Review on 🔪 Lotos LT3500 35 Amp Air Plasma Cutter, Clean Cut up to 10mm – 2/5 Inch, 110V/120V Input, Pre Installed Air Filter Regulator with NPT Quick Connector, Brown by Shawn Jacobs

Brand name plasma cutters cost thousands - how much can you expect from a $180 plasma cutter? It feels solid. All you need is an air compressor and a welding helmet to get started. Consumables for the PT-31 torch are easy to find and inexpensive. The instruction manual is mediocre, but who needs it. The LT3500 cuts through tin like a hot knife through butter. Nice thin cut. The lack of a pilot arc isn't a problem - unlike arc welding, the electrode doesn't "stick" when you hit it; and at 40 amps it seems you don't even need to remove it. But clean cut steel 2/5 inch? Not with this car, not in my garage, not even anywhere near. Even ¼ inch thick steel is a big problem. I use a dedicated 20 amp 120 volt outlet (nothing else on that circuit) for plasma cutting and another 120 volt 20 amp circuit for the compressor. With a max. 35 A circuit breaker reliably trips after 5 seconds. At 25 ampere setting in about 8 seconds. However, it works: cut for 4 seconds (or 7 seconds on a 25 amp setting), release the trigger, let cool for 15 seconds, and repeat... but cutting takes a long time if you're going to be a length of ½ inch need to run time . I would recommend the LT3500 if you want to cut *thin* metal - it's much faster and easier than using a hacksaw or grinder. But unless your shop has a 120V 30A outlet, I would look elsewhere if you plan to cut anything thicker than 1/8" steel. UPDATE: Installed custom #10 wire outlet with 30 amp breaker: works. now normal, even at max. parameters. Cuts 1/4 in. thick sheet steel fairly cleanly if you are careful with the torch angle and move slowly.