10 Best LINCOLN Wire Welders
for June 2023

The Lincoln Electric PRO-MIG 180 Flux-Cored Wire Feed Welder is a workhorse that has earned our highest rating. This MIG welder is easy to set up and use, and it produces smooth, consistent welds, even at its duty cycle of 30 percent. It welds 16- to 20-gauge metal at 160 amps and 1.5 to 1.75 mm wire, and its duty cycle of 30 percent means you can weld for a long time without overheating. It also has a heavy-duty wire drive that adjusts the wire speed and reduces wire tangling and crushing. The wire feed is also adjustable, so you can choose the speed that's right for your project. The PRO-MIG 180 has a number of other useful features, including: a 4.5-inch color LCD digital readout that shows weld settings, wire speed and weld progress; a 3-metre cable; and a built-in wire feed stand. The only potential drawback is that the machine's 230-volt input power limits its use to professional contractors. However, if you're a professional contractor, you'll likely appreciate all the features of the PRO-MIG 180, as well as its long duty cycle, solid welds, and low price.

The Lincoln Electric K2698-1 Easy MIG 180 Wire Feed Welder is great for beginners, offering solid performance at an entry-level price. The 180-watt welder is lightweight, compact, and easy to operate, and its user-friendly display gives you a clear picture of welding parameters. The 2.0-amp output is perfect for beginners, and the welder's dual voltage (110V and 220V) lets you take on projects both at home and abroad. The Lincoln Electric K2698-1 Easy MIG 180 Wire Feed Welder has one of the best duty cycles of our picks, with 60 minutes of continuous welding at 15 amps, which is nearly twice as long as the next-best choice, the Millermatic 210. The Lincoln Electric K2698-1 Easy MIG 180 Wire Feed Welder also has good arc performance, with consistent weld appearance and minimal spatter. The welder has a decent duty cycle, but the warranty coverage is very short. The Lincoln Electric K2698-1 Easy MIG 180 Wire Feed Welder also has a range of 10 inches, which is shorter than the 15 inches of the Millermatic 210. The Lincoln Electric K2698-1 Easy MIG 180 Wire Feed Welder is rated at 3,000 continuous welds at 15 amps, which is about the same as the Millermatic 210. The Lincoln Electric K2698-1 Easy MIG 180 Wire Feed Welder is also priced lower, and it comes with a one-year warranty, which is significantly shorter than the Millermatic 210's three-year warranty. Finally, the Lincoln Electric K2698-1 Easy MIG 180 Wire Feed Welder has a lower maximum voltage, with 180V instead of 220V.

The Lincoln Electric KE2697-1 Easy MIG 140 Wire Feed Welder is a mid-range welder designed for home hobbyists, light-duty contractors and DIYers. The 140-amp unit can weld up to 1 inch of steel, and it's ideal for welding smaller projects, such as making fences, gates and railings. The KE2697-1 is a good fit for smaller hobbyists and DIYers that need a little bit of power. It's got many of the features found on higher-priced units, including a dual-voltage trigger, a 136-amp output, a 5-foot weld cable, and a foot pedal control. The digital readout on this unit is accurate, and the unit comes with an instruction manual and 2-year warranty. The KE2697-1 is easy to set up, and the unit is compact enough to fit on a work bench.

The Lincoln Electric K2185-1 Handy MIG Welder isn't as powerful or as precise as other welders we've tested, but it does an excellent job for the price. As with our previous pick, the Lincoln Mig Welder, the K2185-1 is lightweight (just over 6 pounds) and compact enough to carry to a job site. It's also well made, with a metal body and clear protective case, and it's very easy to use. The 4.5-pound wire spools, which hold 8 pounds of wire, are convenient, and the welder includes a set of spare spools, a 200-foot power cord, and a heavy-duty 10-foot ground cable. The 2.0-amp, 120-volt motor provides enough power to weld up to 1/8-inch steel, and the motor itself is incredibly quiet. The welder lacks some features found on other welders, such as auto-darkening and wire-heating capabilities, but we found those to be minor drawbacks. The K2185-1 is also priced considerably lower than competing welders, and its 1-year warranty and two-year limited rental program make it a good value.

The Lincoln Power MIG 140MP Multi-Process Welder TIG One Pak K4499-1 is a powerful, versatile welder that is ideal for anyone needing welders for more than one process. The 140MP comes with a 100 amp TIG and 30-140 amp MIG cable, but its DC TIG cable and stick cable options allow it to perform additional welding processes, including 120 amp DC TIG and Stick welding. The welder is easy to set up and use, and it's fairly lightweight, at 23 pounds, making it easy to take to job sites. The 140MP has a bright, crisp display that doesn't require much squinting, and it has a simple two knob interface for controlling wire feed speed and voltage. The interface is easy enough for anyone to use, but for more advanced users, the welder's user interface also allows them to easily save and recall multiple settings and process settings. The welder's interface is also sleek and sturdy, so it's unlikely to accidentally be bumped or knocked over. The 140MP also has three wire feeds speeds and a built-in fan, which helps keep the operator cool during long welds. The 140MP has a 2 year warranty on parts and labor, and it comes with a three-year warranty on the weld head. The 140MP's DC TIG cable and stick cable options are sold separately, so you'll pay extra if you need them.

The Lincoln Electric Weld & Bead ED016354 flux-cored wire is compact and light weight, making it an excellent choice for small-scale welding projects. The wire's small size means that it is relatively easy to store and transport, and its .035-inch diameter is small enough that it won't take up much space in your welding gear bag. The wire also produces a good, tight weld bead that is easy to grind down. The wire's fast freezing nature means that you can weld with confidence even in cold conditions. The Lincoln Electric Weld & Bead ED016354 flux-cored wire costs more than our other picks, but if you're looking for a compact, lightweight wire that's easy to use, it's an excellent choice.

The Lincoln Power MIG 140MP is our pick for the best welder for DIY projects because it is easy to use, performs well, and is very affordable. The MIG 140MP comes with a welding helmet, a shielding gas cylinder, an inert gas cylinder, a 110-volt plug, a 120-volt plug, a 220-volt plug, and a set of extras, including a foot pedal, a foot pedal with push buttons, and a foot pedal with contact switches. The welding helmet is a comfortable, sturdy, and lightweight construction made of reinforced polycarbonate, and it comes with two lenses, a cooling fan, and a neck strap. The helmet is ready to use right out of the box, and it comes with built-in cooling fans and a built-in light. The shielding gas cylinder is fitted with two spools and is equipped with a regulator. The inert gas cylinder is equipped with a regulator. The 110-volt and 120-volt plugs allow for use with all standard welding plugs and sockets. The 220-volt plug is reverse compatible with 120-volt plugs, but it can't provide enough amps to weld metal thicker than 3/16-inch. A foot pedal with contact switches allows you to control your welding process, including start-stop, speed, and wire feed. A foot pedal with a push button allows you to control your welding process, including start-stop, speed, and wire feed. The foot pedal with contact switches is our favorite foot pedal, as it makes it easier to perform controlled wire feed. The foot pedal with push buttons is our favorite foot pedal, as it makes it easier to perform controlled wire feed. The 110-volt and 120-volt plugs allow for use with all standard welding plugs and sockets.