Should I get a plasma cutter/will I use it

[Burt Shaver]

If this is something that ends up being used twice a year, is a warranty really that important? If it fails on the third use and the warranty is already expired, it didn't really do much for you. At least with the cheap ones, if it fails, it's just a throwaway thing anyway. You just buy another one

Good point,

 

[oldtractors]

They're not as cheap, but if you don't have an oxygen/acetelene rig in your shop for basic freeing or heating of parts along with the cutting abilities, I'd start there.

Plasma will deal with rusty thin metal far better than Oxy acetylene and the run cost is way cheaper than running a acetylene torch.

 

[zendriver]

Our Hypertherm seems to want the tip in contact with the work. Not sure if I could just get a non-contact gun for it.

One accessory I'd love to have is a gouging tip. Being able to cut welds at 90 degrees would be nice.

Good point.

My unit is a pilot arc design, so it doesn’t need to make contact

 

[Rockable]

Most of my work is auto restoration/modification. Besides saws and lots of cut off tools, I have an oxy acetylene rig and a plasma cutter. I don't use either frequently but I use the oxy acetylene 2-3 times as much. When I need it, the plasma is good to have. When you need to heat something up to bend it or to unfreeze a stuck fastener, the oxy is great to have. YMMV

 

[OccupantRJ]

It's exactly why I bought one a few years ago.



Careful though cause the garage can go from looking like this



to this just a few years later

Addiction is real.

 

[KwikFab]

Addiction is real.

I can quit at any time!

 

[OccupantRJ]

I can quit at any time!

You **** your friends and I’ll **** mine. Let’s not **** each other.

 

[Chris Stapley]

Would a plasma cutter be the appropriate tool to cut out rusty pieces on my dump trailer? I can take some pics tomorrow

You would want a pilot controlled plasma cutter for dealing with rusty ****,this unit is a scratch start,they do not like
trying to start or contact on dirty rusty,painted material..

 

[Chris Stapley]

Do yourself a favour and just buy this from Amazon brand new!
amazon.ca/Reboot-Voltage-Inverter-Portable-Cutting/dp/B0DTHVYQ48/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2JFC08TQ98D4L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.INgurXifMyjqRILzwxmfXqaqgfv7sMSQiCyjlKEddPBnTWexrYmtoWQPUm0Z_Udy7zw8ItilgZu0a0M1oxk8xXkDPR7vECyXt17u91WZU7zQFzUboPWNMLSJNQNX7SyNoX3n9SpIh8vy0D2Nxf5-zDIfITX_DtyYa_5iStd9FySpyx_Jg35jQ1vwVU37rC858D1DsJKCAdMe5pYGTks57O4L-0iklcFMrlCahQOK5D0DMWtF7lDfhbOPHa5wcj2hGXekr7NDkN_P6n3DM__RKMeh6czZ7uNfp44SEuYRzi0.5OCIVKzRy1YCmOGvr2T4vkf-aDJh9MAVY23vXD3mLs0&dib_tag=se&keywords=pilot+arc+plasma+cutter&qid=1784570854&sprefix=pilto+arc+plasma%2Caps%2C1761&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

[Steve_P]

I have an OA torch set and a plasma cutter. As a hobbyist I don't use either very often but they both serve their purpose. Plasma goes thru steel like butter even after 1 minute of practice. And with a guide bar its a straight cut for a new user. Sorry but I'm nowhere near as clean w my OA torch as a very occasional cutter with it. OA torch rules for heating nuts, heating plate to bend.... No regrets on having both although I've had OA for 30+ years and plasma for one.

 

[vpd66]

I've owned a plasma cutter in my home shop since the late 90s. I don't use it very often but it is nice to have around. The consumables can be expensive and like others have said you need a decent size air compressor to run one. The small 50-65 amp import ones are so cheap now I wouldn't waste my time buying a used one.

 

[Burt Shaver]

Do yourself a favour and just buy this from Amazon brand new!
amazon.ca/Reboot-Voltage-Inverter-Portable-Cutting/dp/B0DTHVYQ48/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2JFC08TQ98D4L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.INgurXifMyjqRILzwxmfXqaqgfv7sMSQiCyjlKEddPBnTWexrYmtoWQPUm0Z_Udy7zw8ItilgZu0a0M1oxk8xXkDPR7vECyXt17u91WZU7zQFzUboPWNMLSJNQNX7SyNoX3n9SpIh8vy0D2Nxf5-zDIfITX_DtyYa_5iStd9FySpyx_Jg35jQ1vwVU37rC858D1DsJKCAdMe5pYGTks57O4L-0iklcFMrlCahQOK5D0DMWtF7lDfhbOPHa5wcj2hGXekr7NDkN_P6n3DM__RKMeh6czZ7uNfp44SEuYRzi0.5OCIVKzRy1YCmOGvr2T4vkf-aDJh9MAVY23vXD3mLs0&dib_tag=se&keywords=pilot+arc+plasma+cutter&qid=1784570854&sprefix=pilto+arc+plasma%2Caps%2C1761&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

I went ahead and ordered this one, 192.09 after tax. I would have spent 30.00 in gas to go pick up the used one

 

[OccupantRJ]

I went ahead and ordered this one, 192.09 after tax. I would have spent 30.00 in gas to go pick up the used one

How bout provide us feedback after you use that unit. I may buy one for my son as a gift.

 

[finn]

I have an older Miller Spectrum 375 (?) which I found to be a little underpowered. Great fot sheet metal and other thin stock, and safer than the oxy ace torches, though.

I more recently bought a Primeweld Cut 60 that I haven’t commissioned yet. I’ve got a couple of projects lined up, just lack the time to dedicate a morning to setting it up and learn the operational ropes.

 

[djbmw]

I went ahead and ordered this one, 192.09 after tax. I would have spent 30.00 in gas to go pick up the used one

Nice! If possible, wire up a 220v outlet to run it, if you're cutting anything thicker than sheet steel.
Its a good little plasma cutter and you'll be amazed with it. Practicing different techniques will also make your nozzle, electrodes, and cups last longer... but eventually you'll want to buy a set of 20+ of your consumables from amazon (its like $20 or something).

 

[whateg01]

Nice! If possible, wire up a 220v outlet to run it, if you're cutting anything thicker than sheet steel.
Its a good little plasma cutter and you'll be amazed with it. Practicing different techniques will also make your nozzle, electrodes, and cups last longer... but eventually you'll want to buy a set of 20+ of your consumables from amazon (its like $20 or something).

Dammit! I wired mine wrong. It's wired for 240v, not 220! Or since I have 240, does that mean I'm getting more cutting power from it?

 

[djbmw]

Dammit! I wired mine wrong. It's wired for 240v, not 220! Or since I have 240, does that mean I'm getting more cutting power from it?

Ha!
But... technicaly, if all else is equal, you would have more available power. If your home AC is feeding 220v to the machine at 50amps you have 11,000 available watts... vs. powering it with a generator thats supporting 240v at 50amps, yielding 12,000 available watts.

So, assuming your machine was hungry enough and capable of using the additional power then, yes, you would see a small improvement from 220v to 240v.

Real world measurement of my branches hover in the 115v to 117v range (~230 to 234v combined). Years ago Hydro One was sending too much voltage (130v per branch) and got in **** for it... now, they've reduced it too much the other way?!. There's a bunch of people that log real time data of this and it seems to be all over the map...

 

[emeraldcoupe]

I bought this one off Amazon a few years ago for $99. Not a pilot arc. Works fine, dual voltage, and consumables are dirt cheap. It's not something I use every day but it's nice to have when you need it.

 

[Burt Shaver]

I bought this one off Amazon a few years ago for $99. Not a pilot arc. Works fine, dual voltage, and consumables are dirt cheap. It's not something I use every day but it's nice to have when you need it.

That’s the exact same one that was listed in marketplace that I was going to try and purchase

 

[Kscardsfan]

Yes, you definitely should get it. This is not the place to come to be talked out of a purchase.

 

[Burt Shaver]

Yes, you definitely should get it. This is not the place to come to be talked out of a purchase.

I didn’t want to be talked out of it, I was just looking for someone to say I should get one

 

[NUTTSGT]

I didn’t want to be talked out of it, I was just looking for someone to say I should get one

Generally not an issue here.

 

[KwikFab]

I didn’t want to be talked out of it, I was just looking for someone to say I should get one

Just owning one will make a huge difference.

 

[Chris Stapley]

I went ahead and ordered this one, 192.09 after tax. I would have spent 30.00 in gas to go pick up the used one

You'll be more than satisfied with this purchase Burt, you'll be amazed what it will do if you spend the time to wire in a
220 plug, it wakes the machine up immensely over the 110 volts!

 

[Kscardsfan]

You'll be more than satisfied with this purchase Burt, you'll be amazed what it will do if you spend the time to wire in a
220 plug, it wakes the machine up immensely over the 110 volts!

Especially if it's only a 110v machine

 

[Chris Stapley]

Especially if it's only a 110v machine

These Chinese invertor machines are all dual voltage!

 

[Lassen Forge]

You need an air compressor to drive the plasma. 230 always gives better performance than 110 on what those machines can cut...

IIRC, when we did the big GJ group purchase of machines they were Cut50's. More than a few had internal issues - loose wiring, etc - I remember I had to go in and double check all the electrics, once they were straightened out they weren't a bad little machine, but unless it's been upgraded you might expect to have some "teething issues"... I did end up using it a number of times on various projects, but there were a few times I had the cover off it to make minor repairs.

For a $150 machine, they perform like, well, a $150 machine.

 

[zendriver]

IIRC, when we did the big GJ group purchase of machines they were Cut50's. More than a few had internal issues - loose wiring, etc - I remember I had to go in and double check all the electrics, once they were straightened out they weren't a bad little machine, but unless it's been upgraded you might expect to have some "teething issues"... I did end up using it a number of times on various projects, but there were a
few times I had the cover off it to make minor repairs.

I had to search but that was over 12 years ago. Technology, mfg finesse and pricing has probably advanced some since.

For a $150 machine, they perform like, well, a $150 machine.

Yes, they perform excellent.

To be fair, a plasma cutter is an electric arc and compressed air. Not that hard to get it right.

 

[Brand X]

As far as CFM used.. Mainly torch design, and nozzle size matters a whole lot on cfm used,..
On the 120 volt use..Many cheap plasma cutters come with way too big of nozzle size to cut
very well.. I am a big fan of Esab/Thermal Dynamics/Hypertherm used units in general,but
having a lower cost New china unit has it's place for sure. If the torch will support better
quality USA/Euro consumables,the cut can be improved quite a bit in many of them.

 

[Steve_P]

Obviously, plasma cutters use compressed air, but I'm guessing that anyone considering one already has a 5 CFM compressor. I have an 80 gallon tank and the last time I used my PC for a few minutes I realized that the compressor was turned off - and I had no issues. Yes, it uses air, but it's not like running a spray gun or air sander.

Edit: I have a Prime Weld. Very nice.