Best Budget Plasma Cutters Under $500 – Reviews of 2022

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The following cutters all met the criteria our experts established for determining if a cutter efficient enough and cheaper that they would buy it or would recommend it to their friends.

Quick Look On Our Top Picks

Plasmas Cutters Under $500: In-depth Reviews

If you are looking for some of the best budget plasma cutters for your upcoming projects, you can take a look at the following cutters which are under $500.

1. Lotos LT5000D 50Amp Arc Plasma Cutter

This is a non-touch pilot arc plasma cutter so it is capable of cutting a wider variety of materials. Since you do not touch the metal with your tip you can cut painted metal, dirty metal, and coated metals.

This is a small plasma cutter that has a handle on the top of the machine housing to help you lift the machine in and out of your vehicle. You can take this machine with you to do the work you need to do.

You will get a DC output that ranges between 10 and 50A. It is a dual powered machine so you can use it with a 110V current or with a 220V current. That means you always have power for the machine.

The machine can cut metals that are thicker when you are powering it with a 220V current. At 220V current it can cut materials up to ¾” thick. It will cut materials up to ½” precisely leaving clean cuts. If you are powered with 110V it can cut materials up to2/5” thick. At this voltage, it gives a precision cut on materials up to 1/3” thick.

It is great for homeowners and DIY enthusiasts, as well as the hobbyist.

Pros

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2. SUNCOO Portable Plasma Cutter for budget

This is a compact plasma cutter that weighs only 25.4 pounds. It measures 15.6” long, 6.1” wide, and 9.8” high. It has a convenient carry strap so you can carry this item over your shoulder.

It is a dual voltage device so it can automatically adapt between 110V currents and 220V currents. It is very easy to set up and even beginners will have no trouble setting the machine up for use.

It has an LED digital display and pressure gauge that is connected to the air nozzle on the rear section of the panel. You have current adjustment choices ranging between 20-32 and 20-50. You have the option of the air continues to blow for a period of either 2.5 seconds or a full 5 seconds after you power down the machine.

This device has a 60% duty cycle rating. You do not need an external air compressor to power the machine. The built-in air compressor increases the portability of the device and decreases the amount of noise you will have while you are working.

It can be used on most common metals including carbon steel items, stainless steel items, copper, iron, steel alloy, mild steel materials, aluminum, the metal that has been previously painted and more.

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3. SUPER DEAL DC Inverter Plasma Cutter Welding Machine 

This cutter still retains all of the fabulous features you want from a cutter. It is dual voltage so you can power it with 110V currents or you can power it with 220V currents. When powered by the lesser current the ideal thickness the machine can cut will not be as thick as the ideal thickness the machine can cut when powered by 220V currents.

It is a solid machine that is made from heavy-duty iron material. The strength of its construction allows this machine to be useful in do-it-yourself homeowner applications and in commercial projects. It is totally capable of meeting the needs of a professional welder or operator.

It has built-in protection that stops the machine from being able to overheat. It has built-in protection against over-voltage situations. It also has built-in protection against under-voltage situations. You also get protection from a time when your air pressure may not be up to the right level.

The settings and operational requirements of the machine are easy to read from the digital LCD display. You will know precisely what settings the machine is at. It has a front panel air pressure gauge and will give you a high cutting speed. You will love how quiet the machine is while it is in use.

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4. PRIMEWELD 50A Air Inverter Plasma Cutter

This machine comes with a plasma cutting torch, a ground cable that measures 9’9” in length and has a 3 prong ground clamp attached, an air filter, 6 air hose connections, four clamps, 2 couplers and an air hose.

It is a dual voltage machine that can be powered by a 110V normal household electrical current or a 220V current. The 220 V current will allow the machine to cut metals that are thicker than the ones that can be cut using the lighter current load. The machine senses the current it is connected to and automatically switches to adjust to that current.

This is a low maintenance machine that cuts quickly and accurately. It is designed to be user friendly so novice users will have no trouble setting it up and putting it to use.

The machine is lightweight and portable. You can transport it to where you need the work done and then easily store it in a small portion of your storage area.

It is quiet while in operation and you do not need hazardous gas to operate the machine. It is operational with compressed air so it is safer and cheaper to use.

Pros

Cons

5. Lotos LTP5000D 50Amp Non-Touch Plasma Cutter

This is an excellent plasma cutter. It is capable of cutting stainless steel, mild steel, steel alloys, copper, aluminum, and most other types of metal.

It is highly portable and has a built-in handle for you to use when moving or transporting this item. It only weighs 22.5 pounds so it is easy to pick up and can be transported in a car, truck, side-by-side, or just about any vehicle.

It has a DC output performance between ten and fifty amps. It is a dual voltage item that can be powered by 110/120V currents or by 220/240V currents. If you are powering it with a 110V current it has an ideal cut thickness of 1/3”, but can make a severance on an item that is 2/5” thick.

If you power it with the 220V current the ideal cut thickness is increased to ½” and the maximum severance thickness will be increased to ¾”.

This item operates off of compressed air so it is safer and easier to use. It is compatible with an air compressor that is a 4.0 SCFM @ 70 PSI. The machine is fully assembled so no assembly is required. It is ready to go to work when you get it.

Pros

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How To Choose Best Plasma Cutters Under $500

Choosing a cheap priced plasma cutter that will be capable of doing what you need to be done requires you to know what features on a plasma cutter are going to benefit you the most. Then you compare the features the cutter has to offer and determine if the machine will do what you want to do.

Dual Voltage

Most plasma cutters are dual voltage. Some machines come with an adapter to allow you to use the machine with either a 110V current or a 220v current. Some of the machines make the determination of the amount of current being supplied and automatically choose the correct one according to the supply.

Other machines have a switch that you must flip when you use a different currency. Dual voltage is very convenient because you can power the items just about everywhere you go.

Ideal Cut and Severance Cuts

The plasma cutters will tell you what ideal cuts they can make and what severance cuts they can make. The severance cut is the thickest material the device can cut. A severance cut is not always a clean and smooth cut. It may be jagged or look less precise.

The ideal cut is the thickest material that the machine can cut at a perfect precision cut.

Materials

The machine will have some materials that can cut better than others. If it is a no-contact cutter then it can cut dirty or painted metals but a cutter that makes contact cannot cleanly cut dirty metals. If you work with only brand new metal then this will not make a difference to you but if you work with older metals this is going to mean a lot to you.

Safety Features

Many of the cutters will have safety features like an overheat sensor, or a low or over voltage sensor. Some of them even have a low air pressure sensor. These features can save you from making mis-cuts and they can protect your machine from being damaged.

Built-in Compressors

Some of the cutters have built in compressor and some for them do not. If you already own an air compressor you may not want to buy a machine with a built in compressor so you can save more money. If you do not own an air compressor that can operate the machine you may want to buy a cutter that does not need an external air compressor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are cheap plasma cutters any good?

Budget friendly plasma cutters perform the same basic functions as the higher priced versions. The low priced cutters are good cutting machines, and they have many of the same features as the more expensive cutters have.

These cutters are typically smaller and more portable than the higher priced plasma cutters. They are generally dual voltage machines, they usually are operated by compressed air and many of them have built-in air compressors just like the pricier versions have.

The main difference you will find in these cutters when compared to the higher priced versions is these are usually recommended for non- commercial use.

You can compare the features on the low priced items and the more expensive items and determine which features you absolutely have to have.

Q. Do cheap plasma cutters work the same as expensive cutters?

The budget priced plasma cutters work basically the same as the high priced plasma cutters do. Thses may not have as many features as the higher priced cutters, but they are perfect for the average homeowner’s intended use.

These cutters are usually not recommended for commercial operations and sometimes they cannot cut materials that are as thick as the higher priced items can.

As far as how the machines operate they are basically the same and they do the same things that the pricier items do. You use the same cutting techniques and all of the same safety regulations apply to both machines.

Final Note

If you want a plasma cutter that has everything it needs to be operational and under $500 then consider the PRIMEWELD Premium 50A. The only things you need to supply are the helmet and the gloves.

If you want a non-touch plasma cutter so you can cut dirty metals then consider the Lotos LTP5000D. Let us improve our suggestions by commenting below.