Plasma Cutter Recommendation (Home Shop Use)

[aka Larry]

Like the title says, I'm considering one for my shop. Right now I use a grinder and cutting wheel, but there have definitely been times a plasma cutter would have been faster and yielded a much better result.

I like the prices of the 110V Eastwood units, but the reviews are spotty at best and several people say if it breaks, it's dead, no parts or repair available.

The Hobart offerings have a built-in compressor, which I actually don't need, but they don't cut the thickness started by some accounts.

I'm considering this one from Lincoln even though it's a little more than I wanted to pay. I've had nothing but flawless performance from my little Lincoln welder, so their stuff holds up in my experience.

However, I always listen to the wisdom of my fellow GJ members when it comes to tool purchases, so what do you guys recommend?

 

[Ilikeike]

I have the Hypertherm 30, I've been using it a lot at home, built a nice 3/8" top work bench, custom car hauler trailer.
It's a nice small dual voltage package. I've been happy with it for a year.

I think I got it for around $1,200.

 

[RustyJunk]

ESAB makes an excellent plasma, I have one thats 20 years old and never had a problem, any of the major brands are good but I would avoid the Chinese machines.

 

[brownbagg]

there only one plasma worth a damn, its the hyperthem, I got the 30 and it will do anything i have, but the 45 would be real nice

 

[MoonRise]

Plasma?

Hypertherm.

Pick your desired cut thickness range and your budget ($$ and power and air requirements) and done.

There are other companies that make 'good' plasma cutters, but Hypertherm is THE plasma cutter choice IMNSHO.

 

[MJD1]

I have the razor weld 45 plasma cutter with the torch that is a hypertherm knockoff. 3 year warranty, paid around $800 for it. I've had it about a year and a half now and it's been a excellent machine. Pretty hard to justify spending more than twice as much for a home machine that doesn't offer any more of a warranty. I have cut 5/8" fairly clean with it and severed 1" rod with it. Consumable life has been excellent.

 

[Jackfre]

Whichever unit you decide to buy, follow brownbagg’s advice and spend the extra dough on the next size up.

 

[CGT80]

I have the Hypertherm Powermax 65 on a 4x8 cnc plasma table. It cuts 9/16" steel like butter and others have cut 1" plate with the same machine. It also cuts thin sheet very cleanly with the fine cut consumables.

My first plasma was a miller 375 extreme. It is very small (18 pounds) and is rated to cut 3/8" steel. I was not at all impressed with the cut quality and it seems over rated.

The hypertherm is under rated and quality is very high. If I was looking for a small machine again, it would be a hypertherm.

Jim Colt is on many forums and is a Hypertherm representative. He has examples and details on the machines and answers any questions that pop up on the forums.


With higher quality, comes a higher price.

 

[gearhead1]

I have a Miller Spectrum 2050 because I got it for a song. I have used others that I thought worked better or easier to set up at least. Based on mine, I would not recommend a Miller without trying it. I do much prefer Miller welders though, so I’m not down on Miller. Newer ones are probably better.

 

[mp4]

My 1st experience with a plasma cutter was the Thermodynamics 52 (now Victor). It is a solid machine capable of clean cutting 1/2" steel and is probably the most common machine sold in my neighborhood. When I went to buy one I searched high and low and ended up buying the Hypertherm 45xp. It's an awesome machine and has an awful lot of flexibility in tips that can be use for gouging, close quarters and drag cutting. It will cut 5/8" cleanly and will sever over an inch. There's a $300 difference in price between the two...Hypertherm consumables are less expensive then the TD stuff from what I've read. Good luck!

 

[dnschmidt]

Plasma = Hypertherm. Lesson over.

 

[930dreamer]

Order two of these and ship one my way.

 

[ez-duzit]

Hypertherm 45 here.

 

[Kenskip1]

Well I am more than likely going to regret this but my Lotos LTP 50000 D Plasma cutter has been working great. I did not have the resources for the top name brands.However I purchased this from Home Depot and got a three year warranty. Do yourself a favor and do some research. This model has the best reviews of a lot of them. There are cheaper plasma cutters that do just fine, however I chose this brand and couldn't be happier. 50 AMPS

 

[IndyGarage]

I've had a Hypertherm 30 for several years. It hasn't missed a beat and will cut almost anything I need.

Yes, there's been one time I could have used a larger one, but the difference in price wouldn't have justified me moving up.

 

[customh]

Rented a Hypertherm PowerMax 65 at work and it was just plain awesome. Buddy of mine smoked his TD 38 and bought a Hypertherm PM 30 and hasn't looked back.

Buy once, cry once. Be happy 10 years down the road when the company is still around and makes the parts you need.

 

[Brand X]

My 45XP just sits on it's cart most of the time.It's fine for cnc stuff for the most part. It will also do some great stuff in precision gouging/marking..(had a 65 too) I use my (made in 2002 and almost 17 years old now.) Thermal dynamics 38xl with a undated SL-40 torch most the time around the shop. The cutting view/ straight nozzle design works much better then the clunky conical Hypertherm style nozzle. Great machine, but it's not my favorite hand cutting unit on thinner stuff. I grab my Thermal 90 % of the time.. Most new conical stye nozzles are made to last a long time, but **** hind *** in using them over a straight long designed exposed nozzle/tip setup.. The Hypertherm 30 air torch has about the best view on the line you are cutting, It's very similar to the old Powermax 30 design. That's a area the very cheapest China plasma machine have over most of the top units.. Esab PT-31 clone torch..Still the very smallest 50 amp torch on the market..Old tech has some features that are way far advanced over any of the new stuff..

My friend sold his Hyperthem powermax, and bought my older Esab Powercut 650. Reason? He does tons of bodywork, and his blow back torch design was more bother then it's worth,Just in just getting in where he needed to go with the nozzle. If you are cutting fab pieces out on a bench then clunky front end torches work well, and are great in cut quality/consumable life.other places they can fall way behind. (IMO) Just from owning/using most of the new /old stuff out.