Top 5 Budget Plasma Cutters Under $500

With 55-amp output power, the inexpensive YesWelder CUT-55DS Plasma Cutter fits between the numerous 50- and 60-amp plasma cutters on the market. This machine can cut a 1/2-inch steel plate. The no-touch high-frequency pilot arc means longer-lasting consumables, but also means you can’t use this cutter with a CNC table because high-frequency torches interfere with digital electronics.

The YesWelder CUT-55DS Plasma Cutter is equipped with the Longevity AG60 torch and it will do the job well enough. One nice feature of this design is the flip-up shield that covers the control panel. Some users report problems with airflow, possibly because of the cheap air hose. Even on a bargain machine like this one, you need adequate airflow and pressure to keep the cutter running and to get reasonable performance.

One thing that’s a little strange about the YesWelder CUT-55DS Plasma Cutter is the decision to use a 120-volt main connection with an adapter for 240 volts when most dual-voltage machines use 240 main power with an adapter for 120 volts. YesWelder backs this affordable plasma cutter with a 1-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee.

This plasma cutter features a high-frequency no-touch pilot arc starting. The Lotos LTP5000D outputs 50 amps, enough power to cut 5/8-inch steel. It’s also built to run on either 120 or 240-volt power and only weighs 26 pounds. This machine includes a moisture separator, a pressure regulator, and an air filter with the plasma cutter.

The Lotos LTP5000D comes with a 1-year warranty and users love its performance when cutting heavy steel. It uses German PAPST cooling technology that’s a big part of the reason it can deliver a 60 percent duty rating at its full 50 amp rating when running on 240 volts.

The 13-foot torch connection is a plus, but users complain about the short 6-foot ground connection, lack of a 120-volt adapter and many feel the grounding clamp is of cheap quality (LTP5000D review here). The LTP5000D comes with an integrated airline quick connector. There are some reports of inconsistent quality such as occasional wires not connected, but Lotos does receive good reviews for its customer service and the Lotos LTP5000D does offer a lot of value for this price range.

The Forney Easy Weld 20P plasma cutter is lightweight and powerful for a 120 volt machine. With a 20 amp power output, it’s able to cut steel up to 1/4-inch thick. At 21 pounds, it’s very portable and quite practical for use around the household, in the workshop and as a jobsite tool for professionals who need to work inside customer homes.

With an industrial build, a 13-foot torch connection and drag cutting arc starts, the Forney Easy Weld 20P provides reliable and professional features that are hard to find in this price range. Forney’s been making welding machines for 90 years now and know what it takes to keep a plasma cutter functioning in the modern industrial setting.

Nothing’s perfect, of course, and in this case you might want something more powerful than this machine if you’re doing any kind of volume fabrication. 1/4-inch is pushing the limit if you’re doing things like fabricating hitches, modifying frames or customizing suspension parts. Forney does have good customer service and offers a 1-year warranty on this high quality plasma cutter.

The PrimeWeld Cut50D Plasma Cutter features 50 amps of cutting power, easily handling up to 1/2-inch steel. The wide amperage range lets you dial back down to 15 amps, low enough to cut auto body sheet metal if you’re careful. Primeweld gives a 3-year warranty on this inexpensive machine.

It features dual 120/240 volt input power and includes the connection adapter for 120 volt household plugs. The Primeweld Cut50D uses drag torch arc starting. Just touch the surface, wait a second and drag to cut. The main disadvantage to a drag start is that consumables get used up faster, but they’re a cheap maintenance item and the additional cost is minimal.

The Primeweld Cut50D The torch connection is a generous 12.5 feet long, with a protective covering to prevent spark damage and the AG60 torch is easy to find parts for, making it much easier to maintain the proper cutting performance. Because this machine uses high-frequency technology, it won’t run on a CNC plasma cutting machine because of digital noise. An affordable machine that combines these features, this kind of power and unmatched customer service is an amazing deal.

If you’re looking for a super cheap plasma cutter for quick cuts on thinner metals, then look no further than the no-frills S7 50A Plasma Cutter.

This plasma cutter by S7 is a thoughtful mix of features on the Cut50 platform with lift-type arc starting, a quiet fan and bright LED digital control gauges, with a high build quality often mentioned by owners. The S7 Inverter (Cut 50) is equipped with dual 120/240 volt input power.

This machine comes with an air regulator and features an 11-foot torch connection. While it claims to cut 1/2-inch steel, I wouldn’t buy it for that purpose as I found it very hard to do so. The S7 is lightweight at 24 pounds and includes an air regulator.

The torch is a standard P-31 that uses easily found consumables. The 60 percent duty cycle is a great number for a machine in this price range and also backed by a 1-year warranty.