Rob Steven
If you’re in the market for a MIG welder, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a quality machine. In this blog post, we will help you find a MIG welder under 500 dollars. We’ll also provide a buyer’s guide to help you choose the right machine for your needs. So whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional welder, there’s sure to be something on this list that meets your needs.
My recommendation
For low-budget welding professionals, I have just the right picks on the list. You never need to settle for anything less than the best! I have the best MIG Welder under 500 dollars for ones who think a short budget limits variety. Drum roll please. Check out the finest Forney Easy Weld 261.
As a beginner, you would want to start your experience with something easier to handle and low on price. So fear not, as I have put together a list of extraordinary welders that can make your experience perfect.
Top 5 Best MIG Welder Under 500
Forney Easy Weld 261 Our top pick
Features: Only 19 lbs Weight
Maximum Output: 140AMP
Hobart Handler 100
Features: Welds 3/16 Inches of Steel
Maximum Output: Upto 100 AMP
Forney Easy Weld 261 MIG Welder under 500 – Our Top Pick
- Manufactured By Forney
- Input Power: 120 V
- Duty Cycle: 30 % @ 90 A
- Welding Process: MIG,FCAW
- Special Features: Welds mild steel up to ¼ thickness
The Brand Forney is known for producing one of the most quality welders in the marketplace. Forney 261 is no less. A welder that fits your budget right and provides professional welder features. Forney 261 is suited for both hobbyists and professionals.
The machine is lightweight that makes it easy to carry around places for your work. Furthermore, with all the essential features, this device is pretty easy to run. With its 140 Amp output, you can work on several steel alloys without a problem.
Quality and warranty
The Forney 261, without a doubt, is one of the best budget MIG welders. Not just because of its price but also because of the quality it provides. The product also comes with a one-year warranty, so you can take your time in testing this machine.
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Design & construction
The lightweight body design makes it portable and easy to carry anywhere. The machine is capable of producing 140 Amperes of output. It can weld metal up to ¼ thickness. With a 120 V output, you can run this machine efficiently at your homes as well.
The output it provides is so much more than you can expect from a welder, which is this cheap. The Duty cycle is 30 % at 90 Amp that is ideal for any hobbyist worker. With an All-metal casing, the machine is durable and also prevents any overheating due to work.
Features
The machine also comes with an eight-ground clamp, making welding a lot safer and efficient for beginners and newcomers. The welder is an all-around heavy-duty machine that is ideal for welders looking for an under budget welder.
What are customers saying?
“The only thing I have to complain about is it seems a little hard to set. But part of that could be I’m not very used to flux-core wire. Once I got onto it, I’ve really enjoyed using the machine. I’ve already recommended this brand to several of my friends.”
– customer quote
Lincoln Electric K2278-1 – Best Inexpensive MIG Welder Under 500
- Manufactured By Lincoln
- Input Power: 115V
- Duty Cycle: 20% @ 70 Amperes
- Welding Process: MIG Welding
- Special Features: Works on low power & â…› inch mild-steel welding capability
The Lincoln Handy core is a perfect welding machine for household and garage projects. Furthermore, its cheap price tag makes it even more suitable for all users alike, especially those not looking for a heavier and more expensive welder.
With the Lincoln handy core, you also get all the necessary equipment and accessories needed for welding. Furthermore, you won’t have any trouble setting up the machine as it comes with all of the required attachments done already.
Strengths
What makes it such a capable welder is the power it provides. You can easily weld up to 1/4 inch thickness of mild steel, which is quite ideal for any workshop worker. And with its small size, you can carry it easily anywhere.
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The Lincoln Handy Core is a lightweight welder that is ideal for small projects and housework. However, it does have many capabilities in terms of power and other different features.
Features
The Lincoln Handy work has an output amperage of 88 A at max. This figure shows that the welder is not suited for more significant projects, but it is ideal for housework. The input voltage needed to run this machine is 115V which makes it pretty economical.
The duty cycle, which is 20% at 70 A, shows that the machine can work at a higher power rate and come in handy. Also, it can handle up to 18 gauge to â…› inch of mild steel. With a sumptuous ground connection, your convenient core will work wonders for you.
What are customers saying?
“Did as advertised. Good for small repairs such as on a mower deck or snow blower. Probably all anyone would would need to do light repairs on equipment. Your not gonna repair transportation equipment or build a bridge. Just a handy when i need it”
— customer quote
LOTOS MIG140 – Best Budget MIG Welder Under 500
- Manufactured By LOTOS
- Input Power: 110V
- Duty Cycle: 20 % @ 90 A
- Welding Process: FLUX & MIG
- Special Features: Aluminum Wire feeder & Digital Display
This welder is one of the most affordable machines out there. If you compare any 140A MIG welder with the LOTOS MIG140, you will find a significant price difference. And if you are someone looking to start a welding career, then this one will be your companion.
Features
With the features control panel and a digital screen, Using this machine becomes easy. Furthermore, apart from MIG welding, the Lotos MIG 140 can also be used for flux arc welding, making it a two in one welder.
The Lotos MIG is perfect for beginners is a very user-friendly machine. It has a thermal cut-out system that protects from heat damage. Such features increase the lifespan making it a long-lasting mild steel partner. It brings tremendous value out of the tiny price tag.
Being one of the most powerful under budget machines out there. The Lotos MIG 140 is packed with quality features that make work productive. Having a power output that ranges from 30 to 140 A, you can easily weld a great deal of quality metal in your garage.
Duty cycle & output
With a duty cycle of 20 % at 90 AMPS, you can expect your machine to weld quality material making your work efficient. The device comes with a digital control panel to have precise control over wire speed and voltage adjustment.
Accessories
The machine also comes with an aluminum wire feeding system that makes wire feeding easier. Also, the brand did not include this feature in any of the previous models. Another impressive feature is the 2t/4t switches that make your work semi-automatic.
What are customers saying?
“Works as good as my Lincoln did. Only complaint is where the gas hose connects. When connected the line sticks straight out the middle of the back of the unit, hitting the gas bottle while mounted on a welding cart. Needs a 90 to clear properly.”
— customer quote
Hobart Handler 100 – Best Cheap MIG Welder Under 500
- Manufactured By Hobart
- Input Power: 120V
- Duty Cycle: 20% @ 80 Amperes
- Welding Process: FLUX & MIG
- Special Features: Weld up to 3/16 inches of steel & Ease in threading new wire
The Hobart 100 is a cheap entry-level welder. It is best suited for DIY creators and hobbyists or beginners who want to weld at a small scale. This facility is due to the low voltage requirements that make it possible to run almost anywhere.
This one is the top-rated MIG welder under 400. It can fit a 10-pounds spool in it. This way, you can save money on your welding wires. Although the welder is not advised for large projects, you can weld many quality materials for DIY creations.
The parts and services of this machine are also actively available as it runs standard Hobart/miller consumables. It is a good cheap MIG welder, especially for newcomers eager to learn more about welding.
Build quality
If we talk about its built, it would be necessary to mention its lightweight and portable exterior. You can use the machine to weld a maximum thickness of a 3/16 inch plate which is quite reasonable for a cheap welder.
Output
The maximum output you can get from the machine is 100 A which means your welds are intended to be good quality-wise. And welding doors, panels, and wagons won’t be a big problem. And with such low input of only 120V, you can run it anywhere.
With four different voltage setting options, you can choose for yourself the preferred input for your work. Moreover, your wire speed should be infinite, which is pretty good for its price. Overall this machine is perfect for a low-budget start in the world of welding.
What are customers saying?
“It’s great for small projects and beginners but leaves alot of slag then normal and I did use the recommended wire but I didn’t see a change I would recommend going with a Hobart 210”
— customer quote
SUNGOLDPOWER MIG – Best Affordable Welder Under 500
- Manufactured By Sungold Power
- Input Power: 110V
- Duty Cycle: 15% @ 115 AMPS
- Welding Process: FLUX & MIG
- Special Features: Lightweight design & Thermal overload protection
The SUNGOLDPOWER comes with everything a beginner needs to head start his career in welding. With a list of safety features and highly portable design, it is a welder designed for newcomers. Also, having such a budget-friendly price makes it desirable.
The Sungoldpower is a machine that can also work outdoors to be quite suitable for smaller jobs. Since no shielding gas is required, your work is not only limited to indoor garage operations. Safety features such as thermal protection also ensure safety.
Who is it for?
This device is suited for beginners because of the low skill requirement the machine has for it to operate. It works on a reasonably low voltage, so you won’t have to worry about an ample power supply. Moreover, the easy setup is an attraction for beginners.
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Sungoldpower is highly suited for newcomers that want to learn to weld with such a lightweight body design. The model works on a low input of 110V, which is relatively low and can run anywhere. It is equipped with features such as thermal overload protection.
Welding capabilities
The machine is suited for metals such as steel, mild steel, and iron. With an output of 150 A, your device will be able to generate some quality welds with a good penetration. Plus, with a duty cycle of 15 % at 115 AMPS, it is suited to low-scale work.
Features
A desirable feature that this welder provides is gas-less welding. Meaning, you can perform Flux arc welding without shielding gas. This flexibility makes the welder suitable for outdoor welding. With such a low body weight, you won’t have trouble carrying it around.
What are customers saying?
“I had one before lasted for 10 years this one is a lot better than it says”
— customer quote
Types of MIG welders
Transformer MIG welders
Strengths
Transformers are the standard power supply for a Mig Welder. The advantages of a Transformer-based system are that they are often less expensive and simpler to maintain, so theoretically more dependable over time.
Drawbacks
The disadvantages of transformers are that they are heavy, overheat faster, and have a varying power output. The average number of steps for Transformer Mig Machines is between 2 and 30. It’s not feasible to achieve in-between power outputs with transformers.
Inverter Mig Welders
The newest inverters are also considerably more dependable than those of a few years ago. Another benefit is that power output can be smoothly adjusted, which means you can just as easily adjust the volume on a radio by turning a knob.
Advantages of Inverter MIG welders
Inverter inside a MIG welder is a contemporary, electronic piece of equipment. The lighter weight and longer operational life span of Inverter-based systems make them ideal for transportation and storage.
Gas-less MIG welders
Gas-free MIG welders are frequently used by people who work outside on a regular basis. Keep in mind, however, that these may also be utilized in the office and other outdoor locations. The benefit of using a gas-free MIG set up is that it eliminates the risk of wind blowing away the shielding gas and resulting in an accident
Flux-cored MIG
welders are similar to self-shielded MIG welders, but they use a flux-cored wire instead of a solid wire. This makes them better suited for welding in dirty or windy conditions.
What to look out for when choosing a MIG welder under 500
When choosing a MIG welder, you need to consider the following factors:
- The type of metal you will be welding
- The thickness of the metal
- The amperage range
- The duty cycle
Rob Steven
I'm Rob Steven with more than 10+ years of experience in the welding field, I have done my welding degree from Central Louisiana Technical Community College, it was always fun and passion for me going into welding. Now being a passionate welder I also blog about welding.
