Top 6 Best Gasless MIG Welders In 2022

While purchasing gasless or self-shielded MIG welder, brands like Forney, Hobart, etc., are some of the safest picks. However, you must ensure that the welder meets your requirements. Many users who have made a bad purchase usually find difficulties welding thicker materials and from a low duty cycle.

We had a chat with several professional and hobbyist welders and asked them which gasless welder is the best for MIG. They gave us different answers and we were able to find out the top six options that most users go for.

Best Gasless MIG Welders Review 2022

1. ETOSHA MIG 160 Portable Flux Core Gasless Welder

Working excellent for mild steel and stainless steel, the Etosha welder provides 160A for up to ¼” thickness with ease. The welder utilizes .8-.9 flux core wire and works with 110V input. Its build quality, longevity, and most importantly, overheating protection, make it the best in the market for gasless MIG welders.

ETOSHA’s welder only accepts 110V input power whereas the Hynade welder on the second spot is suitable for both 110V and 220V. So, why is Etosha 160 in the first place? Well, it is strictly because of how much better it is in terms of quality. Most welders, beginners, and professionals prefer this one to other gasless MIG welding devices.

You should go for this welder if you need a lightweight, 110V, and simple device for doing lightweight indoor welding. You can look for other options if you need a professional one but this is the best for beginners and intermediates in terms of longevity and quality.

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2. Co2 Gasless Mig Flux Wire Welding Machine (MIG125D)

The Hynade is a dual voltage gasless welder that provides 125A current output and uses .6 and .8 mm flux core wire. You will appreciate its voltage control feature if you are tired of seeing gasless welding devices that do not allow you to adjust voltage levels. Such control allows excellent arc performance and precise welds.

Although it is suitable for both 110V and 220V input, ETOSHA’s welder still outperforms it because of higher current output and overall better features in every aspect other than the duty cycle. However, the unique part of Hynade welder is its voltage control and LCD screen that help with precision.

If you need a welder that will work with both 110V and 220V sockets and will provide simple, yet adjustable controls, this is a good option. In addition, it offers more duty cycles than our first pick.

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3. Hobart 500559 Handler 140 Welder

A high-quality 140A beginner-friendly option from world-class brand Hobart, this can easily be anyone’s top three when it comes to gasless MIG welding. The arc performance of the Handler 140 is impeccable due to the 5-position voltage control. With it, you can easily weld steel and aluminum without any issues.

Handler 140 is much heavier than both Etosha and Hynade welders we mentioned. Moreover, its duty cycle is not the most impressive being only 20% at 90A. However, it can offer superior performance on steel up to ¼” and on aluminum.

This is a comfortable pick for anyone who wants to purchase their welder from a reputed name to ensure the device’s longevity and proper service. Hobart’s welders are always top-tier and this one is no exception.

Even though it lacks in some features and can be a bit heavy to carry around, it is a perfect pick if you value quality over anything else.

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4. Forney Easy Weld 261 - 140 FC-i Welder

Forney’s welders are always some of the best and Easy Weld 261 is exceptional for gasless MIG welding. Providing 140A output, it is suitable for up to ¼” mild steel. It is also one of the most lightweight gasless welders you will get, as it only weighs 19 pounds.

Although both Hobart and Forney have similar specifications, Forney is significantly more lightweight than Hobart Handler. However, unlike Forney, Hobart is suitable for better aluminum welding. Moreover, Forney’s welder only accepts 120-volt input, while welders like Hynade offers options to be used on both 110 and 220V.

Forney Easy Weld 261 is an excellent pick for you if you are looking for a lightweight, 110V welding device for up to ¼” of mild steel. Its voltage and wire feed speed control knobs allow you to get proper arc and gives precision while welding thin materials.

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5. ETOSHA MIG 140 Welder 140Amp Gasless Automatic Feed Welder

Another Etosha welder on this list, and you may wonder, is this brand any good? Etosha has become a very prominent brand and more welders are recommending it. Moreover, for gasless MIG welding, this 140A model is a great pick. It utilizes 0.8mm or 1mm flux core wire and welds up to ¼” thick materials with ease.

This model weighs less than half of Etosha 160A, which is our first pick. Even though this model is very lightweight, it is still big enough for 2 pounds of wire. Although the 140A lacks in terms of output current and control options than our first pick, it outperforms by being super-lightweight.

If you need to carry around your welding device everywhere, the Etosha 140A is an excellent pick. It is the most lightweight welder on our list and it also exceeds the performance of most MIG welders for ¼” steel.

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6. SUNGOLDPOWER 200Amp MIG MAG ARC MMA Stick DC Welder

60% duty cycle, up to 220A output, IGBT inverter, both gas-shielded and gasless MIG welding – this is an all-around excellent pick for both beginners and professional welders. It is the only welder here that provides a control for voltage, wire speed, and output current. As a result, doing very precise welding and getting excellent arc performance is easy.

So, why is such an excellent welder on our last pick? Well, budget-wise and when it comes to beginner-friendliness, other options on our list are better. For example, the Etosha welders can provide 140A and 160A output at 110V while this welder is not the best at 110V sockets.

If you are mostly going to use a welder at 220V input, this is a good pick. Therefore, we would offer this welder for professionals mostly. Its high output and all-around feature make it a bit more expensive. So, if you got the budget, it is surely a great choice.

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Buying Guide

A great gasless welder is a subjective matter that depends on how frequently you intend to use the machine. There are several things to look into to make the best choice. For starters, you can pick one that ignites using electric arcs, or you can go for one that needs electrical resistance. Check the points below before you make your purchase to get the ideal product.

Range of Usage

When you browse through different welders, you will find an array of different gasless welders of different sizes and prices. Some of them will be for heavy-duty works, while others are just for DIY or light-duty projects.

Now, depending on your intended use, filter out the ones that may be over or undersized. You don’t want to spend too much on a gasless welder when you only want to weld some household metals. Go for a small one with a low price. Meanwhile, for professional works, a low-cost one may not suffice. A wire model may perform better in this case.

Effective Choice

As there are many gasless welders out there, go for the ones that are actually practical and offer a design that makes your works efficient. For example, you should look for a welder with a welding current between 35 to 95 amps.

Doing this will give you a wide range of options as you weld. It means that you can go for the simplest works by using 35 amp and work for 9-10 minutes or use 95 amps for a heavy-duty project just in case. Another good thing can be whether there are indications for necessary ratings, like wire speed. That will improve your work experience.

Size and Weight

These two factors are important in the scenario where you must move your welder a lot. If you have to carry it to your vehicle every day, get one that you find comfortable to lift. There should be handles to pick it. If it has some sort of wheels, that is the cherry on the cake. Also, see whether the welder can fit in the back of your vehicle or your workplace.

Additional Accessories

You can find welders with the necessary accessories to make the works comfortable and safer for you. They might include clamps or even protective gears. Even if you get one without these instruments, we advise you to save some money for mandatory protective wear. That includes welding masks, gloves, and sleeves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do Gasless MIG Welders Work?

They are mostly like regular MIG welders. During MIG welding, you need to provide shielding gases to protect the bead from contamination. Gasless MIG welding uses the self-shielding wire to create the protective gas itself. A gasless MIG welder can work with both gasless MIG welding and solid MIG welding. It will contain additional hoses to connect to external gas cylinders and also plumbing that lets you use self-shielding wires.

What Types of Welding Can I Do with a Gasless MIG Welder?

Gasless MIG welders are mostly for light-duty welding sessions. You can perform various household and DIY projects, repair parts, weld garden gates, etc. They are not really suitable for complete professional jobs.

Can I Weld Thin Gauge Car Panels with a Gasless MIG Welder?

Yes, you can. In fact, gasless MIG welders are perfect machines to do this work. Thin car panels need solid MIG wires to be welded as gasless MIG wires get too hot. Since Gasless MIG welders can use both wire types, they are the worthy machine for it.

Final Note

If you want to make the safest purchase, going for brands like Forney or Hobart is an excellent choice. Make sure to make your purchase considering where you will use the welder, whether or not you will carry it around and what your requirements are.

There are many budget welders available from reputed brands. As a result, you do not have to worry about buying the most expensive one. In addition, you can check out our buying guide to get tips to understand how to get the best gasless MIG welder.