differences is plasma cutters

[caterpillar028]

i have no experience with plasma cutter

i have been looking into buying a plasma cutter and was wondering is there any difference between a cheap plasma of eBay and a sip machine

i have used both expensive and Chinese mig welders and know there is a big difference in the actual weld quality

my question is , is there any difference in the quality of a cut that a plasma leaves does a cheap plasma cut as good as a name brand one

i understand you get what you pay for in build quality but does it make any difference to the cut

 

[Spark plug]

I'm not sure about the difference in quality but I know someone who bought a Chinese one off eBay and he found it very difficult to get torch consumables. he ended up buying a new branded torch that he could get spares for, I haven't personally used it but he seems to manage ok.

 

[DrNik]

The normal seems that people buy a cheap and cheerful Chinese one that works, it normally has a short life and the people buy a more reliable one, the Chinese ones ain't too bad it's the backup that fails them, the cut in my opinion is much the same, although a better designed torch make a difference, and the machines are labelled up to cut 10mm and struggle with 8mm, my R-tech cut 40 is a good budget machine and I'm very happy with its performance and back up

Sorry for my ramblings, but I'm sat in bed with a cup of tea, and watching breakfast tv

 

[KemppiFrog]

Sorry for my ramblings, but I'm sat in bed with a cup of tea, and watching breakfast tv

Sloth is one of the deadly sins. Get thee to the workshop.

I was wondering about this subject too. If the power supply is OK and continues to function.... Then the torch is the bit that matters.
KF

 

[norlander]

my chinese plasma cuts great, I bought it from a german company that is like R-tech and rebrands the kit. They have consumable spares and also complete replacement torches if needed.The torch is usually the weak link if it has a paddle type trigger-mine does not.
I do not need a rufty tufty cut 10mm all day on a north sea oil rig cutter-I use it for shapes in sheet steel/aluminium.
The cut quality is fine for me.

 

[Mr shiney]

I have an Eastwood one which is 40amp. Cuts everything I need and has done some 12mm without problem. Its easy to use and produces nice cuts. Well worth the money.

 

[chevy2]

Also have an Eastwood plasma,
Owned it around two years now,

I class it as about mid range as its chinese built but buying it from a uk co like Frosts you have a bit more chance of getting problems sorted if needed?.

 

[Shox Dr]

As with everything there's good and crap that comes out of China, buy something with a good back up and you will be fine.

As for the Torches they are pretty much like TIG torches. There's no Hoodoo Voodoo involved. They all use standard fittings.

I soon broke the paddle switch on mine I bought an integrated unit for less than 20quid. The only thing I had to do was solder the wires onto the new switch. I made sure the new head used the same consumables, so I could use up what I had.

Simples

 

[langy]

I've had a Cut 50 for around 6 years now and it gets used a lot, I got told not to bother with Chinese as it wouldn't last but at £175 it was worth a punt, Its never given me any problems but found its works better at 50-60 psi not the recommended 40psi.
I recently bought a new 5 mete torch for it as got fed up keep moving the machine, the standard PT31 torch was ok but not brilliant, I looked around the UK companies and they wanted £85, bought exactly the same torch from Shop River on Ebay for £22 delivered, Its even better now !!!

 

[BrokenBiker]

I have been pondering this question for a while. I only ever cut up to 3mm wall box section and angle iron, then after that its all sheet steel