Plasma cutters are no doubt very useful technology. It’s safe to say that it changed the way metal could be cut like nothing else. When this technology first came out, it was considered to be expensive and somewhat exotic. Most people couldn’t afford it and even if they could, they postponed buying one. This is because they decided that the good old fashioned way of cutting metal would suffice. But technology got cheaper as time went by, then suddenly anyone who had anything to do with metalwork wanted one. However, plasma cutters are still considered to be a speciality item, and even serious metal workers will use them only occasionally. This is part of the reason why manufacturers concentrated on cheap plasma cutters. The good news for you is that there is a wide variety of the best cheap plasma cutter products available today. The following are examples of some of the more popular ones and most are under 500 dollars.
Plasma Cutters | Amps | Pounds | Price | Buy Now |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lotos LTP5000D Plasma Cutter | 50 Amps | 21 Pounds | $ | Check Prices |
Zeny DC Inverter Plasma Cutter | 50 Amps | 24.4 Pounds | $ | Check Prices |
Lotos LTP6000 Plasma Cutter | 60 Amps | 39 Pounds | $$ | Check Prices |
Hobart Airforce 12i Plasma Cutter | 120V And 20 Amps | 31 Pounds | $$$ | Check Prices |
Forney 317 Plasma Cutter | 120V And 15 Amps | 39 Pounds | $$$ | Check Prices |
Best Plasma Cutter for the Money
Editor’s Rating:” alt=”4 out of 5 stars”
- 50 Amps
- 21 Pounds
- $
Lotos is well known for making great budget plasma cutters, and the LTP5000D is no exception. A very popular model, especially in its super price range. under $500, it is very compact and comes with a handle. All of which makes it a great portable plasma cutter. It also gets high marks for safety as it uses non-hazardous compressed air pressure and has a non-touch Pilot Arc.
The Lotos LTP5000D plasma cutter comes equipped with lots of useful features such as: pilot arc stability, dual voltage (120v/240v), better cooling efficiency, rapid heat dissipation, and less exhaust smoke. Because of these features, the Lotos LTP5000D can be used on both mild steel and stainless steel without having to make adjustments during use. The Lotos LTP5000D 50Amp Dual Voltage Plasma Cutter is an easy to set up tool which we think is excellent value for money!
It easily cuts cleanly through steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminium and mild steel. The non-touch pilot arc torch is designed to efficiently cut through painted or rusty surfaces with no hassles. Need a dual voltage unit to switch between 110 V 50/60 Hz and 220V 50/60 Hz ? No problem. It’s all in a day’s work with the Lotos LTP5000D. Other accessories include ground clamp and cable, plasma torch air hose and regulator, and connections for all of these. The dimensions are 38.1 x 15.2 x 30.5.
2. Zeny DC Inverter Cut 50 Plasma Cutter Review
Editor’s Rating:” alt=”4 out of 5 stars”
- 50 Amps
- 24.4 pounds
- $
At only 24 pounds and 18.50 x 13.50 x 11.00 in, the Zeny is one of the most compact and lightest ones on the market. It also gets high marks for reliability and ease of operation. For these reasons, the Zeny DC Inverter Cut 50 is very popular with the hobbyist. It is also one of the cheapest ones out there.
Electricity usage is in the 20-50 range, which is very respectable. For any heavy duty cutting, you will need at least 30A and this little product is more than capable. Voltage is pegged at 230 V. However, the maximum cutting thickness is 12mm. The bottom line with the Zeny Cut 50 is that it is a great entry level plasma cutter. If you are new to plasma cutting then this one is a great one to start with to get the job done.
3. Lotos LTP6000 Plasma Cutter Review
Editor’s Rating:” alt=”3.5 out of 5 stars” />
- 60 Amps
- 39 Pounds
- $$
This product comes with a pilot arc feature. Which is necessary to cut rusty metal or any metal in bad shape. Not only that, this feature is necessary to do nice clean cuts, no matter what type of metal and what shape it’s in. It is capable of handling just about any type of metal thrown at it including alloy steels, stainless steel, copper aluminum and more.
Are you into more precision related metal work, such as cutting decorations? Then the CNC cutting feature works like magic. CNC helps with those very detailed cuts. Even though the LTP6000 can handle one-inch plates, it really excels in half an inch or less, especially for those precision quick cuts.
Compared to other plasma cutters with similar capability, this one is considerably cheaper. It gets high marks for durability too. However, at 40lbs it’s not the lightest unit. The dimensions are a respectable 23.8 x 16.9 x 13.2 inches.
4. Hobart Airforce 12i Plasma Cutter Review
Editor’s Rating:” alt=”3.5 Stars” data-pin-nopin=”true” />
- 120V And 20 Amps
- 31 pounds
- $$$
Hobart is one of the most popular brands as far metal work products go. And they have been around since 1917! The Airforce 12i is continuing that tradition. The weight is at a respectable 31 pounds and the dimensions are 16.5 x 18.5 x 11.2 in. As with all of Hobarts products, this one is designed for many hassle-free years of use.
The reliability of Hobart, in general, is legendary and the Airforce 12i is no exception. It can handle most conductive metals and uses both compressed air and pilot arc method. It will work happily with 120V and 20 amps.
The plasma torch comes with a contoured grip, making long periods of cutting a comfortable experience. The system also uses a fan to keep things cool. The advantage of that is not as much downtime because of overheating issues. System readiness is a wonderful thing when you are working with any equipment.
5. Forney 250P Plasma Cutter Review
Editor’s Rating:” alt=”4 Stars”
- 120V And 15 Amps
- 39 Pounds
- $$$
As the name indicates, the Forney 250P has a built-in air compressor. This is necessary if you want the convenience of great portability. The claim to fame of this particular model is the drag torch technology. As the name indicates, the torch can be dragged on the metal that is being cut. This allows for some of the most precise cuts done by a plasma cutter.
Cut speeds are 20 in per minute and it can handle stainless steel plates as thick as a quarter of an inch. It uses 120 V and 15 A, which means it can be plugged in just about anywhere with an electrical outlet. The lower power rating is the reason behind not being able to handle thick plates.
With a lower purchase cost, relative ease of handling and versatility, this is another machine good for beginners. The dimensions are 15 x 7.5 x 14.5 in and the weight is a hair under 39lbs.
We hope we have assisted you to buy a cheap plasma cutter to suit your requirements in your price range.
Find a Welding Service near You
Welding services are available across the USA. Fill out your details for a free quote.