Plasma cutting is a very efficient and highly utilized way of material cutting used in the fabrication industry. Whether you're the owner of an Industry-scale CNC workshop or just a hobbyist metal fabrication enthusiast, plasma cutters are the top choice for you. You might be wondering which plasma cutters are the best for you. Well, that's what we're here to tell you about best cheap plasma cutter for 2022.
In this guide, we're going to talk about what plasma cutters are, how they work, what you need to look for in the best cheap plasma cutters and we also have a list of the best cheap plasma cutters that you can choose from. So, sit back, relax, and make sure that you read this article till the end.
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What is a Plasma Cutter?
Plasma Cutters are electrical tools that are used to cut conductive materials using an accelerated jet of hot plasma. Most conductive materials are metals and that is why plasma cutting is mostly utilized in industrial areas that deal with metal shaping, distorting, and fabrication. Plasma torches are used in automotive workshops, construction, salvaging and scrapping operations. There are many small-time hobbyists as well out there who might be interested in using plasma cutters for personal use. If you belong to any of these interests, you should definitely get yourself a plasma cutter.
The Best Cheap Plasma Cutter Comparison Chart
Product | Rating | Price | Operating Voltage/Input | Welding Thickness | Duty Cycle | Weight (lbs) | Made In | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.4/5 | 00$ | 110/220V | 1-20mm | 85% @ 50A | 21.2 | USA | 3 Year | |
4.6/5 | 418$ | 110/220V | 1/2" | 60% @ 50A | 19.4 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.6/5 | 294$ | 110/220V | 1/2" | 60% @ 50A | 22.5 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.3/5 | 165$ | 110V | 8mm | 60% @ 30A | 12.82 | China | 1 Year | |
4.5/5 | 189$ | 110V | 2/5" | 30% @35A | 17.6 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.7/5 | 289$ | 110/220V | 1/2" | 60% @35A | 22.5 | USA | 3 Year | |
4.6/5 | 388$ | 120V | 1/4" | 35% @ 20A | 21.1 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.2/5 | 270$ | 110/220V | 1/2" | 60% @ 50A | 22.7 | China | 1 Year | |
4.5/5 | 00$ | 110/220V | 1/2" | 60% @ 50A | 23.9 | USA | 1 Year | |
4.5/5 | 519$ | 110/220V | 1/2" | 60% @ 50A | 37 | USA | 1 Year |
Top 10 Best Cheap Plasma Cutter in 2022
Now that we know how plasma cutters work, you might be wondering which one would be the best for your cutting needs. Well, we've created a list of the top 10 best cheap plasma cutters that you can choose from. We've chosen them on the basis of features, pros and cons, so we've only picked the best of the best.
1. CORAL CUT50 Dual Voltage 50Amp IGBT Plasma Cutter
Product Specifications:
- Voltage Requirements - As we already established, this amazing plasma cutter comes with a dual voltage input capability with both 110V and 220V voltage options.
- Amperage - The current that the plasma cutter is able to output is 50Amps which is great.
- Cutting Thickness - The effective thickness of the materials it can cut smoothly is around 10mm but the range lies anywhere from 1-20mm.
- Digital Display - On the front, it features a nice display of the cutting process and different options.
Overview:
Coral is known for its amazing fabrication tools. The CUT50 dual voltage plasma cutter is no exception because it is one of the best plasma cutters in the market for a fairly cheap price. The CORAL CUT50 comes with a dual input voltage allowance and can work with both 110V and 220V depending upon the voltage availability. It packs a lot of punch in a surprisingly compact design. In comparison to other plasma cutters, the 50Amp dual voltage cutter by CORAL really stacks up high and should definitely be one of your main preferences if you're looking to buy a high-quality plasma cutter.
Pros
Cons
2. Lotos LTP5000D 50Amp Non-Touch Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter
Product Specifications:
- Voltage Requirements - It can cut materials with an input voltage of both 110V and 220V depending upon the availability.
- Amperage - The plasma cutter allows a maximum output of 50Amps and starting output of 10Amps.
- Pilot Arc - This technology ensures that the materials are cut without having to make contact with the cutter with the material surface.
- Cutting Thickness - It can cut ideally 1/2 of an inch but has a maximum cutting capability of 3/4" depending upon set amperage.
Overview:
Using the non-touch pilot arc technology, this plasma cutter by Lotos makes waves in the plasma cutting industry. However, with great power comes a large price tag as well, though there are many exciting features in this cutter. The Lotos LTP5000D is a 50Amp output capable plasma cutter which can operate on dual voltage as well. The cutter has a custom cooling system as well which ensures that the plasma cutter remains cool and stable while cutting for long periods. So, if you're looking for a slightly more functional yet expensive cutter, you should definitely keep this one in mind.
Pros
Cons
3. LOTOS LT5000D 50A Air Inverter Plasma Cutter
Product Specifications:
- Dual Voltage - It can work with 110-220V input voltages.
- Amperage - It can output current from anywhere between 10Amps to 50Amps maximum.
- Consumable Compatibility - The consumables are compatible with other models like the LTP5000D and others as well.
- Cutting Capability - Like the LTP5000D, it can also ideally cut 1/2 of an inch with the right amperage settings.
Overview:
You can call this plasma cutter the younger brother of the LTP5000D by Lotos. The great thing about this Air Inverter Plasma Cutter is that it is much less expensive and comes with almost as much features as the other one. The LT5000D is a max 50Amps outputting plasma cutter which operates on dual voltage. It is portable and comes with safety options as well. You can get it for a smaller price and the parts are also compatible with other similar models of the Lotos plasma cutters. So, you should definitely keep an eye out for this one if you're looking for one of the best cheap plasma cutters in the market.
Pros
Cons
4. HeroCut 35i Single Phase Inverter 30Amps Plasma Cutter
Product Specifications:
- Voltage - It utilizes an input voltage of only 110V.
- Amperage - It comes with a duty cycle of 60% at 30Amps and 100% at 25Amps output usage.
- Air Supply - The plasma cutter requires compressed air ranging from 40-70PSI.
- Usage - It is more commonly used for personal hobby uses and not industrial usage.
Overview:
One of the cheapest and most value worthy plasma cutters on this list is the HeroCut 35i Single Phase Inverter Plasma Cutter. It is not only very functional but also comes at a great price which makes sure your wallet doesn't go empty. The HeroCut 35i plasma cutter is a single-phase cutter that operates at only 110V input voltage and can produce output current up to 30Amps and cut 8mm of material thickness. This cutter is more focused on a hobbyist audience. So, if you're looking for a portable and easy to use, nice little plasma cutter, this definitely is the perfect thing for you.
Pros
Cons
5. Lotos LT3500 35Amp Air Plasma Cutter
Product Specifications:
- Voltage - The voltage that this plasma cutter utilizes is between 110-220V.
- Amperage - The maximum amperage of this plasma cutter is 35Amps which is moderate.
- High-Quality - The quality of the cutter is really great and you can cut many different conductors with it.
- Cutting Capability - It is capable of cutting materials with a thickness of up to 2/5 inch.
Overview:
Lotos makes its way into the cheap air plasma cutter industry with its LT3500 plasma cutter. This cutter is incredibly cheap and offers pretty great value when it comes to functions and features as well. The Lotos LT3500 is a plasma cutter that offers 35Amps of maximum output current at voltages of 110-120V. This cutter is fairly portable and comes with a good looking design as well and cuts up to 2/5 of an inch cleanly. It comes with a pre-installed NPT quick connector, making the LT3500 plasma cutter one of the better choices if you're looking for a budget cutter for yourself.
Pros
Cons
6. PrimeWeld 50Amps Air Inverter Plasma Cutter
Product Specifications:
- Cutting Capability - This machine can cut up to 1/2 of an inch thickness materials cleanly without any ragged edges.
- Amperage - It can dish out an output current maximum of around 50Amps.
- Voltage - It comes with a dual 110-220V input voltage.
- Design - One of the best parts of this cutter is the sleek and robust design it has.
Overview:
One of the best looking designs in this list is from PrimeWeld in their CUT50 Air Inverter Plasma Cutter. With a price lying in between the expensive options and the cheaper ones, only the most observant eye can catch the great value of this plasma cutter. PrimeWeld's Air Plasma Cutter is a machine with a maximum output of 50Amps at dual voltages. This plasma torch can cut up to half an inch fairly easily. With a lot of amazing functionalities, PrimeWeld's Air Plasma Cutter is one of the best plasma cutter choices that you're going to make for your personal or professional business use, so keep an eye out for this one.
Pros
Cons
7. Forney Easy Weld 251 20 P Plasma Cutter
Product Specifications:
- Amperage - It allows maximum amperage of 20Amps.
- Voltage - It works with an input voltage of 120V.
- Smooth cuts - It uses drag touch technology for smooth cuts.
- Cutting Thickness - It can cut up to 6.5mms.
- Portability - It is easy to handle and very portable.
Overview:
Forney is not new to making its way to these top 10 lists for fabrication products. Even the Easy Weld 251 plasma cutter is no exception as it is one of the better cutters available in the market, however, it is more expensive than the lot. The Forney Easy Weld 251 20P Plasma cutter is a cutter with a maximum output amperage of 20Amps and it uses a single-phase 120V input voltage for cutting 1/4 inch thickness materials. This one is great for home and personal automotive garage usage and can prove a great addition to the tool arsenal.
Pros
Cons
8. Mophorn 50 Amp Plasma Cutter
Product Specifications:
- Voltage - It uses dual voltage at 110-220V.
- Amperage - It produces a max amperage of 50Amps.
- Cutting Thickness - The cutting thickness is great as it can cut materials with up to 1/2 inch thickness.
- IGBT Inverter - It uses IGBT technology to provide safety against voltage and input power issues.
Overview:
Truly one of the best, cheapest, and great value plasma cutters in this list is the Mophorn 50 Amp Plasma Cutter. Why? You might ask. Well, besides the great price, it comes with a bundle of exciting features. The Mophorn 50 Amp Plasma Cutter can work on dual voltages from 110 to 220V and produce a maximum amperage of 50Amps. It can cut around 12.8 millimeters of thickness and can be used for both personal and industrial uses. So, if you're looking for a portable and budget-friendly plasma cutter that works in all conditions, the Mophorn 50Amp is a good option for you.
Pros
Cons
9. SUNGOLDPOWER 50A Air Plasma Cutter
Product Specifications:
- LCD Display - It comes with a display for keeping track of current and other options of the cutting process.
- Dual Voltage - 110-220V.
- Performance - It can cut up to 1/2 or even 3/4 of an inch at maximum.
- Design - The design is pretty unique and great.
Overview:
SUNGOLDPOWER is also one of the companies widely known for their amazing products and they've established that fact with their 50A Plasma Cutter. This plasma cutter ranks up there with the best and comes at a reasonable price for its features. This plasma cutter also utilizes dual voltage and can product current up to 50Amps without creating problems. It is suitable for cutting all kinds of metals like steel, brass, aluminum, and others. It comes with a unique design and offers a lot of stability and portability. That's why it is an integral part of our list of the best cheap plasma cutters.
Pros
Cons
10. Lotos LTPDC2000D Non-Touch Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter
Product Specifications:
- 3 in 1 Machine - It is an all in one, Plasma cutter, TIG welder and stick welder at the same time.
- Cutting Capabilities - It is capable of cutting 1/2 of an inch thickness clean cuts.
- Amperage - It provides a maximum amperage of 50Amps.
- Voltage - It uses dual voltage between 110-220V.
Overview:
The most exceptional and full of feature product of this list, is the Lotos LTPDC2000D which is the best ever for industry scaled metal fabrication processes. It is the most expensive of the list as well but justifiably. The LTPDC2000D is actually a 3 in 1 machine. It is a dual voltage 50Amp plasma cutter that uses pilot arc technology for clean cutting. Also, it is a TIG and sticks welder as well which makes it simply amazing for industrial work. So, if you've got a big budget, this is definitely the machine that you need to go for.
Pros
Cons
Buying Guide for Plasma Cutters
When it comes to plasma cutters, using the best in terms of quality and value is very important. How do you choose the best cheap plasma cutter? Well, there are many different important factors and things to consider before you buy the perfect plasma cutter for your metal fabrication needs. Let's take a look at each of them individually.
Cutting Thickness
When you're doing intensive material cutting, the most important factor that you'll be concerned about is obviously, the cutting thickness. What does that mean? It means how thick of a conductive material your plasma cutter will be able to cut. When it comes to cutting thickness, there are different options available. Depending upon the type of use you're going to have for your plasma cutter, you can choose a lighter and thin cutting plasma torch for personal hobby use and a larger thick material cutting plasma cutter for industrial usage. In both cases, make sure you choose the best quality plasma cutter available.
Voltage Requirements
Depending upon the amperage that you're going to need for your plasma cutting, the voltage requirements are also very important. Basically, the input voltage requirements that your plasma cutting machine is going to require is what you need to know before you get your hands on it. The most common voltage requirements are 110V or 220V where the output amperage might be anywhere from 20 to 50 or so Amps. The lower the voltage requirements, the less output current will be generated and the more general use the plasma cutter will allow, so make sure you think about that before you buy it.
Air Supply Requirements
The whole process of plasma generation depends upon one thing - the compressed air. Well, different plasma cutters have different air supply requirements and usage capability. Some might allow less air supply while others may allow excessive air supply. In both cases, external compressed air through a gas storage unit needs to be connected to the plasma cutter before use because that is how the plasma generation will commence and the plasma cutting will take place. So, make sure to check the air supply requirements of the machine before you buy it for personal or industrial use.
Additional Functions
Some more important factors include interfaces, ease of use, buttons, and safety features. Plasma cutting is a very sensitive process. It needs to be done in a controlled environment. Some plasma cutters offer additional safety features like trigger safety or inverter technology in order to deal with input voltage issues. If you're looking for the best available plasma cutter, it is important to make sure that it is cheap and offers additional functions alongside amazing performance and value. These are all the elements and deciding factors which will seal the deal when it comes to the best cheap plasma cutter.
FAQs about Plasma Cutters
There are many questions that quite haven't been answered when it comes to plasma cutters. Well, that's why we picked some of the most common questions that you have and answered them for you. Let's take a look at them.
1. How does a Plasma Cutter Work?
You might be curious about the working of a plasma cutter. Well, generally, the process is done through the use of gas like oxygen, air, or inert. The gas is compressed externally and passed through the nozzle of the plasma cutter onto the working material. The material is placed on the working bench and the ground clamping is connected on the bench near the material. The process of plasma cutting occurs by creating an electrical channel of ionized plasma which goes through the workpiece and completes the circuit through the grounding clamp.
By forming this circuit, an electrical arc is formed between the electrode integrated into the nozzle and the workpiece. Using this arc, the ionized hot plasma is then able to cut through the working material and the compressed gas also blows the material into opposite sides which separates the material into individual pieces.
If you're thinking of using a plasma cutter, there are literally limitless options. You can cut circles, straight lines, and other shapes depending upon your requirement. Plasma cutters can easily be connected with CNC workstations for repeated metal cutting and shaping work as well so it's got you covered there as well.
2. Can Plasma Cutters Cut Wood?
No. Plasma cutters are only able to cut materials that are conductive in nature because of the establishment of an electrical circuit loop between the cutter and the working material. If you're looking to cut insulating materials like wood or others, you can opt for a non-electrical cutter.
3. Which metals can Plasma Cutters cut?
Generally, plasma cutters are able to cut virtually any conductive material. And since almost all metals are conductive in nature, plasma cutters can handle them. To name a few, here's a list of some commonly plasma cut materials.
- Stainless Steel
- Aluminum
- Copper
- Brass
There are other materials which are cut using plasma cutters, make sure you check the details of the materials before you try to cut them using a plasma cutter.
4. Which are Plasma Cutter Consumables?
There are mainly five plasma cutter consumables. In a normal plasma cutting machine, the shield, retaining cap, nozzle, swirl ring, and electrode are the main five consumables that you should be considering if you're looking for perfect plasma cutting.
Conclusion
Plasma cutters can be used for a variety of metal cutting purposes. No matter which purpose you might have, choosing one of these amazing plasma cutters is going to be a great option for you. In fact, we assure you that if you get one of our recommended best cheap plasma cutters, you're going to get the best performance and value and you're going to be proud of your plasma cutter purchasing decision. We wish you happy plasma cutting!