over on Muhammad's WeldingSite. Summary - I like it. Review: Amico MIG-130A, 130 Amp Flux Wire Welder, 110/230V Dual Voltage. $149 on Amazon.

www.tractorbynet.com

Perhaps now, 2.5 years later, there are better or even less expensive alternatives to the Amico I bought. Since you have experience with the MIG170, the Amico should be intuitive. But for a beginner reading this, the Amico's unlabelled controls might add complexity for the novice, so something with a more intuitive control panel might be a better choice.

Note my caution in my post: you want a welder that has US support, for an exchange, if that extended warranty becomes needed. So evaluate if the Amazon vendor is real or is just some guy who brought over a few pallets and won't be around next year. But worst case the warranty company would just refund you, so there really isn't much risk. And the warranty company told me they have surprisingly few claims. Modern electronics have resulted in decent quality inexpensive welders.

In summary the Titanium 125 is a good choice but I think dual voltage in the same price range will expand what you can do.

 

[pmsmechanic]

So I just read all 12 pages of actually rather interesting comments. I don't have a mig but am interested. I certainly don't need one but it would be nice. I'd be more interested in a multi process welder but just a plain mig would be ok too.

One observation that sticks out is that there was only one comment so far on an Everlast welder. Why? They are a sponsor on this site. Does nobody buy their products or are they too expensive?