Taylor Ray - great suggestion. The intent of this video was great - but the execution is lacking. The guy that made this video should Keep on trying and refine his process.
Suggestion for your welding table. Take half of your table and replace it with a bar grading. It will be helpful when you are welding and/or cutting. Your cuts would be better and you can ground direct to the table. Go to most welding shop or machine shop with a CNC Plasma Cutter or water jet cutter, and you can see that they use bar grading for their cutting table. Good video, bubba.
@@MakinEndsMeet69 That is a fact! Also, did you notice how he is dressed and that he left a precision instrument (digital calipers) not only on the same table as, but in close proximity to, where he was performing his "?tests".
Does any one realize buying cheap shit on Amazon is the exact reason our planet is choked with plastic garbage? Good job contributing to more garbage and pollution on my planet. Thank you so much!
A few pointers from someone who bought their first plasma thirty years ago when even the dealer didn't know much about them. 1) you don't need to be using a grade 11 welding glass, gas welding goggles are dark enough and you'll be able to see just fine. 2) make sure that your air supply is super dry otherwise you'll chew through consumables really fast and they're not cheap. 3) plasma cutters don't like layered pieces where there is an air gap between the layers. The arc breaks through the first layer then spreads out, fails to penetrate the second layer and blows crap back into the cutting head. 4) Aluminium sucks the heat away and the part you are cutting gets freaking hot, unlike steel parts. I learned that one the hard way having got used to just cutting a part then picking it up with no gloves on! 5) You can use thin plywood to make patterns and use them to guide the torch because the heat is so localised. 6) not sure how true this is but it makes sense; plasma cutters generate a lot of NOx and breathing that isn't good for you.
To be honest if you don't already have a mask & you don't use it all the time it's perfectly serviceable. I've used a mask probably exactly the same for about six months, it's not got loads of loud graphics on it but it does the job. At least they include something that does allow you to use it without burning your eyeballs out.
Cut 50's are pretty good for a cheap cutter, the trick is to keep your air as dry as possible, it'll cut better and also consumables will last longer. Grab an old 44 galon drum and an old shelve out of a house oven, bingo! new cutting table, all the sparks and slag will collect in the drum.
yes I use one of those toilet paper air filters & another kinda like the one you got ...Lots of humidity in FLorida....also know that the cutter will cut ANYTHING for a second...Gloves hands etc. LoL...also I just used cutting glasses not welding if thats what you used...cool & they pay for them selves in few jobs! Also great for SS cutting!
I had a Cut 50 that worked fine for a while but stopped working. No way to get it repaired and no schematic to try and figure it out. I opened it up and the build quality was horrible.
The foreign countries I've been to the people can't afford the nice helmets we buy and they have a cutoff broom handle they fasten to it and they weld or cut one handed and surprisingly they do very well.
Some really good comments here. nice review. sometimes I get annoyed by so called expert reviews, at least this guy is more like your neighbor trying shit out.
Couple things: 1) Dry that air. Don't use standard compressed shop air, it'll eat your tips pronto. 2) That's not a drag tip. You should be cutting with the tip roughly 1/8" above the workpiece at all times. Your tips will last longer, and you'll get cleaner cuts. 3) Adjust your air for the minimum you can pass and maintain a clean arc. There are good tutorials on how to do this tuning. 4) As Alan Summerscales said, never run it wide open, 'just because'. It's adjustable for a reason, same as a welder. Use the minimum amps required to achieve the cut for the thickness and material you're cutting. Same as with the air flow, above. 5) It's dark because you're using a welding helmet. Plasma cutters need their own shade of lens, typically around a #4 or 5.
@TJP 81 Seems reasonable. I just cut by eye. If I'm getting a clean cut, it's good. If it's splattering, I dial it back until it looks happy and still cuts through at the rate I want to move.
You can run it wide open that just means your travel speed can be a lot quicker...For life of tips and consumables and wear and tear and the machine though and if speed is not a factor then you are right, better to turn it down to compensate for material thickness...this thing SAYS it will cut up to half inch thick which is not very thick and im guessing trying to cut through half inch is going to be painfully slow, so you are probably going to be running this thing wide open 24/7 unless you cutting sheet metal.
When I had my shop I had a Lincoln plasma cutter,it was a three phase machine and had just two current settings on a switch 30 amps and 50 amps anything above an eighth of an inch required 50 amps which would take you up to half an inch. Most of the cheap units are using the power section from chinese tig welders,well all the one I have tried,I think that is one reson they have the current adjust knob.
I was thinking the exact same thing, use a cheap sacrificial c clamp that you dont mind risking it getting ruined and make a fence to guide straight cuts.
Would love an update on how the plasma cutters been working after a year? I'm just an enthusiast here working on my rusty TJ but really tired of cutoff wheels... Great comparison of value minded tools for folks with limited garage space.
good day young man, I`m a welder, retired, so when you cut with a torch, oxy-acetaline, oxygen, plasma cut left to right or right to left this will allow you to cut straight and see properly so you can see where your cutting and see how far you torch head is from what you are cutting and always clean what you cut and weld, wire brush, scrape or blow of with air. I like to carry a piece of aluminum with me in my welding truck at all times and place it under my cuts as aluminum is such a good heat sink, and if you are cutting over cement floors the cement will blow out from the slag heat, the aluminum will protect all surfaces and clean of easy {slag won`t stick, and wear protective clothing, ps i laughed when you didn't recognize the supplied welding helmet. good luck
Left to right or right to left is not how to cut with plasma. When possible always pull the torch toward you. You will find you have much better control.
@@slickguns819 lol, yes concrete, i admit dumbing it down, but my point is correct, the mixture in the concrete can and does vary a lot, the finished and cured concrete varies greatly, from heat resistant to very high in strength. slag from melted metal can cause the concrete to react explosively
When I got my plasma cutter I didn't read the instructions and used Teflon tape on the regulator fittings . The plasma cutter didn't last long it died and refused to turn on . Then read the instructions it said don't use Teflon tape on plasma cutter as it sucks the Teflon tape off the fitting and into the lines of your lead torch blocking it to death.
Sounds about like something any man would do,exactly what I would do,throw away those damn instructions until it breaks,then find troubleshooting section.😂
LMAO. AH , the Beer Run !! Brings me back in time to my 3rd year as an electrical apprentice. JW I worked with parked his van opposite the job trailer and Foreman and I went for a case of Budweiser around 11:30am for our "Lunch"!!! 🤣
To cut great circles; cut sample pieces from different sized pipes, maybe 7" tall. Then clamp them to the steel you want to cut a circle out of. You can even cut them slanted rather than square to make ovals. The pipe diameter should be smaller by the same amount as the dimension from the center of your arc to the outside. Then use the different diameter pipes and trace them. A little practice yields great results. Try turning your work instead of the torch. Also, try moving the plasma cutter FASTER for less slag. Great video!
Great review. Perfect for a once-in-a-while plasma cutting that I might want to do. May get one myself. Nice comparison of the band saw/grinder options as well.
Thanks for the effort & time you took to make this product evaluation. Interesting to see the perspective of someone who has never used a plasma cutter before. More realistic than an expert, making perfect cuts or dumping on the machine's performance, because it is a budget item. Keep practicing & try running the cutting head along a guide bar on flat straight cuts for accuracy. Also, a dedicated cutting table with a simple & strong overhead bridge arm, to which can be a fixed adjustable height mount on the cutter head pointing down onto a flat cutting table with a hole below the cutter point. You now have a precision coping table, just slide the piece beneath the cutting head, along the desired cut line. clean cuts at 90 degrees to the flat side, with a little practice. Thnx for the unbox & test. Cheers JASS
Just an afterthought, perhaps a small frame on casters as a floating bed for your work piece. To avoid becoming caught on burs on the underside, as you guide the piece beneath the cutter. Kind of manual Analogue of C.N.C. Except, you will be moving the entire bed as the cutter remains in position. A bit vicee versee. But you have to turn things on their head to truly innovate. That's my way of thinking, anyway. A bit like the Origami Welders mask that came with the cutter. In a pinch, it will do the job. Albeit, improvised.
Looks like a good unit for the money ... look at the lines on the end of piece you are cutting it will tell you if you are moving to fast or not ... lines should be about 10 -20 degree angle in the direction you are cutting ... I build controls for Cnc plasma tubing machines so I needed to set up speeds and feeds on them... also use a piece of angle as a guide to cut straight lines guide the tip along the angle
@@cmscms123456 the American way, now days everything is disposable... Not like the old days when you could buy a tool made in the USA, & beat the hell out of it and pass it on to the next generation, and it still gets the job done! But I hear ya, for the price vs. Quality it will get enough work done to pay for itself.
Yep, researching plasma cutters after surgery today, thanks to a 7” angle grinder that bucked while removing an impossible control arm bolt. Luckily only a “small cut,” but still got a tendon. A word to those as dumb as me: If you can’t keep both hands fully on it, don’t use a big ass grinder.
After mentioning that he had popped the breaker, anyone else raise an eyebrow after hearing the words, "extension cord?" 😐 I really wanted to see the extension cord he was referring to....
Taylor, you can but tips with stand offs machined in so you can literally drag it scross the work instead of trying to keep a short distance..... Also hold a piece of angle on the work and drag against it for straight lines 👍🏻
Nah, he's good. He just chilling playing with his new toy, trying to help us. I'm sure when it's time to get it popping, he'll do it not only correct but also safe. Besides, wearing shorts and sneakers in the shop is pretty dope!
I was welding in flip flops yesterday. It was all good till a piece of slag finally found the spot between my pinky toe and the next toe. I hopped around a minute and then finished the run. lol
Never had a piece hit my foot when im in flip flops or slides. But ill be goddamned if it hasnt halpend to me in multiple different pairs of workboots. Also its great ti be able ti wear what ya want in your owb shop and welding in shorts and short sleeves will give you one hell of a tan lol
@@davidrossmiller8349 Actually not useless. Plasma cutters use a different shade of tint than welding, which he doesn't have (that's why he's using his welding helmet). So might be very useful for someone that doesn't already own a plasma helmet! You could also just slide that glass tint into a better helmet.
use a straight edge as your guide, and do way higher power. you can REALLY zing along fast. Also use the tip guide, you dont want to drag the tip on the metal, You want it to be just above the workpiece.
You were using too high amps you just burning your consumables 50 amps will cut over half inch steel think can cut 5/8 with the settings you used Rookie mistake you will soon work it out Also too much air pressure You aim for a narrow clean cut too much grunt just makes a mess Yes these little beasts are great
@taylor ray........you need to not rest the consumable on the work peice! It should be spaced between an 1/8 - 1/4 above material........also when wanting a straight cut use a straight edge....I use to use a peice of 1/8th inch x 1 inch bar clamped to material and i rested my consumable either on that or against that. Also the quality of cut will improve when you are able to maintain a constant speed! Spacing and speed are very very important. Number one......DO NOT REST consumable on work peice the flame was not designed that way.....you will end up with blow out on the back side! Do some research you'll see.
@@scowell yes you are correct but I am assuming the CHEAPEST plasma on Amazon does not come with ANYTHING extra they have that unit set up for beginners and you def not going to receive anything top notch or name.brand or anything above n beyond......so with that knowledge I would say it's safe to assume he did not receive a drag......bc every one I've opened form Lincoln to Hobart to Miller to cheaper no names none of them came with a drag tip. I can also see the way his is convex to a flat point that is a no contact tip. But hey I was wrong once
Its hard to take your opinion seriously when you over tighten the NPT fitting. Pretty telling about your lack of knowledge and skill. And for that reason im out
love the demo of these tools. have you looked into using cutting oil/lube with the bandsaw? i highly recommend it on any metal. it will speed up the cut a bit, and preserve the blade
The nicest I ever saw on a automatic feed bandsaw was a "micro drop" lubricant system that used compressed air and vegetable oil. The chips could be swept up from the floor, the blades lasted as just long as with a heavy flood of water soluble oil coolant. www.accu-lube.com/en/products/lubricants/
I have used 1/4" MDF to make templates to cut round holes and odd shapes, works well for short term repeatability. When cutting aluminum with any blade, I use cutting wax, it keeps the aluminum from loading up in the blades and allows faster cutting.
13:21 You can still ground to the table and just hang your cut on the edge of your table. Hopefully what I'm saying makes sense... Just make sure to hold it down with any sort of clamp of your choosing.
I'm a metal worker by trade. Welding and cutting is about all i do. Make yourself a cutting barrel/table with 2" or 3" wide strips of 1/8" or 1/4" on edge 2 in appart. so your work top is replaceable easily and allow everything hot to fall down and not burn everything. Also make yourself a mini pipe vise/clamp with 2 piece of flat bar and a piece of angle on edge making a "V". And about 1/2" back from one edge notch out a V in the angle iron on both side across from each other and about half the width. I can provide pictures if needed.
Aaron Okamoto ..... could you please post or send me some pics of what you describe. I am reading the comments and others have mentioned this but pics would help more.
Thanks for the thorough, real-world review. I'm always torn when I read Amazon reviews- I think many users just don't know what they're doing. This video really helped with my plasma cutter purchase decision.
You're not including the air compressor in your calc's ... just to be fair ;)) but the only thing a compressor consumes is initial $ + amps .. compared to oxy/acet cutting ...
Not to mention those torches are dangerous as f*** even when they're not in use in there is no Open Flame near them it will rocket straight through a wall if it tips over and gets the regular or knocked off, and the gas is explosive.
I'm not sure if anyone has said this in the comments, but use the straight edge of a piece of scrap steel as a guide to run the cutter along. You'll get the straightest cut line possible. ..and thank you for the video. Appreciate ya!
Plasma cutter is not like laser or water jet cutter, they are designed for fast and efficient cutting purposes with reasonable cutting accuracy, I like to have one, not much use of it but I'm a tool lover no matter what.
valveman12 not so true, due to the arc in plasma it actually cuts through at an angle and the thicker the material the more angle the arc has, gas cutting on cnc is more accurate, I have used both
I'm a cnc operator for a living with both plasma (ranging from 30 amp to 200 amp) and Oxy. I agree that plasma is very accurate, most cuts within millimetres, if not smaller, howevee the Oxy (at a much slower feed rate) always does a much cleaner and accurate job
I’m surprised with all the shop and tools you have, the lack of knowledge of tools and usage you have. You didn’t recognize the trashy mask that was included. Practice your vids first before you shoot and publish.
@@eternaloptimist2840 They do and they don't. I've got one of these (same thing, different brand/paint job) and I'm pretty sure the included regulator had metric threads. I couldn't find anything at the hardware store that threaded properly, so I took some 1/4" NPT adapters and brute forced it (aluminum regulator, meh). Otherwise, it's worked fine for the last 2 years. It works great on anything up to 1/8".
@@danbance5799 Likely it was British Standard Pipe rather than metric - BSP is common in Asia, Europe and English speaking countries other than North America.
This was a fun video. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I liked it when you figured out what the folding welding helmet was. All fun aside, great video, nice shop, great video presentation. Thanks!
Great video but my question is, why don’t you have a metal chop saw? It does all these test cuts your showing in 1/10th the time and is the only method to give you perfectly straight clean cuts. I use the metal chop saw for 90% of my work and the plasma for the other 10%.
My thoughts exactly! And anyone who hates grinders and cut off disks have been using them wrong. If you’ve had one explode in your face it is because you’re putting angled pressure on it or you’ve used a cut off disk as a grinding disk and you’ve thinned the disk, so when you use it again as a cut off disk it will not have the strength to hold up to the force and it will bind and break. The cuts are horrible, the lack of understanding on this product and other tools shows that you’re not giving a true impression of the tool’s capabilities. As an enthusiast you have the right idea to challenge and test products, but learn the trade before you go out and judge a product that may potentially destroy or harm the product’s reliability and value with misinformation.
clean dry air and your machine will last for years..i had one for two years then traded up. Best thing about your machine is the $500.00 rebate from Thermal Dynamics on a CutMaster 50. :)
All the power in Australia is 240 volts standard and our high voltage is 3 phase at 415 volts, love plasma cutters, freaking awesome machines 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘🦘🦘
No consumables last for months Most of the advice here is rubbish Everyone says turn up the power.... wrong wrong One uses just the correct settings and only the job gets cut Too much air and power destroys tips and electrodes
O'Reilley's is the best???... I dunno about that one partner. Maybe in your neck of the woods, up here though, they'll ask if a Civic is two or four wheel drive when you get wiper blades.
LOL. I don't think that's limited to O"Reilleys, however. I've had people at AutoZone ask me the same question for my 4runner. Yes, there's 2and 4wd, but it just doesn't matter for wiper blades. It's just many of the people working at these chains don't know about cars and just read off the prompts on their computers.
@@TheDesertRat31 its that old case of the computer says NO lol,its the same here in the UK,gone are the days when you walked into an auto store,asked for a part,the old boy walked through the back shop and 1 min later you had the correct part first time of the bat
c narramore he’s just kinda lazy and admits it all the time and constantly claims he’s gonna quit RU-vid but then buys 5 new projects and two new trucks
Dude... It is kinda irresponsible to cut the metal and directing the spark roost towards your lower body. If some noob bought one of these or a bigger one and lit it up like you did, they could really get hurt or start a fire. I am normally the "send it " guy but your gonna help some kid burn his house down or become a 50amp circuit tester.
They have better prices on plasma cutters on eBay. Then you buy a SquareTrade warranty. Around twenty bucks. I think that's for 4 years. I watched lots of videos on plasma cutters and the number one complained is loose components. So before use open the case and check.
@Bantham Nobilis that is 100% incorrect. I only shop eBay. any products I have not liked or had an issue I have always gotten my money back. paypal makes sure of it.
Was thinking that fold-able plastic sheet could be a face protector for cutting, except it had no tinted lens. Then the lens for it fell out of the plastic bag.
Ive found if you remove the exterior case and clean the paint off where the ground is mounted and also run a jumper ground from the front to the back it will work alot better. I loved my Cut 50. For the price you cant beat it.
@@morgansminions3012and Adam Barlow, I was commenting on the name of the product, not on the cost of the product. Many different manufacturers make plasma cutters, he failed to say the brand. That should have been one of the first things he said.
Bruce Jones dude follow the fuking link in the video description and stop with your nonsense. Everything you need to know is in the Amazon link, holy Fuk!
Three things that would help make you have much cleaner cuts with your plasma cutter. (1.) Adjust your air up to a higher setting to eliminate the drouth (the stuff you think is slag). (2.)Use a straight edge to drag the torch beside to make your cuts straight and (3.)Use a spacer clip on the end of your torch to keep it constant at 1/16" above the surface of the material you're cutting. You can also eliminate the drouth by controlling the travel speed of your torch.
i can always tell when someone has taught themselves to weld,cause they get as close as possible to what there welding.same with plasma cutter,i use to do the same.back up a little,dont breath that shit bro.
