Lidl Plasmas Coming Soon!

[GRW]

I missed out on getting a Lidl Plasma last time by seconds and was a bit miffed - then got philosophical & accepted that in truth I'd hardly ever need one.
Instead, seeing a recent thread on here - I bought a (200mm) Katsu metal guillotine from Aim Tools as its mainly cutting 1-2mm mild steel sheet more than thick stuff, and wanted to get away from all the grinding dust.
I've found I can clamp it in my 5" Record 35P vice which is on a home-made tripod stand, and it cuts sheet cleanly and neatly, and it's nice n simple

 

[Seadog]

And it's cordless

 

[Bki26]

This internal compressor lidl plasma is a lifesaver, so much easier and quieter than a grinder..

 

[Onthespotwelding]

This internal compressor lidl plasma is a lifesaver, so much easier and quieter than a grinder..

Mine has saved my bacon more than a few times in remote locations.

It was a good purchase!

 

[gasket999]

I'm a bit confused here. I bought one from my local Lidl last week... and then I found out there was a 40a version in Europe and then I found out about 'pilot arcs' and that there was a pilot arc conversion kit in Germany, which is out of stock and I've been trying to find one used with no luck. So I've been kicking myself for a week thinking I've got a machine that won't cut particularly thick steel and also wont cut rusty steel or painted metals - with it just having the HF start and no pilot-arc.

but reading the above (and actually looking at the box) it seems that the one I bought has a factory supplied pilot arc torch.

So, if I've understood it right then a pilot arc lets the arc start anywhere - even in mid air - and crucially for me (doing car repairs) that means that the arc will start on, and cut through, both rusty metal as well as painted metal. Is that right?

But where does the earth clamp come in - I though that the torches with a pilot arc had three sockets, one of which plugged in in place of the earth clamp.

Have I inadvertently ended up with a cheap little plasma cutter that, aside from it being 30a not 40a, is actually pretty smart and will do everything I want. I'm never that lucky!

 

[Bki26]

I'm a bit confused here. I bought one from my local Lidl last week... and then I found out there was a 40a version in Europe and then I found out about 'pilot arcs' and that there was a pilot arc conversion kit in Germany, which is out of stock and I've been trying to find one used with no luck. So I've been kicking myself for a week thinking I've got a machine that won't cut particularly thick steel and also wont cut rusty steel or painted metals - with it just having the HF start and no pilot-arc.

but reading the above (and actually looking at the box) it seems that the one I bought has a factory supplied pilot arc torch.

So, if I've understood it right then a pilot arc lets the arc start anywhere - even in mid air - and crucially for me (doing car repairs) that means that the arc will start on, and cut through, both rusty metal as well as painted metal. Is that right?

But where does the earth clamp come in - I though that the torches with a pilot arc had three sockets, one of which plugged in in place of the earth clamp.

Have I inadvertently ended up with a cheap little plasma cutter that, aside from it being 30a not 40a, is actually pretty smart and will do everything I want. I'm never that lucky!

View attachment 345090 View attachment 345091 View attachment 345092

See the extra female plug coming off the male connector on the torch (one with black and red wires), well the male end goes in the earth port and the earth clamp goes into the female connection on the short black wire.

Basically the clamp earth and torch earth share the same slot

 

[Stupoty]

I was in lidle the other day having a bit of a shop and saw the plasma cutters had gone up to £119.

Upon closer inspection they have created a new version the B2.

New feature , pilot arc !

Stu

 

[gasket999]

See the extra female plug coming off the male connector on the torch (one with black and red wires), well the male end goes in the earth port and the earth clamp goes into the female connection on the short black wire.

Basically the clamp earth and torch earth share the same slot

ahh... spot on, thank you. I'll confess I haven't played with it yet, if it was a dud I was thinking about returning it so didn't break the seals.

I was in lidle the other day having a bit of a shop and saw the plasma cutters had gone up to £119.

Upon closer inspection they have created a new version the B2.

New feature , pilot arc !

Stu

yes, with hindsight, that's another win - I thought that paying £119 I was getting a duff deal compared to people who had bought them at £80 last year - but I would have wanted the NLA conversion kit anyway so am feeling pretty chuffed about it all now. New compressor has just arrived but I've yet to fire it up.

 

[Stupoty]

ahh... spot on, thank you. I'll confess I haven't played with it yet, if it was a dud I was thinking about returning it so didn't break the seals.



yes, with hindsight, that's another win - I thought that paying £119 I was getting a duff deal compared to people who had bought them at £80 last year - but I would have wanted the NLA conversion kit anyway so am feeling pretty chuffed about it all now. New compressor has just arrived but I've yet to fire it up.

Some brave person has to open one up and find out if it's the same as the 30 A1 which is actualy the 40 A1 with a 13amp plug on insted of the bare cable or blue plug thing they do in Ireland

.

edit , i've been practicing with my A1 and I find the tip dragging ok but you could use a pilot arc one on a cnc set up.

Stu

 

[Seadog]

I opened my one and posted my findings.

 

[Stupoty]

I opened my one and posted my findings.

what the new one ?

I've done the turning it up to eleven on my "old version" one.

Stu

 

[Seadog]

what the new one ?

I've done the turning it up to eleven on my "old version" one.

Stu

No, I misread the post. I confirmed that the A1 30 has the same internals as the A1 40.

 

[Stupoty]

No, I misread the post. I confirmed that the A1 30 has the same internals as the A1 40.

Ohh nice , it might have been your thread post that encouraged me to open mine and turn it up a bit Mine was same , all the pcb's marked with the 40 code.

Stu

 

[Bki26]

About 2mm thk, just shy of 30a I can travel from one side to other through the centre 6" away in under a second with the internal lol. Not neat as freehand plus doing final fitment with grinder.

1/4" for scale.

 

[Moose McAlpine]

Are the internal compressor ones still about for sale?

 

[Bki26]

Are the internal compressor ones still about for sale?

Don't think so unless you pay the ripoff ebay reseller price

 

[pcwizme]

Got mine (the normal not internal compressor) today looking forward to making some silly art maybe using templates cut on the laser

 

[Trevorleach]

My compressor oen packed up the other day cutting 4x2 box with 4mm wall section, much cursing until mate pointed out earth clamp was laying on the floor, attach said clamp to the steel box section and we were off again.

 

[Onoff]

You 'orrible lot, I'm going to give in soon and buy one.

 

[4String.]

Folks.

This:


Is my Lidl Plasma cutter and compressor set-up. Apologies for the dodgy photo . Compressor is a Clarke 24 litre that is, according to the manual, 8 bar max working pressure with a max flow rate of 7 cu.ft/min.

Question - does it need a separate filter and regulator in the air line between the cutter and the compressor?