The complete Chicago Electric Flux 125 Welder Review can be found here.
Welders come in a wide variety of designs from which to pick. Each one is designed for a certain kind of welding. MIG (metal inert gas) welding, GMAW (gas metal arc welding), FCAW (flux-cored arc welding), TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding, GTAW (gas tungsten arc welding), and stick welding are all performed by welders.
The kind of metal you intend to weld and its thickness will determine the type of welder you should purchase. Amperage, voltage, compatibility, wire feed power, etc. are a few welder characteristics that could impact the caliber of your welding.
Flux-cored arc welding, or FCAW welding, is performed with a Flux 125 Welder. Similar to Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG), FCAW is a method of welding that produces superior outcomes and is more productive. Instead of a wire, it uses a continuously fed metal electrode tube.
Depending on how much prior welding experience you have and whether you know how to use the welder correctly and safely, the quality of your weld may vary. Make sure you receive some basic instruction or training from a knowledgeable person if you have never used a welder before to prevent danger to yourself.
You can also enroll in welding classes, but these will cost you extra. You can quickly pick up the best approaches by studying under someone with years of experience.
Chicago Electric Flux 125 Welder Review
Key Features:
- Duty cycle is 20% at 90 amps
- Output amps are 125 and 60
- Materials up to 3/16 inches thick
- Wire in sizes of 0.030
Specifications
Chicago Electric, a private-label trademark of Harbor Freight Tools, manufactures the Flux 125 Welder. Like the majority of the tools produced by Chicago Electric, its component parts are produced in China.
The input voltage for this welder is 120 volts, and the duty cycle is 20% at 90 amps. Maximum and minimum output amps are 125 and 60 respectively. It can weld materials up to 3/16 inches thick and 18 gauge (1/20 of an inch) thick.
Shielding gas is not utilized with this type of welder, unlike when using a MIG welder, as it is an FCAW welder and does not need much gas to operate.
Due to its significantly smaller size and weight than most other welders, the Flux 125 can be conveniently carried or kept in a small area. Due to the additional safety features, it is also generally safe to use. It contains an integrated overload protection system and a trigger-activated pistol to guard against inadvertent arc flashes.
This welder accepts flux-cored wire in sizes of 0.030 in. (0.8 mm) or 0.035 in. (0.9 mm). When purchased, a spool of wire is included; additional wire must be purchased separately.
Review
When looking to purchase cordless power tools, air compressors, power inverters, welders like this one, etc., Chicago Electric is one of the more affordable brands.
If you’re new to welding or are just learning the fundamentals, this particular welder is a wonderful place to start, especially if you’re searching for one that’s reasonably priced. Additionally, it might be beneficial if you’re welding lightly on mild or low alloy steel.
Avoid using aluminum or stainless steel, though, as those metals are not intended for welding. If you intend to weld on aluminum, you should consider either MIG or TIG welders, both of which can do so.
When performing specific welding tasks, the type of tip that comes with this welder might occasionally make it difficult to see over. It works great for the majority of projects, however, it is better to purchase a separate tip to attach to it if you are conducting a deep weld in order to prevent any problems.
Given that it is not the most powerful welder available, another issue you can encounter with this one is its capacity to heat up sufficiently for a good weld. For the best results, try increasing the wire feed speed a little bit.
It is advised to swap out the wire with a better-fitting flux-cored wire of a name brand with higher quality, such as Vulcan. It will still function without replacing the wire, but using the better wire increases your chances of getting a strong weld.
This welder is excellent for small-scale, quick home improvement tasks or simple repairs. People who have attempted to use it for extended periods of time or on significant projects using thick metals,
however, have encountered problems with power or heat limitations. Since this welder is low-amperage, a higher-power welder will be ideal for you if you intend to conduct substantial welding work.
Overall, there aren’t many issues with the Flux 125 Welder. It works wonderfully as long as you don’t push it too hard. When using it for the first time, it is very simple to set up and very simple to operate.
It is pre-equipped when you buy it with everything you require to begin welding. It comes with a wire brush, a spool of flux-cored wire, a 6-foot cable, a flux-core gun, a ground clamp, extra contact tips, and all of these accessories.
Safety Precautions
Always keep in mind not to breathe in any fumes that may arise while welding due to the hazardous chemicals it contains. Your eyes will be protected from the light it emits if you wear an industrial-grade welding helmet.
For additional safety, wear leather shoes, a leather apron, and welding gloves. If not, you run the danger of hurting yourself.
Conclusion
Consider all of the difficulties outlined in the previous section of this article before purchasing the Chicago Electric Flux 125 Welder. If upgrades and more supplies are required, you can end up spending more overall than if you simply purchased another welder.
However, you needn’t worry too much if you’re just starting off.
With 8 years of experience a senior welding instructor and safety equipment researcher and writes articles, reviews and guidelines on helmets and other welding and safety gears at Welder Choice, and other written works have been published in various publications.