Best Flux Core Welders of 2022 – Reviews With Buying Guide

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Practicing testing provides clear results on which welder is better than others. That's why we have tested a large number of popular flux core welders in our facility, and the result has made us able to offer the list below. So, if you are in search of a quality flux core welding machine for DIY or professional tasks, go for the items below.

Quick Comparison On Our Top Picks

Best Flux Core Welders 2022 Reviews

1. Hobart Handler 140 Flux Core Welder - Best Overall

This welding machine is powered by common 115 volt electrical circuits. That means that you will never have trouble finding a power source for your welding needs. With that 115 volt input the machine can produce 140 amps of output. 

It has a five position voltage control knob so you can have a stable arc and a smooth weld no matter what metals or thicknesses you are working with. It is recommended for use with titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, mild steel, and a wide variety of metals.

The machine weighs only 65 pounds so it can easily be moved around and used in various locations. It measures 19 inches x 11 inches x 13 inches so it is small and easy to store, even in crowded garages.

This Hobart welder has a 20% duty cycle. That means that for every ten minutes it will provide 2 minutes of optimum performance. This duty cycle is based on the highest output amps, so if you reduce the number of amps you can increase the duty cycle of the machine.

This welder will give you industrial performance in a homeowner size apparatus. It comes with heavy duty work clamps, and has a cast aluminum drive system that allows the machine to be quieter during operation.

Pros

Cons

2. Forney Easy Weld 261 - Flux Core Welder

This is the perfect welding machine for beginners as well as skilled craftsmen. You do not need, and cannot use, shielded gas with this machine. Unlike the Hobart Handler 140, this is an absolute FC-i welder with half of the price of Hobart. We only rank the Hobart 140 in number 1 because of its multi-process function. But, for those who are looking for a complete and solo flux core machine Easy Weld 261 is the champion product for them.

It is powerful enough to weld 24 gauge metals that is as much as ¼” thick. That amazing ability is produced with a 120 volt electrical input. It plugs into a standard household circuit. It also produces as much as a 140 amp output.

This Forney Easy Weld comes complete with a ground clamp, and a MIG gun. It can only be operated with flux core wire so it comes with a .030” wire sample to get you started.

The machine measures 16.7 inches x 12 inches x 8.1 inches and weighs only 19 pounds. It can be used outdoors or in areas where large shop fans are creating a draft. It can also be used on new metal, dirty metal, painted metal, rusty metals etc.

It is designed so that you can hold the electrode in any position needed to make it come into contact with the metals you need to create a weld on.

Pros

Cons

3. Forney Easy Weld 299 125FC Flux Core Welder

This unit underperforms compared to Forney’s Easy Weld 261 when it comes to output amperage. The 261 provides 140 Amp while it is 125 Amp for the 299. The 261 model also seems to handle .035 wires better, but you can still use them for 299 with effort. Staggering how the 261, being improved in so many fields, weighs a lot less than the 299!

Beginner and hobbyist welders who would want to purchase a quality flux core welder by Forney at an affordable price will find the 299 as a great choice. Providing great control over wire feed speed, the welder seems to give proper precision for welding thin and thick sheets.

If your budget isn’t good enough for the 261 and the amperage of 125A is suitable for your work, the 299 is an excellent pick. It is an overall better choice than Forney’s competitors.

Pros

Cons

4. Super Deal PRO Commercial 130 AC Flux Core Welder

The best part of this product is its price. There are other multi process welding machines that are as low as Super Deal PRO. But, remember, this is an AC-powered machine while for Flux-core welding, DC output is the best for a smooth process.

So, if you are a beginner and would like to practice a bit with a powerful machine at having an affordable price then go for it. However, if you can up your budget, Forney Easy Weld 261 is a far better product than Super Deal.

This is a small welding machine, but it has plenty of power to do the welding you need to do. It can produce as much as 130 amps and is powered by a simple 110 volt electrical outlet. You plug it into your household outlets and go to work.

This machine weighs only 38 pounds so it is easy for everyone to pick up and move around. It can be easily stored on a shelf in the basement or garage of your home.

You get ten levels of wire feed speed settings so you can have the precise speed according to the metal you are welding. This means you will have smoother welds that require less cleaning and less slag removal.

It comes complete with 0.5 pounds of welding wire, a welding protection face mask, a wire brush, a chipping hammer, a 2.5M torch, 2 spare tips, a ground cord, and the grounding clamp.

This welder is ideal for beginners, for homeowners, for small ranch owners, and around the sop use. It can weld mild steel, stainless, copper, steel alloy, brass, and many other metal varieties.

Pros

Cons

5. Reboot Flux Core Welding Machine - Best Value

This is a powerful flux core welder that requires 220 volt electrical circuits to operate. It needs that much fuel because it has an output range of 30 amps to 175 amps. You will be able to get the desired weld on whatever metal, and whatever thickness of metal, that you are working on with that kind of output.

You can easily weld materials that are up to 1 mm thick. It is perfect for mild steel, but can be used on the majority of metal types, and can even be used on metal that has been exposed to air, wind, rain, and other elements that cause it to oxidize, or rust.

It comes complete with a 1 x 2m cable, a work clamp, a 1 x 2m cable with an electrode holder, a MIG welding torch that is a 1 x 2m MB15, 1 kg of wire, 1 x 3m gas hose.

This is a small machine that is perfect for hobbyist, craft workers, homeowners, small business owners, automobile repair and restoration, decorative yard ornaments, farm machinery, mowing equipment, marine and sporting equipment repair. It provides a clean and smooth weld and in most cases only needs one pass to create a strong bond.

Pros

Cons

6. Goplus AC Flux Core Automatic Feed Welder

This is both a flux core welder and a MIG gas welder so you are getting the benefits of two welding machines in one small package. The exterior of this machine is made of a heavy duty stainless steel so it will not rust or corrode, and will help make the operation of the machine quieter.

It is easy to use and has only four simple buttons for you to adjust. That means that set up will take only a few minutes. You can adjust the flow settings and the wire feed speed so that you have the best wire speed for the material you are working with. The wire feed knob allows you to adjust the speed to one of ten different settings.

This is a miniature size welding machine that has the capabilities of a machine three times its size. It is perfect for the homeowner and restoration specialist, and it is perfect for shops that work on lawn equipment and other metal items.

Both the beginner and the professional welder can get a lot of use from this little power house. This machine comes with everything you need to start welding as soon as you get it out of the box.

Pros

7. Lotos 140 Amp MIG Wire Flux Core Welder

This is a combination welder that gives you the ability to weld with flux wire or weld as a MIG welder with a solid core wire and a shielding gas. You get two powerful welding processes at your fingertips in one small package.

It is powered by the common 110 volt electrical supply you already have in your home, garage, shop or office. You do not need anything special to be able to power this machine.

It has the ability to use a wire range of .025” to .030” in the solid core wire used for MIG welding and .030” to .035” wire.

You can utilize it to weld 24 gauge steel that is up to 3/16” thick. It has an adjustable wire speed for the wire feeder that helps you to maintain the proper weld for whatever material you are working with.

In the package you get the appropriate MIG torch, a ground cable clamp, a gas hose, a ground cable, an Argon gas regulator, contact tips size .023” and .035”, a safety welding mask, and sample welding wire in sizes .025” and .030”.

Pros

Cons

Best Flux Core Welding Machine - Buying Guide

Flux core welding gives you the optimum amount of flexibility in welding. The electrode can be held in whatever position is comfortable for you and whatever position allows you to place the weld where it is needed.

This type of welding is ideal for outdoor welding because the protected flux works even in windy or drafty areas. It is also great for thicker metals, and for metal that is not pristine.

When choosing a flux core welding machine look for the following things.

Easy to Use Selections

One of the things you need your flux core welder to possess is an interface that is easy to use. You want to be able to select wire speeds and wire feed with a simple adjustment.

Some machines have preset push button selections and some use a rotary dial. Generally, the machines with rotary dial knobs have a wider range of selections and settings.

Preset selections make the welding process easier for beginners.

A Large number of wire feed speeds

In order to weld different materials and get a clean and professional looking finish you will need to be able to adjust your wire feed speed accordingly. You want to buy a machine that will give you at least ten different wire feed speed settings to choose from.

Easy setup

You want a flux core welder that will be very easy to set up and to put away. You want to be able to set your welding machine up and be welding n less than five minutes. If the setup process is complicated then you are going to be reluctant to bring the machine out.

Lightweight and portable

You want a flux core welder that is lightweight and easily transported. This will give you the freedom to weld in a variety of locations.

Combination Process Capabilities

If you buy a welding machine that can be used as a MIG, a flux core welder and a stick welder then you will be able to do any welding process that you might need to do without purchasing additional equipment.

Useful with a variety of metals

You want to buy a machine that can weld a wide variety of materials. Get a machine that can handle stainless steel, mild steel, steel alloy, copper, brass, metal plate, aluminum and cast iron.

Capable of handling 110 volt or 220 volt input

A dual voltage machine will allow you to work easily in more locations.

Why Flux Core Welding?

Flux core welding is a welding process that allows you to get deep penetration when you are welding thicker sections of metal. This type of welding allows you to seam thicker pieces of metal together with a smooth weld and it is much more forgiving if the metal you are using is dirty, rusty, or rough.

Flux core uses a welding machine appropriate for MIG welding. It simply uses a different electrode to create the welds with. Many people like the fact that if they have an MIG welder they have the capability to choose between the flux core process or the MIG process.

The biggest reason why people choose to use the flux core process is the fact that the shielded electrode allows the welder to work in outdoor scenarios where they may be a wind that would otherwise interfere with MIG welding.

Welders also like the fact that the flux core process is fast. Most welders can weld ½” pieces of metal together using just one pass when they are using the flux core process.

The flux core electrode stops the welder from having to carry a bottle of shielding gas with them, so it saves set up time and money.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to use flux core welder?

Prepare your metal for the welding process by cleaning it and removing anything that will interfere with your work. Then check the cables on your machine to assure a good connection, select the polarity of either DC electrode negative or straight polarity, make sure your drive roll is appropriate, check your tension and make adjustments if needed, then inspect your consumables to ascertain whether they are in good condition. You are ready to work.

What can you weld with a 125 amp flux core welder?

The 125 amp flux core welding machine will be capable of welding mild steel that is as thin as an 18 gauge and mild steel that is as thick as 3/16”. This is the ideal size welding machine for most homeowners and small businesses or farm use.

What is a flux core welder good for?

Flux core is a great welding process if you are working on thicker pieces of metal to create a seam or joint. It is frequently the chosen process when welders are repairing an object, manufacturing items, or working in situations such as a ship-builder or fabricator.

How does a flux core welder work?

Flux core welding makes use of a welding wire that has an inner core that is capable of producing the fluxing agent and the shielding gas you need to weld in MIG style without you having to have a separate bottle of shielding gas connected to your welding torch. The flux wire is your welding connection and the gas to make it work is included in the wire.

How to set up a MIG welder for flux core?

The main concern that you have when setting up a MIG welding process welder to do flux core welding is setting the polarity of the machine correctly. You should choose the direct current electrode negative or DCEN setting.

Final Note

Now that you have gone through all these amazing flux core welders, if you are still confused about which one you should pick, based on the features and benefits, the Forney Easy Weld 26I and the Reboot Flux Core Welding Machine will be the best choice for you. They come with all the necessary tools you need. Both are lightweight and easy to operate. They provide the maximum output with the minimum input.

Both of them can weld metal of high thickness and are designed for welding many types of metals, whether new or old and rusted. Their size and weight make them suitable for any type of workplace.

May you get through the hard task of getting the perfect welding machine with no problem with the help of these reviews. You can feel free to check the reviews thoroughly and repeatedly to make sure that the one you will get is the best one.