While perusing the 2023 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, we were drawn to the Miller Electric Mfg. booth. There we had the opportunity to see the company’s new Millermatic 142 MIG welder. This welder is a great DIY or work welder that uses 120-volt household power. The welder is packed with a number of cool features.

Easy To Set Up And Use

Less complicated is always better, and the Millermatic 142 is designed to be easy to set up and use. Auto-Set technology automatically sets the welder to the proper parameters. You simply select the wire diameter, set the material thickness, and start welding. Of course, you can fine-tune the parameters exactly where you want them with the help of the 142’s digital segment display. And about the segmented display, it’s worth noting that it is easy to read, and it gives you the flexibility to set the welder precisely and accurately in both Manual and Auto-Set modes. Another cool feature of the 142 is its Smooth-Start technology. This provides a spatter-free, smooth start with every weld. As a matter of fact, Miller says the 142 is the best starting machine in the 120-volt category.

A MIG Welder Designed For Flexibility

The Millermatic 142 is in the 140-amp class and can be used almost anywhere. And if your welding takes you off-grid, the 142 can operate and provide full output when powered by a 5,000-watt or higher generator. Examples of compatible generators are Miller’s 6,200-watt Blue Star 185 or 6,200-watt Fusion 185. If used with a sub-5,000-watt generator, output of the welder will be limited.

The Millermatic 142 can weld aluminum, stainless steel, and steel. It’ll weld 18-to 14-gauge aluminum and 24-gauge to 3/16-inch mild steel. It’s also worth noting that the 142 weighs less than 40 pounds. Furthermore, it’s designed to be carried with one or two hands so it’s easier to move around. Finally, the Millermatic 142 has a rated output of 100 amps at 60 percent duty cycle so the work can keep going.

Here’s What’s Included With The Millermatic 142

Almost everything you need to start welding is included with the Millermatic 142. In addition to the welder, there’s a 10-foot MDX-100 MIG welding gun, a 10-foot work cable with clamp, and a 6.5-foot power cord with plug. Additionally, the kit includes an Argon and AR/CO2 mix flow regulator with gas hose, a spool of Hobart 0.30-inch solid wire, and two contact tips for 0.30-inch wire. But that’s not all. There are Quick Select drive rolls for 0.024-inch or 0.030/0.035-inch solid wire, 0.030/0.035-inch flux-cored wire, a material thickness gauge, and hook-and-loop cord wraps.

An Example Of The Millermatic 142’s Flexibility

We had the chance to talk with Miller’s Andy Weyenberg at the SEMA Show. Weyenberg also hosts the Real Garage channel on YouTube. During our conversation, he reiterated the flexibility of the Millermatic 142. Example: He has the welder in his race trailer, and he powers it with a 3,000-watt generator. Even with the lower output generator he can still weld up to 1/8-inch material with the unit.