Plasma cutter - desirable features

[Paul Allwood]

I'm about to purchase a plasma cutter and hoping that some here who have them might be able to advise good or bad features. I'll be looking for something that can give a clean cut in 12 to 16 mild steel.

Since most here are US-based and I'm in Australia, recommending brands or models may not help. Hence the question about features.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[McMXi]

I'm about to purchase a plasma cutter and hoping that some here who have them might be able to advise good or bad features. I'll be looking for something that can give a clean cut in 12 to 16 mild steel.

Since most here are US-based and I'm in Australia, recommending brands or models may not help. Hence the question about features.

Any advice appreciated.

You've got the plate thickness dialed in so that's going to narrow down your choices. More is better in my experience since it gives you options. Next thing is onboard air or stand alone compressor. I have a HyperTherm 380 that I've had for at least 25 years and probably longer. I run it on 220V and supply it with dry air. It will cut 1/2" plate but it's not a great experience.

You need enough air flow rate and the air needs to be dry. Other than that, there are so many brands out there now and your budget is a factor too. Do you have JASIC in Australia?

 

[DaTow'd]

I have a Miller Plasma Cutter best thing is the consumables are easy to find.
I have a friend that bought a EBay plasma cutter and has a hard time finding parts that fit.
16 years ago we had a flood and the water was 5 feet high on my shop floor and the plasma cutter was under water. I opened the case and found the "guts" are covered in some kind of wax - I hosed it off with fresh water and let it air dry it works like it always did.
I have a air filter for the compressed air

wonderful invention

 

[McMXi]

I have a Miller Plasma Cutter best thing is the consumables are easy to find.
I have a friend that bought a EBay plasma cutter and has a hard time finding parts that fit.
16 years ago we had a flood and the water was 5 feet high on my shop floor and the plasma cutter was under water. I opened the case and found the "guts" are covered in some kind of wax - I hosed it off with fresh water and let it air dry it works like it always did.
I have a air filter for the compressed air

wonderful invention

I'm in the Miller camp as well. My Millermatic 185 is still going strong more than 25 years later. I used Miller, Hobart and Lincoln welders during the 15 years that I worked as a coded welder, but Miller was by far the preferred choice on most job sites and in most fabrication shops.

I don't know enough about all of the cheap welders and plasma cutters that abound today, but I have my doubts about the duty cycle and longevity. Perhaps good enough for most small jobs and that's all that matters to many.

 

[Paul Allwood]

You've got the plate thickness dialed in so that's going to narrow down your choices. More is better in my experience since it gives you options. Next thing is onboard air or stand alone compressor. I have a HyperTherm 380 that I've had for at least 25 years and probably longer. I run it on 220V and supply it with dry air. It will cut 1/2" plate but it's not a great experience.

You need enough air flow rate and the air needs to be dry. Other than that, there are so many brands out there now and your budget is a factor too. Do you have JASIC in Australia?

Thanks. I have a compressor so won't need an on board compressor model. I've never heard of Jasic, just googled and none of the tool suppliers near me stock them.

 

[Paul Allwood]

I have a Miller Plasma Cutter best thing is the consumables are easy to find.
I have a friend that bought a EBay plasma cutter and has a hard time finding parts that fit.
16 years ago we had a flood and the water was 5 feet high on my shop floor and the plasma cutter was under water. I opened the case and found the "guts" are covered in some kind of wax - I hosed it off with fresh water and let it air dry it works like it always did.
I have a air filter for the compressed air

wonderful invention

Easy to find consumables is a good point - probably makes me lean towards the brands that the large local tool suppliers carry.

 

[McMXi]

Ready to find consumables is a good point - probably makes me lean towards the beans that the large local to suppliers carry.

I'd want a Miller Spectrum 875 at best or a Miller Spectrum 625 at worst but they're $$$$.

https://www.millerwelds.com/-/media/miller-electric/import/specsheets/file/pc98-spectrum-875875-autoline--english.pdf

But heck, stuff from YESWELDER makes all kinds of claims and they're 1/10th of the cost. Then again, the Miller Spectrum 875 which "only" claims to cut up to 3/4" mild steel plate weighs 50lb, but the mighty YESWELDER CUT-65DS PLUS claims to cut 1" mild steel plate but it weighs less than half at 23lb.

 

[Russell King]

I'm about to purchase a plasma cutter and hoping that some here who have them might be able to advise good or bad features. I'll be looking for something that can give a clean cut in 12 to 16 mild steel.

Since most here are US-based and I'm in Australia, recommending brands or models may not help. Hence the question about features.

Any advice appreciated.

What do you mean by the “in 12 to 16 mild steel.” statement? 12 mm to 16 mm thick?

Please clarify.

 

[McMXi]

What do you mean by the “in 12 to 16 mild steel.” statement? 12 mm to 16 mm thick?

Please clarify.

He's in Australia ... of course he means 12mm to 16mm. He's talking 1/2" to 5/8" plate in the US.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Give us some names that are available for you there.

You want a 60 to 70 amp minimum
You also want pilot arc as it makes starting the cut on thicker steel so much easier and cleaner.