Forney 271 Easy Weld 140 MP Multi-Process Welder - Versatile 3-in-1 Welding Machine for MIG, DC TIG, and Stick Welding Application

I have 2 other welders but so far this little guy is my favorite. I'm a total novice but it's really easy to weld with this machine. Even plugged into a 20A outlet it has plenty of power but I will try a 30A when I can upgrade. I love shopping at Harbor Freight but I feel that this is a much better deal for a multi processor and the fact that I was able to buy it with a 5 month payment without a credit or rewards card was even better. If you're thinking about it, do not hesitate. I'm not being paid to fluff this product whatsoever. Already bought some accessories for it and will be tinkering around with the TIG torch soon. If anyone is wondering, yes, the components feel like great quality, wire drive system is metal, not too heavy unless you get an 11 pound spool, the website offers replacement parts, and the arc feels fairly smooth and the spatter isn't too bad but I think you should use anti spatter spray regardless as well as run Argon/CO2 gas mix. So far, only noticed it having trouble running Lincoln 1/8 6011 electrodes but that is most likely due to the limits of a 20A breaker and perhaps the material not being as clean. Those are easy to fix issues. Ran 6013 perfectly and will try 7018 and 7014s soon to experiement. But it and have some fun.

As a somewhat experienced welder, very happy with this purchase. Small and portable but feels quality. Set everything up as suggested and didn't even have to adjust after welding. Works better then my old portable Lincoln welder. *Note 1st one arrived defective but had no problem returning.

I am decently familiar with welding in general, as well as the different processes. However, I have never done any welding, so this unit was my first experience. I've got to say, I'm quite pleased! Not only with the quality of the welder, but the results I was able to get within the first few hours of owning it. I tried to buy a MIG welder from Harbor Freight during one of their sales, but the stores were out of stock, so I had to order online. Well, that turned out to be a disaster -- it was back-ordered for two months, and when it finally came in, they shipped me a completely different item! Well, I cancelled that, and I'm glad I did -- this welder is WAY better than what I would have gotten from Harbor Freight. Everything that came in the box appears to be very well made -- nothing about this feels cheap at all. Well, I might replace the ground clamp with something better, but the one that came in the box worked fine. I did a lot of homework and self-education on arc and MIG welding before diving into this, so I was well-prepared to waste a few sticks to learn something. I had a gate latch and a trailer taillight bracket that needed welding, but I knew I'd better play around with scraps first to try to get the hang of the process and dial in my technique. So far, I've only used the arc welding process, but at some point I know I'll want to use the MIG process. I don't believe I'll ever mess with the TIG process, but it's nice to know that I have that option if I ever need it. Within the first hour, I was laying a respectable bead between two chunks of 1/8" steel (using 6013 rods). It wasn't beautiful, but it wasn't ugly, and it was definitely solid. After playing around with that a little more, and also just running beads down the side of a piece of pipe, I felt confident enough to tackle the gate latch and trailer repairs. I'm quite happy with my results. I feel like I have a quality machine, and any welding problems I have will likely be due to my own lack of experience or skill and not the machine. One thing I like about this machine that I have not seen in others like it, is that this inverter-based welder is "generator friendly." This is something I definitely need, as much of my welding needs will take place outdoors around a 20-acre ranch. I'm not erecting metal buildings or hacking hot rods, I'm just keeping gates, fencing, livestock feeders, and other general farm/ranch items together. I can't justify a $5,000 Bobcat gasoline welder, but this little guy and a 5500w generator will get the job done well enough for less than $1,000. I'd say this is a home-run for anyone with basic needs. If you've got decent skills with welding, this machine will serve you well enough.

For a 120 volt machine, it works excellent. Very easy to adjust. I already own a high end machine (Lincoln 215 MPi) and this one is easier to operate. No screens, simple operation, less part to break. Sturdy construction, hardly any plastic. Customer support from Forney is first class. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is that it does not offers 240 volts option, I hope Forney takes this into consideration for future upgrades. I'm not a professional welder, and this machine helps me achieve good results. Welds in the picture were straight from out of the box with minimal adjustments Update: welder working fine but, for the price, needs an upgraded mig gun. The one that comes with, it's on the flimsy side.

wow this welder dials in the guess work,easy to use and the multi process is a added bonus!

I was a professional welder for many years. Built armored cars, heavy truck equipment parts and dairy equipment.....so I have used the best industrial welders available. That said...this is a really nice welder. So far I have only used it with Flux core. Never used Flux core before this. It is a dirtier, and smokey compared to gas sheild. Very similar to stick welding except it's easier to control and isn't as slaggy. I used it to build a welding cart and it did it with ease. Ran it pretty hot to weld the angle iron and didn't have any overheating issues. I didn't even think about exceeding the duty cycle. Never blew a breaker either while using a 15 amp circuit. Had to loosen the wire roller tension and keep the nozzle clean and sprayed with anti spatter due to a couple wire feed bird nests but that took care of it. I have C25 gas and I'm waiting on a flow meter gauge and tig torch and I will update. If it lasts... and isn't a maintenance nightmare....I will be thoroughly impressed. So far so good.... Update: I used this welder to replace sections of a rusted jeep frame. Welded the pieces in including control arm brackets. 1/4 inch steel. No problem burning in deep. A couple passes with high heat and all was good. Zero problems after burning several spools with C25. Never kicked out duty cycle or 15 amp breaker. Get a ball float regulator to accurately set gas flow and save gas. Very happy. With the abuse and work I put it through it never missed a beat.

This has been great as a first welder. I've run fluxcore .035 it was good then i got a bottle of gas and ran some .023 wire. That wire was great for thin metal but the wire speed for the welder is not fast enough to run anything thicker than 16guage. It just doesn't put enough wire down. Then i picked up some .03 wire with gas and it runs like a dream! I'm so happy with this wire. I think I'm going to get a small spool of .035 wire to test some thicker metal like 1/4". Even the professional welder that I've hired for a few projects thinks it's a great little welder. I would probably not buy the Multi purpose again and just get a mig unit that can do faster wire speed and can run on 120 & 240. And i think that Forney has one. If you want a good machine that can run stick and tig this is great!

Have had it for a few years now still work's good Mig mostly.

Pretty happy with the welder can run 3/32"electrodes well, 1/8" can be pushing it a bit. I used Millar, Lincolns, Esab and Hobart, u name it. Good for a hobby welder. Not sure where my amps are because ita ABCD stuff, that doesnt help if I need to know amps of an electrode. So you always have to look in the side panel. Not sure how well it can TMAW weld yet. So far SMAW, GMAW & FCAW all work great.

Excellente petite soudeuse pour petits projets et facile d'utilisation. J'ai ete surpris elle est tres silencieuse.

Superbe multi process welder. Great for hobby welders.