Are you looking for an inexpensive, efficient and easy-to-use welder? I know! It has been a tough task to find the best welder for automotive sheet metal. However, I did manage to find the some that suits your needs perfectly.
As per my experience, finding one that is reasonably priced has been the most difficult task. Finding a welder that is suitable for your needs and budget is not an easy task.
Well, if you are reading this article, you have come to the right place!
Today we are going to review the 5 best welding machine, which is perfect for automotive sheet metal.
Top #4 Pick for quick comparison
The 6 Best Welder For Automotive Sheet Metal
1. Lincoln Electric K2185-1 Handy MIG Welder
The Lincoln K2185-1 is designed for metal working professionals and hobbyists who need a welder with enough power to work well on metal. This small but powerful welder has an operating voltage of 115V, and a wire capacity of .035″-.5″.
The machine is fairly small, but has a durable design that makes it able to handle frequent use. The welder weighs in at a little over 26 pounds, making it easy to move around while still having the power needed to weld without fail.
This welder is powerful enough to weld with ease, and comes with everything you need including gloves, instructional DVD and wire brush. The machine features a lightweight design that makes it easy to hold on the go, at 1 pound in weight. This means you can take it anywhere, using it for various jobs.
When it comes to the wire feed speed of this welder, there is better control due to its adjustable dial system which allows for more precise welding. With a voltage of 115V and 70 Amp output range.
Read more on the best 180 amp mig welder.
2. DEKOPRO 110/220V MMA Welder
The DEKOPRO 110/220V MMA Welder is a high quality product designed and tested to offer great value for the price. It is capable of operating at the thicknesses and materials that are most commonly used in the automotive industry. This welder has the ability to complete various tasks quickly in a professional manner.
This welder includes various features that will be appreciated by people who are looking for functionality and efficiency above all else.
DEKOPRO 110/220V MMA Welder with unique control mode and ETL certificate is the perfect machine for DIY enthusiasts, repair shops, and workshop facilities. DEKOPRO’s MMA welder has copper-corrosion-resistant core. It is able to thicken the inner structure of the electrode and prolong its life.
The wire feed speed is adjustable from 0 – 6m/min with a powerful 1.2KW voltage. The machine has excellent arc stability and can be used to weld aluminum, stainless steel, brass, copper, etc.
MMA welding is a type of welding that uses a special type of electrode made for use with gas welding equipment such as soldering gun or torch. Unlike other conventional electrode types, MMA electrodes are made of metal having a high content of manganese, which allows it to be welded without shielding gas. The use of no shielding gas makes this welding process much less complicated than other arc welding processes.
MMA equipment has some special advantages: no shielding gas is needed and so the equipment operates with a much smaller space requirement. Also the presence of manganese in the electrode results in a highly fluid slag that captures all impurities and protects from oxidation during welding.
Check these 5 Best Multi Process Welders Under $1000.
3. Goplus MIG 130 Welder Flux Core Welding Machine
The gas welder is made of heavy duty stainless steel and painted with durable yellow paint. The flux-cored wire, self release metal-inert Gas while welding, prevent oxidation of the welded part.
The MIG 130 also has 4 levels of current flow settings that can be adjusted to match your needs for different projects as well as a wire feeding speed adjust rotary knob. You can also choose from 10 levels of wire feeding speeds so that you get the perfect weld each time.
All these features make this machine perfect for home DIY and general repairing work, as well as other thin steel and iron projects you may have on hand at the moment.
The machine is compact and lightweight, easy for translation and storage. The weld gun with full on/ off safety control, standard American triangle ground cord and automatic thermal safety protection, Will weld up to 12″ x 12″ steel sheet. The magnet base included allows you to use the MIG 130 in almost any position without the risk of tipping over or breaking. And this is best cheap welder for automotive sheet metal in the current market.
4. Hobart Handler 190 MIG Wire Welder
This Hobart 500554001 is a powerful welder that can weld bare metal, stainless steel and aluminum. In addition, it can weld bolts and fittings. The unit provides you with a variety of functions to choose from so you can perform the best welding job possible on a wide range of materials.
The Hobart 500554001 is the best MIG Wire Welder for automotive sheet metal because it welds 24 gauge to 5/16 inch steel in one pass. The power and professional results are on a 230 V power. This machine has 7 voltage selections, enhanced magnetics and infinite wire feed speed control which allows easier fine control of output parameters for improved arc performance with less spatter.
This machine is 30% duty cycle @ 130 amp but open circuit voltage is 31. Another good thing about this machine is that the machine has 30% duty cycle @ 130 amp but open circuit voltage is 31.
5. LOTOS MIG175 175AMP Mig Welder
The MIG175 175AMP Mig Welder is a robust, easy to use unit which can address a variety of different welding needs from home DIY to automotive sheet metal. The durable high quality aluminum wire feeder offers more stability and better welding experience. MIG175 175AMP can weld stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum and other metal materials. Its transformer technology has been proven to be reliable and durable.
This product provides a stunning option for professional welding jobs in the garage or at home DIY projects. It features a high-speed MIG spool gun for aluminum welding, which can be used to weld 3/16″ or thinner aluminum plate. It also comes with an included 023″ (0. 6mm) & 035″ (0. 9mm) contact tips, welding mask and wire.
The machine offers 175-amp MIG welder; mild/ stainless steel: 18 Gauge – 1/4″; Aluminum: 3/16″ or Thinner. Input voltage: 220/240 V AC. The machine comes with 30 days’ refund and a 3-YEARS Limited Warranty: include 1 Year NEW Replacement Warranty.
6. Forney 309 140-Amp MIG Welder
The Forney 309 is a 140-Amp Mig Welder that welds up to 1/4 inch. Forney 309 is great for any welder who wants to get into the business of welding. The MIG is a multistep transformer based machine with 4 transformer steps allowing welds from 1/16″ – 1/4″. It comes with a Wire Feeder to keep the wire feeding into the weld area.
The Forney 309 is a great machine for any one who wants to get into MIG welding. Forney has been producing MIG Welders for over 70 years, with specialized expertise in MIG technology. It also comes with a Gas Regulator and Hose for the gas source you want to use.
The Forney 309 Mig Welders come with a 10 foot ground cable to ground your welder. The Euro-connect, snap on MIG gun is a great feature that all welders love. This is a great machine to weld up to 1/4 inch.
The torch on the Forney 309 is also a great feature to have. If you are new to welding or are just looking for an upgrade, then you will love the torch on this machine. This has an internal strain relief extended cable life and uses Tweco Style Consumables in it for more consistent gas flow and reduced wear.
Learn more about how to weld stainless with a mig welder in right way.
Buying Guide
Things to Consider Before Buying Welding Equipment
There are several types of maintenance when it comes to the welding industry. The first step is to buy a welding machine that will do the job right, and there are several things you should know when buying one.
What type of metal will make up the project?
This is very important because different types of metal require different welding machines. Choosing the wrong machine can result in a large waste of money due to repeated use. There are multiple types of metals out there, like copper, silver and aluminum. Which one is right for you? Copper, silver and aluminum are best welded with TIG welders, which means you should choose a welder that specializes in these three metals.
Materials
What type of material will the welder be used on? Again, this is very important. You need to choose the right type of weld for the job.
Possible weld types include: TIG-welding, stick welding and flux cored welding. Above all, make sure you choose a machine that is capable of welding all three types of metal. If your project requires a more specialized type of welding, then you should opt for a machine that is dedicated to one type.
Wire types/carrier
When you are welding your project, you will need to purchase a good wire. Make sure you choose a strong wire with the same kind of metal your project is made out of. If it is copper, then choose copper. The length, diameter and carrier size can be adjusted depending on the project. If you are working with thin and delicate material, for example, then use a smaller wire in order to ensure the job goes as planned and nothing breaks during the process.
Tonnage
The right welder should be able to work with different kinds of projects. If the job is a large one that requires welding thin material, then you need a welder with more horsepower. This will allow you to weld longer and faster. The same goes for welding small materials, which require a low-speed machine. In most cases, this amount of tonnage is around 75 to 150 AMP.
Required welding power
Welders can range in power. The power of a welder is based on the wire size and how far the machine must travel between two pieces of metal. If the job is small and easy, then you don’t need a lot of power. If it is challenging and requires a lot of focus, then you will want to purchase one with more welding power. As a tip, always look at the feet per minute rating on the machine to see how much work it can do in a minute.
Multiple Amperage Settings
Ensure that the welder has multiple amperage settings because it provides the right amount of power for different types of material. It is very important to purchase a machine that can be adjusted based on the type of work you are doing.
Purchasing a machine with multiple amperage levels ensures that you will not have to adjust the machine in order to complete your next project. Having more than one setting ensures that no matter what type of project you are working on, you will be able to finish it with ease.
Multipurpose or Multi-task
Another thing to think about is the multi-task welder. This one is great for cutting metal, which makes it easier to weld. Additionally, it allows you to do metalworking, which means you can easily make precise cuts when needed. These metalworking machines are set up for precise positioning and cutting metals and other materials into precise shapes and sizes.
It is important to have a multipurpose machine because it saves time and money. If you are able to cut metal with your welder, then you will not have to buy a new machine that can do the job. This cuts down on money spent on purchasing another machine. Additionally, if you own a multipurpose machine and one part breaks, then you can use the other side of the welder as well. This makes working more efficient in general because it does not require switching between two machines multiple times during a project.
Compressed Gas
Another thing that you should consider is the compressed gas welder. These machines allow you to use a different type of gas and still be able to weld. The gas is then released during the welding process.
This makes it easy to weld thinner metals because the gas allows a better arc. There are several gases that can be used with your welder, including: Argon, Helium, Nitrogen, CO2 and MAPP Gas which has been approved for use by the United States Federal Aviation Authority.
These compressed gas welders have been around for many years, and they come in handy if you are doing a more delicate project. With this machine, you will be able to use a variety of gases to create different effects.
To Conclude
Welding equipment can be expensive and can take some time before it all gets figured out. Buying one that is right for your needs is incredibly important because it determines how much work you can get done.
Additionally, if you buy one that is not able to complete the job then you will have to purchase another one. This can take up a lot of money and time because you may have to go back and forth between multiple machines in order to complete a project. This makes it very important to consider is the different types of welders that are out on the market today.
Once you purchase your welder, make sure it is set up correctly and that you know how to use it correctly as well. This will make it easier to get started and will allow you to complete your project in a timely manner.
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Walton M. Edwards was born in 1994 in a coal mining town, he has worked as a welder, a hardware salesman, and as a pipe fitter and has been employed as a laborer for about fifty years. Walton is a native of Wabash County in Indiana, but he now resides in Bloomington, Indiana.