Plasma Cutters --- Good/Avoid Models

[bmxdad]

Looking for one ... what are some good ones, and what are ones to avoid?

I found a Lotos Cut50D for ~$400. Good? Cheap? ??

 

[thinmac]

The biggest pain with plasma cutters is sourcing consumables. Unlike welders, where there are only a couple of different threads on tips and wire's wire, each plasma manufacturer seems to make a different electrode for each machine. The plasma tips and electrodes at the welding supply near me take up 4'x6' of shelf space! I would see what parts you can find locally and make that a big part of how you make a decision.

Personally, I have have had great luck with used Miller and Thermalarc machines.

 

[knobby]

Ive been using a thermal dynamics pak 25 for around 20 years bought used no less
It works good for my infrequent hobby use Chinese consumables for it are cheap all and all not a bad unit Imho

http://victortechnologies.com/IM_Uploads/DocLib_5940_PakMaster 25 Brochure (0-0796).pdf

 

[purplezr2]

Hypertherm is the way to go if you want the best out there. I think many others will agree.

 

[Cope]

Hypertherm is the way to go if you want the best out there. I think many others will agree.

I agree, but many cannot afford Hypertherm. I have a Longevity 42i that runs around $900. 40 amp 110/220 and a nice torch. There are a lot of choices out there.

 

[paranoid56]

Hypertherm is the way to go if you want the best out there. I think many others will agree.

yep, best brand out there.

 

[Askme42]

Looking for one ... what are some good ones, and what are ones to avoid?

I found a Lotos Cut50D for ~$400. Good? Cheap? ??

I have that one. Had to do a little work before I ever ran it.

$400 new or used?

I bought it new for not much more than that.

 

[HMCFab9]

I'm happy with mine from Thermal Dynamics.

Which model you need depends on what you plan to cut with it.

 

[madjack]

Hypertherm 1000 and 1250 here. What's not to love about them. Got HF air dryers on both and they get great consumable life. Use the 1250 on a plasma table and the 1000 is for general shop use.

 

[gungatim]

I have been eyeing the eastwood plasma setup. It's on sale now for $699 and seems to be a bargain. obviously a chinese machine, but I have their tig200 setup for a couple years now and it is pretty nice and rugged for my hobby use. They generally stand behind their stuff and should be easy to get consumables.

 

[Big Pete]

I've got a cut 40 through a good reseller who has a rep for aftermarket support and spares backup. I paid a bit more than one from an ebay box shifter, but I was happy to do so for the backup. It walks through 10mm steel, and on thin stuff 2-3mm you can go about as fast as you could draw a pencil line. My usual problem is going to slow.

 

[nine4gmc]

I have a Miller but it is the bottom Spectrum model with built in air, AVOID built in air if you can. It cuts thin stuff really nice but it's only rated for like 20% duty cycle.

 

[bmxdad]

What is built in air? Is it a small compressor?

I'm probably not doing anything thicker than 1/4" ... so how do you figure your amperage requirements?

 

[nine4gmc]

Yes BMXDAD, mine is a Spectrum Thunder and has a small air compressor built in, it's rated up to 1/4" and will cut it but requires a fresh tip(consumables) and takes time. It will slice a file cabinet like a hot knife through butter though. The pro's of this machine is I can take it anywhere and plug it in a 120v extension cord and cut without having to bring an air compressor and 240v to the site.

Not sure how you figure actual amperage requirements.

If you plan to cut 1/4" often, I would probably step up to a 5-16" or 3/8" rated machine.

 

[bcradio]

I agree, but many cannot afford Hypertherm. I have a Longevity 42i that runs around $900. 40 amp 110/220 and a nice torch. There are a lot of choices out there.

If you live in Murica, you have 120v/240v.

I agree with Hypermtherm being the best

 

[platypus20]

I have a PM30, a PM45, a PM65 and a PM85, all Hypertherm

 

[Cope]

If you live in Murica, you have 120v/240v.

I agree with Hypermtherm being the best

My bad, 120/240. Although mine runs a bit higher than that.

 

[knobby]

For the folks considering a 120v model with "built in air" for convenience i would recommend not to do it as just the cutting operation taxes a 120v circuit,never mind adding a compressor to the mix
A 20LB co2 tank with a regulator will run the cutter for quite some time and not ruin the portability of the the thing and most of the folks buying plasma cutters already have a mig welder and tank so..

 

[zkling]

IMHO, they are just like welders, stick with the big brands. Avoid the built in compressor units unless you really need that feature (more parts, more complexity, more potential for issues). The powermax 30 will do everything most people need a plasma for.

 

[bmxdad]

Thanks all ... I feel a lot better about looking for one now.

Good information

 

[Toxicscrew]

I bought the Eastwood one a couple of months ago, haven't used it yet though . Have their MIG and really like it and have always had great customer service through them

 

[BenJAMin]

For what it's worth a couple months ago me and a buddy got a ebay Cut 50 for just over $200. It's nothing fantastic but it works very well for what I paid. Consumables were no problem, and I ordered a whole bag of them for $16.99 on ebay that I bet lasts me a couple years. Here's a video of the very first time we turned it on.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CK9MeO28knk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[bmxdad]

Wow ... low price of $233.37, but will it last??

Portable Plasma Cutter NEW 50AMP CUT50 Digital Inverter 220V

 

[BenJAMin]

I've used this thing alot in the last few months. If it broke tomorrow, I'd already feel like I got my $234 worth.

 

[motofool33]

Hypertherm, is where id go used if i had to. Second Thermal DYnamics,

i have a longevity and the consumables are harder to source and expensive through longevity.

 

[welder4956]

I had the Cut 50D for awhile. I used it a few times over 2 years before the pilot arc crapped out. Tried to fix it based on some info one of the mfrs on Welding Web sent me, but never got it to work. I finally chucked it in the garbage. My advise is to stick with a reputable brand - Hypertherm, Thermal Dynamics, Miller, Hobart, or Lincoln.

 

[Scsmith42]

No complaints from my Miller Spectrum 2050 (10 yrs use). Hypotherm has the best reputation.


Scott

 

[HarrisFD]

Look for a good used Hypertherm 600 or a newer hypertherm if you can afford it. Cuts to 5/8, made in usa, most popular model ever sold by them, still widely supported, parts & consumables readily available. Duty cycle is rated conservatively unlike all of the imports. The smaller Thermal dynamics are made in china now too. If you are patient a clean used 600 can be had for $650 or so off of Craigslist.

 

[skylinegtr20]

I have a Hypertherm. Awesome machine

 

[wagon]

Hypertherm is what I'd buy, hands down. USA corporation, USA made.

However, if your local welding store has the Thermal trade-in promo, you get $10 an amp for the machine you trade in, up to the amperage of the machine you're buying.

For example, if you buy a broken 40 amp plasma on CL for $50, you get $400 if you're buying a CutMaster 42, or any other one, as that's the lowest. The LWS here has it for about a grand, so you'd get $400 back on it, making the machine far more affordable. (Heard a guy brought in a harbor freight model with the POWER CORD CUT OFF and got the full amount)

Only thing that sux is that the tips are like 6-7 bucks, and electrodes are maybe 10. Cutmaster 42 (a dual voltage machine) is rated at 1/4", and max at 5/8, though I've heard consistently that it will do over an inch, but slowly.

I also second the "no integrated air". It's convenient, but duty cycle *****, and the machines are overpriced, and can cut far less than others in their price point. Even Miller machines without the integrated air are overpriced compared to Thermal.

As stated before, COO depends on model, and Thermal Dynamics is owned by Victor, which is now owned by the company that owns ESAB, which I think is American.

 

[rocco]

I've had my Powermax30 for 2 years now and it's been fantastic to use, that being said I'm a hobbyist and only use it 3-5 times a month on average.

 

[FriendOfYours]

We have three Harbor Freight plasmas that were purchased 4 years ago, they get used at least an hour every day. Never have they skipped a beat

They use a very good s45 trafimet torch. Cheap consumables and very reliable.

Skip out on the Lotos and other weird Amazon/Ebay plasmas. Huuuuge failure rate

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Consumable availibilty should be seriously considered like some others said.

I have an ESAB, and it cuts gangbusters- but the conumables are not the easiest to find, nor cheap by any means.

 

[BenJAMin]

For my cheapy, go to ebay and type in Cut 50 consumables. They can be had outrageously cheap. This thing is no professional machine, but it has already paid for itself with the project I bought it for.

 

[bmxdad]

We have three Harbor Freight plasmas that were purchased 4 years ago, they get used at least an hour every day. Never have they skipped a beat

They use a very good s45 trafimet torch. Cheap consumables and very reliable.

Skip out on the Lotos and other weird Amazon/Ebay plasmas. Huuuuge failure rate

Are they the same ones that are available today? $690 seems pretty good for a 240v machine. Anyone else try them?

Everything I find locally (Seattle/Tacoma) on CL is a $1000 or more ...

 

[Cope]

Hypertherm, is where id go used if i had to. Second Thermal DYnamics,

i have a longevity and the consumables are harder to source and expensive through longevity.

Longevity consumables are the same as HTP and others use. George has good prices, and you can buy the Chinese stuff on eBay. http://www.georgesplasmacuttershop.com/

 

[motofool33]

Longevity consumables are the same as HTP and others use. George has good prices, and you can buy the Chinese stuff on eBay. http://www.georgesplasmacuttershop.com/

i have a 42i only found one place besides longevity that had that stupid torch consumables ill try this guy

 

[lafd04]

I ended up with a Hobart 700. Works great

 

[Cope]

i have a 42i only found one place besides longevity that had that stupid torch consumables ill try this guy

HTP has the exact consumables. George's are good enough for the girls we run with.

 

[bmxdad]

Simarc CUT-50RX

Picked up a Simarc CUT-50RX for $240. Kid I bought it from said it cut OK, but he only had a 110v outlet. When I got it home I noticed that the touch plugs were only finger tight, same for the tip and ground. After tightening everything up I fired it up and cut through a piece of 3/16 angle bracket like butter. Not bad I think.

It's dual voltage, so I installed a 220v plug. We'll see how it works with some real power behind it tomorrow.