Over the last couple of decades, the flux core and Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welders have revolutionized the small-scale welding game. And it has reached that point that the room for improvement for these tools is pretty much minuscule now.
However, the manufacturers were not settled with the offerings that they have put forward in the market. That is why they have pushed out the dual voltage capable units.
Well, like the amount of effort that the manufacturers have put towards this innovation, we have put hours of research into picking the best dual voltage MIG welder that different brands are offering. And we aim to make choosing one a bit more manageable for you at the end of this article.
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Best Dual Voltage MIG Welder Reviews
With the benefits aside, let us get to the main point. Through vigorous testing, we have managed to find out five of the units that we believe live up to the price tag that they have. So, let us not waste any of your precious time and get right into reviewing each of them.
1. Weldpro 200 Amp Inverter Multi Process
Getting welders that go well beyond the flux core and MIG welding capabilities was pretty tough. But we have managed to find one for you. And it is being offered by none other than Weldpro.
Let us first talk about the overall form factor of the device. This one is considerably small in size. And because of how compact the form factor is, storing it will not be that much of an issue for you. You can put this one away in your storage room or tool cupboard without sacrificing too much space.
Aside from the compact form factor that it has, the duty cycle of this one is up to the mark. It is 30 percent at a 200 amp rating. That means you should be able to work with it for a long amount of time. And the chances of it overheating too frequently will be considerably low as well.
The unit is exceptionally versatile as well. It can not only work as a TIG welder but also as a stick welder. And it achieves such type of versatile characteristics for the synergic design that it features. There will be no need to purchase different kinds of tools to carry out different types of welding tasks. This one should be enough.
It also has dual digital displays on the front. One of them will offer you information regarding the wire speed, while the other will show you info about the amperage. And you would have complete control over the inductance rating. Also, it packs temperature and overload protectors to make the operations a bit safer.
Pros
- Small in size
- Can be stored pretty easily
- Duty cycle is 30 percent at 200 amps
- Exceptionally versatile
- Has dual displays on the front
Cons
- Wire speed is not adjustable
- There is no voltage controller
2. Hobart – 500553
Are you looking for something that is small enough to carry anywhere with you but is powerful enough to complete most of the welding tasks? Well, what you are probably looking for is this one that is being offered from Hobart.
Firstly, the unit packs enough power to weld the metals that are up 3/8 inches thick. That means whether you are dealing with thinner steels or mild steels, you should not have any trouble in carrying out the welding tasks with this. And you would be able to carry all of those out at a rapid pace as well.
Aside from that, the work cable that comes along is 10 feet long, which holds the clamp. As the cable is considerably long, you would be able to keep this one further away from the workpiece. That would allow you to keep the unit from overheating when you are working on a large project.
There is a dual-gauge regulator. Those will enable you to closely monitor the speed and the flow of the gas. Also, the voltage switch is on the front. With just a flick of the switch, you can switch from 120 volts to 240 volts. There will be no need to get yourself any sort of adapters for doing that switch.
Apart from the regulators, the unit is considerably compact. For the compact nature that it has, it should be pretty easy for you to transport this one from your home to your worksite. Also, you can control the arc performance. As a result, there is going to be less amount of spatter.
Pros
- Reasonably powerful
- Compact and easy to transport
- Arc performance is adjustable
- Comes with a 10 feet long work cable
- There is a dual-gauge regulator
Cons
- Wire feeding performance is not consistent
- Some of the connectors on the body is a bit cheap in quality
3. Weldpro MIG155GSV 155 AMP
The manufacturer Weldpro seems to have an extensive lineup of recommendation-worthy products. And this welder that we are going to take a look at is not an exception in that regard.
Like some of the other devices that we looked at, this one also has a compact form factor. The size is that small that transporting it around will be a piece of cake for you. And the portable footprint is going to make it easier for you to take it to your workplace from your home as well.
The working voltage of this one is 115 volts and 230 volts. And the working ampere range for this one is a 30 to 115 amp. With that amount of power, you should be able to finish off most of your welding tasks at ease. Also, in the MMA mode, you can make this one work as a scratch welder.
Apart from that, this one has the ability to weld mild steels that are up to ¼ inches thick. And you will have proper control over the wire feed. You can make it dial the speed from 78 inches to 472 inches per minute. Also, there is a heat setting that you should have full control of.
Other than the adjustable settings, this one incorporates 2T and 4T modes. With the 4T mode, you can weld for a long amount of time without having to worry about it overheating. It also boasts overheat protection. There is an overcurrent protection as well. Those two will make sure that it remains stable.
Pros
- Highly portable
- Capable of welding mild steels that are up to ¼ inches thick
- Wire speed is adjustable
- Packs overheat and overcurrent protection
- Has 2T and 4T working modes
Cons
- Bit glitchy wiring mechanism
- Spring that holds the wire spool is a bit too tight
4. Lincoln Electric PowerMIG 210
Even though most of the units that are in the market will be compact and highly portable, not all of them will have an easy setup process. Well, this one that is from Lincoln Electric is not one of them.
To start with, it has dual voltage inputs. It can work in both the 120 volts plugs and the ones that are rated at 230 volts. You can plug this one into any of the common power supplies without having to worry about a single thing. The power connector is also pretty long.
Aside from the dual voltage capability, this one is exceptionally lightweight. It weighs just 40 pounds, which is lighter than most of the other offerings that are on the market. That, combined with the compact footprint, it will be possible for you to carry this one from one place to another at ease.
The controls on this one are all digital. Those have an intuitive push and turn a design that will make the setup process an easy task for you. There will be no need to go through any sort of hassles, nor will you require to handle intricate knobs to make this one work.
There is a large display on the front. That will guide you through the setup process. It is large enough to offer you information regarding each of the levels. Also, it will offer you access to different advanced settings. For that reason, you should be able to tune the performance according to your liking.
Pros
- Plugs right into any common power supplies
- Small and lightweight
- Controls are all digital
- Has an easy setup process
- Features a large display on the front
Cons
- Some of the units have wire feeding issues
- Feed rollers tend to wobble a lot during operation
5. Miller Electric 120/240VAC
Performance hiccups are pretty common for welding machines. Even though most of the brands do not acknowledge it, Miller did. And that is why they have integrated advanced technologies into this machine.
First of all, this one has a 10 feet cable attached to the MIG gun. And the power cable that is on the back has another 10 feet cable attached. That means you can get about 20 feet of reach with this one. So keeping the tool at a safe distance from your workpiece should be an easy task for you.
Aside from the length cables, this one comes with a built-in gas solenoid valve. That will make sure that the operations are consistent. Also, the dual gauge regulator will let you monitor the flow of the gas closely. The gas hose is of high quality too. You can expect the components to last for an extended amount of time.
As we mentioned earlier, this one features an advanced Auto-SetTM. That will automatically detect the spool gun. The Smooth-StartTM that it packs will enable the machine to start smoothly. You will not find it making performance hiccups even when you are working with it for a long amount of time.
This one is fairly portable as well. The overall form factor is reasonably compact. And it is pretty lightweight too. For that reason, you would not have to break your back to carry it around. And it has the ability to work on metals that are from 18 gauge to 3/8 inches thick.
Pros
- Has 10 feet power and gun cable
- Features a built-in gas solenoid valve
- Comes with a dual gauge regulator
- Hose is of high-quality materials
- Packs Smooth-StartTM and Auto-SetTM
Cons
- Some of the circuit boards are not covered
- Trigger on the gun is a bit hard to press
Benefits of Dual Voltage MIG Welder
Even though these versions of the tool did not pop out recently, the market is still oversaturated with the single voltage ones. The reason behind this would be that not many are aware of the benefits that they are capable of bringing to the table. That being said, the main benefits that you are likely to enjoy with one of these are:
Compatibility
In theory, these units are capable of working in two different voltages. And for you to work with two individual voltage flows, there will be no added expense of buying two different machines with a particular voltage rating. This feature is the main selling point of these devices.
Basically, with one of these, you can work with two different voltage inputs. Whether you are working in a 120 volts area or a 240 volts one, one of these puppies should be more than enough.
Power and Efficiency
By design, most of these devices should be more powerful than the regular single voltage ones. They should have a theoretically higher amount of efficiency as well. And for excelling in both of these factors, these are not only ideal for the professionals but also for hobbyists and the people operating small-scale projects.
What to Look for Before Buying?
Going through the reviews is not going to be enough if you want to get your hands on something that is actually worth buying. For that, you must keep some of the crucial points in mind. And the points that we are basically referring to here are as stated:
Build Quality
Before anything else, you should consider the build quality. This one is not an average tool that you would take to a construction site. It is meant for heavy-duty tasks in heavy-duty work environments. So, the build quality should be adequate to withstand the pressure of such works and workspaces.
For that reason, you should check the quality of the materials. Usually, the ones that use high-quality materials for the overall construction are the ones that have a praiseworthy build quality. Those have a high level of durability as well. You would be able to expect to get extended use out of them.
Size
Considering the use case of these tools, you need to move them around from one place to another. And when it comes to carrying anything, the more compact the unit, the easier it becomes. Considering that, we would recommend you to pick up the reasonably small and compact ones. Those will be easy to carry.
Weight
The weight is another crucial factor that you should consider when you are purchasing one of these. This factor is also going to play a significant role in making it easier for you to carry it around. Also, the lighter ones are easy to move around as well. For that reason, you should pick the ones that are lightweight.
Power
As these are dual voltage capable, the power is something that you will not have to worry about that much. These are going to be highly capable. However, the thing that you need to check is the welding capacity. Some of these will be capable of working with materials that are 3/8 inches thick.
On the other hand, there will be many that can work with ½ inches thick materials. Depending on your work case and the type of material you mostly handle, you should choose one. However, to be on the safe side, we suggest picking the ones that are capable of working with reasonably thick materials.
Display or Meter
One of the important factors that you must consider when buying one of these is the meter or the display on the front. Make sure that it can offer you all the required information. Without having proper knowledge about the gas level, line speed, and other criteria, it would be impossible for you to maneuver it properly.
Protection Features
Another thing that you should check is whether the unit that you are picking up has safety features or not. We would highly suggest not picking the ones that do not have any protection features. Those will not only be unsafe, but the chances of them being capable of offering consistent performance will also be pretty low too.
How MIG Differs from Other Welding Methods?
Both the metal inert gas and the tungsten inert gas weldings belong to the arc welding family. That means the operational process for both of these will be pretty much the same. However, there will be scenarios in which one will shine over the other one.
Highly Forgiving
To start with, MIG is a bit forgiving than the other welding methods. This one continuously feeds metal wire. And for the continuous flow, you can rely on the wire or the filler agent to be there when you are working on any intricate projects.
On the other hand, the other methods do not always have a filler agent flowing. For that reason, when you are handling those, you need to be extremely accurate, or else the connections you will make will not be that secure. Considering that, MIG is more catered towards beginners.
Can Make Strong Bonds
The MIG units are known to be capable of making a stronger hold. Because of having that capability, they can work with thicker items properly. The bond that you are going to get will be much stronger, and you can rely on it fully to hold against the test of time.
On that note, the metal filler that is used for the MIG is highly capable of making a strong bond between thick materials. So even if you are working with a higher gauge material, the possibility of the bond breaking will be pretty low.
Spatter Control
One of the factors that the MIG does not shine that much is in controlling the spatter. On that note, the spatter does not weaken the bond by any means, but it does make the workpiece look a bit unsightly. Nevertheless, if you were shooting for something that can offer you smooth finishes, you should choose the TIG.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the actual benefit of having a dual voltage tool?
As you can guess from reading the label, these tools are going to capable of working in two different voltage levels. That means if you stumble into a scenario where you require exceptionally high voltage or extremely low voltage, there will be no need to switch your tool with something new.
2. What types of steel can the MIG welder weld?
MIG welders are known for being capable of working with a vast number of metals. You can work with stainless steel, aluminum, copper, carbon steel, silicon bronze, and nickels. Aside from all of these common metals, you can also use them to work with different types of alloys.
3. Is the bond created by MIG stronger than TIG?
Yes, the bond that the MIG can create is considerably stronger than the TIG. The reason behind the strong bond is the continuous flow capability that the tool has. As a result, if you were planning to bond two thick metal workpieces together, you should pick the MIG over the TIG.
4. Does MIG create more spatter than TIG?
Compared to TIG, MIG tends to produce a bit more spatter when it is used to bond metals. However, the spatter does not weaken the strength of the bond by any means. All it does is ruin the overall outlooks of the workpiece. Nevertheless, if smooth finishes are what you look for, you need to consider TIG.
5. Do MIG welders come with any sort of built-in protection?
You will find plenty of these welders having different sort of built-in protection circuits. Starting from temperature control to overload, some will have them all. However, there will be a few that will not have any sort of protection. Those are the ones that you would want to stay clear of.
Final Words
Now that you have a proper idea regarding the best dual voltage MIG welder that various brands are offering in the market, hopefully, it will not be a difficult task for you to choose one. However, if you want the best possible results, we recommend checking the Weldpro 200 Amp Inverter before any other ones.