I'm looking for recommendations for a light duty MIG setup for shop and farm use. Just occasional use, light duty cycle is fine; must be able to produce nice stitch welds on automotive panels as well as bond 1/4" steel on the log splitter, repair hinges, etc. 120V 20A preferred. Adjustable wire feed and included regulator preferred.

Since the only welding I've done is gas, a long time ago, I have no experience with these tools. I don't need overkill, just the right tool for the job.

Thanks!

I like the Miller units myself. I had mine since the early 80's and still going strong.
Go here for info: www.millerwelds.com

110 welders are very limited in what you can weld, 220 covers a lot more usage.
Go with gas instead of flux core wire.
I like my Millermatic 180

My 2 cents.

I have 220 available, but if I go with 220 then I am not portable, I'd have to weld in the garage, or use an extension cord which would drop the voltage. I wired the entire garage with 120V 20A receptacles and circuits, with 4 20A receptacle circuits just in the garage.

Definitely going with gas. I've seen the damage that untrained people can do with flux core. I see you have a BIG gas tank. How long does a small one last?

Looking at the Millermatic 140 AutoSet...seem reasonable for my needs? Found it new for $699 with a cart.

go with the miller or lincoln

I have a 30' extension cord I use so I can take it outside or work around any side of the car.
Unless you go a long way with small wire the voltage drop isn't an issue. No different than a wired receptical, just use a heavy duty SO wire and 30-40 amp plugs.

I like the variable voltage, much easier to get a clean weld on various metals, I can play with different settings rather than adapting to the set speed and voltage settings.
But that's why they make both kinds I guess, some like the presets.
My tank is the middle size, I forget the poundage, it'll last a long while in a back yard shop.
The smaller tank would definitely make it more portable.
Get the larger spools of wire, the small ones are a joke and .030 seems the best all around wire but get a smaller .023 spool as well.

The autoset has manual mode too...it's only a few dollars difference in price from the all-manual model.

The project car I recently sold had one expertly done floor pan patch in the rear seat pan, the only way you could tell was the shiny ground off weld line. The front driver's pan was patched by the previous owner, and he blasted holes, left sheet metal screws sticking through all over, left gaps where he cut the panels wrong, left wire ends sticking up, and left spatter EVERYWHERE. I am sure I can do better than that.

30' would get me to the garage door. The 220 is in the back, where the compressor is, so I'd need 50'.

I've got a 20lb CO2 tank and a 80 Cu. Ft. Tri-mix. Unless you do a LOT of welding they will last a LONG time. I did most of the welding I needed on my body with 1 fill on the CO2 bottle. My experience has been, I less spatter with the straight CO2 and more spatter but a little better penetration with the tri-mix.
My .02

Vikki,
I have the 140 Autoset and love it. I bought the gas too and my first job was welding up a cart for all of it. I found mine at the local weld store that had been returned. I paid about $800 for the whole setup. I'm still trying to get the hang of panel repair, but things are looking up. I have 110V 20A circuits as well and have even run it on a 25' cord.

Well, that does make perfect sense to build the cart...

I have spare cowl grilles, wheel wells, and other pieces of genuine Pontiac stuff that I can play with when I am ready to play with thin stuff.