Metal art cutting can go crazy if you don’t get the right way to cut through the metals. All you need is the best plasma cutter for thin sheet metal to help you deal with thin metal cutting projects.
Plasma cutters are an excellent choice for cutting when you are dealing with thin sheet metals. They can easily handle thin sheets and give a clean cut with minimum or no slag without blowing off the edges.
As being an artist or meta art expert, the only tool you can rely on is a plasma cutter. We have researched top plasma cutting machines for metal art or sculpturing. You can easily choose anyone among them, depending upon the budget and the resulting cutting thickness.
TOP PICKS
★★★★★
Lotos LTP5000D
- Weight: 26 pounds
- Dimensions: 15x6x12 inches
- Dual voltage: 110/220V
★★★★★
Miller Spectrum
- Weight:21 pounds
- Dimensions: 5.5x9x13.25 inches
- Input Voltage: 120/240V
★★★★★
PrimeWeld
- Weight: 23 pounds
- Dimensions: 15x6x12 inches
- Input Voltage: 110/220V
Contents
Best Cutter For Thin Sheet Metal 2022
IMAGE |
PRODUCT |
DETAILS |
PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
|
Lotos LTP5000D Non-Touch Pilot Arc |
|
|
Best Long Working Hours
|
Miller Spectrum 625 X-Treme |
|
|
Best Value For Money
|
PrimeWeld Cut50D Air Inverter |
|
|
Best for Professionals
|
Hypertherm Powermax30 XP |
|
|
Durable Plasma Cutter
|
Hobart Airforce 500534 250ci |
|
1. Lotos LTP5000D Non-Touch Pilot Arc
BEST Overall
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Weight: 26 pounds
- Dimensions with handle: 15x6x12 inches
- Dual voltage: 110/220 Volts
- Output current: 10-50 Amp
- Dual-frequency: 50/60 Hz
- Torch cable length: 13 feet with three-prong connection
- Duty cycle: 60%
- Cut thickness: ½ inch
- Severance thickness: ¾ inch
Lotos LTP5000Dis a suitable plasma cutter for thin sheet metals. It is highly recommended for anyone to start cutting thin metals without even having prior experience. The cutter is fully capable of handling thin metal sheets for a hobbyist or a professional operator. The non-touch pilot arc torch produces a powerful plasma that cuts the metal with minimum or no slag. You can get a maximum thickness of ½” while running the cutter at 220V. The dual-voltage technology helps to plug into either household electricity or industrial power supply. The important features are written in the following section.
Features
Non-touch pilot arc torch
The plasma cutter has a non-touch pilot arc torch. It cuts through the metal without touching its surface. The cutter is so powerful that it can even cut any painted and rusty metal surfaces. The quality of the cut is so good that you don’t need a post-treatment as the cutter gives minimum or no slag.
Safe and low cost
You get maximum portability with compact and small-sized designs. The cutter uses non-hazardous compressed air, which is safe and user-friendly.
Power output and Cutting capability
The plasma cutter runs on dual voltage. So you can easily plug into household electricity and industrial power or generators. When you run the plasma cutter at 110/120V, it can give a maximum cutting thickness of ⅓” with ⅖” maximum severance with a power output of 10-35A DC. At 220/240 V, it gives a maximum cutting thickness of ½” clean-cut and ¾” maximum severance while the output power is 10-50 A DC. Moreover, you can cut steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, aluminium, and copper with this plasma cutter.
One minute set up
The plasma cutter has a pre-installed NPT ¼” industry type D plug and an air filter regulator. This whole assembly connects the plasma cutter to the compressor using a strand coupler attached to the air compressor. This entire process takes only one minute, and your cutter is ready to function.
Check out: Best Plasma Cutters with built-in compressor
PAPST advanced cooling system
The cutter is based on an advanced cooling system with PAPST technology. It ensures the cooling system works fine that does not let the plasma cutter heat up.
PROS:
- Portable and compact
- Dual voltage
- High quality cut up to ½.”
- Robust and strong body
CONS:
- Not suitable for high volume work
I found this plasma cutter is an excellent choice for metal art at the lowest price. If you are a hobbyist or a professional plasma metal artist, this plasma cutter can be a great addition to your DIY shop or professional workplace. I find it convenient because they can plug into household voltage or industrial power supplies. It hits the sweet spot of performance, price, and ease of use among the best plasma metal-cutting machines.
2. Miller Spectrum 625 X-Treme
Long Working Hours
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Weight:21 pounds
- Dimensions: 5.5x9x13.25 inches
- Input Voltage: 120/240V
- Rated output: 40A
- Duty cycle: 50% @ 240V
- Cutting capacity: 5/8 inch
- Frequency: 60 Hz
- Handheld torch with 12 feet cable
- Rated cutting capacity: 15 inches per minute
Miller spectrum 625 is the famous plasma cutter for the value it offers. It has lightweight and small size and best for small industrial or DIY projects. Moreover, any sculptor or metal artist can start from it right away as it is extremely user-friendly and does not require much experience. The small-sized cutter offers significant cutting power, so the metal cutting becomes easy and handy. You can see the stylistic features in the following section.
Features
Dual Voltage
Miller spectrum 625X works on a dual voltage of 120-240V. This makes the plasma cutter super versatile. You can either plug it into household electricity or to industrial power. It works both ways to facilitate DIY projects or small industrial work. You can cut up to ⅝” thick with the cutter. Moreover, the Autoline technology and MVP adapter switch the voltage from 120 V to 240 V automatically.
Durability
The plasma cutter is highly durable because of the robust body it has. Its small size offers ease of use and convenience to the user. If you want to work for long hours on metal art, this plasma cutter is the best choice.
Parts
The plasma cutter comes with 12 feet power cord, MVP 120/240 adapter, and heavy-duty quick connects 20 feet work clamp and extra consumables.
PROS:
- Small size and space-saving Durable and reliable
- Works on dual voltage
- Can work long hours working without downtime
CONS:
- It can’t handle large volume works.
It is expensive but very compact, lightweight & cuts like such a champ. Fun to use as well. I am very satisfied with this company’s products so far; I hope to purchase several more of their items. Just make absolutely sure you register it when you obtain it. Save a lot of effort. The precision is top notch, and it’s convenient to see where users are cutting. Miller spectrum 625 is a high-quality plasma cutter for long working hours. Anyone who is a newbie or professional metal artist can start on this plasma cutter as it is highly user-friendly.
3. PrimeWeld Cut50D Air Inverter
BEST Value for Money
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Weight: 23 pounds
- Dimensions: 15x6x12 inches
- Input Voltage: 110/220 V
- Output current: 10-50A
- Technology: Non-pilot touch and lift
- Cutthickness:Mild steel (5/8 inch), stainless steel &aluminium (1/2 inch)
- Duty cycle: 60% @ 50A
- Warranty: 3-year
Primeweld cut50D gives an absolute value with the lowest price. You have a metal art plasma cutter within the budget, and the cut quality is matchless. The Primeweld cut50 comes under the category of best plasma cutters for thin sheet metal because of its cutting thickness and performance. It can clean-cut a metal thickness up to ½”, and you can cut sheet metal as thin as 22 gauge. Although the torch is “touch and lift” arc technology, you get a huge benefit of it as a newbie. You can see the features in the following section.
Feature
Dual voltage
The plasma cutter works on a dual voltage of 120 to 240 volts. You can run it on any power source you want.e,g household electricity or industrial power supply. By using an adapter pigtail, the 240v is easily converted into 120V.
Lightweight and portable
The plasma cutter weighs 23 pounds. This lightweight feature makes it super portable, and you can easily carry the cutter wherever you want.
Cutting capacity
It can give you a maximum cutting thickness of up to ½”. This is enough for metal art cutting, and it acts as the best metal art plasma cutter. On the lower side of the scale, the plasma cutter can cut sheet metal as thin as 22 gauge without blowing off the edges.
Non-pilot arc technology
The plasma cutter uses high frequency to produce a non-pilot arc. It does not have a non-touch torch, so you need to strike the workpiece and then lift it at a certain height to generate the plasma for cutting. By dragging the torch tip on the metal surface, you can make fine and precise cuts.
PROS:
- Portable and lightweight
- Low price
- Strong and sturdy
- Non-pilot arc drag technology
CONS:
- Not a high-quality plasma cutter as compared to Hypertherm or miller cutters
It works in my shop for maybe sixteen hours a year for DIY projects or professional jobs. Cuts 5/16 “Anything larger, I can handle it with ease and probably be using the torch. It is effortless to connect air; the regulator and filter are already connected to the back. It’s indeed silent, and using the light is really comfortable. The trigger guard is great. Although the cutting quality is not like high-priced brand plasma cutters, you can still make a successful start from it. It weighs only 23 pounds which is the minimum weight among all the best plasma cutters for thin sheet metal.
4. Hypertherm Powermax30 XP
BEST For Professionals
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Weight: 9.8 Kg
- Dimensions: 17.4×6.8×14.1 inches
- Cut capacity: ⅝ inches
- Voltage: 110/240 V
- Value:1.5 times greater than oxy-fuel cutting
- Material: can cut any metal, even rusted & painted
Hypertherm 088079 is the top plasma cutter for thin sheets because of its cleanliness while cutting the thin metals. The fine tip consumables help to cut through thin metal sheets with precision and accuracy. The edges don’t blow off as the cutter has a constant output current of 50 Amps. It has an auto adapter that helps to switch between 110-220 V. It can automatically adapt to the voltage with the help of an auto adapter. The following features make the cutter highly desirable.
Features:
Fast Cutting action
The plasma cutter is famous because of its fast-cutting action. It cuts thin sheet metals 1.5 times faster than oxy-fuel cutters on 6 mm mild steel sheets. Moreover, the improved version provides a cutting capacity of up to 16 mm. Furthermore, it has an outstanding cut quality that does not need polishing or any post-treatments.
Drag technology
Powermax 45 has a patented drag technology. It makes the newbie user quite friendly with the cutter, and you can start metal art without any prior experience.
CNC interface
The plasma cutter has a CN interface to easily buy this metal art plasma cutter for your CNC tables. You can either use a handheld torch or mechanize it according to your requirement.
PROS:
- Easy to use
- Fast cutting action
- Portable and compact
- Excellent cut and gouge quality
CONS:
- The unit is expensive with pricey consumables
I know that cheaper dual-voltage imported plasma cutters are available, but what if anything goes wrong? Where do you go to receive service under warranty or to have mended? If it doesn’t work, the device will make a sizable paperweight! Since I have only been using it for a little more than a week, a review is probably premature. But it much surpassed what I had anticipated.
Hypertherm powermax45 gives you the liberty of small size, portability, durability, and precision cutting. It offers a high-quality plasma cutter that comes with a high price tag. The cutter provides exceptional for the quality it gives. We highly recommend this cutter to all hobbyists and professionals who have a high budget for plasma-cutting machines.
5. Hobart Airforce 500534 250ci
Durable Plasma Cutter
★★★★★
Specifications:
- Weight: 27 pounds
- Dimensions: 12.2x8x11 inches
- Cutting thickness: ¼” maximum severance
- Clean cut: ⅛.”
- Voltage: 115 VAC
- Output current: 20 Amps
Hobart 250ci comes under the category of metal art plasma cutters because of its clean-cut quality with minimum or no slag. It has a resilient body that is portable, lightweight, and offers a single power option for the user’s convenience. The plasma cutter becomes more desirable because of the built-in air compressor that controls air pressure. You can have a cutting thickness of ¼ inches on a steel plate. You can see other features in the following section.
Features
Cutting capacity
The plasma cutter can cut up to ¼” steel. It uses an electrical arc with compressed air that can cut steel, aluminium, copper, stainless steel, and many other conductive metals.
Parts
The package includes many essential parts within the box. It has 7 feet power cable, 115 VAC plug, 16.5 feet heavy-duty work clamp, extra replacement tips, and a strap to manage the cable easily.
Lightweight and portable
Hobart 250ci plasma cutter weighs only 27 pounds. The small-sized, compact plasma cutter makes mobility and portability relatively easy. A user can transport the plasma cutter without any hassle.
Input power
The plasma cutter works on single input power. The rated input power of the cutter is 75 V. This means you can easily connect the plasma cutter to the household power outlet.
PROS:
- Lightweight and portable
- Easy to use
- Includes parts
- Works on household power
CONS:
- It can’t handle extensive volume work.
As mentioned in a few other reviews, the cycle time is maintained by a 3–10 second “rest” after each trigger pull. This shouldn’t be a significant concern if you’re making long cuts, but it renders it worthless for my projects because they employ many shortcuts. Given that I do not even use the tool for really extended periods of time. Overall, I would like to use this Best Plasma Cutter for my job. It is best for those who are doing metal art cutting up to ¼” steel plates. We highly recommend this product if you are looking for precision, durability, cost-efficiency, and a portable plasma cutter at the same time.
FAQs
1. How thin can a plasma cutter cut?
Plasma cutters are the easiest and most effective methods of cutting sheet metals, whether thick or thin. Hand torches go up to 38 inches, while computerized controlled torches can cut up to 150 mm thick metals.
2. Can we cut sheet metals with plasma cutters?
Yes. Plasma cutters are pretty versatile and provide cutting from thin to thick sheet metals. You can easily cut thin sheet metal using a plasma cutter. These metals include stainless steel, steel, aluminium, copper, bronze, Inconel, titanium, and other materials.
3.What is thin sheet metal?
Any sheet metal thickness ranging from 0.5mm to 6 mm is known as thin sheet metal.
4. What is the disadvantage of plasma cutting?
High heat and noise are two main disadvantages of plasma cutters. Plasma also produces very bright flashes that may impair sight. So make sure to put on the goggles and do the cutting in an open and well-ventilated place.
Conclusion
We have discussed a detailed review of the top five plasma cutters to give you the top cutting machines for metal arts. We give the top position to Hypertherm 45 because of its versatility, portability, and being able to work large-volume cutting jobs. But as this is among the leaders of plasma cutters, its costs are high. You can also choose Lotos LTP5000D if you are just a hobbyist or have small industrial work and can’t afford a high price plasma cutter.
All of the cutters mentioned above provide excellent value for the price. The best plasma cutters (1st article) are not only high priced, but they also give you top-quality results and long-lasting life spans. So make sure you choose a cutter based on your budget, cutting requirement, the volume of work, and the power input you want your plasma to run on. There are also built-in air compressor plasma cutters that help you save space and cost. You can choose any of these machines according to your requirements.
We wish you good luck with your metal art journey.
Happy shopping!
