Fully unwind extension cables if your going to use a significant amount of power. It may have diferent rating for fully wound, half wound or fully unwound printed on it.
Absolutely. I once ran a couple of fan heaters of a single extension reel without winding it all the way out. Melted the plastic drum so badly I had to throw it away, but at least I caught before I had started a fire.
Indeed, the cable drum will tell you to fully unwind if you plan to use it at rated current. And it may tell you how little current you can draw when it's fully wound. Furthermore, the plasma cutter will be labelled with the max input current, even if you can't bring yourself to RTFM. And don't forget to include the compressor current....
Definitely unwind that extension real, the compressor motor wouldn't last long on its own on a half wound 25mtr real and then throw in a plasma cutter, compressor will pull a minute of 10amps
I have used lots of plasma cutters over the years and there's 1 or 2 things that will help yo get good results no1 clean dry air and lots of it if you loose pressure the results will vary considerably 2 keep the tip cover shield clean this can easily get damaged when trying to blow through a job so start at the edge or drill a hole ..any damage to the hole in the tip will change the cut width and finish 3 the earth connection is very important on rusty or dirty grind it clean ... 4 for good cut results the movement of the torch should be continuous and smooth and go to fast it won't cut thu go to slow the cut will be wide and ruff if you use a straight edge it will help ..... hope this helps good results are possible even with small machines cutting to within 2mm is possible on 3mm steel... blowback damaged shields are often the biggest problem hope this helps and good luck ....a good honest video 👍
Few thoughts to help. The duty cycle on a consumer plasma cutter is probably around 30% so 1 minute on 2 off, this should be in the manual somewhere. The compressor is running all the time so is too small, I think a compressor that provides a sustained 12-14 CFM will be better. However if you do 1 minute on and 2 off that will enable the compressor you have to catch up, and hopefully will give more consistent pressure. On the old tank use an angle grinder to expose bare metal for the earth clamp, it will really help. Use two extension leads it will reduce the voltage drop and the breaker tripping, and check they are rated at 13A, if you can run them off different ring mains. I have seen some comments re not using a coiled mains extension, yes this is true, however I can only see a coiled air line so it doesn’t apply here. Good luck…
If the extension cable was tripping out, I am not surprised, the compressor on its own would draw near to 13 amps , which would have been beyond the limit of the cabling. Most extension cables are 2mm^2 that is particularly minimal especially when you factor in the voltage drop on the length pf the cable from the socket outlet. I use 2.5mm^2 extension cable that I made up and have no issues with 13amp requirements but it is noticeably weightier that the normal HD extension cable The compressor is on max duty so is not supplying sufficient air. The 11/24 Airmaster will probably only deliver around 6-8cfm above 90psi, the 11cfm is maximum free air displacement under no load and pressure and the tank at 24litres is particularly small for any sustained duty, it needs a tank capacity of at least 60 litres and preferably 120litres. I actually use a 8/60 in parallel with a 9/45 compressor on a 60amp ring main and once going they cascade in and out due to the variance of the pressure switches I can also plug in a 8/24 mobile unit to boost the air supply should I need it I bought the Parkside plasma cutter the first time around when it was only £49.99 with a view of cutting 16g steel but as yet I have not even unpacked it! The coil around the compressor appears to be the power cable not the air line and would be reducing the cooling air to the motor.
And air in plasma cutter needs to be dry and free from debree and oil. And yeah it is connected via long extension cord, voltage drop could be significant thus arc has not enough energy. I would measure voltage on extension cord when everything is on. if there is more than 10% voltage drop then it is no go.
I purchased one of these last year. So far I have been quite impressed with it. After some playing around I think it is fair to say that whilst it will cut steel >6mm, that is really the practical max limit. I tend to cut 3mm plate and for that it works fine. For straight cuts, an angle grinder with a 0.8mm slitting disk is probably just as fast and much cheaper, but for cutting shapes or more tricky cuts the plastma works well. For cutting that tank, I would be tempted to get try an evolution type circular saw with the multipurpose blade it comes with. Loud, messy and with hot shards of steel going everywhere, but it would probably be the fastest way of doing it.
I bought this machine a while ago for some occasional cutting, and it's not a bad machine for light work. With a little practice, you can get much cleaner cuts than that, especially if you use a guide. It does struggle a bit with anything over 5mm, but it works nicely on thinner sheet material. I cut bar stock and profiles with a small band saw, and prefer a disc for making simple straight cuts. But for very long cuts or irregularly curved ones, this machine is a handy tool to have in the shop, where I couldn't justify a better and more expensive one for the few times that I need it.
Hi Stuart great video, I think the problem your having is the ammount of impurities on the oil tank, rust and paint etc. Plasma cutters work on the same principal as mig welding and tig welding they both need a realy clean surface to get a good arc. Gas and air and a cutting torch would be much faster.
Thank you, Stuart! I really learnt a lot from this video. I had wondered about plasma cutters but never researched them, so this has been a great start for me 😄
Some suggestions, if you're interested. Fully un-wind the extension next time. It's probably stil cheaper than discs. If you have a grinder with a flappy disk give that earth you've found a good clean - the better the earth the better your cut may be. Good luck! love the content. I narrowly avoided buying one myself!
For that tank i’d get a metal cutting circular saw, such as the ones from evolution. Exactly like a regular one except it spins slower and comes with a blade designed for cutting metal. Much better than the abrasive discs that grind away a bit slowly! You will definitely need hearing protection though!!
never ever cut rusty steel with them type of blades.. rust is incredibly abrasive and can take a edge out on those tct blades. there are so many things this guy was naive about which i wont go into because ill be here all day but a plasma cutter is very dangerous when used recklessly especially high freq starters
Nice one Stuart, I got a plasma cutter some years ago from a company in Gloucestershire it will cut really thick materials with no ragged edge but horses for courses it was 4 x the price ,my daughter uses it more than me making her art projects ,the one you trialled would be more suited to body panels and thin materials turn up your air pressure to try and make your cuts cleaner and don’t rush take your time but they are great fun when you get the hang of it thanks stay safe 👍👨🏻🏭
Hi, I am using a plasma cutter since a few years now (not on daily bases) and I guess this machine is a bit too "cheap" to do a proper job. (If I am correct it says for steel :1-9 mm, that is a bit light for the job you tried. A tank like you are trying to cut is most of the time around 5 mm thick, and you should have no problems cutting this with a good plasma cutter. As said before here: it needs a GOOD ground contact (no rust). Also, better a higher current setting than too low. Maybe more air pressure and angle your plasma gun a bit towards the gap that you already cut, (not towards yourself) so the air pressure blows the melted material away through the cut. You will have less or no material buildup on top of your cut and a faster and cleaner cut. For more precision cutting use a mount with wheels to roll on the surface instead of dragging this metal holder, it works smoother. Have fun and keep practicing 👍
I disagree with you. I have the same cutter and I get extremely clean cuts. This guy is unfortunately not using it correctly. You can't blame the tools if the operator uses it incorrectly.
You need to grind a good earth, and always unwind the full extension lead to prevent overheating....especially when pulling high current, the setting on the aluminium was far too high. Plenty of you tube videos out there. Love your videos aways well explained.
Good video. I've had reasonable results with mine with a little practice and trial and error with the settings. The cuts aren't perfect but acceptable with minimal grinding required. A couple of things that helped. Earth close to the point of cutting and move the earth periodically. Once got a setting that works for a material I've found cutting speed easier to deal with material thickness than tweaking settings. Thinner faster, thicker slower. Practice on material in the middle of the recommended range.
I have a lidl plasma cutter but one with a built in compressor, I've found it cuts great, tho it didn't really like the aluminium, I cut a few dozen nail plates in half today and it had a perfect cut and cut them quickly, I didn't use any stand off, I just put the tip on the steel, I've used it a fair amount and still on the first tip.
Thanks for sharing. I recently cut up our old 2500 litre oil tank which was in better condition than the tank you were trying to cut. It took 2 metal cutting discs on my 9-inch angle grinder and only took a few hours. Much neater cuts as well. Don't think I'll be buying a plasma cutter, this looked a step down from a Colin Furze plasma cutter
The reason you're missing bits and have an uneven cut is because you need to use a straight edge as a guide and move smoothly at as constant a speed as you can . Also if you drill a hole as a starting point on athick plate the plasma arc won't blow back damaging the tip . The tips are consumables and as they wear the plasma arc is more diffused and looses its focus , I've used many different plasma cutters up to units to cut 30 mm stainless steel when the tips lasted about 2 minute's.
Take a look at the Bambi compressor they are silent, I had one for over 20 years in my shop, and never had a problem with it, I must say your videos are brilliant, thank you.
Just bought one today, They now have an internal compressor, though I think a larger external one will still improve it. There is a changeover valve and switch for this option
It's something we all do - hope a diy tool is up for some professional grade work - they always fall short. It's a bit like trying to do some copper pipework plumbing with a battery soldering iron - it's just not up to it. Great lesson in managing expectations, Stuart. Keep up the good work.👍
a good earth bare metal on the big tank would of helped a lot, as i found with welding you need to get the earth close to where your working and on the same peice your working on.
Hi Stewart, nothing like a couple of new toys for the workshop, best luck for u sing both of these toys, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia 👍👍👍
You need a 2.5 mm extension cable that is fully unwound to stop it over heating , those cheap extensions on a reel just won't handle the amperage..... 👍
Some good tips here in the comments. Having never used an hand held plasma in proper anger but have used and programmed large CNC plasma cutters daily for the last 17 year here's my couple of tips. You'll find you won't really get the same cut quality with aluminium, stainless etc because you won't have the correct gases. Even mild steel has an oxygen plasma with compressed air shield gas on most machines sometimes O2/O2. The earth needs to be spotless. Don't cut through rust and paint it will eat through your electrodes. Weirdly always found a rust discoloured plate (not flakey) better to cut than shot blasted plate. Can't speak for that particular cutter but the plasmas I've used trend to be quite particular on gas pressures and flow rates. I'd air on the slightly higher side to clear the molten steel through the cut but not too high it distorted the arc. Keep up the practice
If the extension lead is wound up (even partly) it forms a coil, which will have inductance. This inductor will heat up and trip the thermal cutout. Fully unwind the extension lead and that will help. It may be that you also need a heavier duty extension lead because of the high currents used.
like you, I have bought one and found it to be a bit messy cutting . Haven't really had a good go at improving it's performance but I'm pretty certain that it will work. To cut up that old tank I would use an Evolution saw, they are brilliant pieces of kit. Set the blade that is just cutting through the steel and you will have it in pieces in no time. If you haven't got a saw use a grinder with a thin blade and just mark the cutting line and then continue to draw the disc lightly over the marked line. Don't try to cut through in one pass and you will be surprised at how long the discs will last .
Thank you for this video. I have looked at this in Lidl. I have central heating oil tanks to cut up as well. You are my research. 😅😊😅 Thanks again. Will subscribe as well.😊
When setting the air pressure pull the trigger on the touch and watch that air pressure as it will drop a lot and that’s when you set it with the trigger pulled , yes my cut 60 is bigger machine and cuts perfectly it was a lot more money than you paid, so you get what you pay for! Still interesting video and I would suggest you watch some videos on it to make sure you are getting the best out of your machine 👍
11:36 - Looks like the cable is still coiled. That will make it overheat pretty quickly (because the electrons skid when making sharp turns). If it still overheats when uncoiled (which can happen even with medium loads, if you're out in the sun), get a large plastic tub, fill it with cold water, and put the excess cable in it, in loose coils (this is assuming there's no damage / repairs and the cable is fully waterproof, of course)..
The messy edge of melted metal can usually be chipped off. With a hammer. I found it worked much better without the cage thing just freehand the height. Also run two extensions one for plasma on its own as it can pull nearly 13amps. Or long hose for the compressor.
another tip is not to run the compressor and plasma cutter off the same supply ring, both are drawing alot of juice when they run at the same time just bought the ebay plasmargon 55pro, really nice unit around £200, i'm runing it through the cooker supply which is fused at 45amp, and i have a 32 amp breaker in the garage, not tripped it yet
Well it's nice it's got auto strike. My Clark 700 quid in 2003 one can get through a cm of steel but my twin compressors struggle to keep up with the air demand . Having to strike the arc and maintain distance makes it bit of a git to use. The one I used at University was great , auto strike and it cut quick, had to move it quick to maintain the circuit, it could scribble like a bird. It your not cutting all the way through a material it messes up the nossle . Well after I got mine I saw the ones with built in air, depending on their cutting capacity that's the way to go. These inverters replacing transformers certainly makes welding and so on tools easier to lift, I do wonder how long they will last. I learned arc welding at school in the 90s on a welder made in the 60s.
In f'in stitches Stuart - the theme tune in the car, on the way to machine mart made my day :-)). I love cracking open a beer at the end of the day and hearing those notes. Keep it up!
Great vid! Saw that plasma cutter too, I definitely had more of an allergic reaction to it's size, seemed more of a DIY gimmick than a useful tool. Although DIY'ers like ourselves will always be tempted by a gimmick😂😂 interested to see how you get on with that diesel tank! Good luck!
Knowing what your doing matters a bunch..in order to operate a plasma cutter, you must understand compressors. And know what cfm means at 90 psi..if the plasma cutter calls for 6 cfm at 90 psi..that means you need a compressor that's 1 5 or more bigger..my compressor is 20 cfm..way more than needed...but more is fantastic to me..
Great Video! I just out found similar, same unit but 2 thirds of the price from ebay. I'm having to build myself a compressor tank and top it up with a 12v tyre inflater....Im on a tighter budget ;) I have heard that 20 to 25 is the ideal setting on this unit for 3~4 mm steel. anything above 6mm and this unit will begin to struggle.. due to the cool down times needed at higher settings. at 15 to 18 on the dial you should have no or minimal cool down: it all depends on how long you want to cut for, the volume of air you have and the time between cuts.
Plasma cutting is like welding. You need balance between amperage, air pressure, electrode-to-steel distance/angle, and cutting speed. Also, with that smallish tank of air, you got "wet" air after few minutes, which will affect your cuts. Dryer or go big on tank. Some plasma cutter do just fine with electrode touching the steel, some need 0.5-1.5mm gap between electrode and steel. I use hose clamp around nozzle and roundhead nail to adjust that gap. Way easier than those clip-on frame around the nozzle. If the steel is thicker than 8mm, I'd go with oxypropane torch.
Aldi special! Genuinely interesting! Very tempting. You don't own a compressor?!!? Hehe you bought the same as mine! ;) PS your extension cable really needs to be fully uncoiled when used at rated power. It's still half rolled up in the shot where it trips!
I expect u know this but always drain your compressor should be a drain on the bottom of the tank. I went to work at one place and asked how often they drained the compressor and the owner just looked blank
A 2.5HP compressor will draw 10 amps, and a 30amp plasma cutter will draw about the same, so two extension reels, both fully unwound, are required. It looks as if the plasma cutter may have been suffering from low supply voltage due to the voltage drop in the extension lead.
I bought a plasma cutter but didn't know anything about it only that it cuts metal. I found out after that I need a compressor and just now waiting for it to be delivered in the next few days. I was thinking angle grinder is so loud and I would use discs to beat the band. Also with next door neighbour from hell always looking for problems to complain about Im hoping the plasma cutter will be less noisy. I see you have to use the correct amount of amps and air flow for different thicknesses of metals as well as it can make a difference to the cutting of the material you want to cut. I have to learn from scratch also
much simpler with a reciprocating saw. I have virtually the same tank and cut the whole front panel off in no time with a makita 18v reciprocating saw and metal blades. Have since used the recip saw for cutting the panel into many narrow strips for a project. Leaves reasonably clean cuts as well.
All ways fully unwind the extension lead also I’d be tempted too run two extensions one for the compressor and one for the plasma cutter so the load is split because I find thermal cutouts too be a pain and I always use my extensions fully unwound I bypass the thermal cut outs as one of my older cable reel never had one if friends or family borrow them I let them know so they don’t melt the lead I have different lengths too so I don’t use a longer cable than needed
Ah, seeing something that you didn't want but convinced yourself that you need, especially 'at that price'. 😂 That does seem a little slow, maybe a disc cutter would be quicker? At least the compressor can also be used for other things.
Thanks Stuart very informative 👏👏 I was only yesterday thinking of putting one in our shopping trolley 🤔🤔 However I thought Nah wait a bit someone like Stu is bound to do a test on one first. and Bingo you did. So thank you. I do believe I may purchase one myself now 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I noticed when I replaced the extremely cheap crocodile clip very similar to the crappy clip provided on this machine, on my welder for a much better quality clip it really improved the weld.....im guessing it would do the same for this tool. Also grinding your metal off at the point you are earthing could significantly increase your cutting power and increase your cutting time before cutting out.
When you use a plasma cutter at the high end of its cutting capability - the cuts do become more ragged (because it isn't blowing through right away, so molten metal is building/bubbling up in the cut). If you want clean cuts - thinner metal (20Ga) will work much better (likely clean on the side you cut and just a little easily removed swarf on the back side) or to got thicker you will need to get a more powerful machine. As others have said you will also get better performance by avoiding air pressure droops and voltage droops - but I'd suspect the issue here is that the machine just isn't that powerful. Working outdoors is also always more challenging because of the remoteness from power.
I have to warn against using a plasma cutter on a wooden bench/in a workshop where woodworking has taken place. I used my Parkside Cutter in my workshop, thought it was all safe, no sign of fire when I went inside the house for tea (over an hour after using the cutter.) Two hours later my neighbours came for me saying there was smoke coming from the barn where my workshop is. Took two fire engines all evening to put the fire out, it cost the insurance company 11,000€ and that didn't cover all the costs. Still sorting stuff out 6 months later. Suspicion is that a spark from the plasma cutting had found some sawdust hidden under a bench (in general I keep the workshop well swept, but I guess there's always areas the broom doesn't reach) and quietly smouldered unseen and not smelt until I had gone. I have a new Parkside plasma cutter but I only use it outside now (16 amp extension cable all unrolled, here in France normal sockets are 16 amp rated). A bigger compressor does help but it still doesn't cut neat lines, always grinding to do to tidy the cut. But for the money it is a bargain.
Hi you should grind off the rust and paint to make a good ground for the earth clamp.Its best to cut down hill and because its not very powerful run the grinder down the line you want to cut just to help the plasma cutter.I hope this helps
In plasma cutters its the air pressure that heats the plasma ball further as it consumes the oxygen and pushes it away from the tip, if you dont have the air pressure you can crank up the voltage till the cows come home and all you will get is pill spalling - just like you were getting, it was painfull to watch how it sputtered and struggled due to the lack of air pressure, the compressor you bought simply doesnt have the supply pressure and cubic mass supply to do the plasma cutter justice, in short try a meatier compressor with loads more thrutch - crank it up and you will be pleased and surprised at how easy it cuts through that tank. and as for the welding mask.......the arc that electric welders and cutters produce gives off MASSIVE amounts of dangerous UV and infra red waves, which you dont feel at the time - it isnt even warm on your face......but try a couple of hours welding or cutting without one........and about five hours later you will REALLY wish you hadnt....better have plenty of calamine lotion on hand you will need it. so a full face shield isnt simply a nice addition - its an absolute MUST if you dont like burnt skin.
Hi sir will you be able to return it ?, because it’s looking like it’s not up to the task . Obviously the compressor will have a multitude of uses , so not all bad . As a point of interest as a retired electrical contractor , we did work for a s/s fabrication company . And even back then there plasma units cost thousands , but in all fairness if a company can produce a product for the sum quoted it’s pretty amazing by anyone’s standard . And yes I did see the extension lead , but unless the amperage was long term then the cable would be ok . When you have seen a cable extension totally welded together then you will understand the direction I’m coming from . Thanks for all you do to bring us such information , in an informed and thoughtful manner . Best wishes and kind regards as always . 😀👍👍👍
I have a Parkside too but mine is a lot bigger and has a built-in compressor you should bring your derv tank nearer to your shed and clean up the tank with a angle grinder as they don't like rust much
I don't own a plasma cutter, but from what I've seen is if you remove the round spacer cage from the end of the cutter and get the cutting head closer and at an angle to the metal you will cut faster and cleaner, the only downside is you will burn through the cutting heads more quickly. Take a look at David Jex's channel " in the workshop, or wood and stuff workshop " he bought the same plasma cutter and found out the best way to use it.
A compressor should not be run off an extension cable because compressors try to draw more power through extension cables than extension cables are typically rated for; that situation can damage the compressor motor. Usually a compressor should be plugged directly into your home electrical circuit wall socket then use extension air hoses to reach your work location.
You’ll find the plasma cutter will work much better and cut cleaner with the paint, rust, mill scale, and aluminium oxide cleaned off with grinder, flap wheel or even a wire brush
Interesting but I feel you were somewhat over optimistic with your expectations - a petrol disc cutter with the right blade would have eaten that tank in no time. Have to say it does surprise me at some of the quasi-industrial tools that ALDI/LIDL sell given the potential end-user and safety risks.
Stuart - you're brilliant, you should have a TV show!! Always very entertaining content, well filmed, well edited and just good fun. Even my partner, who dislikes all the 'practical' UA-cam content I watch, likes your channel ❤
I'm thinking of getting one but it won't be in store until 28/04/2024. Meantime, can you please advise me of what brand name for angle grinder cutting discs? because I seem to wear them out very quickly even on thin sheet metal.
The fitting on the supplied hose is a euro fitting, last year Lidl sold a plasma cutter with built in compressor for the same price shame it wasn't the same one this year. Probably didn't help with the length of extension cable and could probably do with a bigger compressor as it sounds like yours was running continuously which won't help. Would have probably been better using a petrol disc cutter.
Smooth and constant speed is critical. Your torch was moving very jerkily so it doesn't stand a chance of making a clean cut. You need the plasma jet to continuously emerge at the back of the workpiece without interruption.
Fully unwind extension cables if your going to use a significant amount of power. It may have diferent rating for fully wound, half wound or fully unwound printed on it.
It seems to be the 1st thing you show where the manual might actually be important, even before the 1st try.
Yes, i'd have thought the wire was getting quite warm wound like that drawing decent current.
Absolutely. I once ran a couple of fan heaters of a single extension reel without winding it all the way out. Melted the plastic drum so badly I had to throw it away, but at least I caught before I had started a fire.
Indeed, the cable drum will tell you to fully unwind if you plan to use it at rated current. And it may tell you how little current you can draw when it's fully wound. Furthermore, the plasma cutter will be labelled with the max input current, even if you can't bring yourself to RTFM. And don't forget to include the compressor current....
Definitely unwind that extension real, the compressor motor wouldn't last long on its own on a half wound 25mtr real and then throw in a plasma cutter, compressor will pull a minute of 10amps
I have used lots of plasma cutters over the years and there's 1 or 2 things that will help yo get good results no1 clean dry air and lots of it if you loose pressure the results will vary considerably 2 keep the tip cover shield clean this can easily get damaged when trying to blow through a job so start at the edge or drill a hole ..any damage to the hole in the tip will change the cut width and finish 3 the earth connection is very important on rusty or dirty grind it clean ... 4 for good cut results the movement of the torch should be continuous and smooth and go to fast it won't cut thu go to slow the cut will be wide and ruff if you use a straight edge it will help ..... hope this helps good results are possible even with small machines cutting to within 2mm is possible on 3mm steel... blowback damaged shields are often the biggest problem hope this helps and good luck ....a good honest video 👍
Great tips 👍🏻
Love the editing on this video. Really got the balance of comedy to information to entertainment spot on.
Few thoughts to help. The duty cycle on a consumer plasma cutter is probably around 30% so 1 minute on 2 off, this should be in the manual somewhere. The compressor is running all the time so is too small, I think a compressor that provides a sustained 12-14 CFM will be better. However if you do 1 minute on and 2 off that will enable the compressor you have to catch up, and hopefully will give more consistent pressure. On the old tank use an angle grinder to expose bare metal for the earth clamp, it will really help. Use two extension leads it will reduce the voltage drop and the breaker tripping, and check they are rated at 13A, if you can run them off different ring mains. I have seen some comments re not using a coiled mains extension, yes this is true, however I can only see a coiled air line so it doesn’t apply here. Good luck…
If the extension cable was tripping out, I am not surprised, the compressor on its own would draw near to 13 amps , which would have been beyond the limit of the cabling. Most extension cables are 2mm^2 that is particularly minimal especially when you factor in the voltage drop on the length pf the cable from the socket outlet. I use 2.5mm^2 extension cable that I made up and have no issues with 13amp requirements but it is noticeably weightier that the normal HD extension cable The compressor is on max duty so is not supplying sufficient air. The 11/24 Airmaster will probably only deliver around 6-8cfm above 90psi, the 11cfm is maximum free air displacement under no load and pressure and the tank at 24litres is particularly small for any sustained duty, it needs a tank capacity of at least 60 litres and preferably 120litres. I actually use a 8/60 in parallel with a 9/45 compressor on a 60amp ring main and once going they cascade in and out due to the variance of the pressure switches I can also plug in a 8/24 mobile unit to boost the air supply should I need it
I bought the Parkside plasma cutter the first time around when it was only £49.99 with a view of cutting 16g steel but as yet I have not even unpacked it!
The coil around the compressor appears to be the power cable not the air line and would be reducing the cooling air to the motor.
And air in plasma cutter needs to be dry and free from debree and oil. And yeah it is connected via long extension cord, voltage drop could be significant thus arc has not enough energy. I would measure voltage on extension cord when everything is on. if there is more than 10% voltage drop then it is no go.
I purchased one of these last year. So far I have been quite impressed with it. After some playing around I think it is fair to say that whilst it will cut steel >6mm, that is really the practical max limit. I tend to cut 3mm plate and for that it works fine. For straight cuts, an angle grinder with a 0.8mm slitting disk is probably just as fast and much cheaper, but for cutting shapes or more tricky cuts the plastma works well.
For cutting that tank, I would be tempted to get try an evolution type circular saw with the multipurpose blade it comes with. Loud, messy and with hot shards of steel going everywhere, but it would probably be the fastest way of doing it.
Never leave any cable coiled on the reel of an extension.
This would be my advice..
Great content as always 👍
I really appreciate videos where you show your learning progress. Good job.
I bought this machine a while ago for some occasional cutting, and it's not a bad machine for light work. With a little practice, you can get much cleaner cuts than that, especially if you use a guide. It does struggle a bit with anything over 5mm, but it works nicely on thinner sheet material.
I cut bar stock and profiles with a small band saw, and prefer a disc for making simple straight cuts. But for very long cuts or irregularly curved ones, this machine is a handy tool to have in the shop, where I couldn't justify a better and more expensive one for the few times that I need it.
Hi Stuart great video, I think the problem your having is the ammount of impurities on the oil tank, rust and paint etc. Plasma cutters work on the same principal as mig welding and tig welding they both need a realy clean surface to get a good arc. Gas and air and a cutting torch would be much faster.
Thank you, Stuart! I really learnt a lot from this video. I had wondered about plasma cutters but never researched them, so this has been a great start for me 😄
Some suggestions, if you're interested. Fully un-wind the extension next time. It's probably stil cheaper than discs. If you have a grinder with a flappy disk give that earth you've found a good clean - the better the earth the better your cut may be. Good luck! love the content. I narrowly avoided buying one myself!
For that tank i’d get a metal cutting circular saw, such as the ones from evolution. Exactly like a regular one except it spins slower and comes with a blade designed for cutting metal. Much better than the abrasive discs that grind away a bit slowly! You will definitely need hearing protection though!!
never ever cut rusty steel with them type of blades.. rust is incredibly abrasive and can take a edge out on those tct blades. there are so many things this guy was naive about which i wont go into because ill be here all day but a plasma cutter is very dangerous when used recklessly especially high freq starters
Nice one Stuart, I got a plasma cutter some years ago from a company in Gloucestershire it will cut really thick materials with no ragged edge but horses for courses it was 4 x the price ,my daughter uses it more than me making her art projects ,the one you trialled would be more suited to body panels and thin materials turn up your air pressure to try and make your cuts cleaner and don’t rush take your time but they are great fun when you get the hang of it thanks stay safe 👍👨🏻🏭
I had an old water tank that I needed to cut down to get through an attic hatch, reciprocating saw did the job in minutes and on the same blade.
Hi, I am using a plasma cutter since a few years now (not on daily bases) and I guess this machine is a bit too "cheap" to do a proper job. (If I am correct it says for steel :1-9 mm, that is a bit light for the job you tried. A tank like you are trying to cut is most of the time around 5 mm thick, and you should have no problems cutting this with a good plasma cutter. As said before here: it needs a GOOD ground contact (no rust). Also, better a higher current setting than too low. Maybe more air pressure and angle your plasma gun a bit towards the gap that you already cut, (not towards yourself) so the air pressure blows the melted material away through the cut. You will have less or no material buildup on top of your cut and a faster and cleaner cut. For more precision cutting use a mount with wheels to roll on the surface instead of dragging this metal holder, it works smoother. Have fun and keep practicing 👍
I disagree with you. I have the same cutter and I get extremely clean cuts. This guy is unfortunately not using it correctly. You can't blame the tools if the operator uses it incorrectly.
They are great machines for the money. There is a skill to set them correctly to make tips last and cut clean. Similar to setting up a welder
You need to grind a good earth, and always unwind the full extension lead to prevent overheating....especially when pulling high current, the setting on the aluminium was far too high.
Plenty of you tube videos out there.
Love your videos aways well explained.
Good video. I've had reasonable results with mine with a little practice and trial and error with the settings. The cuts aren't perfect but acceptable with minimal grinding required. A couple of things that helped. Earth close to the point of cutting and move the earth periodically. Once got a setting that works for a material I've found cutting speed easier to deal with material thickness than tweaking settings. Thinner faster, thicker slower. Practice on material in the middle of the recommended range.
I'd also say make sure the earth cable is making good electrical contact, rust and paint will cause problems. File it away first.
I have a lidl plasma cutter but one with a built in compressor, I've found it cuts great, tho it didn't really like the aluminium, I cut a few dozen nail plates in half today and it had a perfect cut and cut them quickly, I didn't use any stand off, I just put the tip on the steel, I've used it a fair amount and still on the first tip.
Thanks for sharing. I recently cut up our old 2500 litre oil tank which was in better condition than the tank you were trying to cut. It took 2 metal cutting discs on my 9-inch angle grinder and only took a few hours. Much neater cuts as well.
Don't think I'll be buying a plasma cutter, this looked a step down from a Colin Furze plasma cutter
The reason you're missing bits and have an uneven cut is because you need to use a straight edge as a guide and move smoothly at as constant a speed as you can . Also if you drill a hole as a starting point on athick plate the plasma arc won't blow back damaging the tip . The tips are consumables and as they wear the plasma arc is more diffused and looses its focus , I've used many different plasma cutters up to units to cut 30 mm stainless steel when the tips lasted about 2 minute's.
Discs certainly the better option, and considerably less expensive.
Could you please do a review on your CCTV installation and how this is performing, issues etc?
Give the scrap man a call...job done.
Take a look at the Bambi compressor they are silent, I had one for over 20 years in my shop, and never had a problem with it, I must say your videos are brilliant, thank you.
Just bought one today, They now have an internal compressor, though I think a larger external one will still improve it. There is a changeover valve and switch for this option
Stuart you are hilarious, jamming to your own tune in the car 😂
It's something we all do - hope a diy tool is up for some professional grade work - they always fall short. It's a bit like trying to do some copper pipework plumbing with a battery soldering iron - it's just not up to it.
Great lesson in managing expectations, Stuart. Keep up the good work.👍
a good earth bare metal on the big tank would of helped a lot, as i found with welding you need to get the earth close to where your working and on the same peice your working on.
There's a good chance of thread sealant on fittings, as well as corrosion where it does make contact if dissimilar metals.
Hi Stewart, nothing like a couple of new toys for the workshop, best luck for u sing both of these toys, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia 👍👍👍
You need a 2.5 mm extension cable that is fully unwound to stop it over heating , those cheap extensions on a reel just won't handle the amperage..... 👍
Have you tried unwinding ALL the cable from your extension lead? It may help with the overheating problem.
Thanks for sharing that with us
Some good tips here in the comments. Having never used an hand held plasma in proper anger but have used and programmed large CNC plasma cutters daily for the last 17 year here's my couple of tips. You'll find you won't really get the same cut quality with aluminium, stainless etc because you won't have the correct gases. Even mild steel has an oxygen plasma with compressed air shield gas on most machines sometimes O2/O2. The earth needs to be spotless. Don't cut through rust and paint it will eat through your electrodes. Weirdly always found a rust discoloured plate (not flakey) better to cut than shot blasted plate. Can't speak for that particular cutter but the plasmas I've used trend to be quite particular on gas pressures and flow rates. I'd air on the slightly higher side to clear the molten steel through the cut but not too high it distorted the arc. Keep up the practice
An honest review & demonstration. Appreciated. thks.
It looks ok for a few jobs. Keep up the great videos
If the extension lead is wound up (even partly) it forms a coil, which will have inductance. This inductor will heat up and trip the thermal cutout. Fully unwind the extension lead and that will help. It may be that you also need a heavier duty extension lead because of the high currents used.
Hello Derek how are you doing, nice to meet you here.
Thanks Stuart, excellent review!
like you, I have bought one and found it to be a bit messy cutting . Haven't really had a good go at improving it's performance but I'm pretty certain that it will work. To cut up that old tank I would use an Evolution saw, they are brilliant pieces of kit. Set the blade that is just cutting through the steel and you will have it in pieces in no time. If you haven't got a saw use a grinder with a thin blade and just mark the cutting line and then continue to draw the disc lightly over the marked line. Don't try to cut through in one pass and you will be surprised at how long the discs will last .
I’ve had one from the last six month have only use it on barrels work quite well
Thank you for this video. I have looked at this in Lidl. I have central heating oil tanks to cut up as well.
You are my research. 😅😊😅
Thanks again. Will subscribe as well.😊
When setting the air pressure pull the trigger on the touch and watch that air pressure as it will drop a lot and that’s when you set it with the trigger pulled , yes my cut 60 is bigger machine and cuts perfectly it was a lot more money than you paid, so you get what you pay for! Still interesting video and I would suggest you watch some videos on it to make sure you are getting the best out of your machine 👍
That intro was the best haha!!
I have recently saw a compressor in lidl as well
11:36 - Looks like the cable is still coiled. That will make it overheat pretty quickly (because the electrons skid when making sharp turns). If it still overheats when uncoiled (which can happen even with medium loads, if you're out in the sun), get a large plastic tub, fill it with cold water, and put the excess cable in it, in loose coils (this is assuming there's no damage / repairs and the cable is fully waterproof, of course)..
The messy edge of melted metal can usually be chipped off. With a hammer. I found it worked much better without the cage thing just freehand the height. Also run two extensions one for plasma on its own as it can pull nearly 13amps. Or long hose for the compressor.
another tip is not to run the compressor and plasma cutter off the same supply ring, both are drawing alot of juice when they run at the same time
just bought the ebay plasmargon 55pro, really nice unit around £200, i'm runing it through the cooker supply which is fused at 45amp, and i have a 32 amp breaker in the garage, not tripped it yet
Well it's nice it's got auto strike.
My Clark 700 quid in 2003 one can get through a cm of steel but my twin compressors struggle to keep up with the air demand . Having to strike the arc and maintain distance makes it bit of a git to use.
The one I used at University was great , auto strike and it cut quick, had to move it quick to maintain the circuit, it could scribble like a bird.
It your not cutting all the way through a material it messes up the nossle .
Well after I got mine I saw the ones with built in air, depending on their cutting capacity that's the way to go.
These inverters replacing transformers certainly makes welding and so on tools easier to lift, I do wonder how long they will last.
I learned arc welding at school in the 90s on a welder made in the 60s.
Hi Stuart, Cheaper Plasma cutters TBH are not that efficient and a more most effective option would be a 9" grinder!
another quality video mate keep up the great work
In f'in stitches Stuart - the theme tune in the car, on the way to machine mart made my day :-)). I love cracking open a beer at the end of the day and hearing those notes. Keep it up!
Great vid! Saw that plasma cutter too, I definitely had more of an allergic reaction to it's size, seemed more of a DIY gimmick than a useful tool. Although DIY'ers like ourselves will always be tempted by a gimmick😂😂 interested to see how you get on with that diesel tank! Good luck!
Knowing what your doing matters a bunch..in order to operate a plasma cutter, you must understand compressors. And know what cfm means at 90 psi..if the plasma cutter calls for 6 cfm at 90 psi..that means you need a compressor that's 1 5 or more bigger..my compressor is 20 cfm..way more than needed...but more is fantastic to me..
Great Video! I just out found similar, same unit but 2 thirds of the price from ebay. I'm having to build myself a compressor tank and top it up with a 12v tyre inflater....Im on a tighter budget ;) I have heard that 20 to 25 is the ideal setting on this unit for 3~4 mm steel. anything above 6mm and this unit will begin to struggle.. due to the cool down times needed at higher settings. at 15 to 18 on the dial you should have no or minimal cool down: it all depends on how long you want to cut for, the volume of air you have and the time between cuts.
that half wound extension lead caused the thermal cutout, needs fully unwinding when used under a lot of load!!
Did you INTENTIONALLY wind the PTFE tube in the clickbaity/incorrect direction at 5:30?
Plasma cutting is like welding. You need balance between amperage, air pressure, electrode-to-steel distance/angle, and cutting speed.
Also, with that smallish tank of air, you got "wet" air after few minutes, which will affect your cuts. Dryer or go big on tank.
Some plasma cutter do just fine with electrode touching the steel, some need 0.5-1.5mm gap between electrode and steel. I use hose clamp around nozzle and roundhead nail to adjust that gap. Way easier than those clip-on frame around the nozzle.
If the steel is thicker than 8mm, I'd go with oxypropane torch.
I bought the same one a month or two ago but haven't had a chance to test it out yet. Interesting to see your experience with it.
Aldi special! Genuinely interesting! Very tempting. You don't own a compressor?!!? Hehe you bought the same as mine! ;)
PS your extension cable really needs to be fully uncoiled when used at rated power. It's still half rolled up in the shot where it trips!
Parkside is Lidl. Aldi it would probably be Ferrex.
@@grahamleiper1538 Yes of course you're spot on!! That'll be why I never found Parkside in Aldi!! ;) Tell you the truth I always get them confused!!
Cool new toys, Stuart!
1:36 best bit of this video 🤣
I expect u know this but always drain your compressor should be a drain on the bottom of the tank. I went to work at one place and asked how often they drained the compressor and the owner just looked blank
A 2.5HP compressor will draw 10 amps, and a 30amp plasma cutter will draw about the same, so two extension reels, both fully unwound, are required. It looks as if the plasma cutter may have been suffering from low supply voltage due to the voltage drop in the extension lead.
I bought a plasma cutter but didn't know anything about it only that it cuts metal. I found out after that I need a compressor and just now waiting for it to be delivered in the next few days. I was thinking angle grinder is so loud and I would use discs to beat the band. Also with next door neighbour from hell always looking for problems to complain about Im hoping the plasma cutter will be less noisy. I see you have to use the correct amount of amps and air flow for different thicknesses of metals as well as it can make a difference to the cutting of the material you want to cut. I have to learn from scratch also
much simpler with a reciprocating saw. I have virtually the same tank and cut the whole front panel off in no time with a makita 18v reciprocating saw and metal blades. Have since used the recip saw for cutting the panel into many narrow strips for a project. Leaves reasonably clean cuts as well.
Thanks, just saw this in Lidl myself. Think I’ll give it a miss.
All ways fully unwind the extension lead also I’d be tempted too run two extensions one for the compressor and one for the plasma cutter so the load is split because I find thermal cutouts too be a pain and I always use my extensions fully unwound I bypass the thermal cut outs as one of my older cable reel never had one if friends or family borrow them I let them know so they don’t melt the lead I have different lengths too so I don’t use a longer cable than needed
The reciprocal saw with a metal cutting blade
Ah, seeing something that you didn't want but convinced yourself that you need, especially 'at that price'. 😂 That does seem a little slow, maybe a disc cutter would be quicker? At least the compressor can also be used for other things.
I know that machine mart branch 😁
The safety/risk list sounds like a great weekend 🤣
Ha ha this just popped up on my feed; you were in Machine Mart at the end of my road. Great video !
Advertise it to local scrap metal merchants in your area Stu. Let them take it away and solve your problem.
Yup. Had exactly this.
"Could you nip into Aldi please?
Grab eggs, bread, bacon lardons, butter, a plasma cutter, lemonade and OJ."
"Okwaitwhat?"
Thanks Stuart very informative 👏👏 I was only yesterday thinking of putting one in our shopping trolley 🤔🤔 However I thought Nah wait a bit someone like Stu is bound to do a test on one first. and Bingo you did. So thank you. I do believe I may purchase one myself now 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I noticed when I replaced the extremely cheap crocodile clip very similar to the crappy clip provided on this machine, on my welder for a much better quality clip it really improved the weld.....im guessing it would do the same for this tool. Also grinding your metal off at the point you are earthing could significantly increase your cutting power and increase your cutting time before cutting out.
Should of waited 5 months. I've just bought one from Lidl with a built in compressor for £150.00. Works really well.
When you use a plasma cutter at the high end of its cutting capability - the cuts do become more ragged (because it isn't blowing through right away, so molten metal is building/bubbling up in the cut). If you want clean cuts - thinner metal (20Ga) will work much better (likely clean on the side you cut and just a little easily removed swarf on the back side) or to got thicker you will need to get a more powerful machine. As others have said you will also get better performance by avoiding air pressure droops and voltage droops - but I'd suspect the issue here is that the machine just isn't that powerful. Working outdoors is also always more challenging because of the remoteness from power.
I have to warn against using a plasma cutter on a wooden bench/in a workshop where woodworking has taken place.
I used my Parkside Cutter in my workshop, thought it was all safe, no sign of fire when I went inside the house for tea (over an hour after using the cutter.) Two hours later my neighbours came for me saying there was smoke coming from the barn where my workshop is.
Took two fire engines all evening to put the fire out, it cost the insurance company 11,000€ and that didn't cover all the costs. Still sorting stuff out 6 months later.
Suspicion is that a spark from the plasma cutting had found some sawdust hidden under a bench (in general I keep the workshop well swept, but I guess there's always areas the broom doesn't reach) and quietly smouldered unseen and not smelt until I had gone.
I have a new Parkside plasma cutter but I only use it outside now (16 amp extension cable all unrolled, here in France normal sockets are 16 amp rated). A bigger compressor does help but it still doesn't cut neat lines, always grinding to do to tidy the cut. But for the money it is a bargain.
i might be wrong but id rent out a stihl saw, get couple of extra blades and cut it up in no time?
I bought a consaw with a steel blade. Great job, much better than that plasma cutter. Niall - love your show.
Hi you should grind off the rust and paint to make a good ground for the earth clamp.Its best to cut down hill and because its not very powerful run the grinder down the line you want to cut just to help the plasma cutter.I hope this helps
There is a new model called integrated plaster cutter and don't need a compressor looks about the same. you can try it as well.
I have a Plasma cutter very handy to have.
In plasma cutters its the air pressure that heats the plasma ball further as it consumes the oxygen and pushes it away from the tip, if you dont have the air pressure you can crank up the voltage till the cows come home and all you will get is pill spalling - just like you were getting, it was painfull to watch how it sputtered and struggled due to the lack of air pressure, the compressor you bought simply doesnt have the supply pressure and cubic mass supply to do the plasma cutter justice, in short try a meatier compressor with loads more thrutch - crank it up and you will be pleased and surprised at how easy it cuts through that tank. and as for the welding mask.......the arc that electric welders and cutters produce gives off MASSIVE amounts of dangerous UV and infra red waves, which you dont feel at the time - it isnt even warm on your face......but try a couple of hours welding or cutting without one........and about five hours later you will REALLY wish you hadnt....better have plenty of calamine lotion on hand you will need it. so a full face shield isnt simply a nice addition - its an absolute MUST if you dont like burnt skin.
Is the 25 litre compressor up to the job, I have one very similar it was given to me but not got the air capacity to run a lot of power tools.
Hi sir will you be able to return it ?, because it’s looking like it’s not up to the task . Obviously the compressor will have a multitude of uses , so not all bad . As a point of interest as a retired electrical contractor , we did work for a s/s fabrication company . And even back then there plasma units cost thousands , but in all fairness if a company can produce a product for the sum quoted it’s pretty amazing by anyone’s standard . And yes I did see the extension lead , but unless the amperage was long term then the cable would be ok . When you have seen a cable extension totally welded together then you will understand the direction I’m coming from . Thanks for all you do to bring us such information , in an informed and thoughtful manner . Best wishes and kind regards as always . 😀👍👍👍
I have a Parkside too but mine is a lot bigger and has a built-in compressor you should bring your derv tank nearer to your shed and clean up the tank with a angle grinder as they don't like rust much
I don't own a plasma cutter, but from what I've seen is if you remove the round spacer cage from the end of the cutter and get the cutting head closer and at an angle to the metal you will cut faster and cleaner, the only downside is you will burn through the cutting heads more quickly. Take a look at David Jex's channel " in the workshop, or wood and stuff workshop " he bought the same plasma cutter and found out the best way to use it.
Check out the Makita metal cutting saw, just the job for you.
A compressor should not be run off an extension cable because compressors try to draw more power through extension cables than extension cables are typically rated for; that situation can damage the compressor motor.
Usually a compressor should be plugged directly into your home electrical circuit wall socket then use extension air hoses to reach your work location.
You’ll find the plasma cutter will work much better and cut cleaner with the paint, rust, mill scale, and aluminium oxide cleaned off with grinder, flap wheel or even a wire brush
Interesting but I feel you were somewhat over optimistic with your expectations - a petrol disc cutter with the right blade would have eaten that tank in no time. Have to say it does surprise me at some of the quasi-industrial tools that ALDI/LIDL sell given the potential end-user and safety risks.
Stuart - you're brilliant, you should have a TV show!! Always very entertaining content, well filmed, well edited and just good fun. Even my partner, who dislikes all the 'practical' UA-cam content I watch, likes your channel ❤
I'm thinking of getting one but it won't be in store until 28/04/2024. Meantime, can you please advise me of what brand name for angle grinder cutting discs? because I seem to wear them out very quickly even on thin sheet metal.
" hi love, I'm back.....guess what, lidl had a special deal on plasma cutters if you bought a carton of milk" 😂
Get the hot spanner , Burning lamp best bet ! but keep playing with it you never know.
The fitting on the supplied hose is a euro fitting, last year Lidl sold a plasma cutter with built in compressor for the same price shame it wasn't the same one this year. Probably didn't help with the length of extension cable and could probably do with a bigger compressor as it sounds like yours was running continuously which won't help. Would have probably been better using a petrol disc cutter.
Try uncoiling the extension lead lol
I melted a 30m extension lead 20yrs ago when dumb 😂😂 ALWAYS unwind fully. People still laugh at me to this day when I suggest it to them.
Just came on to say @ 11:31 you must have your extension lead fully unwound when using equipment like this otherwise you’ll melt the lead.
Surprised you didn't have a compressor. They're brilliant, even if you just use one for cleaning stuff and blowing up tyres like me.
Smooth and constant speed is critical. Your torch was moving very jerkily so it doesn't stand a chance of making a clean cut. You need the plasma jet to continuously emerge at the back of the workpiece without interruption.