Table of Contents
Introduction
Plasma cutting is very used all over the world in almost any industry that requires cutting through an electrically conductive material. This ranges from large-scale industries to even the smallest hobbyist shops. The reason why plasma cutting is so popular is due to the high speed and precise cuts along with the pretty low cost. This method of cutting is great to cut steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, and various other conductive materials. And to be able to cut them safely you will need a high-quality plasma cutter.
Product | Lotos | Horbart | Herocut |
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Description | The Lotos plasma cutter offers high-end quality performance and excellent safety features. It’s also made of only the best materials available using the latest technology. (View more on Amazon) | The Horbart plasma cutter is right behind our first pick and it also offers an excellent performance. It’s a great model for both professionals and DIY lovers.(View more on Amazon) | The Herocut plasma cutter is designed to help you with lightweight work. It’s an excellent choice for workers that need a portable model.(View more on Amazon) |
Plasma cutters use an accelerated jet of hot plasma to cut through various conductive materials. Generally, these cutters are used for automotive repairs, salvage, scrap metal operations, industrial construction, and a lot more. You can get a cutter that uses a plasma jet that can reach a temperature that’s up to 40.000F degrees. This allows it to cut through various metals like a hot knife through butter.
There are countless uses for plasma cutters in the world. You can even use it to create arts through cut metal. This is because these cuts have to have surgical precision and a plasma cutter offers the high level of detail you need. You can even program it to cut along a fine line without causing the metal to bend or warp in any way.
Small plasma cutters are very popular due to their portable design. This allows you to take the cutter to your job and not the other way around. There are also a lot of uses for plasma cutter in the commercial world. This includes being used by a plumber, ship makers, refrigeration and air conditioning companies, industrial fabrication, car detailing, etc. When it comes to large-scale work, the most used types are the automatic plasma cutters.
What to Consider When Buying the Best Plasma Cutter
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There are lots of models available on the market. It’s very important to know that they require compressed air to be able to create the needed plasma. You can provide this by using an external air compressor or investing in a plasma cutter with a built-in compressed air supply. There’s no difference between the two methods when it comes to performance, only when it comes to convenience. A plasma cutter with a built-in air compressor is more expensive but it will also make your life a little easier when it comes to doing small jobs.
Another thing you should consider is how reliable the unit you have your eyes on really is. Plasma cutters are anything but cheap. This means you will want to invest in a model that will stand the test of time and it won’t break exactly when you’re in the middle of working on an important project. You should also opt for models that have a pilot arc. This will allow you to cut the metal without letting the tip of the torch to strike the metal, which is very useful when you’re cutting something rusty.
When it comes to voltage, you can get a 115V, 230V, or a dual voltage unit that offers you both options. The 115V models are great for beginners and light jobs and can be plugged into a standard household power outlet. On the other hand, the 230V models require a generator for you to run it. But if you have a plasma cutter with dual voltage options you can just switch the plug over depending on the needed power and where you are.
In this article, we’ll talk about Our Top 3 Best Plasma Cutter.
Best Plasma Cutter – Comparison Table
Product Name | Lotos | Horbart | Herocut |
Image | | | |
Easy to Install | Yes | Yes | Yes |
High-End Quality | Yes | Yes | No |
Cooling System | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Portable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Pilot Arc | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Voltage | Double | Double | 240V |
Ergonomic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Affordable | Yes | No | Yes |
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1 Lotos LTP5000D Plasma Cutter
Description
The Lotos LTP5000D Plasma Cutter is designed to cut efficiently through various rough, painted, and even rusty surfaces. It is the Best Plasma Cutter. More than that, it produces minimal slag. You will also benefit from pilot arc technology that offers you the possibility to cut the desired material without the tip touching the metal. This model offers you a better cutting quality and a longer consumable life. More than that, it comes at a very affordable price, especially when it’s compared to other plasma cutters within its performance range.
Thanks to its handle, you can use this unit anywhere you want as it allows you to transport it everywhere. This compact plasma cutter is also designed to use non-hazardous compressed air to do the job. It’s capable of cutting stainless steel, alloy steel, mild steel, copper, and aluminum. This plasma cutter is also compatible with the Lotos PCS22 and Lotos PCS 33 consumable sets. You should keep in mind that it’s not compatible with the Lotos PCON40 and PCON90, or any other third part consumable sets.
With its high-quality performance, this plasma cutter can help you get the job done safely. It has a 10-50A DC output, 1/2in ideal clean-cut, and 3/4in max severance cut under 220/240V. You will also benefit from a 10-35A DC output, 1/3in ideal clean-cut, and 2.5in max severance cut under 110/120V. This safe and affordable cutter is great for cutting various types of conductive materials.
You will be able to set up this plasma cutter within one minute. It has a pre-installed NPT 1/4in industry type D-plug and air filter regulator that offers you a quick connection to your air compressor. To do so, it uses the stand coupler existing on your air compressor. It also has an advanced cooling system.
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Pros
- Very Easy Installation
- High-Quality Materials
- Produces Minimal Slag
- High-Quality Performance
- Advanced Cooling System
- Comes With a Handle for Portability
- Designed With Pilot Arc Technology
- Uses Non-Hazardous Compressed Air
- Automatic Dual Voltage/Dual Frequency
- Efficiently Cuts Through Rough, Painted, Rusty Surfaces
- Cuts Stainless Steel, Steel, Mild Steel, Copper, Aluminum
Cons
- The ground clamp is a little bit too short.
- The gouge on the air regulator doesn’t have any PSI markings, which makes it a little confusing at first.
2 Hobart AirForce Plasma Cutter
Description
The Hobart AirForce Plasma Cutter is also designed with dual-voltage capability and MVP (Multi-Voltage Plug). This allows you to connect to both common 120V and 240V power receptacles. Generally, you will need a generator or other similar tools to help you connect. But its dual-voltage design allows you to do it without using any tools. All you have to do is choose the plug that fits the receptacle. You can use this unit for a very long time as it’s designed to offer one of the best performances in the world. But sadly, you should keep in mind that the price is definitely not low.
Thanks to the XT40R torch, this cutter is specifically designed to offer the most comfortable experience possible. It has ergonomic trigger safety and a much more efficient cooling. You will also benefit from economical replacement cutting tips. To do a job well you need high-quality tools that are reliable and effective. This plasma cutter is designed to offer smooth operation and excellent results.
With the fan-on-demand cooling system, you will also manage to increase the cutter’s lifespan. The fan gets automatically activated when it’s needed to reduce the power consumption and all the contaminants that are drawn into the machine. It also has a postflow circuit that helps you extend the life of consumables and torch. It cools them down with postflow air after the trigger is released.
This plasma cutter is also designed with PFC (Power Factor Correction) circuitry. This means it draws up to 30% less amperage for the same cutting range as the competition. It also expands the operator work area with the help of an extension cord. And at the same time, it minimizes nuisance circuit breaker tips caused by voltage drops.
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Pros
- Easy to Install
- High-End Design
- High-End Performance
- Postflow Cooling Circuit
- Very Efficient Cooling System
- Economical Replacement Cutting Tips
- Power Factor Correction (PFC) Circuitry
- Increased Comfort with Ergonomic Trigger Safety
- Dual-Voltage Capability with Multi-Voltage Plus (MVP)
- Can be Connected to both 120V and 240V Receptacles
Cons
- Very Expensive
3 Herocut CNC Plasma Cutter
Description
The Herocut CNC Plasma Cutter is a powerful 70Apm heavy-duty unit that’s designed for small business projects. It can be used to easily cut 18mm, max severance 25mm metal with 65PSI under 220V in a very short time. It comes at a pretty affordable price and it allows you to do a hard job faster.
Thanks to its great design, this is a Non-HF, Non-Touch, Blowback arc starting plasma cutter. You won’t have to deal with any HF interference, and it can easily work with a CNC cutting system table. The cutting machine is also designed with a CNC connecting port on the back. And on the front, you will find the euro center plug that’s very efficient and safe.
With the input voltage of 220+/- 15%, you should use a power breaker more than 63Amps. By using the water separator dry air, you will be able to increase the cutting thickness of the machine by up to 3-5mm.
You will be able to set the machine up within one minute as it has preset NPS 1/4in air connectors on the back of the unit. The air filter regulator allows the user to quickly connect the machine to the air compressor. And the Non-HF arc starting torch is made with a safe center plug to save time and make it safer. You will also benefit from a built-in air regulator. And while the dry air increases the cutting thickness, wet air might be the cause of the short circuit.
In the box you will find one plasma cutter, one Non-HF Pilot Arc Cutting Torch IPT80 with 5 meters cable, one Air Regulator fixed inside the machine, one Earth Cable with 3 meters cable, 5 electrodes, ten 1.0 tips, one 3m air hose, one manual.
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Pros
- Easy Installation Process
- Heavy-Duty Design
- Advanced IGBT Inverter Technology
- Simple Operation, Smooth Cutting Surface
- Blow Back Non-HF Pilot Arc, Digital Controller
- Has 2T/4T, Air Check function, 240V input Voltage
- Can Work with a CNC System as it has a CNC Port
- Fan Cooled Ensuring Better Performance and Durability
- Cuts Steel, Stainless Steel, Copper, Iron, Aluminum, etc
Cons
- The quality is not too great.
Conclusion
High-quality plasma cutters offer a great performance and the smaller models included in this list can be used by anyone. Some cutters are extremely expensive, but with good reasons. Any of the cutters on this list will help you with a lot of smaller projects. More than that, you will also be able to move them around to your job site.
