Best MIG Welder for Home Use: Hobart Handler 210 MVP
While testing out different MIG welders built for home use, the one model that stood out of the rest was the Hobart Handler 210 MVP. Its heavy-duty welding thickness capacity and flexible control dials make it a pretty hard MIG welder to beat.
Let’s take a look at the Handler 210 MVP’s key specifications—
- 3/8-inch Max Welding Thickness
- 115V/230V Input Voltage
- 30% Duty Cycle @ 150A
- Infinite Feed Control Dial
The Handler 210 MVP is a highly versatile MIG welder that can be used at home or in commercial settings. It’s a dual-voltage unit that, at max power, can join mild steel pieces up to 3/8 of an inch thick.
All of the hardware and supplies you need to begin working right away are available in the box, including a 230V adapter and consumables. It’s a relatively beginner-friendly model that’s easy to set up and even easier to operate.
This video by Hobart will explain everything about the Handler 210 MVP:
Pros
- Up to 210A output
- 7 voltage settings
- Durable construction
- Can weld aluminum (aluminum welding gun sold separately)
Cons
- Power cord could be longer
Whether you’re welding thin sheets for metal-based artwork or fabricating auto parts at home, the Hobart Handler 210 MVP will suit your every need.
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If you’re looking to upgrade your garage workshop, there’s no better place to start with a MIG welder.
This type of welder can join a wide range of commonly used metals in woodworking and auto body repair, but it starts with having the right tool.
We’ve looked all over and tried out over 20 models to find the best MIG welder for home use. We’re confident you’ll like what we found.
Top MIG Welders for Home Use Compared
Here’s a comparison between Top MIG Welders for Home Use:
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best MIG Welder for Home Use – Hobart Handler 210 MVP |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Premium - Hobart Ironman 230 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Best Budget - Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Forney Easy Weld 125 FC |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Hobart Handler 140 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Goplus MIG 130 |
| Check Today's Price |
| Lotos MIG175 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Lincoln K2185-1 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Weldpro MIG200GDSV |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Lincoln K2278-1 |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of the Top MIG Welders for Home Use
Even though the Handler 210 MVP shines the brightest, there are several other MIG welder models that deserve recognition.
Best Premium - Hobart Ironman 230
Key Specifications
- ½-inch Welding Thickness
- 230V Input Voltage
- 60% Duty Cycle @ 175A
- 12-tap Voltage Control
The Hobart Ironman 230 is one of those MIG welders that diehard DIY-ers will appreciate. With a welding thickness of up to half an inch, the Ironman 230 truly lives up to its name.
It’s a single-voltage unit that runs on 230V input, so make sure you have one preinstalled in your garage workshop.
When set to 175A output, this machine can work for 6 minutes out within a 10-minute window, resulting in increased productivity.
It offers 12 different voltage control settings to produce a spread-out weld joint to your exact specifications.
This brief informational video will show you what you need to know about the Ironman 230:
Pros
- Durable unit
- Easy to set up and operate
- Flexible power output
- Can weld aluminum (spool gun sold separately)
Cons
- Could be lighter
It’s clear that the Hobart Ironman 230 is a heavy-duty welder made for heavy-duty projects. Not every homeowner will need this much power, but if you do, this is the perfect MIG welder.
Best Budget - Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i
Key Specifications
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 120V Input Voltage
- 30% Duty Cycle @ 90A
- Multi-Process Unit
One of the best budget-friendly welders you can find today is the Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i. This machine can MIG weld, TIG weld, and stick weld, helping save benchtop space in your garage office.
This machine can weld up to a quarter-inch of mild steel in a single pass. It doesn’t come with a gas regulator, but the 140 FC-i works with gas-shielding flux-cored wire.
This MIG welder is compatible only with a 120V receptacle, which shouldn’t be a problem due to its light-duty welding capacity and power output. Still, it’s a reliable machine you can use for any small welding task at home.
Let Gabby Nieto of Forney Industries show you what the 140 FC-i can do:
Pros
- Effortless wire loading
- Flexible feed speed adjustments
- Compact and durable
- MIG, FCAW, TIG, and Stick
Cons
- Duty cycle could be better
The Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i is easily the best budget-friendly MIG welder for homeowners and even professionals for light-duty welding jobs.
Forney Easy Weld 125 FC
Key Specifications
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 120V Input Voltage
- 20% Duty Cycle @ 125A
- No Shielding Gas Required
The 125 FC is another entry-level welding machine by Forney that works only with 120V receptacles.
It has the same welding capacity as the 140 FC-i, but the control panel has a handy switch that lets you choose between welding sheet metal or thin plates.
This machine uses a gas-shielding flux wire, so you won’t need to pick up a tank of argon and carbon dioxide. This makes welding outdoors not only possible but easy and efficient.
Amateur welders will need a safety net to protect both their project and the 125 FC. Built-in thermal protection keeps the motor from surpassing its duty cycle, protecting the unit from unwanted damage.
Pros
- Great welder for beginners
- Decent duty cycle for light work
- Compact design
- Flexible feed rate
Cons
- Gasless flux-cored can be somewhat limiting
The 125 FC is a great MIG welder to start building up welding experience, though you will quickly outgrow its limited capacities.
Hobart Handler 140
Key Specifications
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 115V Input Voltage
- 20% Duty Cycle @ 90A
- Wire Feed Tracking
The compact Hobart Handler 140 is popular for being simple to set up and easy to operate.
Reasonably powerful output of 140A allows this unit to weld quarter-inch mild steel in a single pass, which should be sufficient for most home welding projects.
It has an infinite tracking dial to feed you as much wire as you need for any job. The decent 20% duty cycle at mid-range output accommodates beginners with slower welding speeds.
Shane from Hobart Welding Products will take you through the Handler 140’s setup process:
Pros
- Built-in overload protection
- Wide welding range
- Incredibly easy to set up
- Compact and durable casing
Cons
- Duty cycle could be more efficient at higher power output
The Hobart Handler 140 is also ready to roll out of the box. It’s a great MIG welder for lighter jobs and can be used anywhere a 115V outlet is available.
Goplus MIG 130
Key Specifications
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 110V Input Voltage
- 10% Duty Cycle @ 105A
- Single/Multi-Pass Wire
It’s important to note that the Goplus MIG 130 can flux-cored arc welding, meaning that you can take this portable device with you without hauling around large gas tanks.
The self-shielding wire protects the arc from contaminants, ensuring a clean bead in nearly any environment.
The MIG 130 has a welding capacity of up to a quarter-inch in mild steel, which should suit most homeowners just right.
However, its 20% duty cycle at max amp output can be limiting, but it offers plenty of breathing room to assess the weld.
Pros
- MIG and flux-cored versatility
- Excels at welding sheet metal
- Lightweight and portable
- Long power cable
Cons
- Could have higher power output
As you can see, the Goplus 130 MIG is another budget-friendly, entry-level MIG welder made for light-duty tasks.
Lotos MIG175
Key Specifications
- ¼-inch Welding Capacity
- 220V/240V Input Voltage
- 20% Duty Cycle @ 175A
- Works on Aluminum
If you plan on welding aluminum up to 3/16 of an inch regularly, the Lotos MIG175 should be your go-to MIG welder.
Unlike many MIG welders on this list, this Lotos model comes with the appropriate hardware needed to start welding aluminum (aluminum wire feeder and spool gun).
It has a max output rating of 175A with a 20% duty cycle. At most, this machine can weld mild and stainless steel up to a quarter-inch in thickness.
It’s a single-voltage unit that plugs into a 220V receptacle, so make sure you have the right outlet at home.
Not to sound nitpicky, but the only issue we have with the MIG175 is its portability. If you intend to work from home, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Pros
- Excellent bang for buck
- Great for fabrication projects
- Quick, neat beads
- Comes with hardware for welding aluminum
Cons
- Power cord could be longer
The Lotos MIG175 will facilitate any diehard DIY-er with most of their welding needs, thanks to its powerful output and near-zero-spatter performance.
Lincoln K2185-1
Key Specifications
- 1/8-inch Welding Capacity
- 115V Input Voltage
- 20% Duty Cycle @ 70A
- Thermal Protection
The Lincoln K2185-1 may not be the ideal model for experienced welders, but if you’re just starting off and plan to work in your home garage, this should suit you just fine.
It has a limited welding capacity of up just 1/8 of an inch, so you’ll most likely use this tool for welding sheet metal exclusively.
Its 88A max output can handle certain auto fabrication jobs, but even at 70A, its 20% duty cycle can be a bit off-putting.
The good news is that the K2185-1 is a 115V unit that should work at home. Despite its admittedly weak power output, it does a fantastic job with little spatter in both MIG and flux-cored welding.
Pros
- Durable unit
- Extremely portable
- Decent for welding thinner materials
- Built-in overheating protection
Cons
- Could come with more voltage settings
The Lincoln K2185-1 is clearly an entry-level MIG welder for incredibly light-duty jobs. It’s an inexpensive model to help beginners gain some mileage in MIG welding.
Weldpro MIG200GDSV
Key Specifications
- 0.197-inch Welding Capacity
- 115V/230V Input Voltage
- 30% Duty Cycle @ 200A
- Multi-Functionality
The MIG200GDSV is a fantastic multi-purpose machine that does MIG, TIG, and stick welding. For beginners, this is a great tool to have that remains useful as you improve your welding skills and capacities.
It has a max welding capacity of 0.197 inches and runs on either 115V or 230V outlets. There’s no guessing the amp output and wire feed speed with this unit, thanks to the dual digital displays.
At max power, this unit maintains a decent 30% duty cycle for increased productivity. A built-in thermal overload protection system ensures beginners don’t surpass its runtime by automatically hitting the kill switch.
However, the MIG200GDSV does not offer adjustable voltage settings. Instead, it matches the voltage to the feed speed—a neat feature for those just getting started in the welding game.
Pros
- MIG/TIG/Stick welding
- Reasonably priced for performance and value
- Incredible portable, lightweight design
- Inverter technology
Cons
- Could come with a spool gun
The Weldpro MIG200GDSV is an excellent multi-purpose MIG welder that DIY-ers and even pro welders could benefit from.
Lincoln K2278-1
Key Specifications
- 1/8-inch Welding Capacity
- 115V Input Voltage
- 20% Duty Cycle @ 70A
- Cold Contractor Safety
The K2278-1 is a straightforward MIG welder to help first-time welders get the hang of things. It has a limited 1/8-inch welding capacity and runs on 115V at 20A.
Its 20% duty cycle at mid-range output won’t do much for productivity, but if you’re just learning, this shouldn’t cause problems.
The cold contractor safety feature keeps the welding wire cool until you pull the gun’s trigger. This is a must-have feature for novice welders who aren’t ready to begin welding as soon as the device is powered up.
The K2278-1 accepts flux-cored wire as well, meaning you can weld outdoors or dirty materials without much issue.
Pros
- Straightforward buttons and dials
- Compact body
- Ready to go out of the box
- Great option for beginners
Cons
- Too basic for more challenging projects
The Lincoln K2278-1 does what any beginner welder would want from an at-home MIG welder.
FAQs
It really depends on what you’re doing. We’d like to draw every homeowner with the same paintbrush, but you may need a MIG welder for different purposes. For instance, you can get by with an entry-level 110V machine for basic HVAC maintenance, or you might be more interested in a hard-hitting model for auto fabrication. Determine beforehand what sort of material you’re working with, the average thickness of said material, and then go from there.
MIG welders both use and don’t use gas, depending on the wire. A flux-cored wire has its own shielding gas to protect the weld from contaminants in the air or base metal (rust, paint, dirt, etc.). We’d recommend this type of MIG welder to first-time buyers just getting into the welding game.
They definitely can be. Due to advancements in welding technology, MIG welders are becoming increasingly less costly than they were a mere decade ago. Even MIG welders by popular names such as Lotos, Lincoln, and Hobart have lower price tags while also maintaining the quality these companies are known for.
For home use, a MIG welder is the best place to start compared to TIG and Stick welding. MIG welding creates an ultra-powerful weld to bind a wide range of metals together—including aluminum—with minimal cleaning or sanding. It’s also usable in a wide range of settings, including indoors and out, and in professional and DIY workshops. There’s a very shallow learning curve, and they can be jaw-droppingly inexpensive.
Summary
Ladies and gentle-welders, we have come to the final section of our guide on the best MIG welder for home use.
We assessed over 20 different MIG welders of many sizes and capacities to find the best unit for your home or for light-duty welding in your shop.
Now, we open the floor to you guys—feel free to leave whatever thoughts you have in the comment section below.
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
