Best Cheap Plasma Cutter

Not everyone wants to spend so much for top of the line plasma cutters. Some people just want to play with metal without wanting to break the bank. If you’re one of them, you’ll certainly find cheap plasma cutters attractive. Of course, just because you’re not willing to spend for the expensive plasma cutters, that doesn’t mean you have to contend with the worst units. There are inexpensive machines that are good for DIY projects. 

Amico Cut-50 

Plasma cutters are designed for a lot of things, including repair, fabrication, and metal art. If you’re doing any of these things, you can’t go wrong with the Amico Cut-50. This plasma cutter has a built-in air filter. Its pressure gauges are readable even in dim light. Another thing that makes this machine convenient is the easy-to-use torch. 

At 31 pounds, this machine is still considered portable. Well, it’s not the lightest plasma cutter out there, but two people can carry this one with its dual-handle design. 

This unit comes with a 13-foot gun, a power adapter for 110and 230 volts, an 11-foot 630-amp power cord, and a work clamp. The built-in fan of this machine comes handy when you’re working with CNC tables. It should provide good ventilation to prevent overheating of the internal parts. 

The inverter technology of the Amico Cut-50 is underrated. This tech makes the machine easy to maintain. In fact, you don’t need to do regular maintenance. It’s more durable than you think despite its price. 

SUNCOO Cut-50 

This is like the cheaper version of the famous Lotos LTP5000D, which is one of the best plasma cutters on the market. The SUNCOO Cut-50 shares similarities with the top rated model from Lotos. It’s a dual voltage plasma cutter with automatic input voltage adjustment, so you don’t need to do anything when switching between different voltage outlets. 

One thing you’ll appreciate with this machine is its duty cycle. At 60%, the duty cycle rivals that of the LTP5000D. That’s longer than the average duty cycles of plasma cutters. That means this machine provides optimum performance much longer than others do. 

At 50 amps, this plasma cutter can slice through half an inch of metal. That’s quite remarkable. In addition, it can cut different types of metals, such as stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and iron. 

Another great thing is the SUNCOO Cut-50’s ability to dissipate heat. Heat dissipation allows this machine to regulate its internal temperature. Coupled with its high duty cycle, this plasma cutter will not overheat easily. It also has over-voltage and over-current protection. Moreover, the IP21 ratings mean this machine is built to withstand impacts from small debris and has some water resistant features. You will appreciate the safety features of this unit. 

This machine is lighter than the Amico Cut-50. It’s only 25.2 pounds, a bit lighter than the Lotos LTP5000D. You shouldn’t have a problem carrying this machine. 

However, you will definitely miss the pilot arc of its more expensive counterpart. The lack of a pilot arc can be a bummer for people. But if you don’t mind prepping up your workpiece before cutting, this shouldn’t be much of an issue. 

Super Deal Cut-50 

Super Deal is a company that makes a lot of things, like ice shavers, compact washing machines, and vacuum cleaners. Generally, you would rather buy a plasma cutter from a brand known to make metal cutting and welding equipment. But you may consider the Super Deal plasma cutter for a few reasons. 

This unit is a good device for light metal cutting operations. While professionals may forgo this one, DIYers may see this as a cheap but cost-effective option. The cutting performance isn’t bad even when it only runs on 110 volts. It’s designed to cut metals as thin as 1 mm and as thick as 1/2 inch. Surprisingly, the cuts are smooth, especially if you’re cutting thin materials. It doesn’t produce a lot of dross and slag. Its high duty cycle (60%) is another enticing feature. 

This plasma cutter costs under $300. Unlike other cheap plasma cutters with expensive proprietary consumables, this one uses cheap consumables you can buy anywhere. 

LOTOS LT5000D 

Sometimes confused with the LTP5000D, the LT5000D is famous for being the cheaper option for thrifty users. This portable machine provides an output of 50A with a duty cycle of 60%. The LT5000D is not designed for professionals. It’s for hobbyists and DIYers who only do basic metal cutting.

The major difference between this one and the more expensive LTP5000D is that the latter generates a non-touch pilot arc. If you haven’t tried a pilot arc plasma cutter, you wouldn’t mind the absence of the pilot arc. However, if you’re coming from a plasma cutter with a pilot arc, you will definitely miss the convenience. With non-pilot arc plasma cutters, you have to remove rust or paint on workpieces before starting. Because you need to touch the copper tip to the metal surface, you’ll wear out the tip and use up your consumables much sooner. 

With regard to performance, this isn’t really powerful. But again, we’re not supposed to compare it to more expensive units. It’s cut thickness is 1/2 inch, but it struggles at that thickness. Use this for metals up to 1/4 inch in thickness, and you’re good. Cutting 3/8-inch metals becomes a slow drag. 

LOTOS LTP5000D 

Many users, hobbyists and professionals alike, regard the LOTOS LTP5000D as the best plasma cutter for a number of reasons. It’s only over a hundred dollars more expensive than the LT5000D, but it has features you can find in expensive units. Its cutting performance, made possible by its MOSFET/IGBT transistors, is also on par with more expensive plasma cutters. This is a user-friendly device for beginners. The setup is simple, and operations are easy to understand. 

The best thing about the LTP5000D is its pilot arc technology, allowing you to cut metals without touching and dragging the tip of the torch on the surface of the metal. A pilot arc produces cleaner cuts. It also prolongs the life of consumables. This plasma cutter doesn’t produce a lot of slag. Cleaner cuts mean less polishing needed. 

Mobile users will find the portability of this plasma cutter quite handy. At 19.4 pounds, this is one of the lightest machines out there. You don’t have to be the burliest guy to be able to carry it around. 

Of course, like any plasma cutter, this one has drawbacks, which aren’t worth mentioning anyway. As earlier mentioned, you can’t go wrong with this one. 

Conclusion 

Just because you’re not willing to spend for the most expensive plasma cutters, it doesn’t mean you should just settle for ones with questionable build quality and performance. All the plasma cutters mentioned in this article will definitely provide good value one way or another. The LOTOS LTP5000D, for instance, is the best among them. You can check out what buyers had to say about this unit on Amazon.