5 Best Flux Core Welders for 2022 Budget & Pro

The Hobart Handler (500559) 140 MIG welder is highly portable and compact. You can use this welder for both flux core welding and MIG welding. This versatility feature welds both thick and thin metals. It offers professional results irrespective of its power and size.

Moreover, it can run on household current, which adds more value to this product. This feature is the reason the Hobart is the best-selling wire feed welding machine in the industry. The build quality and durability of this welder is on another level.

Being a portable welder, you can take it anywhere and complete your welding task without any hassle. The ability to offer excellent arc performance is another noticeable feature of this welder. When it comes to the ease of use, you can set-up this welder within a few minutes and start working on your project.

The Handler 140 requires 115-volt and 20 amp circuit. Besides, its 5-position voltage controller allows you to fine-tune your voltage requirements.

The Goplus MIG 130 is a Flux Core welding tool with an automatic feed feature. It is a portable and versatile machine, which is suitable for a variety of small flux core welding projects. The best part of this welder is its ability to perform in both home and professional settings.

This welder is capable of handling auto body and light steel welding projects. When taking a closer look at its specs and feature, you will come to know that Goplus MIG 130 is a well-rounded machine capable of handling a variety of tasks.

It requires 110V/60HZ current and comes with a 72.5-inch power cord. When running at 105 amps, it can offer a maximum output of 15%. The sturdy stainless steel case and plastic handle provide the required level of durability to bear job site abuse.

It is a portable welder, perfect for multi-location use. It weighs not more than 35 pounds, making it easy to move the welding gun from one place to another. Furthermore, the handle is comfortable and helps in carrying the welder conveniently.

This Reboot MIG flux welder is a versatile machine that offers a wide selection of welding options. For instance, you can use this welding tool for stick, flux core, and MIG welding. Hence, you get three different welding styles with just one welder.

It can weld metal to .8 mm (1/3”), which is much better than those welders that can do 1/4”. Since it’s an inverter model, it also allows you to save some energy with its energy-efficient operation. It utilizes DC power to create an efficient and steady AC output.

However, the inverter technology is relatively new, which means you can’t be sure of its performance. Besides, this model hasn’t undergone vigorous testing, so there may be some unexpected experiences for the users.

Among all the models presented in this list, the Reboot MIG flux core welding tool is the lightest. It weighs just 12 lbs., which makes this welder one of the most portable machines among other similar options.

Forney is known for making some outstanding welding machines, and Forney Easy Weld 229 125FC Flux Core isn’t an exception. This product is specially designed while keeping in mind the needs of beginners and DIY enthusiasts.

The specs and features of this machine are also great. It works on 120 volts and produces a reasonable 125-amp output. The output is respectable, especially when taking into account the size of this machine. Moreover, with its sufficient power, it can weld 24 gauge steel up to 1/4th of an inch.

These features render this welder as an ideal option for small projects. Beginners would find this machine highly impressive when learning delicate welds. You can use both 2- and 10-pound spools with this machine, so it offers some flexibility when buying your wires.

This welder doesn’t offer any shielding gas for welding purposes. As a result, it is effortless to move this machine from one place to another. You won’t experience any safety and performance issues when using it in multiple locations.

This particular Flux core welding gun is highly affordable and serves the purpose of both commercial and small-scale welding needs. There are different positive aspects of this welder that you need to consider.

First, it has a reasonable weight of 38 lbs., which makes it highly portable. Due to its compact design, you can store it at any place. Its unique waveform control mechanism allows you to adjust the machine for various welding requirements.

As a result, you experience less spatter and more fusion depth. Moreover, the performance level is more than satisfactory. The welding gun comes with on/off safety control, ten adjustable wire feed speeds, and four voltage controllers.

However, there are a few flaws, which make it less viable for heavy-duty use. Most of the parts are made of PVC, which are constructed with stainless steel in similar welding machines. As a result, you can’t expect extended durability.

Even using so much plastic, you won’t find any significant weight reduction. On the contrary, it ends up being bulkier. Due to low output, you need to weld for longer; this enhances the chance of overheating.

When buying a flux core welder, make sure to learn about its duty cycle. It is essential, as the duty cycle shows that for how much time you can continue using the welding machine before it needs a rest.

For instance, if the duty cycle of a machine is 30%, you can weld 3 minutes before you need to stop. A welding gun with a higher duty cycle will ensure the maximum range of output, which is recommended.

The MIG welder that you are going to buy should be portable and easy to carry. This suggests that its size and weight should be reasonable.

Typically, MIG welding machines serve as a perfect option for small tasks, especially in those areas where you can’t take huge welders. Hence, for small projects, look for a MIG welder of small size and minimum weight.

Before purchasing a welder, think about the type of welding wire or consumables that you are going to use. Also, consider the thickness of such a wire. The machine requires wire or cable of a similar metal that you need to weld.

For instance, for welding a piece of aluminum, you need a spool of aluminum cable.

Similarly, keep in mind the thickness of the cable or wire when choosing a welder. It is essential, as thicker metal requires a longer cable. On the contrary, a thinner metal requires a smaller cable.

The durability and long life of a welder depend on its thermal overload protection system. This mechanism plays a critical role while preventing the overheating of a welding gun. It works by automatically shutting down the machine as soon as it starts to get overheated.

The thermal overload protection system restarts the machine once it cools down. As a result, your welding tool would continue to serve the purpose without causing any trouble. The devices that offer this type of protection are relatively pricier than similar other options.

So if you can afford to pay more for this quality, it is highly recommended.

Maintenance and repair are some of the most essential aspects, which you should keep in mind when buying a MIG welder. These costs may vary depending on the type and quality of a welder. Top-Quality welding tools require less maintenance, which also lowers the repairing price.

Most of the reputed brands offer warranty for their welders, which means you don’t need to bear the repairing cost if the welder faces any technical issue. On the other hand, a low-quality welding tool doesn’t come with a warranty; therefore, you have to pay the cost of getting it fixed.