Adjust it correctly and they do thin material quite well.cfiifly wrote:Thanks to everyone who responded to my request for help. You gave me good food for thought, but no one addressed my question about cutting thin metal with a cutter powerful enough power for thick metal. What happens when thin metal is cut with too much power? Does it cut smoothly, or does the cutter mutilate the thin metal cut line?cfiifly wrote:I've never used a plasma cutter. Harbor Freight (HF) has a 40 amp plasma cutter on sale this month (Aug 2016) for $399. RF start. Advertised as cutting 5/8" - 3/4". WIll this cutter blow holes/hack up 10-18 gauge, or will it cut thin metal cleanly? Also - if you own or have experience with this plasma cutter, please give me your recommendation on whether or not I should buy it. Thanks in advance for your help.
I have a Chinese plasma, I'd love a hypertherm but the govt here won't let you sell children or kidneys.
Read its manual, get some thin material and have at it, hand piece angle, travel speed, amps and airflow/pressure will all have an effect so a bit of practice is the go, sound familiar?
They do eat consumables so get a supply of those and a decent water trap for the compressor, dry air is an important requirement.
Most Chinese plasmas are decent units and getting better, hypertherm quality? Nup, useful? Yep, will they cut the thickness claimed? Sometimes. Are they capable of being thrown into heavy everyday use and surviving? Not yet.
Suitable for hobby use? Yes.
So there you go, isn't choice (or too much of it)wonderful.
Cheers