Best MIG Welders Under $500 – Reviews and Buying Guide
Choosing the right MIG welder can be quite a daunting task. With the market flooded with a plethora of options, each boasting a wide array of settings and application profiles, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
But fear not, as we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. We’ve meticulously combed through countless reviews and specifications, leaving no stone unturned. The result? A carefully curated list of what we believe to be the top 5 MIG welders, all of which can be yours for under $500.
So, if you’re in the market for a MIG welder that won’t break the bank, you’re in the right place. Read on to discover the welding wonders that await you!
5 Best MIG Welders Under $500 – Reviews
1. Forney Easy Weld 140 MP MIG Welder – Best Overall Pick
Well, as its name suggests, the Forney Easy Weld 140 MP really is an “easy” unit to use.
So maybe your long, hard search for the perfect MIG welder has reached a favorable conclusion now? Read on …
We love this welder, as it can apply high-quality MIG welds on really thin sections of metal up to ¼ inch thick. To make it even more impressive, it’s not just a MIG welder!
It can also stick and TIG weld – wow! What’s not to like?
Considering its price, it comes equipped with some really amazing components and can lay the tiniest of beads across a choice of four different welding processes. We consider this to be way better than some of its competitors.
A real win!
Pros
- High-quality short leads
- Good warranty
- Medium amps
- Multi-process unit
- Lots of different settings
Cons
- Leads are too short
2. Lotos MIG140 MIG Welder – The Runner-up
The Lotos 140 amp MIG welder takes the runner up position in our top 5 best MIG welders. It’s not a particularly heavy duty welder, so you can’t do industrial welding with it, but for the home and the avid DIYer it’s definitely a cracking little number.
Like most of the Lotos range, this unit is pretty easy to set up, especially if you are familiar with basic welding and what’s required. It comes with all you need for MIG welding medium-gauge sheet metal if you’re on a budget.
It lets you make some fine tuning and adjustments for your welding arc, while at the same time minimizing spatter. The leads are a bit short, but the unit itself is lovely to use.
Pros
- Medium quality
- Medium amps
- Lots of settings
- Good warranty
Cons
- Poor quality instruction manual
- Short leads
3. SUNGOLDPOWER 200 Amp MIG Welder
Yep, the SUNGOLDPOWER 200-amp MIG welder definitely gives you the best bang for your buck.
We are really impressed with this unit; it is super affordable and can weld most materials, including aluminum, up to 200 amps!
The high range of amps and the good-quality parts let you weld through ¼ inch-thick sheet metal – so it is very efficient. You can adjust the wire feed and also the amps dial, so you can set up some nice smooth welds.
As with most low-priced welders, the leads are a bit short, but they are good quality ones so you know they’ll last! We noticed that this welder boasts more amperage for its price than any of the other under-$500 units! Bit of win-win situation really!
Pros
- Medium quality
- High amps
- Lots of settings
- Good warranty
Cons
- Short leads
- Poor instruction manual
4. Lincoln Electric K2278-1 Handy MIG Welder
This Lincoln Electric K2185-1 hand MIG welder is a neat unit. Although not the best in the range, it’s durable, robust and perfect for welding super light sections. Unfortunately all the extra paraphernalia it comes with, such as the mask and the chipper, aren’t much use really.
But what we like about this machine is that it’s reliable and does the job well within its range – which is around 1/8 inch thick sheet at the best, and there’s not much movement where the amp adjustment is concerned.
The equipment is fairly large and heavy compared with other similar welders, but it does have more capacity, and its leads are 8 inches long – which is a real plus when considered against most of the other low-priced machines!
It may not be our favorite welder on account of it minimal range of weld, but it truly is of excellent quality for the area of application for which it has been designed. So all in all, a good unit!
Pros
- High-quality parts
- Good warranty
- Super within its range
Cons
- Low amps
- Not enough settings
5. Campbell Hausfeld 120V FLX140 MIG Welder
Sitting at position 5 is the Campbell Hausfeld 120V FLX140 Mig welder which is the perfect choice for welding up to ¼ inch steel – but that’s where it stops.
It’s not capable of stick welding like most other MIG welders, but it can weld using flux core wire for external applications or when welding dirty or coated steel.
It’s meant for welding aluminum and so it doesn’t have many setting adjustments within the amp range. It doesn’t have a 220/240-volt input option either, but considering the intention behind its design, this is definitely one of the most heavy-duty units on offer for its segment.
The sturdy plastic and metal outer casing and all the internal components are of high quality – so you know it’ll last and be reliable!
A tough machine that is durable and can take some harsh handling whilst providing strong MIG welds up to ¼ inch thick – this one is really worth opening your wallet for!
Pros
- Medium quality
- Long warranty
Cons
- Low to medium amps
- Not many setting adjustments
Our Top Choice Under $500
Forney Easy Weld 140 MP
Well, you know which one we consider to be the best value for money.
But which one will you select do you think?
Yep, the Forney Easy Weld 140 MP certainly gets our vote, as it offers unequalled reliability and price/performance ratio for this segment of welders, and it’s a 3-in-1 machine to boot!
It’s tricky to decide what’s best for your particular situation, but now you only have to choose from five different units – easy peasy!
If you are interested, find out here now for our review of top MIG Welders Guide.