Plasma cutters are the best tools to save time and money during the metal cutting process. These cutters are portable, speedy, and fast, bringing a smooth and steady workflow with the best cutting solutions. As these cutters come in many price ranges, every cutter has its own unique properties that can handle your requirements.
If you are looking for a high-end plasma cutter with a good budget, you can consider these best plasma cutters under $1500.
In this review article, we have discussed top plasma cutters with their features, pros, and cons to help you choose the best product according to your requirements.
TOP PICKS
★★★★★
Everlast Power
- Weight: 60 pounds
- Duty Cycle: 60%
- Dimensions: 21x9x17 inches
★★★★★
Hobart 500566
- Weight: 34.3 pounds
- Duty Cycle: 50%
- Dimensions: 17×18.25×11.63 inches
★★★★★
Hypertherm 
- Weight: 22 pounds
- Input voltage: 120V to 24V
- Dimensions: 14×5.5×11.5 inches
Contents
Best Plasma Cutter Under 1500 in 2022
IMAGE |
PRODUCT |
DETAILS |
PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
Best plasma cutter for the money
|
Everlast PowerPlasma 80S |
|
|
Best Professional Plasma Cutter
|
Hobart 500566 Airforce 40i |
|
|
Best Reliable
|
Hypertherm 088079 Powermax30 XP |
|
|
Best portable plasma cutter
|
Miller Spectrum 375 X-TREME |
|
1. Everlast PowerPlasma 80S
BEST plasma cutter for the money
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Diemensions:21x9x17 inches
- Weight: 60 pounds
- Duty cycle: 60%
- Input voltage: 220 volts
- Max quality cut: 1-1/4 inch steel
Powerplasma 80S is the best portable plasma cutter under the $1500 category. It has a small design that can be carried anywhere you want. Moreover, IGBT technology makes a solid and powerful plasma draught to cut through thick metals. When you talk about technology, it offers 80 Amp inverter technology which gives the highest duty cycle of 60%.
Ideally, you can use this plasma cutter for any situation as it offers a maximum cutting thickness of up to 1”. This caters to all types of applications for DIY and industrial projects.
You can see detailed features of the cutter in the following section.
Check out:
Features
Pilot arc torch
The cutting mechanism is based on pilot arc technology which starts with an easy touch.
It helps to start cutting even if you are a newbie and don’t have prior experience. Moreover, you can cut rusted and painted surfaces with it without any surface requirements.
Cutting Capacity
The solid and powerful plasma cutter can cut up to 1 ¼” clean-cut and 1 7/16 “ at maximum severance. But for daily use and heavy workload, the recommended thickness is 1”. Moreover, you can cut any metals with such a high thickness range, including steel, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, titanium, aluminum, and many more other materials.
Easy control panel
The plasma cutter features an easy control penal. You can control air pressure, voltage, and other factors with single knobs. They help to have easy and fast access to change the parameters.
PROS:
- Strong and robust
- Best suitable for heavy-duty work
- Pilot arc touch technology
- Can cut both thick and fine quality cuts
- The highest duty cycle of 60%
CONS:
- Heavyweight
- It can’t be used on household electricity
The CNC connector plug tips should be soldered by disassembling the plug, heating the connector pin’s backside, and filling it with solder. Reheat the pin to remelt the solder before inserting the wire. Faster than a torch, it can cut a 1/2″ plate. It cuts as quickly as it pierces. Everlast plasma cutter is best for people looking for a fast, clean, and powerful cutter. I recommend it as the best plasma cutter for the money.
2. Hobart 500566 Airforce 40i
BEST Professional Plasma Cutter
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 17×18.25×11.63 inches
- Weight: 34.3 pounds
- Input voltage: 240V
- Maximum cutting thickness: 7/8”
- Duty cycle: 50%
Hobart Airforce 40i is famous for its high power and small weight. It uses only 40 amps but offers a speedy and fast cutting action to cut the metals upto ⅞ inch thickness. Weighing only 31 pounds makes it the most portable plasma cutter among all other fellows. In addition, it features a strong handle on the top, which helps in easy transportation on the site or within the DIY workshop.
Coming to the duty cycle, it has a 50% duty cycle, which is above average and gives fair productivity. In addition, the user interface is so easy that you can adjust the operating parameters with a single knob.
The plasma cutter is best suited for DIY-ers and industrial operators. You can see the detailed features in the following section.
Features
Input voltage
The plasma cutter runs on a high voltage of 240 V. This voltage provides a high power that results in a heavy metal draught, sufficient enough to cut through the metal as thick as ⅞” at severance and ⅝” clean cut. Moreover, you can cut multiple materials with this plasma cutter, including mild steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and other materials.
Auto refire technology
You don’t need to prepare the surface before cutting the metal. This is because the plasma cutter uses auto refire technology that helps to cut any painted, rusted, or perforated materials.
Fan-on-demand
It has a fan that turns on demand when there is debris, dirt, or dust around the metal being cut. This way, you get slag free clean-cut surface.
XT40Rtorch
The plasma cutter features an ergonomic XT40R torch. This torch is built with high impact and heat resistance, along with a strong grip. All this construction helps in the easy handling of cutting the torch leading towards cutting.
PROS:
- Lightweight and portable
- On-demand fan
- Faster than oxy-fuel cutters
- It can be used for light work and heavy industrial applications
CONS:
- No cons found yet
I shopped everywhere at nearby retailers for the same plasma cutter, but Amazon had the best pricing. The unit was delivered safely and undamaged. I don’t yet know how long its consumables will last, but to this point, the device has worked without a hitch for me. Although lighter than I anticipated, the plasma cutter does a fantastic job at cutting 3/8 steel.
Hobart 40i is famous for its small amperage and high efficiency in terms of metal cutting. I achieved a metal thickness of ⅞” with the plasma cutter in cut quality. Moreover, the cutter works on auto fire technology that can cater to any kind of surface, including perforated, painted, and rusted surfaces. Therefore, our team highly recommends this small plasma cutter for under $ 1500.
3. Hypertherm 088079 Powermax30 XP
BEST Reliable
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Diemensions:14×5.5×11.5 inches
- Weight: 22 pounds
- Maximum thickness: 16mm
- Input voltage:120V to 24V
Hypertherm 088079 is the safest and strong cutter among the best plasma cutters under $1500. It comes with a hard case body featuring gloves, a protective shield, shoulder straps, and other safety gloves.
Having a compact and robust design makes it portable, reliable, and versatile. It can cut multiple materials like steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and copper with a thickness of up to ½ inch. Moreover, there is an auto voltage switch adapter that converts it from 110V to 240 V automatically.
You can get supreme-level cutting with its ergonomic torch that offers a strong grip. Furthermore, the torch is heat resistant and withstands high impact without any deterioration. You can see the detailed features in the list below.
Features:
Auto voltage switch
Powermax 30 works on dual voltage technology with an auto voltage adapter. This adapter helps to switch voltage automatically, so the voltage switch becomes hassle-free. Moreover, running on dual voltage makes it versatile in use for both industrial and household input.
Optimum Safety
The plasma cutter is built with strong and sturdy material. It comes in a hard case, which is protective for inner components. The cutter also includes safety gears, including a shield for eyes, gloves, shoulder straps, and other consumables, including a torch, cables, and adapters.
Duramax LT torch
The plasma cutter features a Duramax LT torch, which helps firm grip and easy cutting of the metal. Moreover, the torch is highly resistant to heat and impact, so it does not require maintenance while you use it for a long time.
Versatile applications
The plasma cutter offers multiple cutting options in various industries. You can either cut thick materials or go with fine details. It comes with extra cutting consumables for fine cuts. It is best suited for all, whether you are a DIY-er or a professional operator for heavy-duty work.
PROS:
- 2-in-1 plasma cutter for thick and thin sheet metal
- Lightweight and portable
- Provides optimum safety
- Comes with an Auto voltage adapter
CONS:
- A few buyers complain about misleading manual
- The unit does not operate well for thin sheet metals.
Anybody can benefit from this machine, as well as the consumables last long as the air compressor has a good filter. In fact, I would also advise obtaining the leather wrap on the 17′ cable because replacing it would cost $500, and you might easily ruin it.
4. Miller Spectrum 375 X-TREME
BEST portable plasma cutter
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 13.25×5.5×9 inches
- Weight: 19 pounds
- Input voltage: 120-240 V
- Duty cycle: 35%@ 240v, 20%@ 120v
- Maximum cutting thickness: ⅜ inches
- PSI: 90-120
Spectrum 375 X-TREME is one of the smallest plasma cutters under $1500. It offers all the luxuries that other plasma cutters offer, including strong built, ease of work, clean-cut, portability, and reliability. In addition, the unit has the smallest weight among its fellows, thus providing maximum portability.
At a very low input power of 30 Amps, you can have a cutting thickness up to ⅜ inches with 18 IPM (inches per minute).
It can handle multiple materials, so cutting of ferrous and nonferrous materials like steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, etc.
You can see all the detailed features in the list below.
Features
Auto refire technology:
The plasma cutter is based on auto refire technology that helps to control the pilot arc when an expanded, perforated, painted, or rusted metal is cut. You don’t need to control the arc while cutting thick materials. The autofire helps to switch between thick and thin metal cutting automatically. So it saves your physical fatigue of switching the arc with hand. ,
Wind tunnel technology with on-demand fan
The wind tunnel technology provides an internal airflow and cooling system that keeps the components clean and safe from heat. This airflow is possible because of an on-demand fan that turns on in case of any dirt, debris, dust, and heat.
Rated cutting capacity
You can achieve a maximum cutting thickness of ⅜ inches at a maximum of 18 IPM. But if you want a steady and smooth cutting over thick and thin materials, the rated speed must be 15 IPM.
XT30 Torch
The plasma cutter features a strong and ergonomic XT30 Torch that provides a wonderful user experience. You get a strong grip on the torch while operating, and there is no fatigue during the cutting process. This results in high quality and steady cutting operation.
Autoline and multi-plug voltage
The plasma cutter works on dual voltage technology and runs on 120 V to 240 V. It has a multi-voltage switch that automatically switches among the voltage without needing any external switch or manual switch of voltages. This not only automates the system but also gives ease and convenience of automation.
PROS:
- Lightweight and portable
- Autofire technology
- Autoline nad MVP
- On-demand fan
CONS:
- Not as powerful as other plasma cutters
This has literally saved my life. With this tiny miller, I have constructed more bumpers and flatbeds than I can count. It costs around $2700 to install comprehensive skid plates on the off-road vehicle, which is why I initially purchased it. Furthermore, Miller goods have been used for 50 years in ranch labour, shop operations, and artwork.
The plasma cutter provided me with superior cutting with autofire technology. Moreover, having an MPV switch that directly converts 120 V to 240 V, so there is no hassle, and I can cut materials of any thickness without stopping. If you lack the space and want to have a compact, small-sized plasma cutter, this cutter can be your choice.
Conclusion
In this review article, we discussed the top plasma cutters under $ 1500. Among all of these cutters, we highly recommend Everlast PowerPlasma 80S, as our experts have found it the best performing cutter among all others. It gives you the maximum cutting thickness, which is up to 1”. Moreover, a 60% duty cycle offers you continuous and non-stop work resulting in high productivity. The second top plasma cutter under $ 1500 is Hobart 40i which is smart, portable and gives maximum cutting thickness up to ⅞ inches with a 50% duty cycle.
You can choose any of these cutters depending upon your choice of weight, cutting thickness capacity, and of course, the duty cycle.
Let us know which product you like the most and what you are planning to buy.
Good Luck!
