Keeping a welder in your workshop can help exponentially increase your productivity and resourcefulness. Whether you plan to work directly with metals or perform basic repairs, a welder will prove its value time and time again whenever you need to use it.
The retail market for welding equipment features tons of options. For the uninitiated, decision paralysis might set in just trying to figure out what type of welder to get, yet alone selecting a brand. We will discuss five of the best 110 volt MIG welders on the market before giving you our final recommendation, so stay tuned until the end.
What is MIG Welding?
MIG stands for metal inert gas and refers to the feeding system for the welder. MIG and TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding compose the two main types of gas metal arc welding. MIG features several advantages over TIG including speed, cost and ease of use. TIG welding wins when it comes to quality and strength of the weld.
How Does MIG Welding Work?
MIG welding works by feeding a wire into the welding gun to create a spark, then melting the wire to form the weld. The wire is continuously fed into the welder for a quicker process over TIG welding. MIG also uses inert gas as a shielding, hence the name.
COMPARISON CHART
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DEKOPRO 110/220V
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Forney Easy Weld 261
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Hobart – 500553 Handler
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Weldpro 200 Amp Inverter
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SUPER DEAL PRO Commercial MIG
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The DEKOPRO 110/220 volt welder features a design with portability in mind. That way, you can bring the DEKOPRO wherever it needs to go. The welder itself weighs only 12.1 pounds and is therefore by far the lightest welder on our list. It comes with a carrying handle on top to get the most out of its lightweight design.
But with that lightness comes a study design you can count on. Made from durable materials, you can really bring this machine anywhere and trust that you will still be able to use it later on. And it does not lack in performance, either.
WHAT WE LIKE
The DEKOPRO can weld aluminum, mild steel, stainless steel, weld steel and cast iron so that you can use it for a variety of projects needing different materials. This versatility translates to multiple purposes, from precision welding to heavy duty.
The voltage adapts depending on the current to prevent overloads. This means that it gets the job done while also significantly reducing its energy usage. Safety features also include cooling capabilities due to a built- in fan.
PROS
- Very portable with carrying handle and lightweight design
- Versatile
- Energy efficient
- Great for novices and seasoned professionals alike
CONS
- Not always in stock, hard to come by
Forney created this welder with ease of use in mind. Coming in at 19 pounds, it weighs significantly less than the other options on our list with the exception of the DEKOPRO. A conveniently placed carrying handle doubles for cord storage and allows you to take that lightweight design just about anywhere This welder features voltage and wire feed speed controls, so that a first time user can adapt it towards ease of use.
With that ease of use comes just enough power to get the job done. It pumps out up to 140 amps which you can put towards mild steel up to a quarter inch thick. Experts should also find this welder to suit their needs just as well as the beginners do.
WHAT WE LIKE
The Forney Easy Weld’s all metal case helps ensure its survival in the toughest work zones. And should something go wrong, Forney backs this product up with a 12 month warranty. It includes an eight foot MIG gun, eight foot ground clamp and 20 to 15 amp adapter.
It retails for about $220.
PROS
- Designed with beginners in mind
- Strong design
- Lightweight with convenient carrying handle
- 12 month warranty
CONS
- Despite its ease of use, seasoned welders often report feeling that this machine does not live up to their standards
With the previous two welders, you could move them around and bring the welder to the job. With the Hobard, you will be bringing the job to the welder. Coming in at a whopping 79 pounds, it weighs more than any other option on our list. That weight alone keeps it from fulfilling the needs of many welders. However, it still comes in a convenient enough size not to displace the entirety of your workshop.
WHAT WE LIKE
Hobart includes with the welder a 10 foot MIG gun and a 10 foot work cable and clamp, for an improved reach. It also features a number of safety specifications, such as keeping the wire “cold” until you engage the trigger. This helps significantly with clean up since you do not have to worry about melting wire getting where you do not want it.
Also to help with clean up you can control the voltage and wire feed speed for more precise welds. You can count on this device to handle up to 3/8 inch thick mild steel and anything less.
With those heavy duty parameters comes a hefty price tag. The Hobart commonly retails for upwards of $1300, making it both the heaviest and most expensive option on our list. However, it can also handle the thickest materials.
PROS
- Heavy duty function designed for thicker metals
- Focus on clean welds with minimal clean up
CONS
- Heaviest weight at 79 pounds
- Highest MSRP starting at $1300
Whether you prefer MIG or TIG welder, the Weldpro has you covered. It can deliver true lift TIG welding and also stick and aluminum welding with an attached spool gun. Weighing a reasonable 30.4 pounds, you can bring the Weldpro where it needs to go without throwing out your back.
WHAT WE LIKE
You can manually adjust the amperage and the wire speed to help get the precise welds you need for the job. Count on the Weldpro to perform a variety of jobs, aided by its three in one function. Backed by a three year warranty, you can depend on Weldpro throwing its full support behind this model.
It includes a 10 foot long MIG torch and a 13 foot long TIG torch, for extended reach. Despite its multiple uses and settings, users have no problem operating this device with just a little bit of experience.
The Weldpro retails at around $775, making it slightly more expensive than most of the other options. However, it comes with more features to help balance out that price tag,
PROS
- Capable of MIG, TIG and stick welding
- Three year warranty
- Easy to use
CONS
- Covers a large range of projects but does not dig too deep for maximum utility
- On the more expensive side
WHAT WE LIKE
Super Deal lives up to its name by providing one of the most affordable welders on the market. Retailing at only $127, it easily beats the competition in terms of pricing. However, that price tag means it lacks certain features that many experienced welders feel it needs.
For instance, once turned on the wire will always be considered “hot” and therefore users should operate with caution. Additionally, you cannot control the wire speed precisely since this unit features control switches instead of the control knob of the other models. Still, you can experience some portability since it weighs 38 pounds. Not lightweight enough to bring to each and every job all of the time but not so heavy that it will need to stay in one place.
Partly responsible for its lighter weight is its PVC shell. However, this means it lacks some of the durability offered by the metal casing of the other options. Customers report extreme satisfaction when it comes to ease of use, as the Super Deal Pro comes ready to use right out of the box.
The display offers clear insight on how to adjust the settings so that your welds come out as good as they can. It can tackle up to one quarter inch thick steel.
PROS
- Cheapest option on our list at $127
- Decent portability at 38 pounds
- Easy to adjust settings
CONS
- Plastic casing not as durable
- Not the safest option
- Limited settings options
Recommended Welder: DEKOPRO 110/220V
Overall, we recommend the DEKOPRO as the best 110 volt welder. It has an incredibly lightweight design so that you can truly take it to nearly any job. And with a metal casing, you can count on its durability. The DEKOPRO can handle adequate metal thicknesses for a welder in its power class.
It retails for about $200 when you can find it in stock. If available, we recommend acting fast to secure this welder and start getting your DIY projects knocked out.
Check out our blog posts for additional information.