Considering Cheap Plasma Cutter (Cut 50)

[daedalusminos]

Seriously considering purchasing one of the cheap Cut 50's on eBay...the ones that go for approx £150.

I'd mainly be using it for car bodywork restoration (approx 1mm) up to max of 5mm. It looks as though it could be useful for cutting out repair patches from new sheet stock, but how much distortion is likely to result on 1mm?
Also, could this be used for cutting out rusty and/or painted bodywork metal and would it distort the adjacent panel work?

 

[gaz1]

shop first and some places even take an offer in for one of them

i have one myself cuts right up to 10mm on normal 13 amp plug dont forget you also need an air compressor as well i have a 40 litre system works well on that one

great for new stock but make sure that earth is decent or you burn your nozzle out aas ive done it already

not tried it on rusty but tried it on aint best to make a slight bare metal then start to cut

great for semi hobby use but not worth it if doing general little bits of steel on and off over the years

 

[tlovatt]

I have a cut50 and after borrowing mine for a while my father purchased one with the pilot arc - without a pilot arc you can often still cut through painted steel, but with rusty patches having the pilot arc is worth the extra money in my opinion.

The plasma cutters have both been great - they only get hobby use but are so much simpler for cutting up steel and when you get them set up right there is a surprisingly thing kerf on sheet steel so cutting out bodywork patches and repair pieces is simple. They have both been used for bodywork repair and fabricating some heavier chassis sections out of 4 / 6mm.

I have cut thinner than 1mm without any distortion provided it has been set up properly and your consumables are in good condition (but a big pack of them when you get the cutter)

 

[daedalusminos]

I've got a 50l compressor so guessing that should be OK.

The pilot arc ones seem to go for £225+ more than I was hoping to spend, wondering whether the basic ones could be converted if required in the future....I think @AdrianH has converted his CNC setup.

 

[optima21]

the circuit boards inside the CUT50's with pilot arc are different to those that don't have pilot arc. you'll also need to change the torch too as they are different.

 

[dannyp]

pilot arc is worth rather a lot more than £75 imo

 

[daedalusminos]

Thanks for the feedback, I've bit the bullet and gone for a pilot arc.

 

[GavJ]

These seem a bit hit & miss, hopefully hit more than miss. I bought one just before xmas, used it 3 times and then it went bang... literally, very loud bang and all dead.. boxed up ready to be sent back....

Hope you get a good one, i suspect that quality control isn't the manufacturer's strong point

 

[daedalusminos]

Yes it does seem to be a bit of a lottery, but reading other people's experiences, at least some of the 'DOA' faults appear to have occurred during transit.

I'll post an update when it arrives

 

[GavJ]

Please let us know how you get on, Im tempted to buy another one as i haven't heard too many bad reports. The jump in price for a more professional type is just too much to justify, although i have found a draper one for £270, maybe a halfway stop between budget & professional?

 

[daedalusminos]

OK, so the plasma cutter has just turned up - first impressions:

• Speedy delivery - I think I ordered on Monday arrived this morning
  
• It's light and much smaller than expected in fact it was delivered by regular postman.
• Very well packed - double boxed as per most of the un-boxing videos though my torch and work clamp lead were not bagged.

Everything else pretty much like those un-boxing videos including the short power lead (65cm) and it's probably too thick to go in a standard 13A which is OK as I'll be running this from 16A outlet and extension lead. The torch is nice and long at 2.5m but the work clamp lead is only 1.4m.

I'l get it wired and plumbed up and give an update.

 

[daedalusminos]

Well, wired it up with a £1.98 Toolstation 16A plug, plumbed up with a quick connector and switched on....

Slight leak from one of the jubilee connectors which was sorted with a tighten, but no leaks from inside.

Tried a cut on 3mm with 65PSI and 25A and cuts like a knife through butter, 5mm at 35A no problem and then 1mm at 18A is just so quick.

It doesn't like going less than 18A as the arc becomes unstable - and to give them credit it's only advertised 20-50A.

I'll spend more time dialling in the settings tomorrow but overall I'm very impressed - just hope it keeps working!

 

[gaz1]

as a guide i asked skotl for some info

TBH, I set the air at about 65psi and never touch it after that.

12 mm would be at 50A
8mm at 30A
6mm at 20A
3mm at 15A

my advice play with it and learn each thickness as best as you can or get on with whats needed as goes for liking it glad i bought one myself i do like them

if you havent got consumables then get some in as there cheap enough to get imported at that from rivers shop on ebay and you get plenty of them

ive got extended ones there better to use as well

 

[Exuptoy]

I have a Cut40 I think and over 10mm it gets messy but it will cut.

 

[dannyp]

The long series tips are defiantly worth it, stock up on shrouds as well

The ceramic shrouds don’t last long at all, once they’ve been hot a few times the wrong knock and they crack. But they are cheep from that river shop so it’s a non issue

 

[GavJ]

Anyone out there with a well used Cut 50? I have received my refund for the last one.... cant make my mind up whether to try again or not?

 

[daedalusminos]

My CUT-50P was £200 with free shipping, I think the cheapest CUT-50 I saw was about £150

 

[gaz1]

use it a few times and try to get your cuts done on your project

some cut50s have been known to work on first usage and many times not some have then gone bang and then need to get a refund others have been lucky work straight out of the box and continue working

others have repaired theres when theyve gone faulty

 

[GavJ]

I used to be indecisive but now I'm not sure

Come on guys, throw me a line.... do i get another cut-50 pilot arc or should I go for a draper Expert 40

The draper is more expensive (£286) and doesn't have pilot arc.... but is it better built?

I can't pay any more than this, just can't justify it.

 

[dannyp]

being draper probaly not the factory in china just sprays it bue for them. the question really is 40 amps no pilot arc, or 50 amps with pilot arc

draper will be makeing a fair % on it probaly more than a drop shipper so i bet it has a lower ex factory price