The 6 Best MIG Welding Guns of 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

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Known for comfort and quality, the Welper YS-50 MIG Welding Gun Tong is a favorite of professional welders. This is the original MIG exclusive pliers design, made in Japan. The name is short for "welder's helper" and is an indicator of how much they are used in the average workshop. They can be a little pricey for those just getting started, but they're certainly worth considering when it's time to replace your original equipment.

MIG specific features of the Welper YS-50 MIG Welding Gun Tongs include square jaw tips ideal for removing slag and spatter from the tip of a MIG welding gun. Some commenters mentioned that knives can wear down 316 stainless steel wire quickly, but really everything else does.

The Welper YS-50 MIG Welding Gun Tongs easily grip the tip and nozzle for removal and installation. The integrated hammer is for when you need to hit something or remove slag. Many career welders have mentioned using Welper pliers on the job for 10 years or more. There is also a beautiful leather holster to keep this professional quality tool at hand.

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Eastwood MIG Welders Pliers is another in the line of quality automotive and fabrication tools from restoration supplier Eastwood. In addition to a range of quality welders and helmets, Eastwood also offers a beautiful set of MIG welding guns. They have rubber handles and spring-loaded tension, making them easier to handle while wearing gloves.

The narrow nose shape is squared off at the tip. There are two circular grooves behind the jaws, one large for the nozzle and the other for the tip. The grooves have a knurled surface for enhanced grip when grasping these components for removal and replacement. Eastwood MIG Welders pliers have a smooth finish on the outside of the jaws, some MIG pliers have a knurled or filed finish.

Eastwood MIG Welders Pliers consistently receive rave reviews from homeowners for their value and quality in their price range. This is a worthy companion to Eastwood's quality line of MIG welders, which we've covered in our MIG welder reviews. If you're ordering an Eastwood welder, it's always a good time to add a pair of these pliers to your shipment.

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Vise-Grip is a familiar name to nearly every worker in any craft trade. Mechanics, construction, technicians, and welders are all professionals with multiple Vise-Grip pliers in their toolbox. The Irwin Vise-Grip 8 Inch MIG Pliers will pair nicely with the pliers you already have in the box.

The Irwin Vise-Grip 8" MIG Tong has a built-in hammer surface for hammering parts or removing slag. The square needle nose jaws are perfect for removing splatter. The tool does not have knurling or filing on the outer surface of the jaws like some tools do. The handle is rubber dipped rather than the sleeve type found in many other designs, reducing the chance of the handle slipping off over time.

The spring-loaded jaws are also easy to operate while wearing gloves, although some owners have reported that the springs in the Irwin Vise-Grip 8-Inch MIG Pliers are sometimes too long, preventing the jaws from fully closing. This can get in the way of the cutting line, but removing the spring and shortening it a bit can fix this. Irwin backs this tool with a lifetime warranty.

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Like some other MIG pliers, the YesWelder 8″ Rust Resistant MIG Welding Pliers feature square needle nose jaws with sharp edges for quick rotation to clean MIG nozzles. There are two round gripping surfaces, a small one for contacting the tip, A large one is used to remove and operate the nozzle.The gripping surface of the jaws is also knurled to prevent slipping.

YesWelder 8″ Rust Resistant MIG Welding Pliers are made from high carbon steel with a hardness of HRC60 so they should withstand years of wear and tear. The cutting edges are also hardened and these pliers are nickel plated for rust resistance. Grips are molded, but are mounted on the handles with knife handle-like protrusions to keep them from slipping off.

The only thing owners don't like is that the YesWelder 8″ Rust Resistant MIG Welding Tongs can be very stiff or tight the first time you use them. They are spring loaded so they disappear with use, some owners recommend Light grease, penetrating oil, or similar lubricant. While this tool does have two hammering surfaces, both are flat, not one crowned.

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Strong Hands 8 Inch MIG Welding Tongs feature ergonomically designed handles to help keep fatigue and bruising to a minimum. It's a thoughtful design that combines two hammer faces with a coarse and fine metal file, perfect for cleaning the inside diameter of torch nozzles. Whether you're cutting solid or flux-cored wire, the cutting jaws line up well and cut a nice square chisel tip.

A problem reported by several owners of Strong Hand 8" MIG Welding Tongs is that the handle cap comes off sooner than expected. This is easily fixed with some silicone or gorilla glue. These pliers take a lot of abuse and most owners prefer them to the standard MIG welper pliers.

The jaws of the Strong Hand 8" MIG Welding Tongs are also designed with a diamond V shape for gripping and pulling the nozzle when servicing MIG welding torches. There is also a tether chain to attach these pliers to your flashlight rack or MIG cart, but owners report that the chain is weak. Another minor issue that is easy and cheap to fix and doesn't diminish the overall value or usefulness of this product.

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The Lincoln Electric K4014-1 MIG Welding Pliers are a great value in this price range, giving you a set of well-designed forged MIG pliers for a reasonable price. They have the usual features offered by this type of MIG pliers. The jaws have a needle nose design with a square tip for removing spatter from MIG torch nozzles.

Unlike many other designs, this one features serrations on the outside of the jaws. This provides more options for servicing MIG torches and cleaning spatter than smooth jaws. There are two knurled circular areas for nozzle and contact tip handling. The hammer face of the Lincoln Electric K4014-1 MIG Welding Gun consists of a flat and a crowned face. The handle is ergonomically shaped and has a soft silicone grip.

The Lincoln Electric K4014-1 MIG Welding Pliers don't open up like other pliers and some owners find it uncomfortable if you need to flip them upside down for use, for example if you need a flat hammer face. This is an ergonomic handle design one of the disadvantages.