Forney Easy Weld 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder

Table of Contents

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Have you been looking for a welder? The Forney Easy Weld 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder might be the one for you.

The very name of the Forney MIG Welder is a proclamation in itself with its wonderful features and uniqueness. This welder can weld 24-gauge up to 1/4”. The FC-i stands for flux core inverter.

Forney’s intention is to instill a picture of the product in the customer’s mind by the hallmark features it possesses and the benefits it offers, ensuring little to no competition. The use of the inverter allows the placement of a flux core welder that is lighter than the alternatives available on the market.

Where most welders use transformer-based welders, this inverter-based welder is here to steal its competitors’ glory. It is lighter, portable, produces more output, and is easier to use and install. What more could you need for your welding jobs and/or projects?

The Easy Weld 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder by Forney is an excellent choice for you if you are a welder by profession or even if you are a welding enthusiast or an amateur at welding. It weighs 19 lbs, which makes it lighter than the alternative welders available in the market. With dimensions of 16.75” x8.125” x12”, the Forney 140 FC-i MIG Welder allows welding without gas, possesses infinite voltage, and does welding to perfection.

The best part about the product is that it a beginner can also use this product as well. Its applications range from a do-it-yourself, maintenance and repair, metal fabrication to a hobbyist. The welder comes in a package with an 8’ MIG Gun, 8’ ground clamp, and a 20 A-15 A adapter working at a duty cycle of 30% at 90 A.

FEATURES

But how can you decide if this is the right choice for your welding operations or not? Consider the welder’s features to make the right choice. They are as follows:

Easy to install

As stated before, the Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder, comes packed with its MIG gun and hose. The cable as well as ground clamp are already attached, making it ready to use. Just plug in the flux core welding wire, and you are ready to weld. There is no stress with regards to installation.

Easy to use

Another notable feature is the exceptional duty cycle giving off 90 Amp at 30%. This means that to give an output of 90 Amp, the Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder can work for three consecutive minutes. The rest of the time in the 10-minute cycle is needed by the welder to rest and cool down. Of course, the welder can give an output of 140 Amp, but you would weld less than the recommended duty cycle, or else the welder will overheat. The recommended duty cycle is still the best that you can get in the market for welders.

Good output

It can yield up to 140 Amp output on an input of 120 V. The welder is powerful enough to weld mild steel, a 24-gauge up to 1/4” in a plate. This makes it extremely serviceable and functional.

Lightweight and portable

It is made up of a highly durable metal case. Furthermore, the inverter-based welder uses a flux core system. This makes it extremely lightweight and portable. It is suitable for any activity: a do-it-yourself, a hobby, a professional project, or a repair job, etc. It is designed to brave the day-to-day rush. The best part is that it comes with a 12-month warranty.

Battery needs

The Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder needs no batteries; as a result, there will be no battery-related hassles. It has an AC power source.

Power

As stated before, the Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder comes with a 20 A-15 A adaptor. If you plan on using the welder at 15 A, then choose a plug that has a 20 A circuit breaker. Similarly, if you plan on moving up to 20 A, then a 30 A circuit breaker is recommended.

To ensure perfect welds, make sure you do not plug anything else into that circuit.

Easy-to-find spares

You may be familiar with or would have heard about the frustration that goes along with finding spare parts for a machine. But you would be happy to know that it is quite easy to find spare parts for the Forney welder. You can either directly contact Forney or search the market for compatibles. You can easily find the replacements for the welding diffuser, contact tip, and nozzle in the market.

Pros

While looking at the features does help you decide to make a purchase, a comprehensive look of glancing at the pros of the purchase will help you reach a resolute decision as well.

The pros of the product are as follows:

Welder Controls

The Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder controls and settings stand first on the pros list for a reason, as we explain ahead. The welder has two variable dials on the front. This implies that you can set it to any setting you want. This flexibility is a plus point, as it is unique to this product.

This is positive because compared to other flux core inverter-based welders, Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder gives you the freedom with your welding operations. Its alternatives have tapped dials with restrictions of one kind or another and do not have the multiple settings that the Forney MIG welder has to offer. The ability to infinitely adjust power and output settings and wire feed controls is one reason it beats its alternatives in the market with limited settings and controls.

Protection from overheating

Another one of its pros is its ability to protect from overheating. In instances of the product’s air vents getting blocked or using the welder beyond the duty cycle, Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder offers thermal protection by cutting itself out. This gives your welder time to cool off. To cool off, leave the welder plugged in since the fan cools off the welder and then carry on welding like before.

Thermal protection acts as a shield for your welder from damage and impairment like faults and losing its welding ability.

Usage by anyone and everyone

The fact that anyone and everyone can use Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder is just another reason it is a must-buy. It can be used by anyone – if you are an amateur at welding or an experienced professional. It is extremely easy to use and requires little to no installation hassles, so it is perfect, especially if you are just starting and are a novice at welding. You just have to plug in the wire, and you are set to weld. Everything else, like the ground clamp and cable, is already attached, making it extremely convenient and user-friendly. Its user-oriented approach is why it is one of the best welders out there.

Sturdiness and durability

It is made up of a highly sturdy metal case that can brave the day-to-day operations. The metal case is highly durable, and due to features like protection from overheating and automatic shutting off, the Forney welder protects itself. Furthermore, the welder has a 12-month warranty period, which is quite long for a welder across all companies.

Cons

There are two sides to every story. So, it becomes important to consider the cons as well. Some of the cons of the Forney Welder are as follows:

It is only a flux core welder

The Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder is not a welder that makes use of a separate shielding glass, so if you are looking for a welder that has the duality of a flux core welder and shielding gas welder, then this is not the right welder for you. There have also been complaints about its wire feed rate because it is a bit slow, so it requires more time as compared to other welders that do the same job in less time.

It can only weld a few metals

The Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder cannot be used to weld stainless steel or aluminum. For welding these metals, you need a high-pressure gas tank. Therefore, you can use it on a few select metals and doesn’t weld all metals.

Conclusion

The Forney 261, 140 FC-i MIG Welder has features that make it worth every penny spent on it. It is an excellent choice because of:

the flexibility that it offers with the infinitely variable settings as opposed to the limited controls on other welders in the market,
the sturdy metal case and year-long warranty period,
the lux core invertor based portable design that offers more for less,
the high power it offers as opposed to others and
it can be used by an amateur and professional alike.