5 Best 120V Welders For DIY Welding Projects

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It’s not hard to see why 120V. welders have become the go-to solution for DIY welding and general repair work. They’re portable, plug into any wall without requiring an adapter, and are compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry, store, and transport. But if you’re in the market for a 120V welder, be warned! There are dozens of 120V welders that are complete wastes of money, and these are tough to spot. But lucky for you, you found my post. Here’s a list of the five best 120 volt welders in 2020.

 

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Five Best 120V Welders For DIY Welding Projects

#1 Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder – Best Overall

Hobart is a household name in the welding industry, and the Hobart 120V welder range certainly doesn’t disappoint.

The feature-loaded 140 MIG welder had no trouble making it to the top of our list – it’s powerful, and operates directly off 115V standard household current. No fancy adapters required!

Welding 24 gauge is a breeze, and it can also weld a quarter of an inch thick piece of mild steel. It plays well with stainless steel, too, making it a versatile welder.

The five-position voltage control selector ensures that the arc is stable and glides smoothly at all welding thicknesses, making it a compelling option for beginners.

The welding amperage ranges between 25-140A, and for a relatively compact machine, the 20% duty cycle (at 90Amps) is impressive. 

I say “relatively compact” because it’s by no means the smallest welder out there. It weighs 57lbs, which means you will likely need to get a cart for it.

But the higher weight is too little a compromise for the power you get – so I don’t consider it a dealbreaker. 

The gun is 10ft long, and so is the work cable (which comes with a clamp), and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding replacement .030-inch contact tips down the road.

The packaging includes a sample spool and a material thickness gauge, so you can get to work right away.

The all-inclusive package supplies excellent value for money, making it the best 120V wire feed welder in the market.

Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder Pros

  • Durable build
  • 10’ gun and clamp
  • Replacement parts easily available
  • Welds ¼” mild steel effortlessly

Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder Cons

  • Full spool could have been included
  • Heat adjustment could have been finer

#2 ARKSEN MIG-130 120V. Welder Machine

Small economical welders that are also decently powerful are hard to come by. But if that’s what you’re looking for, you cannot go wrong with the ARKSEN MIG-130.

The MIG welder is compact and reasonably lightweight at 36.7lbs, and its stainless steel body is protected by a thick coat of protective yellow paint.

But what really makes the welder perfect for having around the house is its gasless operation. It uses a flux-cored wire, which releases metal-inert gas when you start to weld, preventing the oxidation of the material you’re welding.

The lack of gas also means you don’t have to fiddle with a regulator!

It is also easy to use for beginners because it comes with ten levels of wire feeding speeds. But what makes it stand out from the competition are features like the built-in cooling fan and integrated safety controls.

It’s not the most potent welder you will find, with support for a maximum of 120amps, and a measly 10% duty cycle.

But while it may not impress on the spec sheet, it is perfectly capable of welding ¼” blocks of steel.

A welding mask, tip, and welding wire come included along with the standard ground cord, the MIG welder, and the wire brush, making it an excellent all-around package.

ARKSEN MIG-130 120V. Welder Machine Pros

  • Gasless operation
  • Compact, lightweight, and durable
  • Surprisingly powerful; can weld ¼” steel

ARKSEN MIG-130 120V. Welder Machine Cons

  • Mask quality could be better

#3 LOTOS Technology TIG140 Welder

While the LOTOS TIG140 is very lightweight at almost 28lbs, it’s TIG welder enables you to weld a 1/6” thick piece of steel with ease. 

It also supports stick welding, but stick welders are difficult to operate and require a lot of trial and error to learn for beginners and hobbyists. This is one of the main reasons it didn’t make it to the top of the list.

But here’s what I love about it:

In addition to being able to operate at 110V, it can also operate at 220V owing to its IGBT inverter. 

While a lot of hobbyists won’t need this option, if you need the extra power, you can plug it into your wall with the included adapter and use it to weld up to a ¼” thick piece of metal.

If you’re looking for a quality 120V stick welder on a low budget, the TIG140 welder is your best option.

LOTOS Technology TIG140 Welder Pros

  • Can operate on 220V too
  • Welds ferrous metals, copper, and stainless steel with ease
  • Excellent built-in fan
  • Low price

LOTOS Technology TIG140 Welder Cons

  • No foot pedal support

#4 EVERLAST PowerARC 120V. Welder

The EVERLAST PowerARC is the best 120V stick welder to go for if you’re looking to get the most bang out of your buck.

The small unit feels well made, and its IGBT inverter enables it to use both 110V and 220V of current for welding!

It features an auto-adaptive hot start feature in stick mode, making it convenient to use, and also boasts an auto-adaptive arc force control, which makes it easy to wield with.

The 35% duty cycle is very impressive, especially considering the small form factor of the machine. It only weighs 24.8lbs, so if you weld outdoors, carrying it with you shouldn’t be much trouble.

But even though it’s small, no compromises are made to power. On the 120V mode, you can weld 3/8” steel effortlessly. The 220V mode allows you to weld ¼” pieces of metal on a single pass!

EVERLAST PowerARC 120V. Welder Pros

  • Five-year warranty
  • 17V series TIG torch makes for smooth operation
  • 35% duty cycle

EVERLAST PowerARC 120V. Welder Cons

  • Lift-arc function takes getting used to

#5 Alpha-TIG200X Stick Welder

If you’re looking for a smooth-gliding welder that’s extremely easy to use and don’t mind spending a little extra for quality, you won’t regret getting the Alpha-TIG200X.

The dual-voltage operation is a massive plus, and the machine is capable of welding 7018 and 6013 aluminum. It can weld a 3/8” thick block of mild steel with ease.

The HF start TIG, and the foot pedal makes welding both more comfortable and convenient, and the full range of pulse features make it an easy to recommend option.

Alpha-TIG200X Stick Welder Pros

  • Stick operation consistent on 120V and 220V
  • Full range of pulse features
  • Foot pedal and HF start support

Alpha-TIG200X Stick Welder Cons

  • Heavy
  • Pricey

FAQs

What’s the difference between 220V and 120V. welders?

220V welders have a wider effective heating zone, which makes for stronger welds. But for smaller welding projects where you’re working with ~1/2” thick pieces of metal, it won’t make much of a difference whether you use a 120V or a 220V welder.

Are 120V safe to use?

Wearing a helmet and gloves, welding in a wide-open space, and changing out of damp clothing when welding will keep you out of harm’s way.

Are 120V welders any good?

As you indicated, a 120V MIG is suitable for sheet metal up to 14G and even 12G. For structural steel, numerous passes (multi-pass) are frequently necessary to enhance strength, although the added strength may not be sufficient to puddle into the parent metal.

How many watts does a 120v welder use?

We obtain 2400 watts by multiplying 20 amps by 120 volts; however, Lincoln recommends a 3000-watt generator for this welder.

Can I run a welder in my garage?

Welding is a safe process that may be performed in practically any setting. Additionally, there is a risk of setting things on fire due to the welding heat or sparks from grinding. Thus, it is a very terrible idea to store combustible materials in that garage or to have untidy corners/shelves where sparks from grinding or other activities can accumulate.

Verdict

There’s no contest to the features and quality the Hobart 140 MIG welder supplies. It’s just as powerful as any dual-voltage welder, capable of welding a ¼” piece of mild steel without any trouble.

It’s also the right option if you’ll be working with sheet metal since it’s comfortable to use and incredibly precise.

Sure, the welder is on the heavier side, but the long cable and gun, easy to replace contact tips, and the 20% duty cycle make it convenient to use in the long run.

The Hobart 140 MIG supplies both the power and peace of mind a welder needs – making it the best 120V welder in the market.

About the Author Gregory

Hi, my name is Gregory! I have been welding practically all of my life and love it. As I have gotten older I have started to weld less and less, so in order to continue my love for welding I created this website. I like to write about my experiences and help you all become welders. I hope that you enjoy the site!

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