MIG welding is one of the most famous types of welding and is famous alike among the novices as well as professional because it’s the easiest to learn.
Whether you are in school, a welding beginner, or a professional there are a lot of choices for you to buy a welder. Actually you might be stuffed with numerous choices online which can cause confusion resulting in the wrong decisions.
So I have decided to put together a list of top 10 MIG welders under $1000 while keeping in mind all the specifications. Such as input voltage, output power, duty cycle, weight, size, portability, and versatility in terms of the ability to weld various materials of varying thicknesses. Moreover, I have included the machines based on the demands of professionals, DIY-ers, novices, and even weekend warriors.
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MIG Welders Buying Guide
While buying a new MIG welder you should consider the following parameters based on your requirements:
1. Price
I would recommend you to spend a handsome amount and get a notable brand if you are a professional otherwise go for the one which implies the nature of your welding work.
2. Size and Weight (Portable)
These are one of the most important features to look for in a machine. A welder may be very efficient but it can be too heavy to do work that requires portability.
3. Input Voltage
If you have to do DIY or home improvement then 110/120 V is fine but if you want a more versatile machine then you must look for the one which incorporates 220/240 V as well.
4. Duty Cycle
The duty cycle is a very important factor to look for in a welder especially when you are a professional and have big projects.
5. Accessories
Some welders include accessories while others may not and you have to buy them separately. So take your time and do a thorough research while comparing the price of such machines.
Also, the accessories such as leads and wire are of varying lengths make sure you have the one with longer length cords.
6. Warranty
The warranty offered by a company is an indication of the build quality and life expectancy of a particular machine. I highly recommended you to buy those with a longer warranty.
You have come across our website to look for the right information before buying a welder. I would recommend you to do thorough research, take your time and don’t rush. I have tried my level best to provide you with all the necessary information. Wishing you all the best for your welding ventures.
Top 10 MIG Welders Under $1000
Hers is a list of top 10 MIG welders under $1000 while considering all the aspects I just described.
Best MIG Welders Under 1000
1. LOTOS MIG175 175AMP Mig Welder
It occupies the first place in our list of top MIG welders under $1000. The reason behind it being in the top spot is that you can get industrial quality welds without breaking the bank.
LOTOS MIG175 175AMP Mig Welder with Free Spool Gun, Mask, Aluminum Welding Wires, Solid Wires, Argon Regulator, Standard MIG Gun
$489.98
Accessories included with this welder are a free spool gun (for Aluminum welding), mask, standard MIG gun, Argon regulator (0.023’’ or 0.6mm), contact tips (0.035’’ or 0.9 mm), solid wires and Aluminum welding wires (1lb wires with a diameter of 0.9mm capable of welding 3/16’’ aluminum plate). The Aluminum wire feeder provides a stable welding experience.
With the ability to weld various materials like stainless steel, mild steel, and aluminum it is a versatile machine. The rated output stands at 175-amp with an input voltage of 220/240V AC. Can easily weld mild/stainless steel (18-Gauge or 1/4’’) and Aluminum (3/16’’ or thinner).
The company has gained a good reputation for its high-end products since 2007 and the transformer technology has proved to be extremely reliable and durable.
You can buy it with confidence as it comes with a 30-day refund and a 1-year warranty.
2. Hobart – 500553 Handler 210 MVP MIG Welder
The excellent performance, reliability, and ease of usage make this machine perfect for both the newbies and experts. It comes with a better warranty, longer leads, a longer duty cycle, and more overall amperage.
Hobart Handler 210 MVP MIG Welder
2 used from $989.99
This welder is not easy to move around with due to its heavyweight but once you set it you can get excellent results depending upon your requirement. The solution for its heavier weight is to carry it on a cart.
It works both on 110/120 and 220/240 voltage inputs which you can shift with a single twist. While operating at 110/120V it offers a lot better performance as compared to its rivals.
One of the best things about this machine is that you can weld at a good speed without compromising the quality. It has a duty cycle of 20% at 90 Amps (115V) and 30% at 150 Amps (230V).
If you are looking for a machine that can do home repairs up to light industrial projects and provides excellent welding adjustments then this one is the best pick for you.
This machine is a masterpiece for those who want the legendary brand name of Hobart with a relatively low budget. It gives you the power to weld mild steel sheets of up to 1/4″ thickness.
Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder 115V
$579.94
Its high quality and operational flexibility allow welding a wide range of materials including cast iron, copper, brass, titanium, aluminum, and magnesium alloys.
It is best for the hobbyists as it operates at 110/120V and produces a maximum output of 140 amps so you can do any DIY project at home.
With its 5 position voltage control selection, even a novice can use it easily. So if you are looking for a welder that offers you good quality at a low price to meet all your home improvement and DIY needs this one is perfect for you.
4. Goplus MIG 130 Welder
If you are a newbie or just do welding as a hobby and have a very tight budget then Goplus MIG 130 is the perfect fit for you. Weighing at 35 lbs. and having a small size (13.4” x 7.3” x 11.4”), it is one of the best options available in the market for those who want to enjoy welding while doing DIY stuff, home improvement, and even small scale maintenance work.
Goplus MIG 130 Welder AC Flux Core Wire Automatic Feed Welder Welding Machine w/Free Mask Commercial (Black)
The body cover is made up of stainless steel and the build quality is good. It offers all the necessary features like welding speed and wire feeding speed adjustments with a very simple design which makes it very easy to use.
Don’t worry about the heating problems due to the compact size because its body contains two cooling vents.
Additionally, it comes with a reel of welding wire (0.9mm thick weighing at 0.55lbs), a protection mask, and a brush.
Read Also: Best Mig Welders Under 300
5. Forney Easy Weld 261
Are you a newbie and wondering which MIG Welder to choose at a low cost having high-end capabilities? Well, the Forney Easy Weld is the answer.
Forney Easy Weld 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder, 120V, Green
$332.99
It’s a bit expensive when compared to its counterparts but the quality is worth the price. It is very famous among professionals and aspiring welders alike because it is very easy to use.
Whether you are a DIY-er or have to do welding tasks such as repairing. Forney has a reasonable size of 16.75” x 8.125” x 12” and extremely low weight of just 19lbs. With an ability to weld a metal plate of 1/4″ while providing a maximum output of 140 amps. It is small in size but big enough to handle 2 and 10-pound rolls of wire. Easy to use at home due to its input of 120V.
It comes with an integrated handle with torch wrap and a 15-20A adapter along with an 8’ MIG gun and an 8’ ground clamp. It can easily employ various accessories such as contact tips, welding nozzles, diffusers, flux core MIG wire, Anti-spatter spray, and Nozzle gel.
6. LOTOS MIG140 140 Amp MIG Wire Welder
If you are a hardworking guy looking for a welder that enables you to do long time welding jobs and can be used at home 110V then the LOTOS MIG140 is the best option. It comes with a 2T/4T switch so you can switch between manual and semi-auto modes at any time.
LOTOS MIG140 140 Amp MIG Wire Welder, Flux Core & Aluminum Gas Shielded Welding with 2T/4T Switch Argon Regulator, Metal Wire Feeder, Black/Red
$329.72
With the ability to produce a maximum output voltage of 140 Amps it can easily weld mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. But to weld aluminum, you have to buy the spool gun separately.
It has only one year warranty but it’s enough as compared to the price tag. It gives really nice welds at an airflow capacity of 0.42 ft3/min and uses both solid steel and flux-cored wires. One of the best qualities is that it eliminates the hassle of wire tangling being provided with the full-adjustment precision driving system. And the best of all it can set up in 10 minutes.
7. 2019 Everlast PowerMIG 200
The Everlast MIG 200 is a perfect example of a high-end welder capable of doing both MIG and stick welding. With an ability to switch between the 120V and 240 V this is a perfect machine to carry with. It can deliver a maximum power output of 200Amps and comes with more features than its rivals.
2019 Everlast PowerMIG 200 200amp MIG stick welder dual voltage 110v/220v spool gun ready
This welder is based on the IGBT inverter technology that ensures extreme reliability. It produces maximum power at 240V supply while giving a minimum splatter thus producing smooth beads. Due to the presence of a burn back control feature, it automatically adjusts the length of wire thus minimizing trimming.
The outer body is made up of stainless steel having dimensions of 16” x 7.5” x 15” and weighs at 35 lbs.
If you are looking for a welder that is all in one while offering reliability and performance then the Everlast MIG 200 is the perfect welder for you.
Recommended For You: Best Mig Welders Under 500
Either if you are a weekend warrior or a DIY welder then LINCOLN ELECTRIC CO K2698-1 is the best option for you in the market. It enables you to do DIY projects, home, yard, and farm repairs, and much more.
LINCOLN ELECTRIC CO K2698-1 Easy MIG 180 Wire Feed Welder,
Weighing at 66 lbs. it can provide an output of 30 to 180 Amps DC along with a 30% duty cycle. It has a rated output of 130 Amps at 20 V DC.
A smooth arc can be started even with minimal splatter. Dialing is very easy due to the forging arc. The wires incorporated for welding are 0.025” to 0.035” thick with flux thickness ranging from 0.030” to 0.045”.
Its most interesting feature is its quiet operation which is due to the presence of an aluminum gearbox. It also has a built-in indicator for optimized ranges of different wire diameters. It can easily weld 24 gauge up to 3/16” sheet metal in a single pass.
9. HITBOX MIG Welder (All in one Mig Welder)
The HITBOX MIG Welder 200 is one of the most famous MIG welders in the market. While considering its price it has an upper hand over every other product for the same price tag.
HITBOX MIG Welder 200Amp Inverter MIG ARC Lift TIG Gas Gasless 4 in 1 Multifunction MIG Welding Mahcine 220V Flux Cored Wire Solid Core Wire Welding Equipment
It is an inverter welder that operates at 220V DC supply and produces an output of 200A which is excellent and well worth the price. It’s a multipurpose device capable of doing MIG, TIG and ARC welding which makes it suitable for a wide array of applications.
Although the warranty period is just 1 year you should realize that it is way too light (21 lbs.) as of its capabilities so you should understand it may not last too long but still it’s worth it.
It has a 30% duty cycle at 200A which is pretty awesome at such low weight and price. But for that, you may have to worry about using it continuously for longer periods of time.
The Lift TIG function can be easily used with Argon gas and works efficiently. If you have a tight budget but you need an all-rounder just hit the HITBOX 200.
10. LINCOLN ELECTRIC CO K2697-1
Another amazing product from Lincoln Electric gives you an ability to weld a 24 ga to 3/16” metal plates like Mild steel and Stainless Steel as well as aluminum (22 to 10 ga).
LINCOLN ELECTRIC CO K2697-1 Easy MIG 140 Wire Feed Welder,
While operating on a 120V AC supply it can easily give an output ranging from 30 to 140 Amps DC along with an estimated duty cycle of 20%. It gives a rated output of 90 Amps at 20 V DC.
The overall dimensions are reasonable at 20” x 15” x 16” weighing in at 62 lbs., it’s not too easy to carry around with. It has the ability to do both Gas/Gasless welding. It can easily handle a wire size of 0.025” to 0.030”.
If you are looking for a low priced MIG welder from a reputable company then Lincoln Electric K2697-1 can be the best choice for you.
Final Verdict
MIG welders are one of the best machines for your day to day projects. The MIG welders included in this list might not fulfill the needs of those who have to do heavy industrial tasks but prove to be perfect for the average welding needs.
If you are a professional running a business or an aspiring welder with an urge to be a professional in the future then I would recommend you to go for our top pick LOTOS MIG 175 but if you are a newbie or just want to buy one for home or farm work then you better go for the Forney Easy Weld 261.
