Plasma Cutter

[ACDII]

10 years ago I bought a Hobart 12ci. I used it maybe a dozen times, and kept it stored on a shelf in my shop so it still looks like I just pulled it out of the box. I put it to good use the past few weeks working on things like making the Equal angle hitch for the mower, and a few other projects.

Last weekend I was cutting off the axle brackets on a cart with it and it quit working. Last Friday I opened up the case and found the reason is due to a burned circuit board. I contacted Hobart support and found out a replacement board cost $2,308. This unit cost me $740 brand new off the shelf and I can replace it for $650 with a newer model.

Reason for this post is not to complain, but to find out what others have for plasma cutter? Other brands, and how they held up.

 

[Motion]

I have a Miller 375, I use it very little, it's always works good when needed.

 

[arml]

I've been using this HFT setup for quite a few years, no issues, price was right and, parts are easily found around the web. There are times you find that the big brands don't care about the product they sell to consumers. It sure works for me when I need them.

 

[ACDII]

Harbor Freight? After having the mainboard fry in the Hobart and find out it is 3 times the price for a board as the entire machine costs, I am very reluctant to get another one, even if it is less than I originally paid and has the new gun on it.

I sort of recall seeing a comparison on Titanium and it faired pretty well.

 

[mcmxi]

I've had and used a Hypertherm for years. I bought it around 2005 or so and it's still going strong, along with a Millermatic 185 MIG welder that I bought around the same time.

 

[Papadiver]

I am using this one. https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200833064_200833064

I have had it 3yrs. No problems.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I have a LOTOS LTP7000, I've used it for years without issue one.

I've cut quite a bit of steel with it, it will blaze right through 3/4 plate!

 

[arml]

I've cut quite a bit of steel with it, it will blaze right through 3/4 plate!

Every time I use a plasma cutter, I just smile, amazing how they make light of otherwise tedious work. I've never tried to cut through 3/4" yet but, I'll try it when need be. sawzall or hack saws are at rest now, so are cut off grinders for most of the time..LOL Plasma can cut at the blink of an eye.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yea plasma is awesome!
Now I only use my torches to heat up something to bend it.

 

[mikester]

Hypertherm. Nothing runs forever nor is it free to use. Eventually even solenoids and control boards fail.

 

[ACDII]

Well, I did some research and found out the Hobart 12ci was only rated at 12 amps. I probably overloaded it cutting that PTO shaft. I looked at reviews on the Titanium from Harbor Freight and while the pros were good, the cons were a turn off for that price point. An alternate unit the reviewer pointed out was a Yeswelder CUT65DS. It is a 65 amp cutter with up to 100% duty cycle for thin metals up to 1/8" and 60% for 3/4".

The HF one is $900, and I found the Yeswelder on Amazon for $449.99 and a 15% off coupon, and a consumable kit for the torch for $37, so total price shipped came to $455 and will be here on Thursday. I could pick up another 12ci for $650, but the only advantage it has over all the others is a built in compressor.

Since everything other than the main board is in like new condition I will just list it on Craigslist as a parts unit for $300. Torch alone is over $300 to replace, and the case and all the rest of the parts are like new as well.

 

[Fladogman]

Don't mean to thread jump but I too am in the market for a plasma cutter for occasional use. In doing some research I keep coming back to the Lotos brand LTP5000D Has anyone had any experience with them or the Lotos brands?

LOTOS LTP5000D 50Amp Non-Touch Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter, Dual Voltage 110V/220V, 1/2 Inch Clean Cut, Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052OX876/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_EXGAM5K9BFKB8D13KV40

 

[D2Cat]

Don't mean to thread jump but I too am in the market for a plasma cutter for occasional use. In doing some research I keep coming back to the Lotos brand LTP5000D Has anyone had any experience with them or the Lotos brands?

LOTOS LTP5000D 50Amp Non-Touch Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter, Dual Voltage 110V/220V, 1/2 Inch Clean Cut, Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052OX876/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_EXGAM5K9BFKB8D13KV40

See post #7.

 

[Fladogman]

See post #7.

Thanks I completely missed that one

 

[fried1765]

Don't mean to thread jump but I too am in the market for a plasma cutter for occasional use. In doing some research I keep coming back to the Lotos brand LTP5000D Has anyone had any experience with them or the Lotos brands?

LOTOS LTP5000D 50Amp Non-Touch Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter, Dual Voltage 110V/220V, 1/2 Inch Clean Cut, Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052OX876/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_EXGAM5K9BFKB8D13KV40

Post #7 is for the LOTOS 7000D.
Is the LOTOS 5000D the same/similar quality?

 

[ACDII]

LOTOS LTP5000D Plasma Cutter Review - How Good Is It?

The Lotos LTP5000D is a budget-friendly plasma cutter aimed at hobbyists, DIY metalwork, and beginners.

weldguru.com

A lot of complaints are of a poor ground.

Here is the one I chose based on reviews. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L3Y3ZLF/ref=twister_B09Y23CG49?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Costs just a few dollars more than the Lotos with the 15% off coupon.

Top 5 Plasma Cutters under $1000 - Weld Guru

Find the best Plasma Cutters under $1000 on the market. See my list of Best Plasma Cutters under $1000 reviews here. My top pick goes to the...

weldguru.com

 

[Fladogman]

LOTOS LTP5000D Plasma Cutter Review - How Good Is It?

The Lotos LTP5000D is a budget-friendly plasma cutter aimed at hobbyists, DIY metalwork, and beginners.

weldguru.com

View attachment 80651
A lot of complaints are of a poor ground.

Here is the one I chose based on reviews. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L3Y3ZLF/ref=twister_B09Y23CG49?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Costs just a few dollars more than the Lotos with the 15% off coupon.

Top 5 Plasma Cutters under $1000 - Weld Guru

Find the best Plasma Cutters under $1000 on the market. See my list of Best Plasma Cutters under $1000 reviews here. My top pick goes to the...

weldguru.com

Thanks for the info and endorsement

 

[Showmedata]

are you handy with a soldering iron? I let the smoke of a cheap tig welder last year (just learning, and sticking the tungsten to the work too often). When I opened it up the root problem was obvious, one of the big power transistors had a big black stain. I found I could buy that transistor online for about $20. Soldered the new one in and the welder worked again.

It may be worth opening up the case just to see if the problem is obvious. In my experience, if something failed because of an overload then the problem often is visible.

 

[ACDII]

Unfortunately, this is not an easy repair. The board itself is scorched between power transistors. The board is toast. I used to repair aircraft navigation strobe lights and school bus wig wags, so the first thing I thought, maybe I can replace the transistor, but there is an inch long scar into the board where the path fried under the layers.

 

[sardillim]

No Question Hypertherm