Lotos Power Plasma Cutter
Hobart Airforce 40i Plasma Cutter
ZENY Plasma Cutter
If you cut a lot of metal in your home garage or workshop, then you should really consider investing in a plasma cutter. These incredible tools use the power from a typical power socket and nothing more fancy than the air around us and combine them into the ultimate metal cutting tool.
Capable of generating up to 35,000 degree Fahrenheit of cutting temperature, a quality plasma cutter can make light work of even thick sheet metal. In this guide we’re going to take a good look at some of the best models of plasma cutter on the market right now to help you to find the right one for you!
The Best Plasma Cutter
1
Lotos Power Plasma Cutter
We will kick off the list with this product from Lotos. It is not the most powerful amp cutter on the list, but it is certainly one of the smallest.
That being said it is still capable of kicking out up to 50 amps of cutting power. When converted to heat, that makes for a torch that can handle cuts of up 1/2 inch in a wide range of materials. We’re talking about stainless and alloy steel plus copper and aluminum.
50 Amps Max Power
Dual Voltage
Small And Compact
- BrandLotos
- ModelLTP5000D
- Weight23.9 Pounds
2
Super Deal DC Inverter Plasma Cutter
The next product to make the list is this plasma cutter for sale from Super Deal, and they are not messing around with that company name! This machine is very much from the bargain end of the market. It is in fact easily one of the cheapest machines on our list today. So what are you getting for your bucks though?
Well this plasma cutter is able to generate cutting power output in the range of 20 to 50 amps. Just as with the product we looked at above that is a very decent level of cutting power given both the size and price tag of this device. The cutter itself also boasts a solid construction with an all iron housing.
20 to 50 Amps Power
Great Value for Money
Simple to Use
- BrandSuper Deal
- ModelCUT50
- Weight24.4 Pounds
3
Hobart Airforce 40i Plasma Cutter
The next plasma cutter we’ll look at this tool from Hobart. It is packing a price tag a little higher than we’ve seen so far. On the other hand, this is a well-designed little machine that is bringing a number of useful features to the table.
It is for example a very efficient machine. It is designed to run on a 240Volt circuit, and it can channel that energy into a cutting point capable of slicing through 7/8 inch steel ay 50% duty cycle. Very impressive for a machine that barely tips the scales over 30 Lbs.
Auto-Refire to Cut Painted /Coated Surfaces
Excellent Torch with Well Designed Safety
Built in Protection from Air Particles
- BrandHobart
- Model500566
- Weight34.3Lbs
4
Ramsond Portable Plasma Cutter
With a weight of less than 20 Lbs, this next tool from Ramond certainly lives up to its billing as a highly portable plasma cutter. Just because it’s small and lightweight though, doesn’t mean you’re missing out on quality features or cutting power.
Cutting power, for example, is very good for a unit of this size, with up to 50 Amps of cutting power developed by this cutter. That translates into a tool that can handle cuts through material up to ¾ inches in thickness.
50 Amp Output
Integrated Digital Display
Integrated Pressure Gauge
- BrandRamsond
- Model50DX
- Weight19 Lbs
5
ZENY Plasma Cutter
If you’re looking for a quality plasma cutter on a budget, then this model from Zeny could be one that interests you. Boasting a frankly crazy low price tag, this plasma cutter can be yours for barely over a couple of hundred bucks, making this easily one of the cheapest plasma cutters we’ve found available on the market today.
On the one hand you are missing a few of the features you would see on higher priced models. For example, the controls are pretty basic. The amperage switch only flips between set levels, making it impossible to set a bespoke amperage level. That could be a deal breaker for anyone looking for truly precision cuts, but it likely won’t have a huge impact on the overall effectiveness of the tool for others.
Low Price
Very Efficient Design
Dual Voltage
- BrandZeny
- ModelCUT-50
- Weight24.4 Lbs
6
Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP Plasma Cutter
This is the first of two Hypertherm plasma cutter tools to make its way onto our list. This model, the Powermax 45, is the more advanced off the two models. Whilst that makes for a slightly higher price tag, it also means that this model is bursting with quality features.
Probably the big stand out though is the ease of use that this model brings. It has a patented drag-cutting technology for example, which makes it ideal for use by beginners. The drag cut makes this tool more forgiving to small errors in cutting, potentially saving a cut from disaster.
Patented Drag Cut Technology
Monitors Own Air Pressure
Fast Cut Speeds
- BrandHypertherm
- Model088112
- Weight36 Lbs
7
Hypertherm Powermax 30 XP Plasma Cutter
Hey, as promised it’s time to take a look at the second Hypertherm plasma cutter to make our list today. Like it’s bigger brother, the first thing to note is that this is a quality machine. What Hypertherm are bringing here is a machine perfectly designed to be one of the highest-grade portable plasma cutters on the market.
One of the features that help make it a great portable plasma cutter is the dual voltage capability. This is always a good feature anyway, but the fact it automatically adapts to each voltage type is very useful. If you are using this cutter in various locations, for example, some will have different voltages to others. No worries with this tool, just plug it in and away you go.
Dual Volt With Auto Adaptors
Comes With Full Kit Including Gloves and Eye Shield
Comfortable Ergonomic Handle
- BrandHypertherm
- Model088079
- Weight2.2 pounds
8
Hobart Airforce Plasma Cutter
The next product we going to take a look at is this plasma cutter from Hobart. Whilst it is packing a number of quality features, this little machine has one thing that sets it apart from all the tools we’ve looked at so far – the fact that it comes equipped with a built in compressor.
That can be a huge advantage over other products. For example, if you don’t have an air compression system set up in your home garage or workshop, well you don’t need one with this tool. It will compress air for you, meaning it is ready to start cutting straight out of the box.
Built in Compressor
Auto-Adjust for Gas Pressure
Phenomenal Value for Money
- BrandHobart
- Model50564
- Weight31 Lbs
9
Miller Electric Plasma Cutter
This next product from Miller Electric is quite deceptive, at least at first glance. On the one hand, it is coming in with a price tag well toward the upper end of the pricing range. At the same time, it is not exactly rolling in eye-catching features or design points. So just what are you getting for your bills here?
The main feature is that this is a superbly built machine. That may not seem like the biggest stand out feature but, trust us, it really is. This machine is an investment, the type of tool that can find a home in any well stocked home garage or workshop. It is the kind of tool that every time you pull it out, you know it will do exactly what you need it to do.
30 Amp Output
Can Use AC/DC Voltage
High Quality Construction
- BrandMiller Electric
- Model907539
- Weight33 Lbs
10
Everlast Plasma Cutter
We’ll finish up our list with this quality product from Everlast. In fact, many people will already recognize that an Everlast plasma cutter is a name synonymous with quality. What you have here is also a tool that provides excellent value for money though.
On the one hand, it provides that value simply by providing Everlast build quality for a very reasonable price. But in addition to that, it also provides value by providing two distinct functions. On the one hand, it is an excellent plasma cutter, able to generate up to 50 amps of output power.
50 Amps Max Ouput
Cuts and Welds
Easy to Use Digital Display
- BrandEverlast
- ModelSuperULTRA250
- Weight40 Lbs
Best Plasma Cutter Buying Guide & FAQ
In our buying guide, we’ll take you through the features that you should keep an eye out for when picking out the best plasma cutter for you. After that, we’ll take a look at how best to use your new tool and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this extremely useful product.
Features to Consider When Buying a Plasma Cutter
- Cutting Power
This is going to be expressed in terms of the amperage output. 50 amps is about average, and provides a cutting jet that can be used on metal of various types and thickness. Some other cutters may only be able to generate up 30 amps. That is still a good level of power, well suited to most at home tasks.
- Price
Wouldn’t it be great to just throw money at the most expensive machine on the list? It would be cool, but sadly probably not possible! A plasma cutter from the budget end of the market can be yours for a few hundred bucks. At the premium end, a plasma cutter can be several thousand bucks. Naturally, a more expensive model will normally benefit from a strong and sturdy construction, and extra features. Set your budget and stick to it!
- Size/Weight
A plasma cutter may not be a tool that you use every day – unless you are cutting a lot of metal! Because of that it can be a good idea to check out the weight and dimensions of the cutter before you invest in it. A smaller tool will be easier to store.
Benefits of Using a Plasma Cutter
There are two main benefits to a plasma cutter - Power and Convenience.
- Power
A plasma cutter is actually a pretty remarkable tool if you think about it. It takes air, simple air like you are breathing right now, and turns it into a superheated cutting jet. First off all that is really cool! But secondly it means that a plasma cutter is able to put a phenomenal level of cutting power right into your hand. Need to cut metal? A plasma cutter makes it so much easier.
- Convenience
That power is also delivered in a machine that usually weighs around 30 lbs. A plasma cutter can be easily carried from location-to-location and set up for use. It also small in all its dimensions and not just in terms of weight. That makes it easy to store a plasma cutter. Just tuck it away on a shelf until you need it!
Different Types of Plasma Cutter
The only difference in the types of plasma cutter are in terms of where it gets its air from.
A traditional plasma cutter needs to be hooked up to a external air compressor with an air tank. They generate excellent cutting power, and can be very inexpensive.
The alternative is a plasma cutter with a built in compressor. These types of tool are easier to set up and use – just plug them in and away they go. At the same time, they are often more expensive and sometimes may not develop the same level of cutting power as a plasma cutter connected to an external – and usually more powerful – air compressor.
Best Plasma Cutter FAQ:
Q: What is a Plasma Cutter and How Does it Work?
A: A plasma cutter works by channeling a jet of concentrated air through a nozzle. Before this air leaves the nozzle though, it passes across an electrical arc. This arc superheats the air, making a jet of extremely finely aimed, powerful and hot air.
This air is in fact so hot that it can cut metal. That is a plasma cutter!
By the way, it has nothing at all to do with blood plasma! So don’t worry about that, there isn’t going to be a jet of blood shooting out the end of your plasma cutter. (If there is, definitely contact your manufacturer, because that’s not right!)
Q: What is Duty Cycle?
A: The duty cycle is the cycle of operation of a machine that does not operate continuously. So for example a 50% duty cycle means that a signal that is ON for 50% of the operating time of the machine.
A machine with a higher duty cycle is going to make better, and more efficient, use of the power delivered to the machine.
Q: What are Consumables?
A: In the first question of this section we talked about what a plasma cutter is. Part of that explanation included talking about the nozzle that the heated air is forced through. This nozzle is usually made of copper, and it has a limited lifespan.
This is what is meant when people talk about consumables in relation to plasma cutters. Eventually you’ll need to replace them, as they will wear out - or be “consumed” – by the cutting jet of air.
Q: What other equipment will I need?
A: One of the key pieces of kit that you will need is an air compressor. This needs to be connected up to the plasma cutters, which will turn that stream of compressed air into something that can cut metal.
The only alternative to this is if you pick a model with a built in compressor. In that case you simply plug it in and away it goes. Plasma cutters with built in compressors can be more expensive, and sometimes are not able to generate the same air pressure as an external compressor with an air tank.
Our Top Pick
Picking out the best plasma cutter here is a tough ask. First of all this list comprises some top quality tools, as you would expect from Carbibles.com.
But there can also be a big difference in the design points and cutting capability between the various models.
Some are better suited for different applications, making it that little bit harder to choose the best model.
But we are paid to make the tough decisions, so if we have to pick the best model then we’re going for the Lotos LTP5000D plasma cutter.
Yes, there are some models that are more powerful. There are also some models that are packing more features too, and if you need them or the extra power then go for a model with them in place – but expect to put a bigger dent on the credit card too!
The Lotos LTP5000D is just perfect for smaller projects in home garages and workshops, which is what we think the bulk of you are looking for. It’s small, compact and easy to store. At the same time it kicks out a very good level of cutting power, able to handle sheet metal up to ½ inch in thickness.
Add in a very reasonable price tag and you have all the reasons why we plumped for this model as the best plasma cutter on our list today.
Sources:
- How Plasma Cutters Work - HowStuffWorks
- Plasma cutting - Wikipedia
