Ok i was surfing on the net and ran across this plasma cutter. I am thinking that this is a good deal for what it is but i have no real clue. I am thinking about building a plasma cutter for cutting out thin guage sheetmetal. Has anyone ever used them before or can tell me if i am looking in the wrong direction. When it comes to plasma i am new but willing to learn.

http://www.otdeal.com/catalog/item/2938539/2442534.htm

Three questions that need answering:

What kind of Arc start method
Cost and availability of consummables
Access to Manual (in electronic format)

lets see if i can answer these questions

Arc start method. Push button on the handle.

manual in PDF format http://www.otdeal.com/f/manual-1.2.pdf

consumables and prices


This Kit includes:

20 Electrodes
20 Nozzles
10 Shield cups
10 Swirl rings
price $85.00
http://www.otdeal.com/catalog/item/2938539/2444822.htm

That is the same as the Mitech, Parker, etc. that have been surfacing lately. They are cheap Chinese inverter-style plasmas. I have heard both good and bad about them. More of the latter than the former.
I look at it like this.....If it were a Miller, Esab, TD, Hypertherm for that price, then sign me up. You know those brands and trust them. There is a reason the good machines cost a lot of money :)
For a cheap "toy" (or a lesson learned), that is about the right price. :)
If I were only using it once in a while (once or twice a month) then perhaps it is a cheap and easy means to an end, but if you plan to work the heck out of it... well, you can see where I am going with that.
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