Thread: Which plasma cutter for home use

If you are after quality...

Hypertherm Powermax 45 Handheld Plasma Cutter | eBay

Maybe it's a bit too much for home use, i misread that bit sorry.

Do you think it will get much use? Also how much are you looking to spend.

Yeah, that one is a bit too flash for hobby use. I only need it for occasional use and was looking to spend no more than $900. There a re a few around $600 on ebay but I am not sure how good they are. I have never owned a plasma cutter or used one so am relying on good advise from forum members who have had experience with them. I have always used oxy/acet but bottle rental has become too expensive for hobby use

I've got a 50A unit I bought from Ringwood Auto Parts via Ebay. Generic Chinese machine.

I've cut all the steel except for the really heavy stuff for a 12m steel boat using it.

Brief comments (which probably apply to all the generic 50A units):

You *need* dry air or your tip life is short. One blob of water == new tip. Luckily they're not dear in bulk.

Capacity:

Up to 6mm, beautiful.

8mm, excellent.

10mm, marginal.

12mm, you can do a severance cut but IME it won't be pretty.

If you really need to cut 12mm on a regular basis I'd get a 60A unit as my minimum. Bigger than that and they all go to 3 phase, not a problem for me but it is for most people it seems.

Personally I'd love an 80A unit. I don't need one, but I'd like one. However the 50A unit has been quite satisfactory for my uses.

PDW

Thanks PDW, I was wondering how the cheap chinese units on ebay performed. They would probably be ok for the hobby use I would be using it for. I have a very good air dryer on my compressor so dry air is not a problem.

Originally Posted by jex

Thanks PDW, I was wondering how the cheap chinese units on ebay performed. They would probably be ok for the hobby use I would be using it for. I have a very good air dryer on my compressor so dry air is not a problem.

Magnum Welders is good to deal with. My MIG came from them. I've put over 150kg of wire through it without any problems whatsoever. I've also used it as a DC stick welder for stainless rods, beautiful performance. If their plasma cutter is to the same standard, it'll be a good unit.

PDW

As has already been pointed out, dry air - the drier the better to be honest, spray painting receiver driers work well. 2 Stage ones are even better, all comes down to cost. I picked up a brand new 2 stage Sharpe unit for under $100.

You'll also need a suitable air compressor to supply the required air

I have a Miller Spectrum 625 (40amps output), it will cut 1/2 quite nicely, but don't be fooled by all the videos you see - hand cuts are *nothing* like the machine cuts, templates and guides will help a huge amount.

If your budget is $900, then you'll be limited to finding a decent second hand machine, or a Chinese one. Most of the Chinese machines are HF start, very few utilise a pilot arc but they are out there - this is more important when cutting interrupted cuts, ie grates, mesh.

Get a machine for what thickness that will be your max cut then go for the next machine up - you can never have too many amps when it comes to a plasma cutter imo.

Cheers
Jon

I have bought a $370 "mishto" unit from ebay. It does TIG, Arc (160A) and plasma cutting(40A). I have had a bit of a play in plasma cutting mode only and am pretty impressed. I have cut 4mm stuff so far and it is a breeze. I have a crap super cheap compressor that can keep up for a couple of minutes but havent found that that has limited the cutting that I have wanted to do.

Russ

Jon, is the pilot arc start only really necessary for mesh etc? Are they generally dearer than the HF start models? I would like to stick to single phase so 50A is probably my limit. I have 3 phase but we maybe moving in the future and might not have access to 3 phase.
This one is interesting but is HF start
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d

I have no need for a combined tig/mig/plasma as I have CIG 175 mig/tig/stick welder so would be duplicating functions. I would rather spend the money on a single purpose unit.

Hi Jex, If you only want a cheeeep one ?

I bought a CUT 80 through Aliexpress, it cost US $422.00 including freight to my door, here is the mob I bought it off Welding machine,plasma cutter with high quality and best price - Small Orders Online Store, Hot Selling DC welding machine,tig torch,PT 31 TORCH and more on Aliexpress.com

I joined the Aliexpress Escrow service and then paid by credit card, the escrow service holds your money until you receive your product, if all is ok you say so in your Aliexpress account and they forward on your payment to the manufacturer.

Mine was a bit dinged about, but for the money it didn't worry me as I'm sure it will be allot more dinged about by the time I'm finished with it. Also you need to take the cover off and check every nut bolt and screw, the chinko's must be limp wristed, also the air line inside mine was loose, also I had to fit a decent earth circuit as the frame inside is powder coated and the 3 earth wires from components or circuit board's had no continuity back to the input lead earth that was attached to the "fan screw". Mine is a 3 ph unit and the lead was too short for me so I decided to replace it, the "black wire went to earth" !!!
Anyway the short power lead made me find a few problems and rectify then before I used it.

I don't know whether or not the local importers of these machines pull the covers off and check them or not but given the problems I found I would now do it regardless.

john

My wife bought me a Uni-mig cut 40. Worked fine on thinner sheet but struggled on 10mm. Just out of warranty it started arcing out inside the cabinet. To tide me over I bought a magnum 50. Not as nice to use as the UM, but does everything asked of it and the consumables are much, much cheaper. I am happy with it.

As yet I haven't taken the Unimig to the doctors to see if it is terminal.

Ken

Hi John, The only Cut 80 I can see on their site is $665? Am I looking at the wrong one ?
Buy plasma cutter 80A, plasma cutter 80A, cutting machine, Air Plasma Cutter 80A Free shipping at Aliexpress.com

John

Yes Jex thats the one, I bought it about 3 mths ago, my gas bottle bill came and took the bottle's back, I got sick of BOC's stupid billing system and exorbitant rental cost's. Yep 422 US$, I couldn't knock it back.
I don't oxy weld anymore, however I am now looking for a good LPG gas torch for heating things up.

john

Mmmm thats a big jump in price $422 to $655 ??
John