Basic MIG Welding

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MIG welding machines

primeweld mig 180 plugged into 115 volt power

Mig welding overhead with a primeweld mig 180

Mig Welding vertical Uphill settings

If you don't already have a mig welder, then here are a few suggestions on what to buy...

first you need to consider what type of power you have.

Does your shop or garage have 230v power?  or 115 volt power.

You should buy a mig welder that is runs off the power you have. But here is something to think about..

There are many Mig welding machines available that run off either 115 or 230volt power.  

These mig welders are called dual voltage or Multi Voltage and one of the benefits is that if you currently have 115 volt but anticipate upgrading your wiring to 230volt, the same machine will handle both.

With 115 volt power you are somewhat limited in the thickness you can weld as well as how long you can weld without popping a 20 amp breaker.

And you definitely need a 20 amp breaker as opposed to a 15 amp circuit to get the most out of the welder because with a 15 amp breaker, you are very limited on amperage output.

A great dual voltage mig welding machine for beginners is a primeweld MIG180

Another good choice is a Hobart 210MVP (mvp stands for multi voltage plug)

If you have 115 volt power and don't ever plan on upgrading to 230 volt,...

2 good dependable 115 volt only machines are

1. Lincoln 140mp
2. Hobart handler 140.

It is important to know that the type of mig welding you will be doing with these small mig welders is called short circuit mig welding.

You might read the terms spray transfer mig or globular transfer mig but those terms are referring to much hotter arcs with large industrial machines for heavier applications.

MIG Welding Gas

For the beginner, the best choice for short circuit mig welding gas is called 75/25 or C25.

It is 75% argon and 25% co2.

Pure Co2 works too but is not as versatile for really thin metals like auto body work.

Pure argon is not the best choice for mig welding steel in my opinion.

MIG Welding Wire

The most widely used mig welding wire for short circuit mig welding is ER70S-6.

common sizes are .024", .030", .035" , and .045" . 

Basic rule of thumb is to use the smaller diameter wire for thinner metals.

If you mostly need to weld thin metal like auto body panels, then .024" wire is the best choice.

If you bounce back and forth between 1/4" thick and thin metal then .030" is a good choice for all around welding.

If you mostly weld 1/8" and thicker and only occasionally need to weld thin metal then .035" is a good size wire.

.045" is more for production parts and is not quite as versatile as .035" for short circuit mig welding.

MIG Welding Accessories

Obviously, you need a welding helmet.  Often called a welding hood.

A good auto dark welding helmet speeds up the learning curve.

Auto dark helmets range from really cheap 50 dollar helmets to nearly 1000 dollars.

I  wouldnt recommend going with the cheapest but there are some affordable models for around 150 dollars.

my favorite for around 150 dollars is the ArcOne carrera with 4500v lens

I wear glasses and also use a magnifier lens also known as a cheater lens or diopter so large lenses don't really benefit me since I have to look thru the 2x4 magnifier lens anyway.  I can pop any generic cheater lens in the 4500v auto dark cartridge.

Some brands require proprietary cheater lenses that cost way more and I dont really like being locked in to an expensive magnifier lens.

Basic MIG Welding Tips and Techniques