7 Best Miller Welders Budget Pro and Expert Picks

This is one of the user-friendliest Miller Electric welders you can find in the market. It comes packed with an instruction guide that provides the do`s and don’ts of set up and use. It is ideal for MIG/Flux core welding and boasts of a 120VAC input voltage. It also comes with ergonomic handles that allow for ease of mobility and increased portability.

The presence of a quick-select feature makes it easy and convenient to use. If you are a beginner worried about putting the correct settings, you need not worry since the welder is designed to set itself automatically to the correct usage settings. You get to choose between the manual and automatic modes, which is really amazing. You can start with the automatic mode as you learn more about the welding device.

We wouldn’t recommend this welder for industrial use, however, it is ideal for those light repair jobs. Its portability means you can move it around with relative ease without the struggle of pushing a typical welding cart around.

The Bobcat 250 is ideal for industrial level and intermediate TIG welding. It comes with a powerful generator as well as several user friendly settings to help you get started. This superior welder is electric power and perfect for flux-cored and stick welding. With an amperage range of 40-250 you have great options when it comes to putting this bad boy into use.

A great feature that makes the Bobcat 250 a wonderful purchase is its low noise-levels despite its large engine output. The low noise emission and increased power makes it ideal for use in the warehouse or even garage. It also boasts of a 9500W continuous auxiliary power and  peak power of 11,000W.

While we wouldn’t recommend this welder if you are a beginner, its definitely ideal for intermediate and experienced welders who will know how to operate it. Overall, the Bobcat 250 is perfect for both medium and large scale welding activities.  The welder comes with a 10k generator and weighs 501lbs, however, it doesn’t come with wheels, meaning you`ll need a welding cart to move it around in your warehouse.

While the price of Multimatic 200 fairly higher compared to other products within its range, you get a lot of versatility and convenience with this high-performance welder. This bad boy is ideal for TIG, stick welding and MIG applications, making it highly versatile. Despite its high performance capability, the welder weighs slightly less than 50 pounds thus making it easy to move around and store in limited space.

We recommend the Multimatic 200 for welders who perform different welding applications to weld various metals whether thick or slim. The Multimatic 200 comes with dual input compatibility in regards to voltage, thus allowing you to set up even in your garage.  Additionally, the device also manages an input of 20A whith an output range of 200A.

While the Multimatic comes ready for Arc and MIG welding, you will need to purchase a separate kit for TIG welding. The LCD display makes it easy to read and interpret welding data and comes fully protected.  Starting with the Multimatic 200 can be a bit too much for a beginner, however, if you are an expert looking to have a versatile welder, then you need not look further than this highly capable device.

The Maxstar 161S series is ideal for stick welding. Miller Electric terms this release as arguably the most compact and portable stick package in the market. This highly convenient welder comes with a multi-voltage plug that allows you to connect directly without the need for additional tools. All you need to do is select the appropriate plug that connects perfectly to your power cord and your good to go! The Maxstar 161S series 240 manages a 30% duty cycle at any preferred amperage, thus increasing versatility during use.

The Maxstar 161S series 240  weighs a meager 25 pounds, making it highly compact. It also comes with an ergonomic handle that makes it easy to carry the device to and from your warehouse.  We recommend the Maxstar for intermediate and experienced welders since it can be a bit complicated to use.

Made from Aluminum and mild steel, the Miller Electric 907405 was built to serve you for years if not decades. This Miller Electric release is ideal for MIG welding as it can hold an impressive 44-pund spool which allows you to virtually make any repair needed. It however, does not come with a spool gun, meaning you will have to buy it separately.

Another great feature about the Miller electric 907405 is its protection against thermal overload. We recommend this machine for the creative welders; that is, if you love coming up welding creative designs. The presence of wheels makes it fairly easy to move this bad boy around your warehouse or even within your work area.

Versatility is also a great feature of the Miller Electric 907405 as it can use mild steel or aluminum to weld.  You won`t need to use too much storage space with this welder as it is designed to be highly compact and save up on space. You should consider starting with this welding machine if you are a beginner looking to learn the ropes. It comes with an instruction manual and is fairly easy to use due to its simplistic user interface.

One of the best features of the Millermatic 211 is its ease of use. Its quick change and dual-groove features ensure that you set up in under a minute. Additionally, the Millermatic 211 comes packed with short-circuit protections that help to extend your contact tip`s overall life as well as potential damages to the entire device. We also like how the device is set up to reset automatically after encountering a fault. It can easily manage metals that are about 3/8 inches thick and doesn’t spatter easily.

When you buy the Millermatic 211, you get a 10ft MIG Gun (M-10). A work table (10ft) with Clamp, gas welding hose, dual gauge regulator, two contact tips, two cord wraps (hook-and-loop). The Quick select and Advanced auto-set features make this welder superior compared to others in its price range. It comes with comfortable handles that increase portability. While this welder is not ideal for long term heavy work, it will come in handy in your DIY welding tasks such as farm repairs, ranch maintenance, car autobody repair and even use in the garage. You also get an instruction guide with this bad boy that will help you to understand the do`s and don’ts.

Another great feature that makes the Millermatic 211 standout is its tough outer cover. Welding machines are usually carried or moved to different locations, which consequently  increases the risk of wear and tear. Luckily, Millermatic 211 boasts of a tough exterior that is scratch resistant.

The Multimatic 215 is one of the best welders in the market for both beginners and expert welders. As an all-in-one welder, this superior welder gives you uncompromised versatility whereby you can perform TIG, Stick and MIG welding. Another feature that adds to the long list of advantages is its Auto-set feature that is well indicated in its color. As if that is not enough, the welder connects to either 120 or 240 V input power. It can also weld mild steel 3/8’’ and comes packed with a complete TIG kit.

The Miller 951674 Multimatic 215 welder comes with two gas connections on top of its multi-process capabilities. Its lightweight feature and the presence of ergonomic handles make this top performing welder highly convenient and portable.

You can rely on this welder to teach you all about TIG, stick and MIG welding if you are a beginner. As an expert however, this machine can add a new level of versatility to your workshop and eliminate the need of making several upgrades.

Now that we have discussed the importance of buying from a well-known brand, let`s take a look at some of the important factors you should be on the look-out for when buying a welder.

Check on the Metal

Normally, we usually weld on carbon steel since it has the ability and properties to withstand excessive heat. Therefore, carbon steel is often compatible with almost all welding machines. Stainless steel is another option that is highly compatible with MIG and TIG welding machines. Even better, stainless steel doesn’t need high amperages as compared to metals like carbon steel.

Welding aluminum is fairly more complex as you will need a uniform heat supply to avoid the drying out of the weld pool. However, it is easy to deform an aluminum work piece, more so if you lack the adequate experience.

Welding metals like aluminum will need superior machines like an MIG welder that can manage pulse welding for optimal fusing of metals.

You need to consider the metals you want to weld to determine the ideal welding machine. Doing so will ensure that you get the right machine for your welding needs.

Determine your Ideal Amperage

The thickness of metals you will be working on play a huge role in determining the amperage requirements of your welding machine. For thicker metals, you will need more current for you to weld properly. Machines with increased current capacity will cost you more than their lower amperage counterparts.

Welding thick steel or thick pipes would need a high-end Stick welder or MIG welder for you to set up sturdy enough structures. For thin metals, however, you can work with sensitive machines that would not expose your metal to excessive heat.

Therefore, understanding the types of welding materials you will be mostly working on will help you determine the machine with the perfect amperage.

Select an Ideal Welding Site

Did you know that your intended welding location is crucial in determining a suitable welding machine? For instance 115V is the standard for most domestic or commercial facilities. Most welders operate at this voltage except for Industrial welders that require higher voltages.

You need to consider your work area and the type of welding you want to do to ensure that you select a welder with the right voltage that is compatible to your home or workshop voltage.

Check the Specification sheet

Never buy a welder before checking out crucial details like a duty cycle. A duty cycle is the total minutes your welder can function without heating up. Once you exceed a duty cycle, then you risk damaging your welder`s internal circuitry.

Remember, you should be willing to spend more for welders with great duty cycles as they translate to more work done over a short period of time.

Check on Warranty

Leading brands like Miller Electric always ensure that their products come with sufficient warranties that protect client investment. Therefore, before settling for a particular welding machine, it is advisable to check on details such as warranty duration. Doing so will help you ensure that you don’t spend much on repair in the event of damage due to manufacture`s fault.

In addition to the warranty, we recommend buying welders that come with instruction manuals, especially for first timers. Welding can be fun and productive, but it can also lead to increased safety risks not only to you but also to your surrounding colleagues. As a result, it is vital to understand the basic safety measures and appropriate set up before using your new welding device-exactly why we insist on buying welders that come with instructions.

Portability

Portability is a great factor when it comes to welding machines. You need to determine whether you want a device that is easily mobile and has handles, or a powerful industrial welder that will require a cart or wheels to move around.

If you buy an industrial cart, check if it comes with long –lasting wheels (preferably rubber) that can withstand wear and tear in and around the workshop. If you prefer a lightweight welder, check on factors such as the ergonomic levels of the handles. Are the handles comfortable enough for ease of mobility? Selecting a welder that comes with ergonomic handles will ensure you don’t strain or risk injury when carrying it around. A wheeled welder also saves you on additional costs such as purchasing a welding cart.

Size is also important in regards to storage space. An extremely large welder might prove difficult to store in compact warehouses. As a result, we recommend selecting a size that satisfies both your welding needs as well as storage capabilities. You don’t want your welder to be exposed in the workshop if your intention is to use it for years to come. For more information on mobile welding carts [Read our in depth Review]

Outer Coating

Most people tend to overlook this hugely important feature. A good welder has a tough exterior that can withstand scratches and impact from other tools. Of course, it is important to take extra care of the welder, but one with a tough casing will be more durable compared to one covered with light metal sheets.

The outer coating protects the internal components. So, the tougher the exterior, the safer the interior!

Additionally, we also recommend starting small if you are a beginner. Avoid test-driving with industrial welders if you are just getting your foot into welding. Not only is it risky, but it will cost you loads of dollars you`d otherwise spend on an affordable model that would give you great lessons.

There are several places to buy welders online. However for a worry-free return policies, transparency in terms of product quality and customer service, and fast shipping, head over to Amazon.

When you browse on Amazon, you can see what previous buyer reviews on the product they bought, and find out everything spec wise on the items quality, protective features, and comfort. You don’t need to go out to compare prices or features.

If you have problems with purchasing from Amazon there cstomer service is excellent, you can also quickly and easily return them.