best mig welder

Best MIG Welder Reviews UK 2023 – Top 7 Comparison

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

Top 3 Best MIG Welders

  1. Sealey MightyMIG100 (Editor’s Choice)
  2. Wolf MIG 140 Gas/No Gas​ (Luxury Choice)
  3. MIG Welder Inverter (Best Value)

Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a professional searching for the next piece of equipment to upgrade your business strategy, it’s safe to say that a small MIG (metal inert gas) welder can be a fantastic addition to your toolkit. The best MIG welder will give you an exceptional solution for everything from automotive work to mechanical tasks and even hobby welding. Not only do these machines deliver attractive results as a high-quality home welder, but they’re also very easy to use.

Arc welding is used for both repairs and fabrication. An arc welder gives you a solution that joins metals by heating components with an arc. The arc runs between a continuously-fed section of filler metal, which is why many people refer to their car welder or MIG device as a short-circuit transfer system.

As reliable and useful as great MIG welders can be, it’s often difficult to buy the best welder for home use or business performance without additional help. There are many different models available on the market today, and each has their diverse selection of features to offer. To ensure that you can make the right decision first-time around, we’ve checked out the latest available MIG welders, to give you a rundown of the best options out there.

How We Compared MIG Welders

mig welders collage

To find the right MIG welders we considered multiple factors including:

  • Maintenance
  • Warranty
  • Parts
  • Spool gun
  • Short-circuiting protection
  • Size, portability, and weight

Our team planned comparison points and specifically looked for products that would cater to all kinds of needs. We spent countless hours researching, consulting customer reviews and comparing features to come up with this list.

To find out more about our process please see here.

Best MIG Welder Reviews – Top 7 Picks

Sealey MightyMIG100 (Editor’s Choice)

When it comes to choosing the ultimate car welder or home accessory for your DIY projects, Sealey is one of the best-known and most popular names in the manufacturing world. The MightyMIG selection of welders produced by Sealey all come with an exceptional heavy-duty design, as well as an output transformer and a forced-air strategy for cooling to ensure that you can maintain your productivity and performance levels for as long as possible.

The Sealey MightyMIG100 comes with a few added extras to improve your welding experience, including a comfort grip for your torch, a 1.8-metre cable for power, a 1-metre gas hose, and 0.45kg flux-cored wire. There’s also a warranty included so you can safely do MIG welding without worrying about it breaking down within a couple of weeks.

This heavy-duty welder includes a useful range of accessories and, with its compact and lightweight design, it’s sure to help you complete your DIY home projects. If you’re looking for something that’s great for a range of applications, then the Sealey MightyMIG is one of the most accessible professional-grade MIG welders available.

Pros:

  • Warranty included
  • Professional-grade materials and manufacturing
  • Comfort grip
  • Ideal for home and work-based use
  • Forced Air Cooling System can increase the duty cycle

Cons:

  • Not as strong as a gas welder in some cases
  • Can sputter at times

Wolf MIG 140 Gas/No Gas (Best for Beginners)

If you’re looking for a welder for home use, and you don’t necessarily need something you can take with you to local manufacturing jobs, then the Wolf MIG combination welder is a good place to start.

Far from just another “simple” welder, the Wolf MIG comes with a changeable wire speed and a range of fantastic features included, as well as the ability to switch easily between non-gas and gas-based welding. There are no tools required to switch to a non-gas weld, which is great if you’re in a hurry.

Another positive feature of this home welder is the fact that it comes with all the additional accessories that you need to get started like a spool of flux-cored wire and a wire brush. The 140 welder’s non-live torch is very simple and lightweight to use, with 6 different power settings to choose from. Additionally, the fully-variable wire speed control means that you can adjust your performance to suit the work you’re doing.

If you’ve never worked with a DC or MIG car welder before, then you’re sure to be impressed with the performance of this high-quality welding machine. The inbuilt turbo fan cooling system also allows for high-quality extended welding cycles.

Pros:

  • Very easy to use
  • No-tool, simple polarity changing
  • Turbofan for long-term use
  • Includes wire brush
  • Variable wire speed control

Cons:

  • Complicated wire feed system
  • Torch is fixed

MIG Welder Inverter (Best Portable Option)

For some people, the best MIG welder is one that they can take with them wherever their jobs might take them. Welding is one of the most in-demand talents in the UK at the moment, with plenty of manufacturers and mechanics on the hunt for flexible experts who can deliver state-of-the-art welds in a hurry. This MIG Welder portable inverter system comes with everything you need to take your talent with you on-the-go.

The system is neatly contained within a compact and light-weight blue package, where you’ll find everything you need for a car welder or home welder, including an optional spool gun for aluminium welding, a 3M MIG torch, earth lead, gas hose, and regulator. There’s also an easy-to-follow manual included, and a 3-year warranty if you’re concerned about getting the most out of your investment.

Overall, this welding machine, created by R-Tech is perfect for people who want to get the most out of a smooth and efficient MIG welding experience. It offers an all-in-one kit for professionals and beginners alike, although it seems to be designed more for the everyday welder than the hobbyist.

Pros:

  • High-quality professional welding equipment
  • Contains everything you need to get started, including a manual
  • High-performance output
  • 3-year UK warranty included
  • Easy-to-follow manual included

Cons:

  • Better for automotive work than basic welds
  • Doesn’t display the voltage or amps when you change settings

Sealey SuperMIG180 (Professional Choice)

Even best welder for home use may not be enough for someone who plans on using their MIG welding skills in the workplace. If you’re looking for a high-quality machine that’s ideal for industry-grade jobs, then the Sealey SuperMIG180 may be an excellent choice. Designed as a professional car welder, the SuperMIG180 model is ideal if you’re welding with Argon and CO2.

This high-quality model comes with a forced-air solution for cooling inside to make sure that you can extend your welding times without overheating. There’s also a non-live torch fitted into the system so you can reduce the risk of potentially creating arcs when you’re on the move between fast-paced jobs.

Perhaps one of the easier-to-use small MIG welder options on the market, the Sealey model is very straightforward, particularly for professionals. Although it’s designed for high-level use, there’s nothing to stop you from making the most out of your system within your workshop too. The set comes with an industrial gas regulator, 2 contact tips to choose from, as well as a gas cup.

Pros:

  • Professional-quality weld
  • Lightweight and portable design for on-the-go welding
  • Suitable for welding with CO2 and Argon
  • 180Amp maximum performance
  • Forced-Air Cooling System allows high duty cycle.

Cons:

  • Less suited to the home workshop if you’re looking for a home welder
  • May need higher amp power supplies for significant jobs

Dirty Pro Tools Professional (Best Value)

If you’ve been searching for a small MIG welder which you can take with you to local jobs, then the Dirty Pro Tools professional welder could be an excellent option for you. Designed for the experienced welder, this high-quality device comes with a range of accessories to improve your welding experience, including a helmet, a welding wire brush, a clipping hammer, and an earth clamp.

Created with durability in mind, the Dirty Pro Tools welder is ideal when you want something that will stand the test of time and deliver an excellent quality weld. During the welding process, the flux protects the system, and there are four power settings available, so you can choose the strategy that works best for you, complete with variable wire speed control. No gas is required for this machine or car welder, and it uses solid or filler wire with a flux core.

To keep the welding machine working at optimal conditions and extend its duty cycle, there’s a turbo fan cooling the internal workings. For portability, you can even use the helpful handle on the top of the welding machine.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and portable
  • Various accessories included
  • Turbofan cooling for extended duty cycle
  • Variable wire speed control
  • 4 power settings

Cons:

  • Can overheat in high-performance circumstances
  • Difficult to work out when first setting up

Sealey MightMIG90 (Best Gasless Welder)

Carrying cylinders of gas around with you to jobs as a mechanic or manufacturing welder isn’t always as simple as it seems. Many people are beginning to think that the best MIG welder may be one that can deliver a gas-free performance. The Sealey MightyMIG90 welder is a small MIG welding machine that’s designed to fit in the back of your van with ease. The unit is set up and ready for you to start using the moment that it arrives, and it comes with a comfort grip non-live torch included.

Sealey has a reputation for being one of the largest brands for manufacturing tools and equipment in Europe. Not only do you get a welding mask included with your professional-level non-gas welder, but you also get a warranty for twelve months of peace of mind. Many customer reviews about this home welder suggest that Sealey offer exceptional customer service and that the company can deliver replacement parts when needed too.

If you’re looking for a convenient and straightforward welder, then the MightyMIG90 might be the best way to go. It comes with a 1.8m earth cable, comfort grip non-live torch, 0.45kg flux-cored wire and 1mm contact tip and is incredibly easy to use whether you’re a beginner or full-time welding professional.

Pros:

  • Portable and lightweight welding equipment
  • Easy to use and exceptional performance
  • Supplied with a welding mask and flux-cored wire
  • Heavy-duty high output transformer
  • 90Amp maximum performance.

Cons:

  • Not as much of high-level performance as some more powerful MIG welders
  • Suitable for No-Gas operation only.

Clarke MIG151EN (Best for DIY)

Finally, if you’re looking for a home welder, then you don’t necessarily need the most powerful machine on the market. Some people invest in MIG welders specifically to support their home-based projects, when they’re creating something new in the garage, or working on adaptions to pieces of machinery and furniture. The Clarke MIG151EN is designed for the DIYers who can’t afford to compromise on quality.

Complete with professional specifications like a non-live torch and an extra-tough protective coating on the front and rear, the Clarke turbo MIG welding machine comes with everything you need to start welding at home. There’s a thermal overload protection system to give you complete peace of mind, as well as a very powerful wire drive motor included. Additionally, you’ll be pleased to know that all Clarke products comply with the highest quality of European and safety standards.

As a winner of multiple third-party awards, Clarke offers a high-performance option for anyone searching for an arc welder for home use. The rotary power selection system also means that you can choose the level of performance you need with ease.

Pros:

  • Highly durable welding equipment
  • Powerful wire drive motor
  • Thermal overload protection
  • Extra tough protective edging front & rear
  • Provision to carry a spare gas bottle

Cons:

  • Wire feed skips and judders at times
  • No handle included on the box (despite picture)

What to Consider When You Buy a MIG Welder

A MIG welder or a metal inert gas welder is a great tool to use when making home DIY projects. With it, you can make a picture frame and a rack to cover your home safe. You can even make your own traditional door knocker if you are not into wireless doorbells. Whether you’re looking for a small MIG welder you can use around the house for basic DIY projects, or you’re looking for a car arc welder that you can take with you on professional jobs, there are various things you’ll need to consider.

Where To Use It

The first step is figuring out where you’re going to use your welder. The best welder for home use might not be the same as the ideal machine for your day-to-day business jobs. If you need your arc welder to work effectively in a garage, then you might have to look for an option with a specific range of safety functions to keep you secure as you work.

Kind Of Weld

Once you know how you’re going to be using your MIG welder, you’ll also need to think about what kind of weld you’re going to be doing. Consider the output of the machine that’s right for the kind of materials that you’ll be working with. The thicker the metal you work with, the more power you’re going to need in your MIG welder. Additionally, if a welder needs to use more than 100 volts, it will probably need a power supply.

man wearing gloves to safely weld metal

Clean Finish

Ultimately, one of the main concerns that you’ll need to think about when choosing the right welder is how you’re going to make sure that your machine is safe and practical. There’s more to think about with a MIG welder than how you want the weld to look after you’re finished with it. However, if you’re looking for a clean finish, bear in mind that a Pulse MIG welder can reduce the risk of burning through your chosen metals.

Thermal Protection

Additionally, like in any kind of arc welding, if you’re handling projects that are going to produce high heat and take a long time to finish, then you’ll need a welder with an internal cooling system to help you to avoid any issues with over-heating.

Duty Cycle

To find out exactly how long your welder can run for, look at its duty cycle. As a general rule of thumb, a cheaper machine will often have a shorter duty cycle, which means that they’re not well-suited to welding thicker metals.

Other Things to Consider with Your Home Welder

There are man welding metalplenty of additional issues to consider when choosing your MIG welder.

Maintenance

For instance, you might want to make sure that maintaining and repairing your new device is simple, particularly if you plan on using the welder for work or professional purposes.

Welding tools inside a shed

Warranty

If you know that your new machine comes with a 2-year warranty, it can take a lot of the stress off your shoulders if your device suddenly stops working.

Parts

If you can’t find a MIG welder with an appropriate warranty and the right features, it’s often a good idea to choose something that has spare parts which are easy to find. Try not to buy anything that’s made outside of the UK. The price range may be more affordable but the parts would be harder to source.

Spool Gun

Look for a spool gun so you can weld aluminium. If you plan on using your home welder to weld aluminium, then you’ll need a standard spool gun. Aluminium can quickly become damaged and tangled with a typical welding wire feed spool, so a spool gun will ensure that you can get the best results from your DIY work.

Short-circuiting Protection

It’s also worth looking into how your welder will handle things like short-circuiting. If a short circuit issue occurs while you’re welding, you don’t want a surge of power to ruin your work. Fortunately, there are many welding companies that implement strategies in their devices to eliminate the risks of short circuits.

Size, Portability, and Weight

To choose the correct portability, size and weight for your welder, you’ll need to think about what you’ll need the machine for. If you’re going to be carrying it around a lot, then you need something that’s going to be highly portable and lightweight. Just make sure that a reduction in weight doesn’t mean that you end up compromising on power or performance.

Making the Most of Your MIG Welder

Keep in mind that if you want to get the most out of your MIG welder, you need to do a lot more than choose the right model. You’ll also have to be cautious with your welding strategy and make sure that you always exercise safety practices when using any kind of MIG welding machine. Wearing a welding hood, safety glasses, gloves, and stainless steel toe boots is a good practice for professional welders.

When it comes to actually buy your welder, it can be a good idea to list your ideal price range and create a pros and cons table for each of the potential products that you think might be suitable for your needs.

Good Luck Choosing the Welder for You

Finding and buying the ultimate MIG welder isn’t easy. Whether you’re new to welding and you’re taking it up as a way to learn a new skill or build on a hobby, or you’ve been welding for decades and you’re about to make your practice into a profession, it’s essential to have the right equipment. A MIG welder can be a powerful piece of machinery in the right hands. However, like anything else in this world, some devices are built better than others.

While no-one can tell you for certain which is the right MIG welder for your needs, the reviews and insights that we’ve provided above should give you some information into the top-selling and best-rated welders available on the market today. Of course, as you begin to practice MIG welding with your favourite tools, you might find a specific brand or style of welder that works best for you.

Our Winner

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, we think that the Sealey MightyMIG100 welder is probably one of the best options to start your MIG welding adventure. Not only is Sealey one of the best-known brands in the welding industry, but this heavy-duty welder is great for almost any project. It comes with a few added extras to improve your welding experience, including a comfort grip non-live torch, a 1.8-metre cable for power, a 1-metre gas hose and 0.45kg flux-cored wire. It arrives set and ready-to-go, with a welding current of 100Amp and 230V power. Additionally, it is a compact and a lightweight option, weighing only 15.4kg

However, if you are looking for something for your business, you could always consider upgrading to the Sealey MightMIG180 for an extra dose of power. The 180 is particularly well-suited to the high-impact jobs that might take place on an industrial site or in a manufacturing garage.

Do you have a preference on the best MIG welder for home use or professional use? What do you think of our top picks for MIG welders in this article? Let us know in the comment section below.

1 thought on “Best MIG Welder Reviews UK 2023 – Top 7 Comparison”

  1. Sealey MIGHTYMIG100 is a good welder. So far I have used it to build a log burner and repair a small robotic excavator. It’s not industrial quality, but ideal for car repairs and DIY.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top