Bestazy

8 Best Versatile 120v Welders of 2024 reviews – Guide how to choose the best 120v Welder

Lisa J. Humphrey
Last Edit:

Are you looking for the best 120v welder that suits your needs ?

Though not much thought goes before you instinctively choose any of the 120v welders from your favourite e-commerce platform; you should act otherwise. The 120v MIG or Glass-metal-arc-welders are handy machines which are easy to wield and offer you precision welding at high speeds. 

MIG welders or Glass-metal-arc-welders take up the responsibility to deliver most of your daily welding projects with utmost finesse. 

Yet such nifty devices are not much cared about. You go to your neighbourhood hardware store or order one from the website and use the 120v welder for all your welding needs. But obviously, you could do better!

Pause, reflect and decide -

You don't want to purchase any 120v welder from the shop or any arbitrary site that does not cater to your needs. While TIG welders are suitable for almost all types of metals, they require extreme precision in handling and strict control over timing, pressure and current. 120v welders or MIG or Glass Metal Arc Welders are recommended for their ease of use and can be handled effortlessly by first-timers and even non-professionals 

Your 120v MIG welders will allow you to weld thin metals like steel or stainless steel with utmost ease. You also need a gadget that lasts for years and be a perfect solution for all your welding requirements. This post aims at providing you with an insight that will prove helpful while choosing your 120v MIG welders. 

We have reviewed few of the best-in-class 120v arc welders which will provide superior performance and cater to your needs. These 120v MIG welders have been entrusted with top customer reviews and ratings.

You can select your favourite product from our 120v welder review with complete confidence. The top brands like Lincoln, Sungoldpower, Forney, Hobart and few other notable 120v arc welders exhibited in our article will help you with your purchase. 

Our review will aim to help you with your research on the top 120v welders. We won't infer on the products. You can do so yourself.

Doesn't it sound wonderful ?

We will provide you with a guide to choose the best 120v MIG welders based on their performance and properties. Our post will be exhaustive enough and you will get all the information you need to obtain the best 120v welder for yourself. 

Without further ado, let us present the top 120v welders in our review. 

Other 120v welders worth your consideration : 

Super Deal PRO Commercial MIG 130 AC Flux Core Wire Automatic feed welder : Super Deal PRO offers the buyers with lucrative deals on their commercial 120v arc welders. The MIG welders are good for light-industrial applications too.

8 Best Versatile 120v Welders of 2020 reviews

Best for the money Forney Easy Weld 298 Arc Welder 100 ST
4.5/5
Check Latest Price

The Forney Easy Weld 298 Arc Welder 100 ST is an exceptional Gas Metal Arc Welder which suits your bill and proves to be the ultimate solution for all your welding woes. The inverter power system makes the Forney Easy Weld one of the most versatile arc welders available all over. The Easy Weld Arc Welder 100 ST is portable and you can carry it practically anywhere and meet your welding requirements. You do not need to rev up the machine using a foot pedal. The Easy Start technology will make your welding activities a cakewalk. 

You can use the Forney Easy Weld for your daily welding activities. These could include your home-based maintenance and repair work, do-it-yourself and carrying out welding activities as a hobby. This could also work good for light-industrial applications and doing garage-works. 

The Forney Easy Weld 298 Arc Welder 100 ST is the perfect product that is suited for first-time welders, non-professional welders, hobbyists and beginners. The 120 volt input and 90 ampere output makes this welder’s operation hassle-free. The lightweight design allows you to use it for your automotive purposes and carry it around the house.

The Forney Easy Weld 120v arc welder has a TIG capable design and features. Only the TIG torch is sold separately. This adds a dash of uniqueness to your product.

Features :

  • No foot pedal operation and features an Argon/CO2 flow meter
  • 120 Volt AC input and 90 Amp output
  • Medium duty electrode holder and ground clamp provided
pros

    Lightweight and portable with innovative inverter-powered design

    The price is reasonable

    Versatility in terms of welding with the TIG compatibility provided

cons

    The warranty could be better

    The arc lengths should be super-short

Show me
Miller Electric 120v AC 1 Phase
4.5/5
Check Latest Price

The K2278-1 Handy Core is a nifty device that has exploded in the welding scene. The name Lincoln Electric garners immense trust in the arc welding category and this welder is one that is setting standards amongst the best 120v arc welders available in the market.

This handy arc-welder from Lincoln Electric can be an asset for your DIYs, hobby projects and home repair cum maintenance jobs. The Lincoln Electric welder features a gun and cable assembly along with a work lead, work clamp and input power cable; all of which have been assembled and attached at the factory. This saves you a lot of time from handling the assembly yourself. 

The name Handy Core carries a lot of significance. The 120v welder from Lincoln Electric supports flux-cored and gas-metal-arc welding. You can easily weld aluminium, steel and stainless steel materials using this welder.

The Cold Contractor safety feature keeps your welding wire electrically cold before you pull the trigger on your welding gun. Hence the necessary safety is ensured during welding. The welder is compact and lightweight, which makes it easily portable.

Features : 

  • Single phase 120 volt AC input voltage 
  • The maximum amperage output is 35 to 88 amperes while the recommendable one is 70 amps at 20 percent
  • Self-shielded, flux-cored wire electrode, welding handshield and chipping hammer are included in the product line-up.
pros

    Compatible with a wide range of accessories

    Can handle a wide range of welding applications

    Portable

cons

    Consumes a lot of power

    Requires a lot of space for storage

    Has a markedly high price

Show me
Best of the best Lincoln Electric K2278-1 Handy Core
4.5/5
Check Latest Price

The K2278-1 Handy Core is a nifty device that has exploded in the welding scene. The name Lincoln Electric garners immense trust in the arc welding category and this welder is one that is setting standards amongst the best 120v arc welders available in the market.

This handy arc-welder from Lincoln Electric can be an asset for your DIYs, hobby projects and home repair cum maintenance jobs. The Lincoln Electric welder features a gun and cable assembly along with a work lead, work clamp and input power cable; all of which have been assembled and attached at the factory. This saves you a lot of time from handling the assembly yourself. 

The name Handy Core carries a lot of significance. The 120v welder from Lincoln Electric supports flux-cored and gas-metal-arc welding. You can easily weld aluminium, steel and stainless steel materials using this welder.

The Cold Contractor safety feature keeps your welding wire electrically cold before you pull the trigger on your welding gun. Hence the necessary safety is ensured during welding. The welder is compact and lightweight, which makes it easily portable. 

Features : 

  • Single phase 120 volt AC input voltage 
  • The maximum amperage output is 35 to 88 amperes while the recommendable one is 70 amps at 20 percent
  • Self-shielded, flux-cored wire electrode, welding handshield and chipping hammer are included in the product line-up.
pros

    Lightweight and compact

    You can trust it with most of your household welding and garage chores

    Cold contractor safety feature prevents your welding wire from getting electrically hot until you pull the trigger on the welding gun

cons

    The product is not recommended for heavy-duty welding operations

    Overheating

    Flimsy parts

Show me
Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG welder
4.5/5
Check Latest Price

One of the most trustworthy products on the block, the Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG welder is a welder’s delight. It has been designed to take care of the needs of an artist as well as a technician who handles light to medium-range welding operations. 

The Hobart 140 Handler is featured as the top product in a lot of trusted sites. Customers have entrusted their faith and belief in this 120 volt welder since a long time. The MIG and the flux-cored processes come in handy while tackling cast iron, magnesium alloys and even copper, brass and titanium. The multi-voltage plug allows you to connect any input voltage between 120 volts and 220 volts. The welder acts quite nicely with the standard household current ratings. 

The Hobart is a unique product because it can seamlessly weld metals of variable thicknesses. The 5-Position adjustable voltage controller allows you to achieve a stable and smooth arc at various welding thicknesses. The various output voltage settings and speed control makes welding with this machine a fun-loving experience for you. 

Features :

  • 5-position tapped voltage control selector 
  • Industrial cast aluminium drive system and a durable, high-grade work clamp
  • Variable input-voltage plug and compatibility for both flux-cored and MIG welding processes
pros

    Allows you to fine-tune your arcs and ensures stable arcs for variable

    thicknessess

    Durability and quality is guaranteeds

    A wide and flexible speed range to work withs

cons

    Not made for heavy-duty industrial applicationss

    Presence of Short-cabless

    Product belongs to the higher price ranges

Show me
SUNGOLDPOWER MIG 150A Flux-cored Wire automatic feed welder
4/5
Check Latest Price

SUNGOLDPOWER is a name in MIG and Flux-core welding that gives you value for money. The MIG 150A Welder is designed to meet the needs of people belonging to almost all spheres of life and profession.

The models of SUNGOLDPOWER MIG welders generally belong to the low to middle price category and hence it is one of the most coveted products offering significant ROI. It caters to the needs of artisans, technicians, hobbyists, DIY enthusiasts and even homebodies.

You can use this gasless welder to ideally weld mild steel, iron and a host of other metals. The stainless steel body comes paired with a wire and a mask which makes outdoor welding as easy as a pie. 

The SUNGOLDPOWER MIG 150A is a welder that is one of the safest products in this category that you will get. The automatic thermal safety protection and the torch with on/off safety control reinforces its safety features. The 4 level current flow setting allows you to select your desired output whereas the 10 Feed speed control provides you with various pace options for welding.

Features :

  • Stainless steel body for thermal protection and AC mains plug with fuse
  • Flux wired machine allows for gasless welding
  • 10 feed speed control and 4 level current setting.
pros

    Available in reasonable prices

    Easy and simple operations

    The MIG welder is extremely lightweight and compact and hence is portables

cons

    The face mask is flimsys

    The auto feed wire issues involve a motor that is reportedly defectives

Show me
Super Deal PRO Commercial MIG 130 AC Flux Core Wire Automatic feed welder
4.5/5
Check Latest Price

If you are searching for the best 120v arc welder to solve all your welding issues, then Super Deal PRO Commercial MIG 130 AC welder is here to deliver you a robust performance. The Super Deal PRO Commercial MIG welder is made out of superior PVC material which makes it lightweight and immensely easy to operate. The grip and handle makes the welder easy to operate while gaining a lot of precision for your arc welding.

This 120v arc welder is perfectly designed for home, DIY and repair and maintenance work. It also doubles up to provide light-industrial welding operations. 

The Super Deal PRO MIG welder is equipped with wave-form control technology with adjustable inductor and thus helps you in attaining a soft electric arc and increased fusion depth which ensures superior welding performance. The self-release metal-inert gas welder gives you a face shield helmet for increased safety during your welding operations. 

The cooling fan as well as the thermal overload protection safety feature allows for increased safety during welding. While the metal tip prevents building up of excess slag, the highly compact structure helps you to position it anywhere during various projects and prevent any bit of hassle you have to encounter for its storage. 

Features :

  • The digital softkey control panel is intuitive and equipped with a range of wire feed speed and temperature controls which allow for precision welding
  • Copper metal tip ensures minimisation of slag
  • Thermal cooling feature is a safety protection which is bolstered b face shield helmets provided along with the product
pros

    Handy and portable because of compact size and shape

    Flux-cored, self-release metal inert gas is good for welding various grades of steel

    Extremely affordable price

cons

    Cheap

    Cooling fan does not provide enough protection

    Wire feed is too fast for the respective setting

Show me
Kickinghorse F130 gasless flux-cored MIG welder
4.4/5
Check Latest Price

If you are a beginner or a non-professional who wants to perform maintenance and renovation work by himself, then there is one of the best 120v arc welders to meet your requirements. Kickinghorse F130 flux-cored gasless MIG welder is that particular variant of a 120v arc welder that takes care of all your welding needs.

You can examine this product yourself and you will find just the right specifications that will help you proceed with your job. The 10 pounds weight and the adjustable shoulder strap increase your comfort of carrying it practically anywhere to perform your welding operations. 

The Kickinghorse F130 MIG welder is equipped with a stepless, flexible voltage control that helps you in fine-tuning your welding arc continuously. The overheating, overload and over-voltage sensors cushions the safety features for your welding operations. This state of the art 120v MIG welder is one of the best that is available in the market. The energy efficiency feature reduces the power costs and heightens your welding performance. 

Features :

  • The highly-efficient HF-IGBT inverter technology allows the Kickinghorse F130 MIG welder to generate more current with the same input voltage of 120 volts
  • Fine tune your voltage independently from your wire feed
  • Durable gearbox provides more torque and the wire-feeding system minimises tangling.
pros

    Inverter technology helps in creating ultra-smooth, stable welding arc

    at low amperage

    Extremely light and compact design

    Sturdy

cons

    Belongs to the higher price category

    The torch hose connection point with the metal base needs reinforcement

Show me
Display4top portable no gas MIG 130 plus welder
4/5
Check Latest Price

If automatic welding is on the cards, then you can go with Display4top’s MIG 130 portable welder which offers you a load of exciting features. Your welding game is going to take a turn for the best with this portable gasless MIG 120v welder. 

If you are someone who is fixated with your welding operations, then this is the ultimate product for you. The Display4top has a flux-cored gasless function which makes it one of the finest 120v arc welders for welding stainless steel, aluminium, carbon steel and a host of other metals. 

The heavy duty stainless steel body reinforces the structural design of the Display4top 120v MIG welder while its compact, lightweight feature allows easy portability and storage. The overload safety feature offers immense protection and turns off the welder immediately when the current or the voltage exceeds the specified limits. 

This is a DC inverter mini MIG welder which gives a good amount of resistance to voltage fluctuation. The internal fan cooling system prevents overheating of your welding unit.

Features :

  • Flux-cored gasless mini MIG welder made out of stainless steel
  • DC inverter technology provides ample protection against voltage fluctuation
  • Thermal protection due to internal fan-cooling system
pros

    Heavy-duty and formidable structure bolstered by stainless steel

    Lightweight design

    A wide-range of safety protections tend to minimise accidents

cons

    Not suitable for heavy-duty welding

    Aluminium welding is difficult to achieve

Show me

To buy the best 120v welder from the market, we first need to get our basics right. Knowledge about arc-welding and MIG welding in general will help us identify the most suitable product that we need to obtain for our requirements. 

MIG stands for metal inert gas. MIG welding is also known as Gas Metal Arc Welding and the corresponding welders are fed with an electrode or steel wire to carry out the procedure. 

The electrodes come out of the contact tip from the welding gun. These are fed into the welding pool thereafter and thus ensures binding two metals together. A shielding gas prevents any probable contamination of the weld pool.

This method of arc welding is particularly simple as it allows you to weld metals together at a blistering pace and with quite an amount of precision. Thus individuals with different skill sets, and those who are quite novice at handling welders, can perform their welding operations with ease using these welders. 

 

 

These advantages include :

  1. Performing welding operations on metals of variable thicknesses
  2. Welding aluminium, different alloy steels and other metals 
  3. Speed of MIG welding is considerably more than that of Stick welding
  4. Reduces the amount of smoke that occurs while welding
  5. Better control on thinner metals is possible
  6. It is possible to achieve cleaner welds with almost no slag to clean.

Shielding gases are nothing but inert gases which form one of the main constituents of MIG or Gas Metal Arc Welders and TIG or Gas Tungsten Arc Welders.

The utility of shielding gases is immense. They prevent oxygen or vapour from permeating into the weld area and ruin it. The shielding gases should be employed correctly in order to ensure a good weld. 

 

 

The only way to choose a shielding gas depends upon the type of welding operation that you are performing. Since shielding gases are expensive, you should also be wary about the quantity that you are purchasing for your welding activities. Therefore the ideal shielding gas that you plan to buy should be cost-effective, weld-effective and highly efficient. 

 

 

The most common shielding or inert gases which could be employed to obtain a high quality of welding operation are :

  1. Argon
  2. Helium
  3. Carbon Dioxide and
  4. Oxygen. 

 

 

A flux-cored arc welding or FCAW is also known as Gasless welding. You can also use your MIG welders to achieve a gasless welding operation but the solid core wire should be changed to a flux-cored wire. Certain MIG welders are generally equipped with flux-cored wire and therefore play their part in gasless welding. 

Gasless MIG welders use their flux-cored wire to create a barrier between the weld pool and oxygen. A self-shielding tubular flux-cored wire is more beneficial as it can remove oxygen and thereby prevent the weld pool from relying solely on atmospheric gases. 

There are immense benefits to gasless welding. 

You can align your MIG welder in any position while performing gasless welding. You can even use it in any environment. The internal protection from atmospheric gases, mainly oxygen, makes this possible.

Secondly, you don’t need to use any external protective gas. This reduces the overall cost of welding while increasing its efficiency. 

Since it requires almost no skill or expertise, therefore non-professional welders and beginners can do welding without much effort. 

FCAW produces a solid mass of weld which has negligible or no porosity. Hence the weld formed is stronger and delivers tremendous durability. 

 

 

A few things are important and worth considering before you buy your 120v welder.

 

 

While 100 amps is sufficient for DIY projects and welding thin metal sheets, a rig that churns out 140 amps should be good enough to buy because you might need to weld significantly thicker metals at times. Minimum power output is also an important thing that you should focus on. While an 18-gauge metal requires a minimum output of 30 amps, a fragile metal of 22-gauge should be welded using 20-22 amp output.

 

 

When there are separate settings for power and feed speed, you might need to play around with the controls to find the ideal feed speed. Certain MIG welders come with automatic wire feed speed settings which adjust their rate with the power. A manual override could be present that allows you to make the necessary adjustments.

 

 

The ER70S-3 wire is suitable for most welding activities. The ER70S-6 wires are especially applicable for welding on dusty and rusted surfaces where deoxidizers are required. The 120v welder that you will buy will determine the size and thickness of the wire that will be used in welding operations.

 

Before you resort to buy your 120v welder, you should be clear about your requirements. You need to buy the best 120v welder that has enough power for the welding activities that you will be performing. 

A 120v welder that has more power output will definitely be pricey. But it is better to make such an investment as you need a welder that will power your welding activities for years to come. Thus having a welder with a greater power output is better than having an under-powered one. 

It is never enough to learn about MIG welding and the popular welders. But this article will definitely assist you in your quest for the best 120v welder that suits your requirements. Now you are ready to make a bold move and buy your first 120v welder!

 

 

THE WINNERS

Expert tip:

Therefore from the reviews, it is clear that the best 120v arc welders belong to traditional brands like Hobart, Lincoln Electric, Miller, Forney as well as newer ones like Kickinghorse and the like. These welders are mostly MIG welders, while some are even compatible for TIG and Stick welding. All the best 120v arc welders in the market are lightweight and compact and meant for a range of usages; from household repair and maintenance to light-industrial applications and even DIYs. Most of the MIG, TIG and Stick welders exhibited in our list are durable and suitable for welding a variety of metals. So you can confidently choose from our product reviews and even use it to assist your research on the best 120v arc welders.

Lincoln Electric K2278-1 Handy Core

Fixing your gadgets became a whole lot easier! Indulge in the journey of choosing the best 120v welder that has been designed to meet your needs. We also present you with a buying guide that will help you in making the purchase.

Show Me

Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG welder

Fixing your gadgets became a whole lot easier! Indulge in the journey of choosing the best 120v welder that has been designed to meet your needs. We also present you with a buying guide that will help you in making the purchase.

Show Me

Forney Easy Weld 298 Arc Welder 100 ST

Fixing your gadgets became a whole lot easier! Indulge in the journey of choosing the best 120v welder that has been designed to meet your needs. We also present you with a buying guide that will help you in making the purchase.

Show Me

Frequently asked questions

What is the best MIG welder for a beginner?

Probably the best MIG welder for a beginner is the Forney Easy Weld, but the Hobart 50059 packs quite a lot of punches.

Which one is stronger : Arc welding or MIG welding?

MIG welding is stronger than Arc welding when the filler material strength is considered. Whereas, in certain cases MIG welding will produce a weaker weld if it is not hot enough.

Are certain brands of MIG welders safer than the others?

Certain brands of MIG welders are equipped with additional safety features which are lacking in others. These render those brands safer to use.

Do I need to take certain precautions while performing MIG welding?

Of course, you do! You should put your shielding mask and required safety attire and aerate your space properly. These are some necessary precautions that you need to take.

What is the speed at which I should perform MIG welding?

Though there is no recommended pace to perform your MIG welding operations, you need to be careful while dealing with joints and similar complicated surfaces. Welding too fast will lead to ugly and uneven welds.

How long can I weld at a stretch?

You should take a break every two to two and a half hours. Though this has nothing to do with the quality of your welding, this will allow you to take some rest for your health and safety.

How thick can a MIG welder weld?

Most MIG welders are capable of welding 3/8th of an inch in a single pass. Thicker welds can be obtained in multiple passes but such type of MIG welding is recommended for professional welders. Beginners can achieve thicker welds by using Stick welders. Various MIG welders can weld metals of different thicknesses and it depends on the brand and its corresponding specifications.

Are gasless MIG welders good for welding?

Gasless MIG welders employ flux-cored wire which has the necessary gases within it to shield the weld pool from interference of any atmospheric gas, especially oxygen. Gasless MIG welders are good for outdoor welding purposes where there is a high risk of wind blowing and damaging your welding thereby.

Which combination of MIG gas supports heavy-duty welding?

A mixture of 85% Argon and 15% CO2 is the best to achieve heavy-duty welds.

Read Full Article