MIG welding is the best type of welding you can get for your home or in any situation because it is the most wildly used welding type. It is very easy to learn and start using, you can weld very thin to very thick metals, making it great for most situations.
Benefits of MIG welding.
- Easy to learn
- Easy to use
- Can be used for most situations
- Very strong
- Can weld thin to very thick metals
- Weld most kinds of metals
What type of welding is easiest to learn?
The easiest welding out there is MIG welding by far. It is very simple to use and doesn’t require a lot of skill. You will still need to practice to become good at it. The only real hurdle you will need to cross is the cost of the equipment.
How much does MIG welding cost to start at home?
A decent MIG welding machine costs around $500. A gas cylinder for the machine can set you back around $100-350 and the wire will be around $30-70. You will also need a gauge that ranges around $30-70. There are a bunch more items you will need in the list below.
What you will need to start MIG welding at home and price.
Item | Average cost |
MIG welding machine | $350-500 |
New cylinder with gas | $100-350 |
Welding wire | $30-70 |
Gauge/Regulator | $30-70 |
Welding torch | $50-100 |
Earth clamp with cable | $30-70 |
PPE/ Helmet, gloves, overalls, etc | $100-200 |
Total | $690-1360 |
It will cost you around $690-1360, but if you are planning to build a lot and take it seriously. I really recommend going for a MIG welding machine. It is a lot easier to use than any sort of stick welding and you will be able to weld thin metals with it. I would rather spend the $800 for a proper new MIG machine instead of buying a stick welding machine for $200.
These are just estimates, but It will most likely cost in that range if you are looking for a quality welding machine. You can get parts for cheaper and most machines include the torch, earth clamp, and cable when you buy it new. You can also look for second-hand machines that can reduce the price even more. Rather try to get a gas cylinder second-hand, because it is a lot cheaper and refilling it is only around $30-50.
After getting a MIG welder you will probably want to know how to set up and use the MIG welder like a pro and the common problems.
When starting a welding project and you are new to welding you are probably wondering where to get metal for your project or just looking for metal to practice your welding. I did a post that you can use as an great guide to find the best places in your local area to buy metal.
How long does MIG gas last?
Depending on the size of the gas cylinder it will last you about 4-8 hours of continuous welding. Might not sound like a lot, but for home use, it will most likely last you months. If you think about it you will most likely be welding in short bursts or just tacking which only goes on for a minute or just a second.
How long will MIG wire last?
It is very subjective to the size of welds you are doing. I have personally found that my wire lasts about two to three times as long as my gas cylinder.
The cheapest welding for home use.
The cheapest welding for home use or any other use is stick welding (SMAW). It consists of an inverter, earth clamp, electrode holder, electrode, and cables. It is a lot cheaper due to the simplicity of it, and not needing gas. You only need to plug it in, connect the cables, insert the electrode and start welding.
Just remember it sounds a lot easier than it actually is. Stick can actually be quite challenging to weld, especially if you don’t know what you are doing. I recommend watching a few youtube videos on it before you start.
You can also check out different methods of joining metal without welding if you don’t feel like going through the effort of getting and learning how to weld.
MIG vs stick welding
The main difference between MIG and stick welding is that MIG is a lot easier to learn and weld with, while stick welding is a lot cheaper and easier to set up.
You can read my full post on MIG vs stick welding where I go into a lot of detail on the two types of welding.
