plasma cutter

[porta mill]

I would like to get a plasma cutter for some small projects . At this moment $1,500 for a lincon or miller is out of the question . has anyone had any luck with one of the the cheeper brands out there ? I would like to be able to cut 1/2 steel.

[XLexusTech]

Originally Posted by porta mill

I would like to get a plasma cutter for some small projects . At this moment $1,500 for a lincon or miller is out of the question . has anyone had any luck with one of the the cheeper brands out there ? I would like to be able to cut 1/2 steel.

Love my Airforce 250 Hobart.. paid 700 at tractor supply i believe.

will cut 1/4 inch.. 1/2 inch is a tall order for a low budget Plasma

[frankenstang]

Steele products has one at amazon.com for under $900. I got mine at a crackhead price of $100!! Missing the ground lead, but still new. It works really well.

[suark]

I bought a Hypertherm Powermax 30 after my boss bought us one at work. It'll cut 1/2" if you go slow, it's small, very portable, cuts a very fine line so it's great for sheet metal and it runs on 110 or 220. I got the deluxe model that comes with case, shoulder strap, circle cutter and some extra consumables. If you search around on the web you can find a new one for about $1000.

[SuperB70]

I have had Hypertherm 30 for three years and very pleased.

Work very well, nozzles last long. One tip: Just add inline filter on air connection so you dont need to open case and clean it own airfilter.

My couple friends has a cheap chinese plasma and tig/plasma machines, they need more amps for same thickness and eat more nozzles. Ratio is like 1:5

[TheJDMan]

I have one of the cheap Chinese Lotos plasma cutters and they do use up tips but the price is under $300. Here is a link to an ebay listing. if you buy one, also buy a supply of comsumables. It works well but you have to supply it with 220v.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LT5000D-LOTO...item3a6c05ccf2

This is not a high quality macine but it does work and the price is easy to swallow.

[out2kayak]

I really enjoy my Hypertherm Powermax 45. One of the most helpful tools I have.

Just be careful and lock away any metal that you want to keep. When I first got mine I found it was really easy to get carried away.

[jay72nova]

I have the eastwood chinese cheapy...and it works great...it actually cuts thicker than advertised...but for some reason I find myself grabing my cutoff wheels alot more then setting up the plasma...I'm kinda glad I got the cheepy since I really hardly ever go through the trouble to set it up when my grinders are ready to go by my side at all times.. I do use it for cutting round holes in the really thick stuff..but the for the cost of the plasma I could have bought alot of nice hole saws.
Jay

[BBC69Camaro]

Personally I think you be better off trying to find a used Miller or Lincoln on Craigslist or Ebay than buying a cheap one and have it break on you later, or have trouble finding parts since it was discontinued etc.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by jay72nova

I have the eastwood chinese cheapy...and it works great...it actually cuts thicker than advertised...but for some reason I find myself grabing my cutoff wheels alot more then setting up the plasma...I'm kinda glad I got the cheepy since I really hardly ever go through the trouble to set it up when my grinders are ready to go by my side at all times.. I do use it for cutting round holes in the really thick stuff..but the for the cost of the plasma I could have bought alot of nice hole saws.
Jay

I totally agree with this sentiment. It's the VERY LAST tool I would replace in my shop. It's used MAYBE twice a year. It's FAST if you're hogging out the floor of a rust bucket... but you can just as easily use a cut off wheel - a Sawzall... etc. You don't even need air since there are electric versions of these... but you need air for the Plasma. It's one of those tools that is more of a "I want" than a "I need".