Any of the cheaper brands better than others these days? I have an ancient Smith at work and it's pretty much quit. It will strike the pilot but not the actual arc. I'm tired of screwing with it unless someone knows a magic trick. Eastwood seems to be about the cheapest, 550ish. I need to cut 1/4, 3/8 would be great.
There are a few threads about people liking the CUT50 chinese plasmas on pirate. Seems like a good option for the hobbiest. Not sure about someone using it everyday.
I’ve got a cut50 off amazon for like $250 shipped with a bunch of consumables. It doesn’t have the cut quality of a nicer one. But sure beats the cutoff wheel. I’ve had it maybe a year and even with 2 inline dryers it still eats consumables. I’ve tried all kinds of air pressure settings. One day I’ll get a nice one, but I’m poor white folk.
Edit: Youve got to cut thicker than 1/8” slow as fuck. And the kerf is pretty harsh on 3/8s from the cuts I’ve done building trusses.
There are a few threads about people liking the CUT50 chinese plasmas on pirate. Seems like a good option for the hobbiest. Not sure about someone using it everyday.
I bought a CUT40 back about 10-15 years ago when they were a brand new thing. I used mine a few times, then it set itself on fire and melted one harness and half a board. I was able to find the board on alibaba, but not the harness, so it's been sitting in the crawl space ever since. 10/10, would buy again.
Wound up buying a Clutch plasma from Northern tool. It's the 110/220v one. So far I've cut some 16-14ga stainless, 1/8" steel and 1/4' steel plate. No complaints so far. It cut the 1/4" in 110v ok, but did it with ease on 220. I am an Advantage member and that discount plus the $20 off coupon they send with every catalog, it was just a little north of $750. It's no hypertherm, but fory uses it's just fine.
The PrimeWeld CUT50DP 50-Amp Plasma Cutter is portable and uses compressed air and does not require a shielding gas. Order online to get free shipping.
Wound up buying a Clutch plasma from Northern tool. It's the 110/220v one. So far I've cut some 16-14ga stainless, 1/8" steel and 1/4' steel plate. No complaints so far. It cut the 1/4" in 110v ok, but did it with ease on 220. I am an Advantage member and that discount plus the $20 off coupon they send with every catalog, it was just a little north of $750. It's no hypertherm, but fory uses it's just fine.
Bought the same one two years ago, works great, severed 3/8 without really using one before with decent luck. Make sure you put a disposable dryer on it at a minimum. water in the line will ruin the consumables. Dragging (tip touching the steel) I think also will ruin the consumables. Though I read on another machine if you were under 40amps you could drag it. YMMV.
