Plasma cutter on Amazon

[willy3486]

I am looking at getting a plasma cutter but I know nothing about them. Here is why I was thinking of getting one. I am looking at cutting. maybe something the thickness of an older vehicles panels. At the most the thickness of a saw blade. I have a Milwaukee reciprocating saw to do thicker stuff and angle iron. Mainly I want to be able to cut salvaged metal, for example I have some old heat pump sides I would like to cut so I can patch a bush hog. I can't justify the higher priced ones as I may use it once a month if that, there may be times I use it on a project multiple times.

With that said the last time I really looked at them years ago they were 500 or more. I got to looking at them in the last week or so and I have seen quite a few of them at 200 or less. Last year I made some knives using a saw blade and cut them with a grinder, drill press and hand file, it took a long time. I ran across this one below and I was wondering about it. I am not looking for a professional type , one more for a hobbyist but not junk. But I don't want one that will tear up after a time or two and one that parts can't be found for it. I am also ok with a refurbished one if it is a higher quality but not a huge price tag. I prefer under 200 if possible as no more than I would use it I can't justify more. I have a compressor, 120 volts and 240 volts. It doesn't have to be this one and can be from other places.

Plasma cutter

 

[gmcgeo]

I am looking at getting a plasma cutter but I know nothing about them. Here is why I was thinking of getting one. Maybe something the thickness of an older vehicles panels. At the most the thickness of a saw blade. I have a Milwaukee reciprocating saw to do thicker stuff and angle iron. Mainly I want to be able to cut salvaged metal, for example I have some old heat pump sides I would like to cut so I can patch a bush hog. I can't justify the higher priced ones as I may use it once a month if that, there may be times I use it on a project multiple times.

With that said the last time I really looked at them years ago they were 500 or more. I got to looking at them in the last week or so and I have seen quite a few of them at 200 or less. Last year I made some knives using a saw blade and cut them with a grinder, drill press and hand file, it took a long time. I ran across this one below and I was wondering about it. I am not looking for a professional type , one more for a hobbyist but not junk. But I don't want one that will tear up after a time or two and one that parts can't be found for it. I am also ok with a refurbished one if it is a higher quality but not a huge price tag. I prefer under 200 if possible as no more than I would use it I can't justify more. I have a compressor, 120 volts and 240 volts. It doesn't have to be this one and can be from other places.

Plasma cutter

I have two. Cut50 and Vevor 250. They both work very well. I paid 225 for the cut 50 at the time. and 190 for the vevor.

 

[Copymutt]

For around the home, garage I can easily chop, cut, trim etc mist any metal w/ just an angke grinder, cut off blades & flap discs.

 

[WildBill]

I have a cheap yeswelder one, works great. Cost around $200. They to seem to be pretty good about support and have been around for awhile.

 

[Damon L.]

I have an older version of the Bestarc BTC500dp. It has done everything I have asked of it thus far, including 5/8" thick cast iron in the base of my planer. I bought a big package of consumables at the same time. I had some machinery here last year that I salvaged a pile of tubing (3x6x1/4 steel) and it plugged along without issue. I don't use it much, and when I do, I use it on 220V, but it has been a good purchase.

If it died now, I would replace with the same. I bought it because of the internal regulator, pilot arc, and available consumables. It was also the only budget amazon plasma that I could find unpaid youtube reviews of.

 

[jmdirk]

The offshore ones do a reasonable job.

The one you posted is a HF start, which won't work if you ever decide to get into CNC. I had a cheap HF-start Cut 50 and tried to use it with a CNC. Everytime the arc would fire, it would cause the controller to reset. Switched to a non-HF start Yeswelder Cut55DS which works fine.

Only other thing you might consider is you want to do CNC, is to get one with a machine interface if you want to do things like Torch Height Control

 

[MJD1]

I would invest in a good 6" grinder and quality cutting discs over those bottom of the basement plasmas. On many things I can do a quicker job with the cut off disc considering there is no cleanup of the cut edge with the plasma.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I recently bought a cheap plasma. It works fine. Its a pilot arc which does the job, but its not great for tight corners because of the stand off. For sheet goods it works great.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'd worry about future availability of consumables. Once those are gone, you're done. It's possible you could retrofit another handpiece and stinger, but....

 

[willy3486]

I went ahead and got that one after Damon L's post on having one. I have a few grinders but I hate cutting free hand with a grinder. I also got a assortment of consumables for it as they had a box of them at a decent price. Later on if I see I use it a lot more than I expect I may keep a eye open for a higher quality used one like Miller or similar. So thanks for all the comments and such it really helped me.

 

[zendriver]

I have a BestArc

Only used it a couple of times. It's pretty sweet.

Harbor Freight offerings are extremely overpriced, if we ever thought that was possible.

Later on if I see I use it a lot more than I expect I may keep a eye open for a higher quality used one like Miller or similar.

What's low quality about the BestArc units? Keep within the duty cycle and give them clean steady electricity. Some report using the "cheap" plasmas cutters problem free for years.

 

[sparky 1971]

I bought this one last spring and it worked well on the 1/4" plate I bought it for.

https://www.amazon.com/bestarc-Digital-Display-CUT55P-Inverter/dp/B0DR1C5XTJ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

A couple of weeks before that I bought another brand, I don't remember what it was other than it was purple. It didn't work right out of the box so it was returned.

 

[Beerhippie]

I bought this one last spring and it worked well on the 1/4" plate I bought it for.

https://www.amazon.com/bestarc-Digital-Display-CUT55P-Inverter/dp/B0DR1C5XTJ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

A couple of weeks before that I bought another brand, I don't remember what it was other than it was purple. It didn't work right out of the box so it was returned.

I've had a Miller Maxstar 150 TIG unit that failed right off the truck. It happens to the best of them.

 

[willy3486]

I figured a Miller or similar might be better but I have no idea of quality or much about a plasma cutter. But until a person tries something out they won't know. It did look good as far as I could tell and I hope it works as great for me as it has others. I have a trick I do on tools. If I am not familiar with one I buy a somewhat cheaper brand than a name brand. If I really like that tool and use it a lot I will buy a really good brand when it dies. I bought a harbor freight reciprocating saw and really liked it. I wore out a couple of theirs until I found a great deal on a Milwalkee one from CPO outlets for less than 100. I bought a cheap biscuit joiner and used it a heck of a lot more than I expected. I saw a great deal about a month ago on a makita biscuit joiner at CPO as well and got that. If this one does good and lasts I will keep it and use it. But if I run across a better one used I might get it.

 

[whateg01]

I would invest in a good 6" grinder and quality cutting discs over those bottom of the basement plasmas. On many things I can do a quicker job with the cut off disc considering there is no cleanup of the cut edge with the plasma.

I would buy a cheap plasma before I would buy a 6" grinder. On maybe things I need a curved line or an odd shaped hole that a grinder can't do considering the grinding disc or cutoff wheel is flat. With a straightedge or a template, I can cut a line that doesn't require any cleanup of the cut edge.

 

[zendriver]

I recently bought a cheap plasma. It works fine. Its a pilot arc which does the job, but its not great for tight corners because of the stand off. For sheet goods it works great.

It will cut just fine without a standoff. Just not always as pretty.

 

[zendriver]

I'd worry about future availability of consumables. Once those are gone, you're done. It's possible you could retrofit another handpiece and stinger, but....

The unit is $150 bucks.

If consumables are no longer available,( probably not likely for some time) heave it in the scrap bin and get something else.

They probably got their money's worth out of it.

 

[Bert_]

I'll have to pay attention to this thread. I've had an itch for a plasma cutter for a while, just because I'm tired of cutoff wheels. I really have no justification to own one

The consumable parts really worry me with the cheap ones. I just about ready to pull the trigger on the prime weld cut50 with the pilot arc, but they have been showing "out of stock"

 

[whateg01]

The unit is $150 bucks.

If consumables are no longer available,( probably not likely for some time) heave it in the scrap bin and get something else.

They probably got their money's worth out of it.

I wondered about the possibility of fitting a different torch to a machine. Of course, the common advice is "it wasn't designed for it" so don't do it. Now that I have a PM45XP, it's not a concern, but I still wonder.

 

[Beerhippie]

I wondered about the possibility of fitting a different torch to a machine. Of course, the common advice is "it wasn't designed for it" so don't do it. Now that I have a PM45XP, it's not a concern, but I still wonder.

We have a Hypertherm with a drag-tip. I'd like to get a non-contact tip for it. I'm pretty sure it works with a machine tip, so...?

 

[djbmw]

My first Cut50 plasma I paid $700 for like 20 years ago. It lasted being ocasionally used (probably 6 hrs of run time per year) for 18 years. It finally crapped out (some caps and transistors blew and I didnt feel like changing them).

I bought a replacement cut50d for like $130 Canadian. Works a treat! All the consumables are generic... they have been available for decades and will continue to be available for decades to come.

 

[Damon L.]

I'd worry about future availability of consumables. Once those are gone, you're done. It's possible you could retrofit another handpiece and stinger, but....

It uses AG60 consumables. I'm not worried about availability.

I recently bought a cheap plasma. It works fine. Its a pilot arc which does the job, but its not great for tight corners because of the stand off. For sheet goods it works great.

I run mine without the standoff to get into tight spots. Works just fine.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It uses AG60 consumables. I'm not worried about availability.



I run mine without the standoff to get into tight spots. Works just fine.

Good to know.

 

[zendriver]

It uses AG60 consumables. I'm not worried about availability.

Good call. I thought they were "standard" but forgot.

I don't use mine much (yet) but I purchased a hefty pack of consumables. They might last me the rest of my life.

The Chinese do not really seem to be into "propriety", especially since it's so 20th century.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Arccaptain has some sales going on.

I just ordered the CUT50 with 110 piece consumable kit for $200. Free shipping.

The welder alone is $170

Seems to get good reviews.

 

[Brand X]

Here is the deal with the cheap Plasma cutters on Ebay. Generally poor Powerfactor on the powersupply compared to better units..
I had or have Thermal Dynamics ,Esab,Hypertherm and the like..No such issues.. There are some machines made in China that certainly
do not suffer from that either. It will generally raise it's ugly head when running on a generator. I have been able to really improve the
cheaper units by buying better onsumables. Most the time, but not always they are not really matched all that well to the output of
the machine..Swirl rings on the PT-31 torches make a huge difference in cut quality. The machines are so low cost, it's hard not to
get your money out of them..I generally find used USA built machines, and upgrade the torch if needed..

 

[TobeyA]

I have a cheap yeswelder one, works great. Cost around $200. They to seem to be pretty good about support and have been around for awhile.

Same here. I use it 4-5 times a year. Works great for my home shop needs. Used it the other day to cut the bracing off the trunk lid from the new race car. Much easier than a grinder or saw.

 

[willy3486]

Its been a while but I finally got to use it yesterday so I thought I would post a update. I absolutely love these things, it will be a game changer for me. I cut some scrap metal I had for a project I am working on, I cut some thick tubing,between 1/4 and 1/2 thick, some angle iron and a couple of pieces of an old truck bed frame. It took some getting use to it but I got the hang of it fairly quickly.

At first I didn't have the air up high and and the amperage was too low. So I started plying with it and it cut faster. I will still use the grinder at times and tin snips but this will be used as well. So If you are like I was and you don't have one and have never used one I can highly recommend them.

 

[zendriver]

I'm making a mount for the electric fuel pump add-on, for the backhoe.

Now I know I have to get out the plasma cutter, today.

Thanks for sharing. IMO having good, solid electrical power, is key to keeping the cheap machines running.