Plasma Cutter Opinions?

I'd love to be able to cut up to .5" - but realistically probably 1/4" and under. 

I've been trying to sort through all the options and I'm having trouble with the mixed reviews for what I should go for. Cheaper is better, but I'd rather spend a bit more for something that's serviceable and reliable than a throw-away tool....

I have the Versacut 60 from Eastwood. 240v, will cut up to 3/4" material no problem, it was like $600 3 years ago. Eastwood is the only place to find consumable for it, which sucks, but I haven't needed any yet, which is good. 

I probably could have gone smaller, I mostly cut 1/4" and smaller material, but knowing I can do bigger material is just nice backup.

Hmmmmm

https://www.eastwood.com/versa-cut-60-plasma-cutter.html

That's reasonably priced from what I've seen. 

Hmmm, I have 240 in the garage, but it would be ideal to be able to use it with 120/240 if possible. 

Like what the Harbor Freight model does?

https://www.harborfreight.com/45a-plasma-cutter-56255.html

I had a Hobart Airforce 220V model (550i ?).  It used a separate compressor.  One day it just quit.  Opened it up and nothing obvious - no fuses blown or burned traces on the circuit boards.   I gave it away.  I broke down and bought a Hypertherm.  That thing is a Cadillac compared to the Hobart.  So so much nicer.  

I'm no help, but I remember a few threads on the same topic recently. Here's one of them

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/learn-me-inexpensive-plasma-cutters/179630/page1/

Hypertherm

They're the best, you get what you pay for.

In reply to accordionfolder :

Check on Amazon. They offer a cheap Chinese made one that got pretty good reviews.  

I had a Hyperterm Drag-gun.  It was a temperamental little machine with limited cutting capability.  I'd advise against that one.  I now have an older Miller dual voltage machine.  It requires a 20amp 110V circuit to work and it's OK.  It was bought used with a bunch of other stuff I sold and it cost me nothing ultimately.  Used only occasionally and I should probably sell it.

WillG80 said:

I'm no help, but I remember a few threads on the same topic recently. Here's one of them

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/learn-me-inexpensive-plasma-cutters/179630/page1/

 

Thanks, I didn't do a good job googling today because I tried to do a site search with google and didn't find that thread. Ha.

Funny, because I literally posted in that thread....

Just updated that thread (which I started) to say the one I got is great (currently on Amazon for $326). I recently got 240 power in my garage and a bigger air compressor and it cut right through 3/16" steel pipe today in short order. Here's the link in case you want to look at it:

https://www.amazon.com/Lotos-LT5000D-Plasma-Voltage-Compact/dp/B004VFJL14/ref=asc_df_B004VFJL14/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198093934741&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8371277938031722319&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008124&hvtargid=pla-382451644259&psc=1

accordionfolder said:

Hmmmmm

https://www.eastwood.com/versa-cut-60-plasma-cutter.html

That's reasonably priced from what I've seen. 

I would have thought that was a great price, till I read the thread on here about the cheap chineese ones. I'm sure the Versa cut is the bettert machine, but do we have any comparisons to the ultra cheap ones? If I ever need more than 3/16, I have access to one 15 miles away, but a 120/240 V for the smaller stuff with out leaving the property would be nice!

In reply to 03Panther :

Agreed - that's been my real sticking point. Are the nicer making cuts twice as nice? Or do they last twice as long? Since cheap <---> good is about x2 the price.....

irish44j (Forum Supporter) said:

Just updated that thread (which I started) to say the one I got is great (currently on Amazon for $326). I recently got 240 power in my garage and a bigger air compressor and it cut right through 3/16" steel pipe today in short order. Here's the link in case you want to look at it:

https://www.amazon.com/Lotos-LT5000D-Plasma-Voltage-Compact/dp/B004VFJL14/ref=asc_df_B004VFJL14/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198093934741&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8371277938031722319&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008124&hvtargid=pla-382451644259&psc=1

Thanks for the update! Hmmmm, that looks pretty good for the cost of entry... What compressor did you go with? I'm getting both of these items in tandem....

My $162 eBay special still hasn't blown up yet.  Totally worth it, but not if you want to run CNC - for that you want the pilot arc plasmas, they're not much more.

accordionfolder said:

irish44j (Forum Supporter) said:

Just updated that thread (which I started) to say the one I got is great (currently on Amazon for $326). I recently got 240 power in my garage and a bigger air compressor and it cut right through 3/16" steel pipe today in short order. Here's the link in case you want to look at it:

https://www.amazon.com/Lotos-LT5000D-Plasma-Voltage-Compact/dp/B004VFJL14/ref=asc_df_B004VFJL14/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198093934741&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8371277938031722319&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008124&hvtargid=pla-382451644259&psc=1

Thanks for the update! Hmmmm, that looks pretty good for the cost of entry... What compressor did you go with? I'm getting both of these items in tandem....

 

Oh, it's an old one, almost unused but from like 2008. 27-gallon. 

Anything on the 25+ gallon side will be plenty sufficient for the plasma cutter. But there are better (and quieter) ones than mine out there. The Harbor Freight Fortress ones look pretty tempting for the price. 

SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) said:

My $162 eBay special still hasn't blown up yet.  Totally worth it, but not if you want to run CNC - for that you want the pilot arc plasmas, they're not much more.

I'll mention that the Lotos one I have doesn't have the pilot arc, but there is a version of it with pilot arc for about $100 more on Amazon. 

In reply to RevRico :

It's too bad that you're not closer. I bought the Eastwood Versacut 40 over the winter, as a spur of the moment buy, during the last minutes of a sale. I've never even taken it out of the box and would have returned it, but figured it wouldn't be worth it after paying for return shipping. 

I don't have anything to cut.

I use mine only occasionally/rarely.  Certainly not enough to spend a lot of money for one.

irish44j (Forum Supporter) said:

Oh, it's an old one, almost unused but from like 2008. 27-gallon. 

Anything on the 25+ gallon side will be plenty sufficient for the plasma cutter. But there are better (and quieter) ones than mine out there. The Harbor Freight Fortress ones look pretty tempting for the price. 

What kinda CFM? the tank size will determined how often ya need to stop for it to catch up, but does not really tell much else. I have no clue what the CFM requirements of a plasma cutter would be; course without looking at my compressor, I don't know its ratings off the top of my head, either

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

Me and a friend split it because someone posted a one day sale here. It's always lived with me because I have 240.

I don't use it nearly enough to justify buying one at full cost, but it's really hard to cut something up and not have a smile on your face the whole time. Sometimes that's just what a day needs to go from garbage to not so bad.

I've probably made more corner supports and brackets out of 1/8" angle and flat stock than anything else though. Yea, the portaband or angle grinder is maybe quicker and neater, but there's something about pulling a trigger and watching metal disappear that's just happy. 

It really did come in handy tearing down a rusted in half ranger though, and cutting up propane tanks is a breeze now. 

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

I'm sure there are many here that would love to take it off your hands. I would be one, if a GRM relay could be worked out.

How much would you want for it?