Aldi Inverter 35amp Plasma Cutter

[aussearcher]

Aldi have a 35 amp (15% duty cycle at 35amp) inverter plasma cutter for $299 next Saturday. Have these been on before and does anyone have any experience with them? The catalogue blurb says they'll cut up to 10mm. A plasma cutter falls into the "not-absolutely-necessary-but-handy-to-have" category for me and it will never need to do anything beyond cutting mild steel. All opinions welcomed!
Regards,
Alan

[Chops]

Possibly a bit handier than a gas axe.

[Homestar]

Not had any experience with this particular unit, but I borrow one from work now and again, and a 50 amp unit with decent duty cycle can only just cut 10mm, so although maybe theoretical possible, I wouldn’t be buying one is you need to cut stuff that thick. If you just want to hack up thin stuff up to a few mm now and then, probably ok. While I have no issues with Aldi stuff - I’ve got a fair bit and never had any dramas, I only buy things that I know I’ll only need to use a few times here and there.

Given a half decent 50 amp plasma cutter will set you back $1,500 understand you’ll get what you pay for. Having just bought a mid range TIG machine I’ve found on its first use that I’d made the right choice and the cheapies I was looking at for half the price wouldn’t have cut it on the first just I’ve just done. (And that I now need a water cooled TIG torch as I’ve cooked my hand already...) 😇

[Blknight.aus]

good thing...

comes with spare tips and one tip will cut up 4 disco 1's a heap of 5mm plate a couple of bull bars then you can flip it over.

the plasma, compressor and airhose reel are all perfectly matched for use... (just make sure you're not on the compressor and cutter at the same time with the cutter flat out.

[Don 130]

A friend has one and says it's very good, although he's only cutting thin stuff most of the time.
Don.

[aussearcher]

Thanks everyone, very useful input. I'm not expecting too much for $299, but hoping that it will produce neat cuts. I'm unlikely to ever need to use it on anything above 5mm plate, and mostly 2-3mm. My interest was aroused by the need to rust repair a S3 chassis, which will be much easier if I have something that can easily cut curves.

[roverrescue]

My Hypertherm XP30 is rated to cut 12mm and sever 16mm
So I’m guessing 10mm is in range for a chinkadinka 30A plasma

[Blknight.aus]

Wind it up hard enough and the aldi one will get through 15mm, it aint pretty and its slow but it gets the metal apart..

[aussearcher]

Dave,
How neat a cut do they do on thin metal - say body panels? And on say 2mm mild steel?
Thanks, Alan

[Blknight.aus]

depends on how good you are at prep work and looking after the tip.

IF you cut through scaled painted oily metal it aint pretty..

BUT...

give the metal a qick clean and a whip over with a flap disc and with a side guide (some oxy gear fits the nozzle but you can just lean it up on a bit of RHS) I've done one cut that came up cleaner in sections than if Id done it with a grinder and lazer wheel. I wasnt aiming for that but its what I got...

[roverrescue]

Dave does the torch come with a drag tip or cutting tip?
If the tip is not meant to be dragged making a drag spacer around the collar will clean the cut up.
Then again I’m sure they have just re-engineered a Hypertherm and stolen their drag tip tech
A 30A unit is pretty much always a hand torch?

Alan, the other thing to preserve tip life is to limit piercing when possible and to use good consistent clean dry air. Wet air will eat tips quickly.

I keep an old tip for down n dirty cuts or when I’m gouging welds out
That’s one of my favourite plasma tricks using it as an un-welder

S

[Blknight.aus]

Dave does the torch come with a drag tip or cutting tip?
If the tip is not meant to be dragged making a drag spacer around the collar will clean the cut up.
Then again I’m sure they have just re-engineered a Hypertherm and stolen their drag tip tech
A 30A unit is pretty much always a hand torch?

Alan, the other thing to preserve tip life is to limit piercing when possible and to use good consistent clean dry air. Wet air will eat tips quickly.

I keep an old tip for down n dirty cuts or when I’m gouging welds out
That’s one of my favourite plasma tricks using it as an un-welder

S

Drsg, I scuff it to start and then follow along with my hand resting on a bit of 50mm box as a guide and just keep the tip clear.

I also use a set of oxy wheels when I need to get really neat.

[aussearcher]

Guys,Thanks for the hints! I can see that I'll have to find myself an Adult Education course on Plasma Cutting - or at least watch some "how to's" on YouTube!Much appreciatedAlan

[Blknight.aus]

Guys,Thanks for the hints! I can see that I'll have to find myself an Adult Education course on Plasma Cutting - or at least watch some "how to's" on YouTube!Much appreciatedAlan

you could... but then...

I know a guy who also needs to redo the tip on his plasma..... He'd probably be happy to show you through some steel.