Please give your opinions.... if you have one. ( a plasma cutter that is not an opinion, everyone has one of those.)

My opinion? Why, you should give it to me.

I love plasma cutters. They make quick work out of cutting most any metal that I fabricate parts with.

My opinion on welders and plasma cutters are very similar. Buy a big name brand, and make sure you can get consumables for whatever you choose. (with a plasma cutter, there are the parts for the torch that do wear out like the shields, caps, and electrodes)

Buy the best you can afford. You get what you pay for with this type of equipment.

With that being said, what are the specs of the unit you are looking at? How thick can it cut. The nice small units can go 3/8". The cheap ones can't cut 1/4".

I prefer the "drag" type units. You don't have to keep the tip just off the cutting surface and can just drag it along. The non-contact units don't like being dragged.

Most smaller units don't really like cutting through paint. They will do it, but your cut won't be as nice.


I looked at some on E-Bay and the specs look ok to me.


Just make sure you can find consumables.