Are you currently in need of the best plasma cutter to carry out a project at your workshop, or for commercial use? Plasma cutters are very essential tools that make cutting materials such as alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or copper, among others to be easy and fast. There are various models and types of plasma cutters to pick from. They vary in operation as some are more powerful than others. Whether you’re a hobbyist or pro in plasma cutting, you need to have the most efficient and powerful plasma cutter to have the job done well and exceptionally.
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What is the best plasma cutter?
If it’s your first time acquiring this tool, this may pose to be a great challenge as there are different models and brands to select from. Understand what your needs are so that you choose a device that carries out the project well. Features to look for in a good plasma cutter include; duty cycle, cutting capability, amperage, cutting speed, cut quality, and materials the cutter can cut. All these and other features not mentioned make the cutter offer precise and smooth cuttings.
As you embark on this tricky journey of selecting the best, ensure the cutter you acquire is from a reliable manufacturer and within your budget. This review will help you make a well-informed decision in choosing a plasma cutter of your choice and needs.
Summary of Contents
What to consider when searching for a plasma cutter
Plasma cutters come in different types and models. Most of them have slightly varying features which make them differ in functionality. When looking for the best of plasma cutter, you need to know how a particular feature or part of the machine will be of importance to your project. The most essential factors to look at when picking a plasma cutter are as follows:
Electric plasma cutters?
Electrical output – When looking for a quality plasma cutter, the type of electrical service you have in your environment is really important. Every single cutter has its own power demands and therefore, before you just pick any machine, find out if the electrical service in your region fits in with the cutter you are about to acquire. If you get one that is not compatible with the electrical system, it won’t function.
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Materials of plasma cutter aluminum, stainless steel, or copper?
Type of materials to cut – Plasma cutters are designed differently with each of them made to specifically cut certain materials with a particular thickness. It can be cutting alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or as well copper. As you get ready to buy a cutter, know which types of materials it can cut and what thickness. This helps to avoid buying the wrong plasma cutter.
Capacity of cutting with a plasma cutter?
Cutting capacity – Different brands have different cutting capacities. Look for a cutter that gives an accurate, smooth, and no slug cutting.
Owning such a tool will enable you have get perfect cut. If you have a lot of jobs to do, pick a tool with a larger cutting capacity.
High-performance plasma cutters?
Performance – For great results, ensure the tool you acquire performs well and is very versatile in use. Various products come with different specifications and you should check them out as they dictate how the tool works.
Light or Heavy duty plasma cutters?
Duty cycle – This is a very important feature to look for in a plasma cutter. The duty cycle refers to the percentage of cutting time to a nonworking or cooling-off period. Literally, this means that the cutter has to work for a particular duration before it’s allowed to cool and then proceeding with using it over again. Also, it determines what level of thickness can cut and it’s maximum cutting ability.
Inverter plasma cutters?
Inverter – Do you want a cutter with an inverter or no inverter? Not all cutters come with an inverter as some have while others don’t. A built-in inverter takes direct current and feeds it through a high frequency transistor inverter. Inverters allow the plasma cutter to be smaller in size and very easy to move from one area to another.
Cutting speed – The level of cutting speed also varies from one plasma cutter to another. If you want a quicker cutting speed, consider looking at the amperage of the tool. The higher the amperage of the cutter the higher the cutting speed.
30, 40, or 50 amp plasma cutters?
Amperage – The earlier you know more about the amperage of the cutter the better. The amperage determines how fast and accurate you will be able to cut different materials. These vary from one tool to another with a good number of them ranging between 30 to 50 amps. The highly efficient and powerful plasma cutters have amps of up to 200. But, 50 amp plasma cutter enough to do any task accurately!
Arch and Torch – The latest plasma cutters come with a pilot arc that avoids direct contact between the material the tool will cut and the torch. This feature lengthens the life of the nozzle. Other devices come with an advanced torch. The head of the torch may turn out to be low profile to pass through tight areas.
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Best fine cut plasma cutter?
Cutting quality – Every cutter model comes with its own cutting accuracy and quality. Consider choosing a device with good quality and precise cutting. Such tools may be a bit costly but will ensure you acquire great results every time you use them to cut your materials.
Consumables – Plasma cutters come with various consumables such as nozzle, hoses, shield cups, and other consumables. Every manufacturer sets the expected life of consumables. The more expensive the device is the longer the life of consumables.
Best portable plasma cutter?
Portability – If you want a cutter that is flexible and can be easily moved from one place to another, look for a portable plasma cutter. These normally have handles or shoulder straps for easy carrying. But if you don’t intend to move it, these features are not of great importance.
Best budget plasma cutter?
Price – Whatever your budget for a plasma cutter of your choice there are various models and types at a good price.
Simply search for one that meets your demands and has the features that will help you carry out your projects. If you have a lot of a huge project that needs a highly efficient and powerful cutter, you will have to spend more to acquire the most efficient plasma cutters.
Who makes the best plasma cutter?
Brand – There are various manufacturers offering cutters today. Not all of them are of high quality. Since a plasma cutter costs a lot of money to get, you need to buy from a trusted brand so that you don’t end up throwing your money. Some brands pose as the best but in a real sense, they offer less efficient and performing machines. Consider buying from proven brands with positive reviews by previous users. Such brands include; Lincoln, Everlast, Ramsond, Hypertherm, Lotos, and Miller.
Warranty – A plasma cutter costs a lot of cash acquiring it. So, it’s very important you acquire a machine that comes with full customer support just in case the cutter comes with a defect or doesn’t work as required. Most of the best brands offer a warranty of more than one year.
Avoid buying from a brand that doesn’t support such services as you may be in trouble by acquiring an inferior product.
Our Recommend top 5 best plasma cutter reviews
With a wide range of plasma cutters on the market, choosing the best is very important in acquiring the best cutting results. There are various manufacturers on the market with different models to offer. They vary in performance and efficiency. After taking several days conducting research about the top cutters, we managed to come up with the top five plasma cutters on the market. You can pick from our list below or use the information above to choose a device that meets your demands.
Best cheap Lotos plasma cutter review (Our Top Pick)
Lotos is one of the highly regarded brands when it comes to plasma cutters. This brand always creates highly efficient and effective products. The Lotos LTP5000D cutter is compactly made with a handle for portability. It uses non-life-threatening compressed air to cut mild steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, aluminum, and copper. In addition, it has a dual voltage capability that allows the tool to function with either 220v or 110v o power. Its base is of an optimized design and state-of-the-art MOSFET transistors that offer high power output for thick metal cutting.
Other crucial features are such as air pressure regulator, air hose clamps, plasma torch, and ground clamp. Buy this quality cutter and get a one-year limited warranty. Lotos is one of the best plasma cutter under 500.
Main features:
- Plasma torch with a set of nozzle, electrode, and cup.
- 50 amp digital inverter air plasma cutter.
- Dual voltage capability.
- Pilot arch torch.
- Air pressure regulator.
- Ground clamp and cable.
- One year warranty.
Pros:
- It is compactly designed for versatile use.
- Has a handle for easy carrying from one place to another.
- Has the ability to cut thin metal with the help of MOSFET transistor that produces an even output.
- With the help of the pilot torch, it excellently cuts though rough, painted, and rusty materials.
Best value Hypertherm plasma cutter reviews
This is a highly portable plasma cutter that comes with easy-to-use features. The high-performing powermax30 XP performs well and comes with a small carry case for easy carrying from one place to another. It has a Duramax LT torch built to withstand both impact and heat. Also it has an easy to use one knob interface and better cut quality for little edge preparation.
Other notable features of this plasma cutter include an auto-voltage that automatically adapts to 110v to 240v power. In addition, it is very portable and efficient for diverse uses. Acquire this cutter today and cut any kind of metal like stainless steel, alloy steel, mild steel, aluminum, and copper to great precision.
Main features:
- Auto-voltage.
- Hard carry case.
- Duramax torch design.
- Compact design.
- Portable.
- One knob interface.
Pros:
- It’s a high performing tool.
- Offers high power capability for thick metal cutting.
- Comes with a carry case for easy carrying from one place to another.
- It is very easy to use with user-friendly features like a one-knob interface.
- It’s able to cut any form of metal such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel, alloy steel, or even mild steel.
Best small Ramsond plasma cutter review
The Ramsond Cut 50 DX plasma cutter is a very effective and powerful cutter that cuts a wide range of metal types and materials such as stainless steel, alloy steel, mild steel, brass, copper, aluminum, and other types of conductive metals. It has a 60% duty cycle and a dual voltage inverter technology that efficiently powers the machine. With a 50 amp, expect this tool to offer you precise and faster cuttings. Unlike other high-end plasma cutters, this model has an automatic dual voltage for offering power options and has an insulated foldable handle for convenience when using it.
Last but not least, it has a 60% duty cycle and an integrated digital display current or great performance. Get this cutter today and cut any metal of your choice precisely. Ramsond is one of the best plasma cutter under 1000.
Main features:
- Automatic dual voltage.
- 60% duty cycle.
- Dual voltage inverter technology.
- Insulated foldable handle.
- Integrated digital display of current.
- 50 amp.
- Integrated pressure gauge.
Pros:
- It is very portable and great for moving around with.
- Ramsond offers accurate, smooth, and even cuts throughout.
- It is durably made to last long.
- Can cut a wide range of metals such as stainless steel, alloy steel, copper, brass and aluminum, among other conductive metals.
Top rated plasma cutter – Longevity plasma cutters review
The longevity forcecut 42i is a high performing plasma cutter that will carry out your job well and fast. It has a 40 amp that is capable of cutting fast and a metal with a thickness of 1 inch. In addition, it is lightweight and very easy to move around with. Also, it is uses 110 or 220 voltages of power to cut different types of metals such as stainless steel, alloy steel, copper and aluminum.
With its excellent handle, it ensures that you carry out your job conveniently and with much ease. Other notable features of this plasma cutter include; continuous pilot arc, auto-voltage, and compact design.
Main features:
- Lightweight.
- Portable.
- Excellent handle.
- 110/220 voltage.
- Continuous pilot arc.
- 40 amp plasma cutter.
Pros:
- Very simple to use.
- Compactly designed to carry out diverse cutting of different materials.
- It is very lightweight and convenient to carry from one place to another.
- Has a continuous pilot arc for cutting expanded, rusted, and painted metals.
Best plasma cutter for the money – Hobart plasma cutters reviews
Hobart 500565 airforce 27i is a simple but very powerful plasma cutter that operates with 120/240 voltages. It uses a multi voltage plug and has an electrical arc with compressed air to cut metals. Transport this lightweight and very portable plasma cuter from point A to B without any difficulty as it has a handle for carrying it.
Finally, it has a larger capacity cutting and lightweight inverter power that makes it to be convenient and easy to use anywhere you head to.
Main features:
- Multi voltage plug.
- Electrical arc.
- 120 or 240 voltage.
- Lightweight inverter.
- Larger cutting capacity.
Pros:
- Can cut different types of metals such as aluminum, alloy steel and other conductive metals.
- It is lightweight and very portable with a nice handle.
- It has a smaller heat-affected zone for less warping.
Bottom line
Cutting materials such as copper, steel, and aluminum require a very efficient and accurate tool. Plasma cutters have advanced in the way they function which enables users to receive accurate and precise cuttings in the long run. When choosing the best plasma cutter, you have to know which features to look at so that you get efficiency and accuracy when using the tool. This is because these tools come with different specifications that may be able to perform particular roles. They have different power usage, cutting thickness and some come with built-in inverters.
Also, ensure that the tool that you purchase meets your needs and is within your budget. Hopefully, you’ve found this review to be of great importance and has affected you in one way or another how you will select your next plasma cutter.
Lotos LTP5000D is my first plasma cutter but I’ve been using it pretty often. It seems best suited for 1/4″ or smaller material; cuts that size with ease. As your material thickness increases, the amount of time it takes to cut increases substantially. If I were cutting more than 1/4″, maybe 3/8″, on a regular basis I would get a bigger model.