MIG Welders

MIG Welding Machines for MIG Welding

A MIG welder, also known as a MIG welding machine or a MIG welder unit, is the equipment used to perform MIG welding. MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding is a widely used welding process in which an electric arc forms between a consumable wire electrode and the workpiece, melting the wire and fusing it with the base metal to create a weld. The MIG welding wire and the weld pool are protected by an inert gas to prevent contamination.

One of the advantages of MIG welding over other welding processes is that it is easy to learn and it offers speed. The MIG welding process is generally faster than other welding processes, making it ideal for high-production applications. 

The MIG welding process is also versatile and can be used on various metals, including steel, aluminium and stainless steel. It is frequently used in a wide variety of applications including auto body, general fabrication and repair work. 

Whether you're working in a busy industrial setting or welding at home, we have models to match your needs—ranging from high-performance machines with advanced features to affordable options ideal for DIY projects.

Key features across our MIG range include:

• High wire feed speeds and quality feed mechanisms for smoother welding
• Higher duty cycles for extended operation
• Material and thickness input functions for improved weld precision
• Options with fine voltage control and reverse polarity for better heat focus and weld quality
• MIG welding machines including portable, compact and separate MIG welders
• Single-phase or 3 phase options

Air-Cooled and Water-Cooled MIG Welders

The choice between air-cooled and water-cooled MIG welders will depend on your welding needs and the specific applications you will be working on. 

Air-cooled MIG welders are suitable for light to medium-duty welding applications where you don’t need to weld continuously for extended periods. They are simpler and easier to move around as they don’t require additional water-cooling components. This makes them generally more portable because the water cooling system can be heavy. 

Air-cooled welding machines are also typically less expensive and simpler to maintain since they have fewer components that can malfunction. 

Water-cooled MIG welders are suitable for heavy-duty or high-amperage welding applications, where air-cooled welders may overheat. They are equipped with a dedicated cooling system to maintain lower temperatures. This allows for extended welding sessions at higher amperages without overheating.  

Water-cooled welders may be more expensive than their counterparts but they can extend the life of your MIG torch and consumables by reducing heat-related wear and tear. With better heat dissipation, water-cooled systems can also reduce downtime due to overheating. 

Gas or Gasless MIG Welders 

Most MIG welders use an external shielding gas to protect the weld pool from atmospheric contamination. Gasless MIG welders use a self-shielding wire. It is a tubular wire with a flux core that generates a shielding gas when it melts, eliminating the need for an external shielding gas. 

A gasless MIG welder offers portability as you don’t need to carry a gas. Gas MIG welders produce cleaner, higher-quality weldings with better aesthetics. MIG welding with a shielding gas provides better control over the welding process, reducing spatter. It is also suitable for a wide range of materials, including steel, stainless steel, and aluminium. Gasless MIG welding on the other hand is primarily used for welding steel and is less common for other metals. 

You may need a welding fume extraction solution for both gas and gasless MIG welding depending on the application. However, gasless flux-cored welding produces more welding fumes which can cause serious health issues. 

Types of Shielding Gases for MIG Welders

We can supply different types of shielding gases for different welding applications and suitability depends on the thickness of the material you are welding.

Shielding gases for MIG (MAG) welding Mild Steel: ARCAL Force, ARCAL Speed, Migweld 5, Migweld 8, Migweld Universal, Migweld 22, Migweld 20 and Carbon Dioxide.

Shielding gases MIG (MAG) welding Stainless Steel: ARCAL Chrome, Ar/Ox (98% Ar & 2% O2), Heliweld 8, Heliweld 9, and Migweld 2.

Shielding gases for MIG welding Aluminium: ARCAL Prime, Heliweld 6, Heliweld 5, and Heliweld 2.

See here for a list of our recommended welding gases depending on your welding process and the material/thickness you're welding. You can buy these mig welding gases from our parent company Energas. Download our gas selector guide to help you choose the right gas for your MIG welding. 

Engweld also supplies a wide range of gas regulators, including single-stage, multi-stage, Nevoc, and high-pressure gas regulators. 

MIG Welder Consumables

We supply all consumables for MIG welders, including MIG Torches, MIG Torch Spares, and MIG Welding Wires. There are also different types of MIG welding wires available. These include Mild Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminium & Copper, Flux Cored Wires, Hardfacing & Specialist MIG wires, and Mini MIG wire reels.

We also stock a vast range of other products to get you started with MIG welding. See MIG Welding Gloves, Welding Helmets, Welding Jackets, and Welding Frames, Screens and Curtains.

Everything to know about Warranty

Like any product, you should make sure that if there is an issue with your MIG welder and if it is under warranty you will get the aftercare you need. When you choose to buy from Engweld, you can rest assured that your equipment will be well looked after if any problems arise. Our branches have full service & repair facilities and we even offer on-site visits to get it fixed.

Technical advice and on-site demonstrations are available from all our sales centers around the UK. Engweld also provides full service and repair facilities to provide rapid response to breakdowns. Please contact us if you have any questions or need expert advice on choosing the right MIG welder for your project. 

FAQs

What gas does a MIG welder use?

Do you need help choosing the right MIG welding shielding gas for your mig welding application? Use our handy interactive welding gas selector guide. Select your material, welding type, wire type and material thickness and the tool will propose the most suitable welding gas for your welding application based on our range. Our selection tool is the best way to easily find the right shielding gas every time.

We can supply Argon and Argon gas welding mixtures in various purities and volumes depending on your MIG welding requirements. Available in either single cylinders, cylinder banks of 6, 12 or 16 or in skid mounted tanks. 

Should I use a gas or gasless MIG Welder?

For the most part, gas metal arc welding (GMAW) produces superior welds with minimal spatter. Gasless metal arc welding (GMAW-C), which employs flux Cored Wire, operates similarly to stick welding. This wire burns intensely, generating significant amounts of spatter.

Due to the high heat output of flux-cored wire, gasless MIG welders are unsuitable for welding thin materials, such as those used in automotive bodywork. While gasless MIG welders have their specific applications, we generally recommend using a gas metal arc welder whenever possible and that's why our collection is largely focussed on high-quality gas MIG welding machines from leading manufacturers.

What materials can I weld with a MIG welder?

MIG welding machines are versatile and capable of welding a wide range of metals, but some of the most common materials that can be welded with MIG include...

• Carbon Steel - A widely used material in many forms of construction and manufacturing.
• Stainless Steel - Resistant to corrosion, often used in food processing and medical equipment. Browse our range of stainless steel mig wire.

Aluminium - Lightweight and strong, commonly used in aerospace and automotive industries. Browse our range of aluminium mig wire.

Can a MIG welder weld aluminium?

Yes, but you need a spool gun or a suitable liner plus pure argon gas.

What size MIG welder do I need?

It depends on your material thickness. Light DIY work needs around 140 to 180 amps. Thicker steel needs 200 amps or more.

What is the difference between AC and DC TIG?

AC is used for aluminium because it cleans the oxide layer. DC is used for steels and gives a smoother, more focused arc.

What amperage do I need?

A simple rule is 1 amp per 0.001 inch of material. Thicker metal needs higher amperage.