4 Best Forney Welder Reviews and Analysis in 2022

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Forney is one of the leading manufacturers of welding machines. They have a great reputation for building excellent products. They have an even better reputation for providing perfect customer service.

We want everyone who looks at our website to have all of the information they need to select and buy the best welding equipment and accessories possible. To make sure that we reviewed the very best we asked our welding professionals to give us Forney welder reviews.

Forney Welder Reviews

Needless to say, the experts were delighted to do that for us. The following four reviews are in no particular order. They are the four Forney welders that our experts said we should be sure our readers were aware of.


Quick Look On Our Best Picks


Image

Name

Feature

Price

Forney Easy Weld 140 MP

Big enough to handle 2 and 10 pound rolls of wire

Forney Easy Weld 271 Welder

Flowmeter and gas hose included

Forney Easy Weld 261

Lightweight 19 lbs. easily carried to any DIY

Forney Easy Weld 29901 125 FC MIG Welder Start-Up Kit

Welds 24 gauge up to 1/4 inch

Forney Easy Weld 298 Arc Welder

120 volt input and 90 amp output

Forney 324 3-in-one 190-Amp Welder

Move at the right speed that fits your need

Forney Welder Reviews 2022


1. Forney Easy Weld 140 MP

Specifications

  • Weight: 25.8 pounds
  • Dimensions: 14.19 x 19.31 x 11.61
  • Color: Green
  • Material: Metal
  • Measurement System: Metric
Forney Easy Weld 140 MP

This welding machine will give you the ability to do MIG welding processes and Flux core processes. It is capable of welding materials that are up to ¼” thick. You can use it in the most common sheet metals. The MIG gun that comes with this welding machine has a Euro connect. This gun comes with a 10’ lead.

This is a 120-volt machine that can provide you as much as a 140 amp output. You power it with your standard 110v household electrical current. It is great for small farm use, personal use, automotive shops, hobbyist, and small repair shops.

The machine only weighs 56 pounds so you can easily load it into the back of your truck or on a trailer if you need to take it somewhere to do a job. It is a small welding machine but it has the power it takes to do the job. You can lay a smooth bead in a short amount of time using this machine.

You will need to purchase the shielding gas separately because that does not come with the machine. You will also need an Argon/Co2 regulator that is not sold with the machine. 

Pros


  • Has the ability to MIG weld up to ¼” mild steel in a single pass.
  • Suitable for stick welding and accepts up to 1/8” electrodes.
  • 140 A power at a cheap rate makes it suitable for beginners.
  • Comes with a decent 10’ MIG gun.

Cons


  • Not made for TIG aluminum weld. It is a DC-only device.
  • Only takes a 120V supply.

2. Forney 309 140-Amp MIG Welder

Specifications

  • Weight: 62 pounds
  • Dimensions: 10 x 16 x 20
  • Voltage: 120 Volts
  • Flowmeter and gas hose included
  • Welds up to 1/4 inch
Forney Easy Weld 271 Welder

This welding machine does it all. It is a MIG welder, a TIG welder, and a stick welder. The only thing you need to buy is the accessories you would use in your TIG welding processes. There is a simple three-position switch that allows you to choose the type of welding you will be engaging in.

There are infinite voltage controls and wire feed speed controls that allow you to customize how the machine functions according to the welding you will be doing, and the material you will be working with. This means you will make prettier welds that require less clean-up when you are finished. It also allows you to make stronger welds that hold longer.

It comes with a 10’MIG gun, an 8’ electrode holder for stick welding, a 20AQ -15A adapter and a contact tip size .030”. It has an output range between 10 and 140A. It has a current range of 43 to 110A and a rated output voltage of 12 – 23V.

This machine can handle rolls of wire between 2 and 10 pounds. You can use gas or gasless wire, and weld metal as thick as ¼”. The entire machine weighs only 25 pounds.

Pros


  • You can work with 0.023, 0.03, and 0.035 wires with this welder.
  • A large cabinet inside is suitable for storing welding tools. As a result, it gives you the ability to carry a compact setup everywhere.
  • Gives a proper and smooth arc due to the aluminum wire feed system.
  • You can access both 4” and 8” spools because of its bigger size.

Cons


  • 140 amp isn’t good enough for heavy-duty tasks.

3. Forney Easy Weld 261, 140 FC-i Welder

Specifications

  • Weight: 19 pounds
  • Dimensions: 16.7 x 12 x 8.1
  • Voltage: 120 Volts
  • Material: Metal
  • Power Source: AC
Forney Easy Weld 261

This is a little welding machine that weighs only 19 pounds. It may be small but do not underestimate the ability this little powerhouse has. It can produce up to a 140 amp output and weld metal that is up to ¼” thick.

It has features like infinite wire feed speed control just like you expect to see on larger welding machines. It can handle wire spools from 2 pounds to 10 pounds. The machine comes with an 8’ MIG gun, a ground clamp that measures 8’, an integrated handle that has torch wrap, and an adapter to change from 15A to 20A.

This machine is recommended for small farms and ranches, private homeowners or beginners, small auto-shops, repair shops and more. It will give you the ability to weld a wide range of materials including mild steel, steel alloy, copper, cast iron, and more.

You can carry the machine with you without having to get help to load it or have a trailer to haul it on. It is the perfect welder for the hobbyist who does decorative projects.

Pros


  • When it comes to FC welding, the 261 is lighter than most of its competitors and even the 299.
  • In a single pass, you can weld up to ¼” steels. Makes it suitable for welding ½” sheets in multi-pass.
  • Provides infinite voltage and wire feed feature. It lets you get the right values and perform precise welding.
  • 30% duty cycle at 90-amp is low but great for this low-priced welder, and it is suitable for beginners.

Cons


  • Not suitable for heavy-duty welding and aluminum welding.

4. Forney Easy Weld 299 125FC Welder

Specifications

  • Weight: 51 pounds
  • Dimensions: 12 x 18 x 24
  • Power Source: Corded-Electric
  • AMP: 125 Amps
  • Measurement System: Metric
Forney Easy Weld 29901 125 FC MIG Welder Start-Up Kit

This is a flux-core welder and cannot be operated with shielding gas. It does have the ability to weld materials that are up to 24 gauge and ¼” thick. It requires standard household electrical currents of 120 volts and is not a dual voltage machine. You do need a 20 amp breaker on the circuit you plug this machine into.

It can be used with both 2 and 10-pound wire spools. It provides as much as 125 amp output. The best wire to use with this machine is the .030”. You want to keep your stick out to ½” or less for the nest performance.

This machine is very easy to operate. The dials and controls are easy to read and adjust. To start welding all you have to do is pull the trigger on your MIG gun and let the magic begin.

This machine weighs about 51 pounds. That is not really big but you might want someone to help you if you are lifting it into the back of a truck, or when you are getting it off of a trailer. It is a perfect welder for just about anyone who does flux core processes.

Pros


  • Accepts .030” and works pretty well. It can also work with 0.035” if you are a professional.
  • Penetrates up to 3/16” pretty well. Good enough for a beginner welder.
  • Features auto restarting system, which replaces thermal protection in order to ensure safety from overheating.
  • The wire feed is highly adjustable, giving you the opportunity to work on various thicknesses.

Cons


  • Only 20% duty cycle. However, it is for 125A, which isn’t too bad for a cheap welder like this.

How to Choose the Best Forney Welders 


Welding Process Capabilities

There is more than one type of welding process. The three main welding processes are TIG, MIG, and Stick. Different equipment is required in order for you to make these different types of welds. When you are looking at a welding machine make certain the machine is capable of the process that you want to do.

MIG welders will require a shielding gas in order for them to operate. The shielding gas is sold separately. You can normally expect a MIG welder to be able to weld flux core also. Flux core utilizes a special wire that has the shielding gas designed into it.

Accessories

You want to see what accessories come with the machine you are considering. If you already have the majority of accessories that you need you might want to opt for a machine that has fewer accessories, because they may cost less.

Size and Weight

If you are buying a machine for hobby work or light welding around your home or farm; you will want to consider one of the smaller machines. You can get powerful little welding machines that weigh less than 25 pounds.

If you do heavier welding or need to weld materials that are thicker than ¼” then you will want to consider a larger welding machine.



Frequently Asked Questions


1. What gauges does Forney industries easy welder 120 volts flux-core welder weld

This welding machine can weld materials that are classified as 24 gauge. You can use it to weld 24 gauge mild steel that is as thick as ¼” with no problems. It can be used with other gauges but this is the gauge of metal that it works the best with.

2. How good is a Forney welder?

A Forney welding machine product is an excellent investment. These machines are built with high quality materials and are chosen by experienced welders often over other welding machine varieties. The machines are designed for both beginners and experienced welders.

3. Where is Forney welder made?

The Forney headquarters are located in Fort Collins, Colorado in the United States. Forney uses the greatest minds and newest technology from both the US and European developers to create the latest welding products for its customers.


Final Note


If you are looking for a multi-process welding machine then you should consider the; Forney Easy Weld 140 MP,. This machine is easy to use and it has the ability to do MIG processes, DC TIG processes and stick welding processes.

If you are looking for a lightweight MIG welder consider the Forney Easy Weld 261. This little machine weighs less than 20 pounds but does the same work that many big machines do. It can weld metal that is up to ¼” thick, and it has a 140 amp output.

Last Updated on 1 year by Richard Boyer

  • June 28, 2022
Richard Boyer
 

Richard Boyer has been a professional welder for over 27 years of his life, and now he is a trainer and blogger providing critical information to anyone interested in welding. He is helping out both hobbyists, novice and professional welders to learn newer and better techniques. Read more about me

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