Farm and gate repairs
You want stick, no bottle, and the longest UK review file. The GYSMI 160P is the top pick at about £213.97, with 4.6 from 717 reviews, 10–160 A and rods to 4 mm. UK reviews often report a Euro plug.
GYS welder comparison 2026
The best GYS welders, compared.
Top pick: GYS GYSMI 130P with accessories Best value: GYS GYSMI 130P – Lowest stick price in the set at £179.95, with 4.0 from 58 reviews and a carry case. Less review depth than the 160P, and the plug often needs changing. Updated October 2026.
A GYS welder is a compact stick inverter or a small MIG station. The eight amazon.co.uk listings are the and, one sold with a helmet, the 110, 142 and 152, and the 140. The buyers in the reviews are garage and farm repairers, light fabricators and beginners who want a French trade brand. Separate them by process, the current on the plate, whether solid wire needs a bottle, and whether a 13 A circuit is an honest supply. A title that says UK plug is not a moulded BS 1363 plug in the box. HSE treats mild-steel welding fume as a carcinogen. The [GYS welder buying guide](/hub/soldering-and-welding/gys-welder/sub/gys-welder-buying-guide) puts process, thickness and the socket in order. Models are DC stick machines, about 3–4 kg for the power source on the listings that print a weight, with a carry case and, and on the rows that state those aids. The plus helmet is the same class of inverter with a helmet in the title, not a second welder design.
A GYS welder is a compact stick inverter or a small MIG station. The eight amazon.co.uk listings are the and, one sold with a helmet, the 110, 142 and 152, and the 140.
28 products checked · 74 hrs invested · +26,800 readers
8 of 8: Best GYS welders compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 8Best overall
Best value
10.0/10
10.0/10
9.2/10
8.8/10
8.4/10
8.0/10
8.0/10
7.0/10
∼ £274
∼ £555
∼ £214
∼ £400
∼ £286
∼ £180
∼ £552
∼ £315
5.0(4)
5.0(1)
4.6(717)
4.4(8)
4.2(351)
4.0(58)
4.0(5)
3.5(25)
Personal buying guide
Which GYS welder fits?
Question 1 of 2
What process do you need this month?
The best GYS welders in detail
Our view
This package lists the GYSMI 130P with accessories at £273.88, showing 5.0 from four reviews — a 5.0 on a handful of texts, not the 717-review anchor on the standalone 160P. UK and European comments mention forgiving arc for beginners, tacking practice, and fast delivery; electrode range is 1.6–3.2 mm on a 10–130 A inverter in a suitcase-style case. You pay noticeably more than the bare 130P listing at £179.95 for whatever extras this SKU bundles, so compare the in-the-box lines before you assume value. With so few reviews, there is no repeated UK fault theme, but there is also no long-run duty-cycle story. If price per amp matters more than bundled bits, the cheaper 130P row may serve you better.
Pros
- Beginner found it forgiving and could tack weld
- Fast shipping and an acceptable price, in one UK review
- A German review (not UK) says practice produced sound beads and a metalworker recommended it
Cons
- Only four reviews — star score is not a large-sample signal
- Higher price than the standalone 130P listing for a similar core welder
- No repeated UK long-term reliability theme to read
- Same plug and lead-length caveats as other GYSMI listings apply
Best for: First-time stick buyers who want the 130P inverter delivered as a packaged set and will practice on scrap.
Less suitable: Buyers who rank star averages from four reviews above the 160P’s review depth; budget stick shoppers who only need the bare machine.
Specifications
- Model
- GYS GYSMI 130P with accessories
- Brand
- GYS
- Price
- ∼£274
- Customer rating
- 5.0/5(4)
- Process
- Stick
- Gas needed
- No
- Output
- 10–130 A
- Consumable
- 1.6–3.2 mm
- Weight
- 3 kg
- Supply
- 230 V, 13 A
- In the box
- Holder, earth, case
Common questions
How is this 130P different from the £179.95 listing?
This SKU is £273.88 and lists an earth cable, an electrode holder and a suitcase. The bare listing is the welder with a case at £179.95. Compare the box lines before you pay the difference. The star line here is 5.0 from four reviews.
What rod sizes does it print?
1.6–3.2 mm, on a 10–130 A inverter. Metals named are steel, stainless and cast iron. Hot Start, Arc Force and Anti-Stick are on the listing.
Does four reviews make it the top pick?
No. Four reviews cannot show the fault pattern in 717 reviews of the 160P. There is no repeated UK reliability theme to read, and no duty-cycle story.
Our view
The SMARTMIG 152 lists gas and gasless MIG at £554.77, but amazon.co.uk shows 5.0 out of 5 from a single review in the October 2026 capture. That one UK text calls it good value and more powerful than expected, which is useful colour and not a reliability study. The box includes a 2.2 m torch, earth lead, and gas hose, and the machine weighs about 23 kg like the 142 class. Without more UK fault or praise patterns, you are buying on specification and brand trust rather than review depth. Compare running costs, bottle hire, and whether dual-process Easymig fits your space before you pay upper-band money on one five-star data point.
Pros
- One UK review: very good value and more powerful than expected
Cons
- Only one amazon.co.uk review in the capture
- About 23 kg with no wheels in the comparison data
- Upper price band with little UK complaint or praise history to read
Best for: Buyers committed to gas MIG who accept thin review data and want gas plus gasless modes on a heavier SMARTMIG chassis.
Less suitable: Evidence-first shoppers who rank the 717-review GYSMI 160P ahead of any one-review MIG listing.
Specifications
- Model
- GYS SMARTMIG 152
- Brand
- GYS
- Price
- ∼£555
- Customer rating
- 5.0/5(1)
- Process
- Gas and gasless
- Gas needed
- For solid wire
- Output
- 140 A
- Consumable
- Cored or solid
- Weight
- 23.3–23.7 kg
- Supply
- 13 A
- In the box
- Torch, hose, earth
Common questions
How many reviews does the SMARTMIG 152 have?
One, at 5.0, in the October 2026 capture. That text calls it good value and more powerful than expected. One review is not a reliability study. The price is £554.77.
Does the 152 need a gas bottle?
Solid wire needs gas. Cored wire is the gasless mode. The box lists a 2.2 m torch, an earth cable and a gas hose. The bottle is not the machine.
How heavy is it?
About 23.3 kg in the bullet and 23.7 kg on the item line. There are no wheels in the comparison data. Plan to lift or slide it.
Our view
Across 717 amazon.co.uk reviews, the GYSMI 160P is the stick inverter most UK buyers in this set actually own, and they use it for farm gates, trailer repairs, and thick mild steel rather than showroom demos. Reviewers describe a stable arc once Hot Start, Arc Force, and Anti-Stick are set, with rods from 1.6 mm up to 4 mm on the listing. The inverter is small enough to carry in the supplied case, and several texts say it runs quietly compared with an old transformer set. The recurring UK complaint is not weld quality but the plug: titles mention a UK plug, yet many buyers report a Euro plug and fit a BS 1363 adaptor or a new moulded plug. The mains lead is often called short, and the printed manual is hard to read without a magnifier. None of that is a laboratory weld test; it is what buyers report after real jobs.
Pros
- Compact and light enough to carry to the work
- Works from the box and is easy to set up
- Carry case holds the leads and the booklet
- Reviewers used it on thick steel pieces
- Quiet running
Cons
- Euro plug reported in UK reviews; buyers fit a BS 1363 adaptor or replacement
- Power lead described as short for larger garages
- Instruction print is very small
- Some reviewers assumed rods, leads, and PPE were included when they were not
Best for: Garage and farm repair on mild steel, cast iron, and stainless with coated rods; buyers who want stick without a gas bottle.
Less suitable: Buyers who need tidy thin-sheet MIG indoors; anyone who cannot check or replace a non-UK plug before first use.
Specifications
- Model
- GYS GYSMI 160P
- Brand
- GYS
- Price
- ∼£214
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(717)
- Process
- Stick
- Gas needed
- No
- Output
- 10–160 A
- Consumable
- 1.6–4 mm
- Supply
- 230 V
- UK plug
- Euro reported
- In the box
- Holder, earth, adaptor
Common questions
Does the GYSMI 160P arrive with a UK plug?
The title says UK plug. Many UK reviews report a Euro plug, and the box includes a plug adaptor. Fit a BS 1363 adaptor or a moulded plug before you use it. Do not rewire it yourself.
What rods does the 160P listing allow?
1.6–4 mm. The listing names rutile, basic, stainless and cast iron on direct current. GYS claims up to 10 mm on steel. That claim is the manufacturer line, not a bead we measured.
What is in the 160P box?
The listing says the GYSMI 160P, a plug adaptor, an earth cable and an electrode holder. Reviewers who expected rods and PPE found they were not included.
Our view
The SmartMig 142 is a dual-mode MIG station at £399.75, listed for solid wire with gas and cored wire without, at a 140 A class on steel and stainless in the bullets. Only eight amazon.co.uk reviews sit behind the 4.4 average, so treat praise as early signal, not a UK track record. French and European marketplace comments mention chassis work and beginner-friendly adjustment; the machine takes 4 kg spools and weighs about 23 kg with no wheels. UK buyers should plan to lift or slide it rather than roll it around a busy garage. One review mentions a breakdown and questions warranty support. You still need correct polarity, wire type, and a gas bottle if you choose solid wire, even though the listing also covers gasless cored wire.
Pros
- Does the job
- Good quality for the money and enough for substantial work, including a chassis conversion in one French review
- Simple adjustment, suitable for a beginner
- Takes 4 kg spools
Cons
- Only eight UK reviews despite a strong star average
- About 23 kg and no wheels; awkward to reposition often
- One review reports breakdown and warranty uncertainty
- Bullets mention both 13 A and 16 A supply wording — confirm against your ring main
Best for: Light workshop MIG where you can store gas and want both shielded and flux-core modes on one GYS box.
Less suitable: Buyers who move the set daily without help; anyone who wants hundreds of UK reviews before committing.
Specifications
- Model
- GYS SmartMig 142
- Brand
- GYS
- Price
- ∼£400
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(8)
- Process
- Gas and gasless
- Gas needed
- For solid wire
- Output
- 140 A class
- Consumable
- 0.6–0.9 mm
- Weight
- 22.4–23.3 kg
- Supply
- 13 A or 16 A
- In the box
- Machine
Common questions
Can the SmartMig 142 run without gas?
Yes, on 0.9 mm cored wire. Solid wire at 0.6 or 0.8 mm needs a gas bottle. Polarity has to match the wire. The listing does not make the bottle optional for solid wire.
What supply do the bullets name?
They mention both a 16 A supply and a domestic 13 A socket. Confirm that against your ring main before you buy. Weight is about 22.4–23.3 kg, with no wheels.
How deep is the review file?
4.4 from eight amazon.co.uk reviews. That is an early signal. One review mentions a breakdown and warranty uncertainty. It is not the 717-review stick file.
Our view
This listing bundles the GYSMI 160P inverter with an LCD welding helmet in the title, at £285.82 with 4.2 out of 5 from 351 reviews. Positive texts compare striking and stick release favourably with older transformer sets and say the inverter did not trip the house breaker where a previous machine did. Reviewers praise the small footprint, shoulder strap, and quiet running on jobs such as long beads on about 6 mm plate. The downside is severity, not nit-picking: multiple reviews report units that died after a minute or after a few centimetres of weld, with frustration about returns. The manual is thin, and the box contents are less clear than on the standalone 160P row. Treat the helmet as a convenience bundle, not proof the welder outranks the main 160P listing on reliability.
Pros
- Easier striking and less sticking than an older transformer set
- Does not throw the house breaker the way the reviewer's old set did
- Usable on about 6 mm with long beads, in one review
- Very small, light, shoulder strap for work at height
- Quiet
Cons
- Several reviews report early unit failure after minimal welding
- Return and support paths described as difficult in those fault reports
- Manual described as thin
- Full in-the-box list is less clear than on the standalone 160P listing
Best for: Buyers who want a 160 A-class stick set and a basic auto-darkening helmet in one order, and who will test on scrap immediately.
Less suitable: Anyone who already owns rated head and eye protection; buyers who prioritise the deepest UK review file on a single welder-only listing.
Specifications
- Model
- GYS GYSMI 160P with LCD helmet
- Brand
- GYS
- Price
- ∼£286
- Customer rating
- 4.2/5(351)
- Process
- Stick + helmet
- Gas needed
- No
- Output
- 160 A
- Supply
- 230 V
- In the box
- Helmet in title
Common questions
Is this a different welder from the standalone 160P?
The digest treats it as the 160P plus an LCD helmet, not a different inverter. The price is £285.82 against £213.97 for the welder-only listing. The star line is 4.2 from 351 reviews.
What failures do reviews report?
Several reviews say a unit died after a minute or after a few centimetres of weld, and that returns were difficult. Other texts praise striking, a shoulder strap and quiet running on about 6 mm plate.
Is the helmet a reason to skip separate PPE?
No. The helmet is in the title. The full box list is less clear than on the standalone 160P. Eye protection still has to meet BS EN 379. Test the set on scrap before a real job.
Our view
At £179.95 with 58 reviews, the GYSMI 130P is the lighter stick option in this GYS set, and reviewers contrast it with bulky transformer sets they no longer want to move. One UK text mentions welding about 6 mm mild steel; hot start, arc force, and anti-stick are credited with stopping rods freezing on restarts. The carry case and a dial-based setting guide match hobby and small-shop use, including a reviewer who ran roughly half an hour without hitting the thermal cut-out. Weight is quoted around 2.9 kg in marketing copy but nearer 4.26 kg on the item line, so do not expect pocket-sized kit. Plug and lead length follow the same pattern as the 160P: UK buyers change the plug, and several wish the leads were longer. The case foam is described as flimsy, and the combined power/current dial doubles as the off switch, which one buyer found unsettling.
Pros
- Much smaller and lighter than a transformer stick set, still welds mild steel including about 6 mm in one review
- Hot start, arc force, and anti-stick mean rods rarely freeze
- Setting guide matches rod thickness
- Carry case
- Hobby and small-shop beads, including a reviewer who ran about 30 minutes without hitting the thermal limit
Cons
- Plug often needs changing to a UK moulded plug
- Leads shorter than many reviewers wanted
- Case described as flimsy with foam insert only
- On/off is part of the current dial, which worried one reviewer
Best for: Budget stick welding on a 13 A domestic supply; occasional hobby beads and tacks on mild steel.
Less suitable: Heavy structural work at the top of the 130 A class; buyers who want the review depth of the 160P listing.
Specifications
- Model
- GYS GYSMI 130P
- Brand
- GYS
- Price
- ∼£180
- Customer rating
- 4.0/5(58)
- Process
- Stick
- Gas needed
- No
- Output
- 130 A class
- Weight
- 2.9–4.26 kg
- Supply
- 230 V
- UK plug
- Often changed
- In the box
- Case
Common questions
How much current does this 130P listing state?
It is a 130 A class machine. This listing does not print a 10–130 A range. Rod diameters are named as types, not as numbered sizes. The accessory listing is the one that prints 1.6–3.2 mm.
Which weight figure is on the page?
Marketing copy says about 2.9 kg. The item line says 4.26 kg. Treat that as a conflict and check the label. Dimensions on the item line are 25.5 x 11 x 17 cm.
Does the bare 130P include leads?
The included line is the welder with a case. UK reviews still say the plug often needs changing to a moulded UK plug, and that the leads are shorter than they wanted.
Our view
Easymig 140 is the only listing in this eight-ASIN set that combines gas MIG, flux-core without gas, and MMA stick in one inverter, at £551.69 with 4.0 from five reviews. Reviewers describe stable DIY use and flux-core success without hiring gas first, which matches buyers who want one box before they commit to a bottle. Weight is about 11.3 kg, lighter than the 23 kg SMARTMIG stations, but the MIG torch cable is often called short for larger bays. The listing notes mention Euro torch fittings and reverse polarity for cored wire — details you must confirm in the manual before first arc. Sample size is tiny next to the GYSMI 160P, so treat it as a multiprocess option with early positive signals, not a proven UK default.
Pros
- Fine for DIY, easy to use, feels stable
- Flux-core welding worked for the reviewer who had not used gas
- Short non-UK comments say everything is fine
Cons
- MIG torch cable described as short
- Only five UK reviews in the capture
- Euro torch and polarity steps need careful manual checks for flux-core
- Premium price against stick-only GYSMI options with deeper review files
Best for: DIY buyers who want MIG, flux-core, and occasional stick in one inverter without two separate machines.
Less suitable: Pure stick-only budgets; welders who need long torch reach across a full car bay.
Specifications
- Model
- GYS Easymig 140
- Brand
- GYS
- Price
- ∼£552
- Customer rating
- 4.0/5(5)
- Process
- MIG, flux, stick
- Gas needed
- For solid wire
- Output
- 140 A class
- Consumable
- Wire or rutile
- Weight
- 11.3 kg
- Supply
- 230 V
- In the box
- Torch, holder, earth
Common questions
Which processes does the Easymig listing combine?
Gas MIG with solid wire, cored wire without gas, and MMA with rutile electrodes. Ref 032262. It is the only row in this set that states all three. The price is £551.69.
What leads are in the box?
A 2.2 m MIG torch rated 150 A, a 1.6 m earth cable and a 1.6 m electrode holder. Reviews call the MIG torch cable short. Weight is about 11.3 kg.
Is five reviews enough at this price?
No. 4.0 from five reviews is an early signal. Confirm Euro torch fittings and flux-core polarity in the manual. The 160P file is much deeper, and it is stick only.
Our view
The SMARTMIG 110 is marketed as gas-free MIG only, at £315 with 3.5 out of 5 from 25 UK reviews — a weaker score than the stick listings in this comparison. Beginners do report usable beads on 4 mm box section and thin car panels after practice, and the fixed 2.2 m torch and 14 kg weight suit move-to-job work without a bottle. UK complaints cluster elsewhere: wire feed slip that needs resetting, thermal cut-out on longer seams, and supplied wire described as wrong for gasless use. Reviewers also question full-power penetration on thicker plate. The listing carries conflicting “2-in-1 gas and no gas” marketing next to a gas-free process line, so read the process row before you buy consumables. On an October 2026 check the page sometimes showed no featured offer; verify live price and seller before you order.
Pros
- A complete beginner produced usable welds on 4 mm mild-steel box after practice
- Thin car-panel seals welded without blowing through, in one review
- Intuitive and well made, in short reviews
Cons
- Wire feed slip and reset reported in UK reviews
- Thermal cut-out on longer seams; not fan-cooled per complaint pattern
- Wire supplied described as unsuitable for this gasless set
- Conflicting listing bullets on gas vs gas-free; verify before buying wire
Best for: Short outdoor or mobile jobs on mild steel with self-bought flux-cored wire and modest seam length.
Less suitable: Long continuous welds, thick plate at full power, or buyers who want the review depth of the GYSMI 160P.
Specifications
- Model
- GYS SMARTMIG 110
- Brand
- GYS
- Price
- ∼£315
- Customer rating
- 3.5/5(25)
- Process
- Gasless MIG
- Gas needed
- No
- Output
- 110 A class
- Consumable
- 0.9 mm cored
- Weight
- 14 kg
- Supply
- 230 V, 13 A
- In the box
- Fixed torch, earth
Common questions
Is the SMARTMIG 110 gas or gasless?
The process line says gas-free MIG only, with 0.9 mm cored wire and a 100 mm reel. A special-feature line also says 2-in-1 gas and no gas. Read the process row before you buy wire. On 20 October 2026 the page showed 3.1 from 25 and no featured offer.
What do the 25 reviews complain about?
UK reviews describe wire-feed slip, thermal cut-out on longer seams, and supplied wire that did not suit gasless use. The star line in the scrape used for scoring is 3.5 from 25. Beginners also report usable beads on 4 mm box after practice.
What comes in the box?
The SMARTMIG 110, an earth cable and a 2.2 m fixed torch. Weight in the bullet is 14 kg. Supply is stated as a single domestic 230 V 13 A socket.
How we compared
Eight amazon.co.uk listings were scored for this page. Weights sum to 100. There is no separate scoring note in the display folder, so the weights follow the digest checks. The top pick is the GYSMI 160P because 4.6 from 717 reviews is the deepest file. The best value is the bare GYSMI 130P at £179.95. A 5.0 from one or four reviews does not outrank that file. There was no lab test. A printed EN 60974 line is a claim, not a test repeated here.
1
Review depth
30%Star rating on amazon.co.uk with the count. A 5.0 from one or four reviews does not outrank 4.6 from 717. A missing offer or a thin file stays low.
2
Process fit
25%Stick for wind, rust and no bottle. Gas MIG for clean thin steel indoors. Gasless MIG for outdoors without a bottle. Only the Easymig listing combines MIG, flux-core and MMA.
3
UK supply
25%230 V mains. A 13 A BS 1363 plug is not a 16 A circuit. GYS installation text for the GYSMI family still prefers a higher-rated socket for intensive use. Euro plugs in UK reviews deduct.
4
Thickness and consumable
20%Stated amps and the rod or wire the listing allows. The 160P lists 10–160 A and 1.6–4 mm electrodes. The accessory 130P stops at 3.2 mm. The 110 is cored wire on 100 mm reels.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
GYS welder buying guide
The checks run in this order: process, thickness and consumable, the UK socket, then review depth. The table is eight listings. It does not cover the whole GYS catalogue. None of these machines was lab-tested for weld quality or duty cycle.
What these GYS listings are
This comparison keeps eight amazon.co.uk listings: two stick inverters, one stick set sold with a helmet, three SMARTMIG wire stations and one multiprocess inverter. GYSMI models are DC stick machines, about 3–4 kg for the power source on the listings that print a weight, with a carry case and Hot Start, Arc Force and Anti-Stick on the rows that state those aids. The 160P plus LCD helmet is the same class of inverter with a helmet in the title, not a second welder design.
Best for
- Home and farm repair you can carry and run from a domestic supply
- A light garage that can store a gas bottle for clean thin steel
Not ideal for
- A first bead on 4 mm rods or on a structural joint
- Anyone who will not open the plug before switching on
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Trusting the words UK plug
GYSMI reviews repeatedly describe a Euro plug and an adaptor. Look in the box. A title is not the pin pattern.
- 2
Gas MIG in the wind
Shielding gas blows off outdoors. That job is stick or flux-core, with the polarity the manual states for cored wire.
- 3
Reading a duty cycle with no amps
A percentage without the current it belongs to is not a rating you can plan a long bead on. This page does not assign 60% at 160 A to the GYSMI.
What to weigh up
Process and thickness
HighMatch the machine to the metal you actually repair. Farm gates, rusty brackets and outdoor tacks are stick: the 160P at £213.97 with 717 reviews, or the bare 130P at £179.95 with 58. The accessory 130P at £273.88 adds leads and a case on four reviews. Thin indoor steel with a bottle is the 142 or the 152, and both are about 23 kg with eight reviews and one review. Mobile gasless work is the 110, if you accept 3.5 from 25 and a conflicting gas bullet.
Socket, plug and fume
HighPlan the supply before the amp headline. A domestic 13 A socket will run these sets for occasional beads and will not match a 16 A European circuit for intensive use. The 142 bullets name both. Coiled extension leads are a known way to overheat a cable. If you need a 16 A or 32 A outlet, that is an electrician, not a note in the manual. Fume is the same check. Indoors, local exhaust, however short the weld. Outdoors, RPE at the level HSE describes for arc welding, not a dust mask.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Occasional hobby stick
You want the lowest stick price in this set and you will check the plug. The bare GYSMI 130P is the best value at about £179.95, with 4.0 from 58 reviews. Weight lines disagree: about 2.9 kg and 4.26 kg.
One box for wire and stick
You want gas MIG, flux-core and MMA before you own two machines. The Easymig 140 is about £551.69, with 4.0 from five reviews, at about 11.3 kg. Five reviews are an early signal, not a track record.
Common questions about GYS welders
Which GYS welder is the top pick for 2026?
The top pick is the GYSMI 160P, ref 030077, at £213.97. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 717 reviews, the deepest file in this set. It is a 10–160 A stick inverter with Hot Start, Arc Force and Anti-Stick, and rods from 1.6 mm to 4 mm. Reviewers use it on gates, trailers and thick mild steel. The repeated UK complaint is a Euro plug behind a UK-plug title. It does not feed wire.
How much does a GYS welder cost on amazon.co.uk?
In this scrape the bare 130P is £179.95 and the 160P is £213.97. The accessory 130P is £273.88. The 160P with an LCD helmet is £285.82. The SMARTMIG 110 is £315, the SmartMig 142 is £399.75, the Easymig 140 is £551.69 and the SMARTMIG 152 is £554.77. A later B&Q listing of the 160P was £258.30, so £213.97 is not a permanent price. These are shelf snapshots, not a market average.
Stick or MIG for home repair?
Choose stick when the job is rusty, windy, or you will not store a bottle. That is the GYSMI pair. Choose gas MIG when you want cleaner thin steel indoors and you can keep a cylinder. Choose gasless wire when you want no bottle and you accept flux-core fume and polarity. Only the Easymig states all three in one box, on five reviews. The process split is set out on the MMA or MIG page.
Will a GYS welder run from a UK 13 A socket?
UK mains are 230 V. A 13 A BS 1363 plug is not a 16 A circuit, and TWI notes that the 13 A plug further limits a single-phase set. GYS installation text for the GYSMI family calls a 13 A UK plug the UK supply version and still prefers a higher-rated socket for intensive use, with 25 A named for the 160P. The SmartMig 142 bullets mention both 13 A and 16 A. Do not coil a long extension lead. A new circuit is an electrician’s job.
Why do UK reviews mention a Euro plug?
Several GYSMI reviews say the box contained a Euro plug even when the title said UK plug. Buyers then fit a BS 1363 adaptor or a moulded replacement. The 160P listing includes a plug adaptor. Confirm the plug before the first arc. Do not bypass a fuse and do not rewire the lead yourself. Great Britain accepts UKCA or CE marking on electrical equipment. The mark is not proof the plug matches your socket.
Is the SMARTMIG 110 a safe first MIG?
Not on the review file alone. The scrape scores 3.5 from 25 reviews. UK texts describe wire-feed slip, thermal cut-out on longer seams, and supplied wire that did not suit gasless use. A conflicting bullet says 2-in-1 gas and no gas beside a gas-free process line. On 20 October 2026 the page had no featured offer and showed 3.1 from 25. Beginners did report usable beads on 4 mm box after practice. Verify the live offer before you order.
What fume controls apply in a UK garage?
HSE classifies mild-steel welding fume as a human carcinogen. Use local exhaust indoors even for a short weld. Outdoors, do not rely on extraction. HSE prefers a powered or air-fed respirator at APF 20 or better for arc welding. An FFP3 mask is only discussed for work under about an hour, does not stop welding gases, and needs a face fit. Eye protection for an auto-darkening filter is BS EN 379. If the case tingles, stop.
When should I call a professional instead?
Call a qualified welder for structural or safety-critical joints, tanks and confined spaces. Call an electrician for a new 16 A or 32 A circuit. Do not start on 4 mm rods or a chassis rail as a first bead. Scratch-start TIG and aluminium are not what these amazon bullets promise. Wider gas-MIG choices, beyond this GYS set, are on the MIG MAG welding machine comparison.
Our verdict
The top pick is the GYS GYSMI 160P at £213.97, with 4.6 from 717 reviews, for stick work without a gas bottle. UK reviews describe a stable arc and, repeatedly, a Euro plug rather than a moulded BS 1363 plug. The best value is the bare GYSMI 130P at £179.95, with 4.0 from 58 reviews. A 5.0 from four reviews on the accessory 130P, or from one review on the SMARTMIG 152, does not replace the 160P file. The SMARTMIG 110 is the weak score in the set, 3.5 from 25, with feed and heat complaints.
Best value
View offer
GYS GYSMI 130P
Lowest stick price in the set at £179.95, with 4.0 from 58 reviews and a carry case. Less review depth than the 160P, and the plug often needs changing.
Editorial
Editor
DIY & toolsSoldering and weldingamazon.co.uk listings
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to GYS welders
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Best GYS welderTop pick and best value, and who should skip each.GYS welder buying guideProcess, thickness and the socket, without the ASIN table.How to set up a GYS welderPlug, polarity and the first arc. No ranking.MMA or MIGGYSMI stick against SMARTMIG and Easymig.Gasless outdoor weldingNo-gas wire, wind and outdoor respiratory protection.
Related comparisons
Sources
Sources taken from the research digest. Listings were checked on 20 October 2026.
- HSE — Mild steel welding fume (retrieved 20.10.2026)
- HSE — Controlling welding risks (retrieved 20.10.2026)
- TWI — Mains supply for arc welding (retrieved 20.10.2026)
- GYS — GYSMI 160P (retrieved 20.10.2026)
- GOV.UK — Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 2016 (retrieved 20.10.2026)
- amazon.co.uk — GYSMI 160P (retrieved 20.10.2026)
- Express Weldcare — GYS 160P installation PDF (retrieved 20.10.2026)
- HSE — WL3 welding fume checklist (retrieved 20.10.2026)
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts come from stored amazon.co.uk listings. We did not run a lab test.