Welding Tips and Tricks

New to this forum but not new to welding or hard work.
I build (bbq)smokers and other stuff like offroad bumpers.
I've got an 18 Ram 4x4 that I like modding.
I'm 50 and grew up having to fix daddy's car on Saturday so he could go to work on Monday. So if it can be done u can do it.
I look forward to learning more about welding and cutting from the members here and maybe help others.


Currently I'm in the market for a new plasma cutter. I'm not rich so not a lot of money to spend. I got a $300 budget to get a new one. I need to cut 1/2" clean with consumables that can be got locally and have pilot arc in it also.
What brands do y'all recommend??
Thanks again for the opportunity to be part of this community

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McBroom wrote:New to this forum but not new to welding or hard work.
I build (bbq)smokers and other stuff like offroad bumpers.
I've got an 18 Ram 4x4 that I like modding.
I'm 50 and grew up having to fix daddy's car on Saturday so he could go to work on Monday. So if it can be done u can do it.
I look forward to learning more about welding and cutting from the members here and maybe help others.


Currently I'm in the market for a new plasma cutter. I'm not rich so not a lot of money to spend. I got a $300 budget to get a new one. I need to cut 1/2" clean with consumables that can be got locally and have pilot arc in it also.
What brands do y'all recommend??
Thanks again for the opportunity to be part of this community

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Welcome, I'm down South in Laredo. We don't know what your "locally" is, and Texas is quite big, so it would be quite difficult for us to say what you would be able to find local to you. Have you gone to your welding supply stores to snap a few pictures of their consumables that they stock on-hand? It would likely help out a great deal if we could see them to see part #'s to help you cross reference what fits what.

As far as your budget, you might be able to find something used and good quality for that much, but new and 1st rate quality, forget about it. Double it and get a PrimeWeld plasma or bare minimum an Eastwood. Stock up on consumables; that's just how it is. Gotta pay to play. PrimeWeld does have an affordable 50A plasma cutter, but that is roughly equal to a quality 40A plasma cutter, but it's not Pilot arc. I believe the models that end in "P" are pilot arc, but you'd have to call them to ask them. Their 60A plasma cutter isn't too bad, probably equal to a 45-50A-ish quality plasma cutter.

Ooopppss i almost forgot about my thread. Sorry
I ended up getting a Lotos 5500 plasma cutter.
I have to say its everything the brochure said it was.
1/2" plate like butter set air to 75psi and away we go...
Amazing little machine. I wish that the consumables were a little more off the shelf or OTC. And less costly would be a plus [emoji809]
Its truly awesome

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1/2" plate like butter? Really? I'd be surprised if it could do it, to be honest.

Oscar wrote:1/2" plate like butter? Really? I'd be surprised if it could do it, to be honest.

Specs on that model do say 3/5" clean cut. I would have guessed it would have been a severed cut at that thickness.

Let's see that butter-like cut right after the cut is made.