Learn me plazma cutters

I may have finally reached the point where ine makes sense. However, it would have to be the sub $500 ones. Im particularly attracted to tge northern and jegs ones based purely on price.

Needs to be 110v.

What am i looking at? What consumables, beeded accessories, etc? Do they do anything other than cut steel? 

I was a big fan of my Eastwood VersaCut 40, had it for about 3 years, but lately it's been not working properly, and the Eastwood tech support has not been the greatest.  So I'm sorry I can't recommend it.  :-/

A plasma should cut anything that conducts electricity- unlike a welder, they're fairly material agnostic.  The first thing I ever cut with a plasma was aluminum.  

I've had good luck with a company called Primeweld.  Their customer service is really good.  I have their Cut 50 and it will run on 110 or 220 but if I had the choice I would get the model with the pilot so you don't have to start the arc on your material. 

110V?

I have a Hypertherm 45 that I bought used.  It's a terrific unit.  It's 220v.  I've cut up to 5/8" steel plate by hand.  I connect it to a cnc table and have cut down to .060" aluminum.

I've cut mild steel, aluminum, and stainless with mine.  The edge finish on aluminum is a little weird - grainy.  I think it's instantly oxidizing as it's cut.

Be careful about cheap units and consumables.  You need to replace nozzles and other stuff pretty frequently, and beware some off-brand that'll suddenly disappear and leave you stranded.

If you can somehow run 220 to your shop you'll never regret it.  I use it all the time.

I have the Jegs Cut40. It surpassed all of my expectations, it works pretty well and took minimal fiddling with to cut fast and clean.  It's better than any $200 plasma cutter has any right to be and consumables from any other Cut40 machine work with it.  I think I got a 50 piece consumable set off Amazon for about $13.

I have never used it on 110V though only on 220V.

In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :

I would strongly suggest holding off purchasing until first quarter 2020, if your timetable allows that.

Harbor Freight is releasing 2 new plasma cutters, one under the Vulcan line, the other under the Titanium line. Both are 110/220V (dual voltage) machines, the Vulcan will be 65 amps, the Titanium is 45 amps.

They've been beta-testing for the last year and recently some YouTube tool guys have been given units to review. 

If they're anything like the Vulcan welders, they will blow the Chicago Electric black-box out of the water, and that's gotten good reviews from many hobbyists over the years...some guys are using them on CNC plasma tables, where duty cycles can be reached in a matter of minutes depending on thickness and lineal inches cut.

In reply to RacetruckRon :

Holy crikes, that seems like a good deal.  

I've got the Chicago Electric version that GingerBeardMan references above.  I got it open box for $275 (always offer low on an open box item!), and after I be replaced the contactor ($10 from eBay) it's been great for about two years.  I haven't used it heavily, like someone with a plasma table would, but it's been awesome.

For consumables, you can buy them in bulk cheap on Amazon or eBay. I haven't gone through them excessively fast for an amateur, I don't think. 

Unfortunately, I think they're only 240v, but based on my experience, I'd totally roll the dice on a Vulcan brand one that can run 120v.

I bought an eBay $165 special that has been working fine.  I honestly do not use it a whole ton, just for the odd easy cuts here and there.  It does not have a pilot arc (which would be nicer), but it works, and was dirt cheap.  I used it a lot so far in modifying my truck's frame.

I have not changed the consumables yet.  It'll run 110V or 220V.

At work I have an older Hobart for comparison.