7 Best Gasless MIG Welders (in 2023) – Top Picks

The inexpensive YesWelder Flux-135 outputs a lot of power and has a long duty cycle. No other welder in our review can match its 60% duty cycle at 135A output or 100% at 104 amps.

The included digital display and the infinitely adjustable knobs make fine-tuning your arc a breeze. The Flux-135 doesn’t cause too much spatter, and the resulting welds look better than anything the other welders in this range can do.

We particularly liked that it’s a multi-process unit at a low cost. You can’t TIG weld pipe with this machine or use its stick welding process to weld structural steel. But, having these two processes significantly improves its value and are are nice to have in a pinch. Also, you can learn basic TIG and stick welding if you are a beginner, which flux-cored-only welders cannot match.

But, the YesWelder’s Flux-135 build quality falls short of the other welders on our list. It’s adequate for hobbyists. But you should proceed on to our reviews below if you prefer a better build quality. However, you won’t find multi-process capability, a long duty cycle, or bargain price elsewhere.

If you are unsure whether you need a MIG or gasless flux-cored welder, the Eastwood 90A MIG machine is worth considering. While it outputs a relatively low amperage, the unit has excellent build quality for the hobbyist market. It also comes with a 3-year warranty, which is hard to find at such a low price.

The Eastwood priced the 90A MIG like most flux-cored only welders. But, it supports a full-blown MIG welding process thanks to a shielding gas inlet valve and a suitable inverter design. This added feature alone makes it an unbelievable value. You can use and get experience with a real MIG welder for the price of a gasless MIG welder.

Eastwood competes with brands like YesWelder and Forney, who dominate the affordable welders’ market. However, their approach is different. Instead of loading the machine with lots of features like YesWelder, Eastwood provides a better build quality and longer warranty.

So, it comes down to what you value the most. The Eastwood 90A MIG doesn’t have a digital display, making it more challenging to set up than the YesWelder above. Plus, its low duty cycle and amperage output limit its use.

The Forney Easy Weld 140 FC-i is a decent choice for demanding hobbyists. While it has a slightly lower build quality than the Eastwood, it outputs the most amps in our review.

However, it is more expensive than the YesWelder Flux-135. Apart from slightly better build quality, this Forney doesn’t offer nearly enough features to justify the price increase. So, the YesWelder unit is a strong contender, and why it was our choice for a bargain model.

But the Forney 140 FC-i puts out excellent arc quality for a flux-cored machine. It is a time proven welder many hobbyists use without issues. The torch is wrapped, just like YesWelder’s and Eastwood’s, and the sturdy metal body reinforced by rubber corners gives it a rugged feel.

Unfortunately, the 140 FC-i has integrated leads, which is never a good thing. This makes it more challenging to transport and replace the torch or ground clamp cables. Additionally, it doesn’t have a digital display, and its infinitely adjustable knobs use arbitrary values. These two missing features make learning more difficult because you can’t precisely see the set wire feed speed and voltage.

The Hobart Handler 100 is a well-made and popular transformer-based gasless MIG welder. It owns the best build quality of all the models on our list. However, it uses a plastic wire feed system, like all budget machines.

But thanks to Hobart’s high production quality, the Handler 100 is built to last. Plus, their industrial 5/3/1 warranty covers the transformer-core for 5 years. If you are looking for longevity, the Hobart is a great choice.

However, the old transformer design doesn’t offer the perks of inverter machines. The Handler 100 has a pitiful duty cycle. It can only weld for just two minutes at an 80 amps output before resting for another eight minutes. Additionally, it doesn’t have helpful features to improve the welding experience or joint quality.

The fixed-voltage adjustment system is inefficient compared to infinite adjustability. While Hobart’s four voltage settings are good enough for most DIY jobs, nothing beats the ability to fine-tune the arc.

Lincoln Electric designed the Century FC-90 for ultimate portability. The compact body, low weight, and integrated shoulder strap provide professionals and hobbyists with an easy-to-transport solution.

The Century FC-90 has Lincoln’s smooth arc and it performs well even in professional applications. However, its 30% duty cycle at 80 amps cannot handle heavy-duty jobs. So, if you are a professional, you can use this tiny welder only for light repairs on the go.

But, hobbyists and welding rookies benefit more from its low profile. If the Forney seems too large, or you don’t need that much power, the Century FC-90 is a more compact unit. But do consider the Eastwood and YesWelder models. They are lightweight, compact, and overall provide better value. That’s why the Century sits so low on our list.

The biggest shortcoming of the FC-90 is its pathetic 6-month warranty. We fail to see why Lincoln Electric couldn’t have vouched for this machine’s longevity. After all, they are a heavyweight in the welding industry.

The Ironton 125 is the most affordable gasless MIG welder on out list, and that’s Ironton’s only advantage. Sure, it’s transformer-based, so you can expect a longer lifespan. But, the provided 1-year warranty doesn’t inspire confidence for a transformer-based welder.

The YesWelder Flux-135 costs only a little more. So, unless you have a severely limited budget, we recommend the YesWelder over the Ironton.

The Ironton is portable but heavy at 38 lbs. So, it’s not convenient for welding on the go like other small, flux-cored welders. The leads are just 6-feet long. Plus, they are integrated and you can’t easily replace the cables.

But, the worst Ironton’s shortcoming is the two-voltage selection switch. Sure, it gets the job done if you don’t care about the weld quality or bead appearance. But, since slightly more expensive welders offer infinite adjustability like the YesWelder, the Ironton feels like it belongs in a stone age.

If you prefer transformer-based welders and are on the budget, the Ironton 125 fits the description. Just don’t expect more than the bare minimum. This welder doesn’t include a single beneficial feature other than an “LED indicator for thermal overload,” which every other welder also incorporates.

The Firepower FP-95, made by ESAB, combines portability and durability like no other gasless MIG welder. It’s transformer-based, made by one of the best brands in the industry, and has a 3-year warranty. Oh, and most importantly, it’s lighter than most transformer-based units. For example, it’s significantly lighter than Hobart Handler 100 we reviewed earlier.

However, it doesn’t come without caveats. The torch and ground clamp are integrated, and there are only two selectable voltage values, just like on the Ironton. Additionally, the 15% duty cycle at 80 amps output is heartbreaking. It won’t allow you to tailor the arc to your liking, either.

But if you need a reliable, portable welder, the Firepower FP-95 won’t let you down. So, it’s a compromise you must make if you are hell-bent on getting a portable transformer-based flux-cored welder.

The Firepower FP-95 is slightly larger than the Lincoln Century, Eastwood 90 Amp MIG, and YesWelder 135-Flux. But, it’s more compact than the other transformer-core welders in our review and the Ironton and Hobart Handler 100 are bigger and more difficult to transport.