Forney Easy Weld 100 ST Stick Welder, Compact, Beginner-Friendly, 100 Amps

Easy to use stick welder. As a new welder I find this machine very easy to work with, everything about it from the dials, the handle with cord management, and even the weight seems to be well thought out. This little green welder is fantastic.

I am only a beginner so take this review with a grain of salt. I bought the forney easy weld last year and it's been a great machine to learn stick on. The specs say it will burn 1/8" rods, but that seems to be only in the very bottom end of their amperage range. However I suspect that is going to be the case for any 120v welder. I have run 6013, 6011, and 7018 3/32" rods and they've all been fine-ish (i have some trouble with 6013, but i'm pretty sure that problem is me not the welder). The one thing that some times tricks me is the + and - connectors are labeled, but they are hidden when looked at from above. and while you might expect the + connection to be the top connection it is actually the bottom. (I learned the hard way that a 6011 rod will stick, heat up, and turn into a spaghetti nood when run as DCEN). There are cheaper 120v stick welders on the market, but they are from a brand you've never heard of and I quite strongly suspect that they are death traps. I do not think you can get a better price on a stick welder from a reputable brand.