Forney 261 Welder Review, Got an Urge to Buy One?

In the Forney Easy Weld 261 140 FC-i you’ve a 120v flux core only welder.

With a strong duty cycle of 30% at 90 Amp.

You get an inverter based flux core welder. One that can produce a whopping welding output of 140 Amp.

And you’ve control over your welding output using an infinitely variable dial.

Reasons You’d Buy The Forney 261 140 FC-i

You’ve full control of your voltage output dial. Because it’s infinitely variable. Most cheap flux core welders are not as flexible. And use tapped dials and limit you to certain welding output settings.
With the Forney 29901 discontinued by Forney. The 140 FC-i is there replacement. It’s the new entry level flux core welder of their Easy Weld range. It’s now your flux core welder of choice.
Forney has livened up the flux core welder market by making the Forney 140 FC-i based on an inverter design. You get more welding power for your money. And in a much lighter flux core welder.
1 year warranty on your Forney 261 gives it the best warranty offering of flux core welders at its price. Showing the confidence Forney has in the reliability of this welder.

Reasons You’d Pass The Forney 261 140 FC-i By

Your Forney 261 is a flux core only welder. If you’re looking for a welder that uses separate shielding gas you’ll need to look at a MIG welder that can do both.
You can’t weld stainless steel or Aluminum. Because you’ll need attached a high pressure gas tank and you can’t do that on your Forney 261 welder.

Review Verdict On The Forney 261 140 FC-i Welder

You’ve seen the Forney 261 140 FC- i and you’ve got that sweet urge to buy one.

When you only have a low-ish budget at around the $200 mark. Then you want to get as powerful a machine as you can for your money.

Yes, this flux core welder is for light duty, hobby flux core welding. But for the price, you can get a whole of a lot of welding done because of the Forney 261’s inverter based design.

*Disclosure: This document contains affiliate links. And at no extra cost to you this site earns a commission through these links should you decide to buy.

Forney Easy Weld 261 140 FC-i

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Review On The Forney 261 Flux Core Welder

Are you curious to know why Forney called this welder 140 FC-i?

Its total welding output is 140 Amp so that part is easy. FC-i stands for flux core inverter.

Making sure you know in the title that this is a flux core welder that’s superior to its competition. Most of the light to medium duty welders in the market use transformers.

Using an inverter lets Forney to build a flux core welder that is lighter. And has more welding output compared to transformer based welders.

Your Forney 261 140 FC-i comes delivered with its MIG gun and hose. Along with its ground clamp and cable already connected and attached.

Making getting started with your Forney 140 FC-i quicker. As there’s no need to put together all the parts before you can get going.

Put in your flux core welding wire. Feed it through and you’re ready to start.

YouTube Video Unboxing The Forney 261 140 FC-i

Want to know what your Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i is like out of the box? You can review this 1 minute 25 seconds YouTube video and find out.

Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i Unboxing

Video Credit: Forney Industries

Your Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i’s Duty Cycle

You’ve a duty cycle of 30% at 90 Amp. One of the best duty cycles you’ll get for the money that you’ll spend on this flux core welder.

The 30% part of the duty cycle tells that your 140 FC-i is strong enough to weld for 3 minutes. Over a 10 minute welding window.

For the other 7 minutes you’d have to rest your welder.

The @90 Amp part of the duty cycle means you get your 3 minutes welding time when you have the Forney 261 set at 90 Amp.

You’ll need to bear in mind that this is less than the 140 Amp the Forney 261 is capable of outputting.

And this means that when you need to use your welder at its maximum welding output. You’ll have less than 3 minutes continuous welding.

Or your flux core welder will overheat.

Want to discover how the Forney Easy Weld 261 compares to other entry level flux core welders?

Take a look here and discover how.

Forney 261 Flux Core Welder Controls

At the front of your Forney 140 FC-i you’ve two dials. You’ll find that both dials are infinitely variable.

What does that mean?

You can turn them to the setting you want.

Other comparable flux core welders have tapped dials. And on those you only have certain output settings you can use.

You’ll find no such restriction on your Forney 261.

Welding Using The Forney 140 FC-i Flux Core Welder YouTube Video

When you’re curious to find out how your Forney 261 flux core welds. Take a look at this 4 minute 19 second video.

Welding with the Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i

Video Credit: Forney Industries

The Forney 261 140 FC-i’s Protection From Over Heating

You’ll get thermal protection. And that means if your air vents are blocked. Or you’ve gone past the duty cycle of the Forney 140 FC-i then your welder will cut out.

This protects your welder from damage.

Leave your Forney 140 plugged in as your fan will need to run to cool your welder down. Once your welder has cooled down enough you can carry on welding.

What Type Of Metals And Sizes Can Your Forney 140 FC-i Weld?

You can weld mild steel or low carbon steel.

Flux Core Weld With the Forney 261 140 FC-i

From 24 gauge to 3/16th of an inch.

You can weld 1/4 inch steel with your Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i but you will need the skill to prepare your weld joint.

You’ll need to bevel your joint. And then make multiple weld passes.

You’ll also need to buy and use flux core welding wire rated for multi-pass welding.

What Are The Power Needs Of Your Forney 261 Welder?

You’ll find your Forney 261 flux core welder is a 120 volt machine.

In the box Forney supply you with an adaptor. The adaptor converts the 15 Amp plug to a 20 Amp plug.

You can plug into a 15 Amp power outlet. Pick the one in your house or garage that is fused with a 20 Amp slow blow circuit breaker.

When you want to use your Forney 261 140 FC-i to the max you’ll need to move up to a 20 Amp outlet. One with a 30 Amp circuit breaker on it.

Either way. Make sure you’ve nothing else plugged in and working on that circuit while you’re welding. Your Forney 261 will need all the power that’s available on this circuit to give you good welds.

What Size Flux Core Wire Does The 140 FC-i Use?

0.030 inch diameter flux core wire for mild steel.

You can buy your welding wire either as 4 inch or 8 inch spools. Or 2 lb. or 10 lb. spools.

You can fit either into the cabinet of your Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i

You’ll find an adaptor in the box to help you switch.

When you’re looking for mild steel flux core welding wire for your Forney 261.

And you want to find out which is the best. You can take a look at this article here.

What About The Forney 140 FC-i Manual?

Clear and well put together. You can take a look at it yourself at this link.

Forney 261 140 FC-i Manual

What Do Users Of The Forney 261 Flux Core Welder Think?

On Amazon most are pleased with their Forney 140 FC-i.

You can check out the latest reviews yourself by clicking on this button.

See the Forney 140 Fc-i Sales Page On Amazon

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Scroll down to the bottom of the sales page and choose to see the latest reviews.

What Comes Inside Your Forney 140 FC-i Box?

Your Forney 261 140 FC-i welder with its 8 foot MIG gun and hose connected to your Forney welder.

And your ground clamp and its 8 foot of cord also already connected to your welder.

A spare 0.030 inch contact tip

A 20 Amp to 15 Amp plug adaptor.

Is Your Forney 140 Fc-i Easy To Carry Around?

Yes.

One of the easiest to carry with you at this price point.

Its inverter based design keeps it light at 19 lbs. in weight.

Nearly half the weight of most of the flux core welders in its class.

And it’s a compact size too. You’ll find its size at 16.75 inches by 8.125 inches by 12 inches easy to pick up and take with you.

And the handle has ‘ears’. And you can use those ears to wrap your MIG gun and hose around. Plus your welding ground clamp. When you’re carrying your Forney 261 flux core welder.

What Is The Forney 261 140 FC-i Warranty

1 year.

Here again your Forney 261 stands out from its competition. Another reason to buy this flux core welder. You’ve the longest warranty period offered of all the welders in its price bracket.