Review: Forney 324 190-Amp Multi-Process Welder

Different jobs require different welding disciplines. If you’re a home-based welder, purchasing 2 or 3 different welders may not be in the budget. The Forney 324 190-amp multi-process welder makes it easy to MIG, TIG, or stick weld with relative ease and save space in your shop or garage at the same time.

This welder will perform gas or flux-cored MIG welding in addition to the TIG and stick welding that is included. You will receive a gas hose and flow meter in the box with this welder. It accepts electrode diameters of 1/8-inch, though some 5/32-inch diameters are also compatible with the equipment.

One word of caution: you’ll need to purchase the foot pedal, spool gun, and TIG torch separately with this multi-process welder.

What to Expect with the Forney 324 MP Welder

This is a DC-only TIG welder, so you’re not going to be able to weld aluminum with it. You can do so in a limited fashion if you use the MIG gun instead. Out of the box, this is a MIG welder only. It sets up quickly and accepts spool sizes of 4-inches or 8-inches, with acceptable wire diameters up to .035.

It offers a 5/3/1 warranty, though some components do not have labor covered as part of the warranty process.

Input power is 120V or 230V and 1-phase. Maximum output is 190 amps. It has a rated duty cycle of 20% at the maximum rated output. This allows you to get a good bead with the welder, especially with the MIG settings.

If you do invest to upgrade to the TIG or stick components, you’ll find that the welder is adequate in what it can do. The quality of the work isn’t going to blow you away, but those who are familiar with welding are going to be able to produce a clean and precise weld.

It’s very easy to dial in on the settings that you’ll need for your project. It also offers a 4-stage trigger on the MIG gun and it will keep welding in-between taps of the trigger. This saves a lot on the positional fatigue that you can find with other welders.

Key Points to Keep in Mind with the Forney 324 MP Welder

• This welder tends to work best on ¼-inch materials or smaller.
• This isn’t a heavy-duty MP welder. It’s good for daily DIY jobs around the house or for weekend entrepreneurs, but not for industrial responsibilities.
• It weighs just above 51 pounds, giving the unit a decent level of portability.
• The power cord is 15 feet long, so it works well without an extension cord in most locations.
  

Our Bottom Line: The primary strength of the Forney 324 Multi-Process Welder is in its MIG welding capabilities. We’re not a big fan of the purchasing upgrades that are required to use the TIG and stick welding capabilities of this unit, especially with its price already. If you do spring for the upgrades, however, you’ll be able to improve your TIG skills and weld in difficult locations with relative ease. It has a few faults, but overall, this is a pretty solid welder.

Click here to view the price on Amazon and get the best deal.