If you are a newbie then flux core welding is the best place to start with.
There is less hassle in the process and there are some extra advantages as well.
I know how confusing it is to make the right purchase of a welder when you are new in this field.
Without any idea of the features of some good products it gets really hard to buy a good welder from so many available options in the market.
This is where I can help...
Here is my top 7 pick of the best flux core welder.
These welders can be used by both professional or beginners.
No matter what type of project you are doing, these welders can perform both DIY and professional welding for you.
Product Name | Features | Rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Goplus MIG 130 Flux Core Welder TOP PICK | 4 adjustable welding speed features. | ||
Forney Easy Weld 299 125FC Flux Core Welder Best For Beginner's | Welds up to 24 gauge metals. | ||
Super Deal PRO Commercial MIG 130 AC Flux Core Welder Best For Professional use | Made for both easy and professional works. | ||
Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG, Flux Core Welder Best For Multi-Purpose Use | A large variety of materials can be welded. | ||
Reboot MIG150 Flux Core Welder Best Value | Portable and extremely lightweight. |
7 Best Flux Core Welder Reviews
1. Goplus MIG 130 Flux Core Welder - TOP PICK
I have put it at the top of the list because of its ability to be used for both MIG welding and flux core welding.
The price is really low and weight is roughly 35 pounds.
This is the most lightweight and less expensive machine in the market.
The small size of it makes it convenient to store and also allows portability.
Attractive Key Features:
Made of good quality material:
It is made of stainless steel and it is painted by durable yellow paints.
This ensures a long life-span and long-lasting service by the machine.
Adjustable welding speed features:
There are 4 levels of electricity flow settings.
You can adjust the flow of the current by these 4 buttons and the maximum range is 2 and the minimum range is 1.
There is also a rotary knob which controls the wire feeding speed.
There are 10 levels of speed and you can feed wire as per your choice.
Portability with wide application:
Here is good news for you.
The GoPlus MIG 130 is capable of welding a wide variety of metals.
If you are looking for a welder that can weld steel and iron then it is what you should go for.
The welder fits perfectly with your DIY projects and gives a professional finish.
The carrying handle allows you with the portability of carrying it anywhere you want.
The lightweight of the welder makes it easy to carry and easy to store.
Other complimentary features:
There is a two-way ventilation system in the machine so that heat can dissipate.
The welding gun has an on/off safety control for your maximum safety.
The welder also comes with a reel of 0.9 and 0.55lbs welding wire and a brush for chipping.
Perfect for light use:
As I have mentioned earlier, the welder is of light weight.
Being so, it is not strong enough to handle heavy work.
If you are working on any household works or in any sorts of DIY projects then you should give this welder a try.
You will be amazed at the convenience of the welder.
Worth the price:
The welder is a complete package of welding.
That you are getting within such a small budget is certainly too many to have.
You won’t regret investing your money on the welder.
About warranty:
Goplus offers only 6 months of warranty for their product.
I know this is not an extensive period.
For such an inexpensive machine I think that is worth it.
You will even get a replacement if you send it back within 30 days.
Consideration:
Not for heavy works:
I have mentioned before already that the welder is not for heavy tasks.
The power output of the welding machine is only 110V which is not that much great if you want to do heavy work.
Unable to fuse thicker metal:
As the welder is unable to produce high power voltage that is why you won't be able to fuse thicker metals by this welder.
Steel sheet is within the range of this welding machine.
PROS
CONS
As final remarks I would like to tell you that this is a great product with outstanding features.
The performance and the service is more than the price.
You will be happy to own it.
2. Forney Easy Weld 299 125FC Flux Core Welder - Best For Beginner's
Forney is a renowned brand for making welding machines of outstanding qualities.
Forney Flux core 299 125C is not an exception.
This is another product in our list which was manufactured by keeping the necessities of the DIY welders and the new bees of welding.
Attractive Key Features:
Great flux core welder:
Do not expect the welder to perform as a 220v flux core welder.
If you are using this keeping this fact in mind you will find out how great and badass this welder is.
Users of this welder have welded ⅛” plates and angle iron with ease.
Decent results:
The welder will undoubtedly provide you a decent result.
You will be able to weld pretty hard metals as well.
There are some limitations too.
As in, You can do ¼” inches, but you might not get the penetration you need to do such welding.
Wire feeding:
This lightweight, heavy-duty welder is a little bit sensitive in case of wire feeding.
The feed tube should be kept straight while working.
Otherwise, it might not feed properly.
Easy to use:
The welder is really easy to use and set up.
You just have to follow the instructions that come with the product and you are good to go.
Reasonable input and output:
This is another great feature of the welder.
It works on only 120 volts and produces an output of 125 amp.
Keeping the size of the welder in mind, this is a reasonable output.
The power is sufficient for welding 24 gauge steel up to 1/4th of an inch.
Warranty:
The welder is warranted for up to 5 years.
The parts that are not the transformers have a 3-year warranty.
If it is used for industrial purposes, then it is reduced to 90 days.
Consideration:
Forney 299 is a 140amp welder that is suitable for only smaller pieces of metals.
It might bother you a bit if you are doing a heavy-duty project.
PROS
CONS
If you are looking for a smaller and specialized flux core welder with a great MIG gun, then this is the one you have been looking for.
Though this is not for bigger projects, it can perform a little heavy welding as well.
If you are a beginner or a hobbyist then this welder is made for you.
3. Super Deal PRO Commercial MIG 130 AC Flux Core Welder - Best For Professional use
Are you looking for a welder that is capable of doing both commercial and small scale welding jobs?
Then this product is listed here for you.
This flux core welder is filled with positive aspects that will make your welding easier.
Attractive Key Features:
Compact and lightweight:
The whole welder is of 38lbs.
This is what makes it easy to carry.
As the size of the welder is small, you can store it in small places as well.
Convenient flux core welder:
The welder uses cored wire to weld.
There is a self-release metal-inert gas function which releases gas automatically while welding.
This prevents the welding parts from oxidation.
Easy to use:
It is a welder which has a user-friendly interface in it.
You can easily access the advanced options with ease.
You can deal with big projects and hard work like a piece of cake if you are using this welder.
Feeding speed control:
The flow of the current can be adjusted by using the 4 buttons. The minimum/maximum range is 1/ 2.
There is a wire feeding control knob which is 10 levels.
You can do the adjustments as per your choice.
There is also an on/off safety control.
Compact:
This is a compact welder suitable for both steel and stainless steel.
The welder comes with a pack of real.
The size of them is 0.99mm and 0.55lbs.
There is also a protection mask and a brush, two extra tips, and a ground cord.
What else do you want in a package more than this?
Consideration:
This amazing product comes with some flaws.
The welder is made of PVC plastic rather than any metal.
Compared to other welders this turns out to be a less durable and heavy machine.
Due to overheating there is a possibility that it might melt.
PROS
CONS
Ignoring the PVC fact the welder is a great performer in the field of flux-core welding.
The compact welder is cheaper and can perform both DIY and professional tasks for you.
You won’t be disappointed once you get the hand of this machine.
4. Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG, Flux Core Welder - Best For Multi-Purpose Use
Hobart 50559 Handler is another welder which is capable of doing both MIG and flux core welding.
The welder is versatile and compact one of its kind.
This 140mp MIG welder is capable of doing welding on both thick and thin metals.
The features of it are found attractive and efficient by its customers and this is why this welder has made it to our list.
Attractive Key Features:
Can be run by household current:
This machine can run on 115V that means, you don't need any extra current source to run this machine.
There is also a voltage controller to control the voltage requirements.
Portable:
Being a portable welder, It can be carried anywhere.
The compact size and weight of the welder provides you a great portability experience.
versatile:
This flux core welder is capable of welding any types of metal you throw at it.
It can weld mild steel, cast iron, brass, copper, titanium, and magnesium alloys.
You can weld aluminum as well.
The 5 setting voltage sector of the welder allows smooth welding in any situation.
You can change it between a MIG and a Flux core for great ease of use.
Easy to use:
It doesn’t matter if you are welding for the first time.
You will be amazed how well this welder works.
The product is easy to assemble if you follow the instructions given by the manufacturer.
The various settings in it are really easy to use as well.
You do not have to be an expert to operate the welder.
A compact package:
The welder comes with everything you need.
There is a MIG gun, 10ft workable wire, dual-gauge regulator, power cord, Quick select drive roll, contact tips, Sample flux-core welding spools and a material thickness gauge.
These tools have different usage, but when they are united they will give you a compact welding experience.
Considerations:
Weight:
There are not many downsides of this welder.
The users have complained multiple times about the weight of it.
It's only 57lbs.
Costly than others:
This is the drawback of the welder.
The price of this unit is almost 5times more than the other products.
PROS
CONS
Well, this is a wrap.
This is a great product for its amazing building quality and services.
The product is so good that it has made it to the list of best choice.
Weight is not an issue if you are a strong man.
On the other hand, I think good things are a little bit expensive.
So, if you have made up your mind to own this product you should definitely buy it.
5. Reboot MIG150 Flux Core Welder - Best Value
If you are looking for a more flexible welder for your job then you definitely can shoot for Reboot MIG150.
This single welder can do MIG, stick, and flux core welding for you.
The Reboot welding company always tries their best to manufacture high-quality products and the best technical accumulation.
The Reboot MIG 250 is an example of that.
Attractive Key Features:
Energy-efficient:
The welder is energy efficient because of being made in an inverter model.
It turns the ”stepped down” and inverted DC current as an AC output.
Imagine how much money you can save from the electricity bills if you have this welder.
Can weld variety of metals:
The welder is capable of welding a wide range of metal items.
You can weld stainless steel, mild steel, and other materials by using the unit.
The welder turns your work so easy that welding becomes a child’s job to you.
Breaker suggestion:
The updated MIG 150 can do the steel welding perfectly without gas.
The manufacturers suggest 30A breaker for 220v and 50A breaker for 110V.
The complete package of welding:
The welder is a complete package of welding.
In the 10.3kg package, you will get a dual MIG150 welder, an earth clamp, an electrode holder, a MIG welding torch, 1Kg flux core wire, a welding hose, and a 20mm conversion line.
Those are a whole lot of stuff, aren’t there?
These products are the ones which you will be needing while welding.
You can thank the Reboot manufacturers for such a package.
Warranty:
The company offers you a 1-year warranty for your welder.
This backup process is a sign of confidence from them.
Portability:
Do you want to know the fun fact about this product?
That is the product’s weight is only 12lbs.
You can carry it anywhere you want.
Doesn't matter wherever you are working, you can take the welder with you.
Consideration:
A new technology:
The inverter technology is relatively new and untested in the industry.
The stress testing has not yet been done.
As a result of unwanted conditions, there could be some hiccups.
As the knowledge isn’t there yet, you have to consider if you are ready to handle this type of technology.
PROS
CONS
Before you are making any decision, I want to say some more words about this product.
If you are bothered about the technology being new to the market then you have the right to do so.
You know every technology in the market was once a new one, right?
The product has got into the market after going through a process I bet.
As they are offering warranty then why not give it a try when you are interested.
Being new in the market doesn’t make it a bad product.
6. LOTOS MIG140 Flux Core Welder
Lotos MIG 140 is a versatile and perfect welder for DIY welders and professional users.
The manufacturers of this product tried their best to give you the welder that can do industrial quality welding and performance at a low and affordable price.
I believe they have become successful in doing so.
Attractive Key Features:
Metal wire feeder:
The wire feeder of the metal is made of aluminum.
This offers much more stability and a better welding experience to its users.
Manual and semi-auto switch:
There is a 2T and 4T switch installed in the welder.
The 2T one is manual and the 4T one is semi-auto.
As a result, for long time welding, you can release your finger and weld.
Digital displayer:
There are two digital displays which will show you the wire feeding speed and welding voltage.
So that you can adjust the speed and voltage more precisely.
Metal welder:
The welder is capable of welding a wide range of metals.
You can easily weld stainless steel, mild steel, etc.
Oh Yes! You have to do it using a spool gun.
Sadly it doesn’t come with the package. You have to buy a separate one.
Great performance within low voltage:
The welder runs on 110v/60hz single-phase voltage.
The duty cycle is 10% at 105 amp and at 35% when it is at 60amp.
Transfer technology:
The transfer technology of the welder has proven to be reliable and durable.
You can set up the welder within 10 minutes.
The welder can be connected with your existing 110 V wall outlet and perform the welding tasks.
Welding capacity:
The welder has a great capacity to weld metals.
It can weld steel, mild steel, aluminum, and other metal materials with ease.
It can weld Stainless steel of 18 gauge, mild steel of 18 gauge, and aluminum gauge of ⅛” or thinner than this.
This is a great welding capacity within the budget.
Full adjustment:
The full-adjustment system with digital wire speed display lowers the chances of wire crushing.
You can do everything with precision with this full adjustment system.
Consideration:
Not for serious welding:
The power output of the welder is very low.
This is the only 110v, which is not that good if you are looking for it to do any serious welding.
With that power output, you won't be able to fuse thick metals at all.
PROS
CONS
The Lotos MiG 140 is a very versatile and quickly doing weld unit.
It is a great choice for hobbyists and the workers who are looking to do some light duty welding.
If the product meets your needs, you can take this top-notch deal.
7. ARKSEN MIG-130 Gas Less Flux Core Welder - TOP PICK
The Arsken MIG 130 is another versatile welding machine which can be used for both MIG and flux core welding.
The welder is capable of welding aluminum as well.
This is a household smart welder that will take your welding experience to a whole new level.
Attractive Key Features:
Household smart welder:
The Arsken MIG welder is a compact and exquisite MIG gas welder which is made of heavy-duty stainless steel.
The durable body is also painted with durable yellow paints.
This ensures a long-lasting serving-span.
Prevents oxidation:
The machine uses convenient flux-cored wire welding without any gas.
The welder self-releases inert gas while welding that prevents oxidation to the welding part.
Adjustable welding speed:
There is a rotary knob which controls the speed of wire feeding.
There are 10 levels of speed and you can adjust it as per your choice.
Wide application:
I have mentioned before that the welder is capable of welding a wide range of metals.
You can weld thin steel and iron.
If you are looking for a welder which can deal with your DIY projects and general welding works then you should definitely give it a try.
Other complimentary features:
An easy carrying handle allows you to carry the welder anywhere you want.
The thing is really compact and lightweight that you can store it anywhere you want.
It turns out to be very convenient and you can use it anywhere you want.
Heat dissipation:
The modern design of the welder comes with two air-vent on the machine that helps dissipate air.
There is a full-on/off safety control system.
There is also a standard American triangle cord and automatic thermal safety protection.
Consideration:
Less instructions:
The operating manual doesn’t tell you how to deal with the setting adjustment.
So, often the users find it hard to adjust the settings for heat and wire feeding for different thickness of metals.
Often the knob gets stuck and it gets hard to adjust the wire feeding speed.
PROS
CONS
The final word about this welder is that it is a great welder to have if you are working on a DIY project or your household welding.
Not being able to do professional heavy welding that doesn’t make it a bed welder.
It can still do the work for your household welding needs.
FLux core welder: Buying Guide
There are some MIG welders in the market which you can use to do flux core welding.
You have to change the settings, remove the gas canister, and change polarity to electrode positive.
On the other hand, there are some welders which are made for only doing flux core welding.
They are cheaper than the MIG welders and do better welding.
If you want to do flux core welding only, then choosing the second option will be a better choice.
Not only this, but there are also so many other things which you have to decide before making any purchase decision.
Let’s dive right in...
The thickness of the metal:
You would definitely want a welder which will be able to do a little bit more than your regular welder in case of metal welding.
A machine which can weld thicker metals makes your welding easier.
So, look for a welder which can weld up to the maximum gauge of metals.
There is a traditional belief that the bigger the amperage range, the thicker plate you can weld.
Deal with this belief with caution as some manufacturers buck this tradition.
Check and double-check the manufacturer guideline before making the purchase.
Single or multiple purposes?
You can use multiple welding by using a MIG welder.
That’s because a MIG welder can do welding with or without gas.
This will give you more flexibility of work, but it will cost you more money.
If you are a good welder of gas and if you are confident that you will be able to do clear welds using gas, then you should invest on a machine that is capable of doing flux core welding.
You can consider Hobert 140 or Lotos MIG 140 if your choice is the above.
Type of metal used:
There are so many welders in the market which can weld different materials.
Flux core welding machines are not really compatible with aluminum.
You should go for the multi-purpose welders if you want to fuse aluminum.
Type of electricity:
Remember to check what type of output your welder has.
Is it AC or DC?
If the output is AC then you might not get the best results.
You will be able to fuse metals and join them together.
You might struggle a little bit with stainless steel as well.
Lead quality:
This might sound trivial but it is a fact which can’t be denied.
If they are not thick, long, and durable enough then you might not get the result which you are expecting.
You can go for the longest and thickest lead you can get.
This makes a huge difference in your type of welding experience.
About the wire:
The diameter of the wire and the diameter of the reel in which the wire comes are the two factors which are to be considered.
A household working generally deals with 0.30 diameter wires and the diameter of the reel is 6 inches.
If you are planning to do some thicker beads, then it would be handy for you to run 0,35’’ flux wire.
It would be better if your machine can handle 8-inch reels because the reels of 6 inches run out quickly.
It will cost you less money and does not require replacing now and then.
Let's wrap it up:
We have reached the very end of this article for the best flux core welder.
I have given you my top 7 welders which are the best according to my research.
Now what you have to do is make a decision by considering the buyers guide I have given above.
As with any welding process, a good welder reduces the struggle to half.
All you have to do now is select a welder that matches your skill level, your purpose, and make the deal.
I hope you make the best decision.