Plasma cutter

I am looking for an inexpensive plasma cutter thats good to about 1/2 maybe 3/4 inch thick steel. I have seen a bunch of the 3in1 machines and off brand plasma cutters but which one is good ? ? any one out there try any of these machines ? ?

This is true,  But i have seen some of these 3 in 1's for like 6-700$ and claiming they can cut almost 1 inch material. so some of them must be pretty good. i can see purchasing one for 600-700 but a plasma cutter alone going for like 1800-2000$ is a tough one, it's not like i would be using it every day. I am just a planning on fixing and building my own stuff. I won't be making a living using it. so i figured i'd ask on here to see if anyone purchased a knock off one, and how it worked for them .

Like PM
inexpensive and plasma cutter should not be in the same sentence.

I have a lincoln and it is one of them tools that is hard to live with out ,after having one.
I will admit that it is not very cost effective to have it sit around not working it. But really no different then a welder sitting around.

But when you need it .

I let my dad use it for a while at his place , I thought I would have to fight him to get it back.
One thing about plasma cutters is if you can afford it, is go at least one size bigger on the machine for the thickness of metal that you want to cut.
In other words if the machine is rated up to 1/2 get the one for 3/4 or that 1/2 will be slow and a bear to cut.

I just need a CNC table for it, The cost on them is ridicules , But some day.



Edited by needafasterAMX - Jan/11/2010 at 7:37pm

Just because it's a hobby doesn't mean it has to be cheap.
If you find a cheap machine read the fine print as to how long you can hold the trigger.
You didn't say, but plan on a hungry appetite for power.
My bigger machine will eat a 50 amp breaker.

http://www.arsrobotics.us/weld_power/gunslinger-260P.php

what do you mean ? like what could get fried ?