Pilot Arc or Non Pilot Arc

[Chelly441]

Im quite fed up of making making straight cuts with the grinder now, im doing alot of chassis repairs on 2,3mm thick steel and occasionally abit thicker im thinking with a plasma cutter i can have abit more reliability in getting a straighter cut with a guide… im not wanting to spend much so it will be one of these cheapo ones of amazon. Im stuck between a Pilot Arc or a non Pilot Arc one, are they both as easier as eachother to run along a guide and get a nice straight cut? I’ve seen the Pilot arc ones have a guide thing to stop you touching the material that you could also run along the guide or is a non Pilot Arc just as simple?

Just want some opinions on the pros ans cons of either and if it’s worth just getting the pilot arc.

 

[zzr1200]

yes....

But spend as much as possible, really cheap plasma's and welders have been known to go pop/bang/whizz/smoke......

 

[gaz1]

you want pilot arc as will work if paint is on the product your cutting non pilot arc needs clean metal to start

i have the cut50 but i would advise a better cutting machine

the one thing you will have to learn is speed go to fast and it wont cut nice but it will gouge the metal rather well

corners you will get closer to the edge if your cutting the floor out but you will still need the grinder to finish off cutting and smoothing the floor out when your close to walls

 

[Chelly441]

you want pilot arc as will work if paint is on the product your cutting non pilot arc needs clean metal to start

i have the cut50 but i would advise a better cutting machine

the one thing you will have to learn is speed go to fast and it wont cut nice but it will gouge the metal rather well

corners you will get closer to the edge if your cutting the floor out but you will still need the grinder to finish off cutting and smoothing the floor out when your close to walls

Ok I think my best bet is the pilot arc one then, like I said I don’t have a big budget but if the cheaper ones last abit and I get on with it I can then look at purchasing a better one. Quite frankly im just sick of cutting straight lines with the grinder lol! I don’t have the steadiest hands and I frustrate myself quite alot when my cuts aren’t perfect and end up re doing it, i will probably use it just on the clean material for starters until I get the feel of what it’s like and if I want to use it on the chassis itself

 

[Chelly441]

yes....

But spend as much as possible, really cheap plasma's and welders have been known to go pop/bang/whizz/smoke......

will use Amazon so I can send the bugger back if it goes bang to fast lol

 

[gaz1]

a piece of wood is cut level so if your using a 1/2" or 1" piece of wood and you use the grinder to slit the metal at side of it you will get a good straight line

but you only get one use per side or a couple of uses doing it that way to get it straight again you need a table saw to recut the wood straight again

with the plasma cutter use angle iron for the straight edge

 

[iNf]

The aldi/lidl ones have a 3 year warranty, a few on here have one.

 

[tom2207]

yes....

But spend as much as possible, really cheap plasma's and welders have been known to go pop/bang/whizz/smoke......

usually they just do that ,,,, once
.