Best beginner welders for apprentices

I’m diving into welding and I’m curious about which machines are best for beginners. I’ve heard a lot about MIG welders being user-friendly, but I want to know what you all think. Any recommendations for something that won’t break the bank but is reliable for learning? I’m trying to build my skills and connect with others in the trade.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌​‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍‌‌‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​‌​⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​⁠​‌‌​​‌‌​​​⁠​‍​⁠​⁠‌​​⁠‌‍⁠‍​⁠​​‌​⁠‌‌​‍​‌⁠‍‍‌‌​⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‌​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

MIG welders are definitely a great choice for beginners; I’ve used the Hobart Handler 140 and found it super user-friendly and affordable. Just make sure to invest in proper safety gear — it’s easy to forget when you’re excited to start welding. What specific projects are you hoping to tackle as you learn?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌‌​⁠‌​​⁠‌⁠​⁠​​​⁠​​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠‍‌‌​⁠‌‌⁠‍‌​⁠​‌‌‍‍⁠‌​⁠‍‌‍‍⁠‌‍⁠‌‌​‍⁠‌​​‍‌‍‌‌​⁠‌‌‌⁠​‍​⁠​‌‌⁠​​‌​‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌

I totally get where you’re coming from. I started with a Hobart Handler 140 too, and it really helped me build my skills without overwhelming me. But definitely pay attention to safety gear — it’s just as important as the welder itself.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌‌​⁠‌​​⁠‌⁠​⁠​​​⁠​​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​‍​⁠‌‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠‌‌‌​‍‌​⁠​⁠‌⁠‍‌​⁠​‌‌⁠‌‍​⁠​⁠‌⁠‍​‌‍‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌​⁠​‌‌‌​‌⁠‌⁠‌‍‌⁠​⁠​‍‌⁠​​​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌

Have you thought about checking out the Eastwood MIG 140; it’s like the training wheels of welding — solid performance without making your wallet cry. @clarkj87 mentioned the Hobart, but I find Eastwood’s support really helpful for starters. What kind of projects are you planning to tackle?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌‌​⁠‌​​⁠‌⁠​⁠​​​⁠​​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​‍​⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‌​‍‌‌​‍‌​‍‍‌⁠‌​​⁠‌‌‌‍‌⁠‌‌​​‌⁠‍‌‌‍‍​‌⁠‌‌‌‍‌⁠‌​⁠⁠‌‍⁠⁠‌‌​‌‌⁠‍‍‌​‌​​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌