Harbor Freight 125 Amp Flux Core Welder Review
The cheap Chicago Electric Flux 125 welder offers a standard welding feel for beginners. But it's outdated compared to newer budget entry-level welders.
This welder and its specs belong in the era earlier the first-ever inverter welders hit the commercial market place. It weighs 38 lbs, and it's just a 125A flux-cadre welder, making information technology one of the heaviest "portable" welders with low amperage output.
In this article, you'll learn about the areas nosotros find troubling, some of its pros, and an alternative nosotros recommend for much ameliorate value.
Overview of the Chicago Electric Flux 125
The depression price of this welder is tempting. But some competing models offer more than features at the same price. Also, the Chicago Electrical Flux 125 has a depression duty cycle and weighs about three times more than than its competition, similar the YesWelder model we'll review afterward in the article.
The Flux 125 tin weld up to 3/16 in. thick metal, which is fine for a low-upkeep machine. But it uses an outdated "min/max" switch for amperage control. Many competing models accept amperage output and wire feed knobs for total command, and some even provide a digital display for an always amend welding experience.
What's Included
- Chicago Electrical Flux 125
- Built-in Flux-core gun, 6 feet
- Congenital-in Basis clamp, 6 anxiety
- Spare contact tips
- Instruction manual
It'south normal for bargain welders to include no or few extras. So, the limited package contents are no surprise hither. However, the half-dozen-pes leads are beneath boilerplate length. I also don't capeesh the built-in nature of the leads. You can't supersede them readily as it requires opening upwards the auto and wiring skills.
The provided ground clamp is pathetic, while the MIG gun is in line with the toll. The worst thing about the cheap clench is that you can't replace information technology quickly since it doesn't use the standard bolt and nut wire connectedness.
As well, the ground clamp lacks copper contact points, so information technology doesn't provide maximum electrical conductivity. Without copper contacts, you must grind the metallic well for the all-time electrical connection. Just having to clean the base metal thoroughly negates ane of the advantages of FCAW. (Flux-cored welding accommodates rust and other contaminants, reducing the need to grind.)
Tech Specs
| Welder Type | Flux-Cored |
| Input Voltage | 120 |
| Output Current Type | DC |
| Technology | Transformer |
| Amperage Output | 60A – 125A |
| Duty Cycle | 20% at 90A |
| Wire Drive Rolls | .030″ /.035″ V-Knurled Roller |
| Wire Feed Speed Range | Unspecified |
| Wire Feed Settings | Manual |
| Wire Spool Capacity | ii lb spool |
| Weldable Materials | Mild steel |
| Weldable Mild Steel Thickness (Single-pass) | Upwardly to 3/16 in. |
| Open Excursion Voltage (OCV) | 27V |
| Welder Dimensions (H x Due west 10 L) | 14-1/4in. x 8-one/4in. x fourteen-iii/8 in. |
| Weight | 38 lbs. |
| Warranty | 90-days |
| Weld Guru Rating | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Price | All-time Price Harbor Freight |
Pros
- Decent quality welding arc
- Infinitely adjustable wire feeding speed
- Unproblematic to use
- Proficient build with an entire metal trunk
Cons
- Very heavy and bulky
- Short, built-in leads
- Poor ground clamp
- Low open circuit voltage
- Depression duty bicycle
- Unspecified wire feeding speed range in inches per minute
- No digital display
- Poor warranty
What To Know Before Ownership The Chicago Electric Flux 125
The Chicago Electrical Flux 125 has multiple flaws that hinder your welding experience. You should know how these shortcomings touch on your work. Just yous should also know many competing models don't have most of these negatives.
And then, allow'south review where it falls behind the competition to assistance you decide if this welder is for you.
Low Duty Bicycle
The Flux 125 offers a duty cycle that lets y'all weld for 2 minutes using a 90A output, then look an additional 8 minutes for the welder to absurd down. The welding time is even lower if yous employ the maximum amperage output of 125A.
While this satisfies the needs of many hobbyists, you cannot consummate every DIY project with brusque welds. If you are welding a gate, patio, or garden elements like benches, bloom, and veggie frames, you lot must make many longer welds. But then you will bump upwardly against the duty cycle.
So, for DIY enthusiasts, this is not a dealbreaker. However, since many competing models let yous weld longer, purchasing something that will handicap y'all doesn't make sense.
Not Very User Friendly
While this welder is not difficult to operate, it misses a few things. Without a digital display, the wire feed speed is determined with arbitrary numbers around the knob. Plus, information technology uses a "min/max" power switch for your amp output, which unnecessarily complicates the experience.
Having a digital display is not a must-have for inexpensive welders. Only since many brands provide it, you can get it if you expect around. A primary digital readout helps beginners larn how amperage output impacts the penetration, dewdrop, and arc on different metal thicknesses.
Instead, this welder uses a "min/max" push button in tandem with an infinitely adaptable wire feed knob to control your welds. The min or max amps are poor for beginners developing their welding techniques.
If you don't know the precise amperage your settings provide, y'all'll ever take to stick to the recommended settings chart, which doesn't assistance yous develop your welding skills.
Heavy and Bulky
This is a transformer-based welder. It's heavy considering of the transformer core located inside the unit. While the Harbour Freight labels it every bit "lightweight and portable," that's only true if measured by 2010 standards.
Sure, you lot tin can lift it and move it around. Simply 38 lbs is just too heavy for a small-scale amperage output welder. If it were a multi-procedure automobile with a high duty bicycle, just under 40 lbs. would be boilerplate weight. Only it is a 125A flux-cored welder, catamenia.
While you tin use this welder on the get, it wouldn't be our starting time selection. YesWelder'south model that we review later in the article, and other brands, offer significantly lighter units at the aforementioned or lower prices. With inverter technology advances, and manufacturers competing to make the lightest possible welders, there isn't a reason to go in the opposite direction.
Design Issues
The Flux 125 has integrated leads, making them formidable to modify if damaged or if you become unsatisfied with the brusk 6 feet MIG gun and footing cables. Many cheap machines have a similar issue, but this is something to consider.
The next large design issue involves the wire feed organization. The Flux 125 uses a horizontal wire feed mechanism situated beneath the top embrace. This pattern limits the diameter of the wire spool it can conform, so a 4 in. diameter spool (two lbs) spool is the max.
Considering the size of this welder, it could have hands housed a vertical wire feeding organization on the side of the unit, as well-nigh portable welders do. So, it unnecessarily limits y'all to minor wire spools.
To be fair, it'south possible to accommodate the 10 lbs wire spools. But the wire liner leader gets kinked because larger spools provide a tight fit, and Chicago Electric doesn't officially support it.
Substandard Warranty
The Chicago Electric Flux 125 is not the best-congenital welder out there, and its 90-day warranty is significantly shorter than other brands offer. Typically, a upkeep welder guarantees the unit of measurement for at least 1-year, so the 3-month menses is substandard.
Thankfully, Harbor Freight does offer a 2-year paid warranty extension. But buying the boosted coverage increases the price of this overpriced unit. You are improve off getting a similarly priced machine with a amend warranty. Chances are you will also be able to become more features, also, without additional expense.
Review of The Top Features
The Flux 125 has its downsides, simply many beginners may detect it a good pick if the warranty and other problems are non dealbreakers.
While other welders offer better value for the money, the Chicago Electric Flux 125 has its pros as well. And then. let'southward take a wait at them, too.
Solid Metal Casing
If yous dislike plastic housings, the Flux 125 has you covered. With thick metal front end, sides, and back, the only plastic you'll see is the handle on top, the buttons on the front end and plastic wire bulldoze.
However, this does have its downsides too. A heavy, fully metal build may damage your other equipment every bit information technology bounces around in the bed of your truck. Plus, it tin can be a take a chance to your feet if it falls from a welding cart or tabular array.
Adequate Welding Arc
Inexpensive FCAW machines often have an erratic arc. But the Flux 125 has a decent, stable arc that fits its price well. You'll find it like shooting fish in a barrel to stack beads every bit long equally you follow some welding technique basics.
So, the arc is suitable for learning to weld because you won't take a difficult fourth dimension adapting to a more stable arc if you make up one's mind to buy a better quality machine in the futurity.
Better Value Culling
The Flux 125 certainly has its market niche, and we believe that the YesWelder 135A gasless welder provides a improve value.
This competing model comes with more than features and a lower cost. Information technology does share some cons with the Chicago Electric unit, but it's significantly cheaper, has a more extended warranty, and has better specs.
Yeswelder 135A Welder
Designed for hobbyists and beginners simply starting to weld, the YesWelder 135A supports DC elevator TIG and stick welding, not just flux-cored similar the Flux 125. Plus, it uses inverter technology, allowing much more features, lighter weight, and better specs than the transformer Chicago Electric unit.
Its Synergic MIG characteristic automatically sets your wire feed speed and the voltage. But information technology also lets you manually modify the voltage output in a range of -5V to 5V. This characteristic is excellent considering how cheap it is, teaching beginners how to fine-tune their welds by modifying the wire feed speed and the voltage.
The YesWelder 135 as well uses the 4-in. spools. But the wire feeding system is placed on the side of the welder, non on the height. Then, the unit of measurement is significantly smaller than the Flux 125.
Yeswelder, unfortunately, integrated the MIG gun into the unit of measurement. Only the basis clamp, stick electrode holder, and the TIG torch are not and tin can be swapped easily.
This flux core welder too includes a digital display and puts out college amps than the Chicago Electrical Flux 125. But more importantly, the YesWelder 135 has a significantly longer duty cycle, lx% at 135A output. This improved duty cycle lets yous weld hobbyist-level projects with piffling to no downtime.
You will need a 16A circuit billow to run the YesWelder 135A, while the Chicago Electric Flux 125 requires a minimum of 20A. Installing a 20A billow is a hurting and costly, so yous save boosted money with the Yeswelder 135A if y'all already take an outlet with a 16A breaker.
This unit of measurement doesn't have a settings chart inside the case, so you must utilize the instruction transmission or experiment on scrap metallic. Yeswelder recently updated the 135A to provide the different welding processes and refine the inverter. Their customer support is quick to reply if you accept whatever issues, and YesWelder provides well-reviewed hobbyist-grade equipment.
With a ane-year warranty, significantly lower weight, more than welding power, better duty cycle, additional features, two boosted welding processes, and longer leads, the YesWelder 135 is excellent value at this price.
| Feature / Welder | Chicago Electrical Flux 125 | YesWelder 135A |
|---|---|---|
| Welder Type | Flux-Cored | Flux-Cored, TIG, Stick |
| Technology | Transformer | IGBT Inverter |
| Amperage Output | 60-125A | 20-135A |
| Duty Cycle | 20% at 90A | lx% at 135A 100% at 104A |
| Required Circuit Breaker | 20A | 16A |
| Digital Display | ❌ | ✅ |
| Synergic MIG | ❌ | ✅ |
| Output Voltage Adjustment | ❌ | ✅ |
| Leads Length | 6 anxiety | 8 feet |
| Weight | 38 lbs | 15 lbs |
| Warranty | 90-days | 1-twelvemonth |
| Weld Guru Rating | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Toll | $$ Best Cost Harbor Freight Toll excludes extended warranty | $$ All-time Cost Yeswelder Salvage 10%: WELDGURU10 |
Final Verdict
The Chicago Electric Flux 125 is a decent flux-core welder if its flaws are non a problem for y'all. But it'south now an old machine and trails the competition in many crucial areas.
So, in our opinion, the YesWelder 135 is a ameliorate value for the coin. This becomes especially true if you lot purchase the Harbour Freight extended warranty. In that example, the YesWelder will cost around the aforementioned, and it is a proficient culling you should consider.
If you have whatever experience with the Chicago Electric Flux 125, please let u.s.a. know in the comments beneath.
Source: https://weldguru.com/chicago-electric-flux-125-welder-review/
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