Plasma cutters have emerged as a fine metal cutting tool in recent years. However, picking a particular plasma cutter is a challenge if you have no idea how a brand is performing on the market.
Being an experienced mechanical engineer for over 20 years, I have used several brands of plasma cutters, from the finest ones to the awful.
Long story short, it got me thinking about how to summarize it for fellow welders who probably need it the most.
Therefore, in this guide, I will be rating the top plasma cutting brands based solely on my personal experience, recent market trends, and how fellow engineers rate them?
Most importantly, I will also point out some companies you should avoid.
List of the Best Plasma Cutter Brands
- Hypertherm
- Miller
- Hobart
- Lotos
- Forney
Reviewing the Brands of Plasma Cutters
These reviews are based on my personal experience and how the market sees these sellers.
1. Hypertherm
Hypertherm is the best plasma cutter brand because of its overall state-of-the-art engineering production and reliability for DIY and industrial users alike at worthy prices.
PRICE RANGE: $500 to $3500
WARRANTY: Up to 3 years (terms & Conditions applied)
MANUFACTURING COUNTRY: USA
SHIPPING: US
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The company has dedicated itself to designing and manufacturing the world’s best industrial cutting solutions for nearly 50 years.
Their plasma cutters use high temperatures to cut metal materials, especially mild steel, carbon steel, and aluminum, quickly and effectively.
Hypertherm consistently outperforms its competitors’ overall efficiency, quality, and productivity through laser cutters, lasers, waterjets, and software systems.
Top 3 Hypertherm Plasma Cutters:
🤔 DO YOU KNOW? Hypertherm makes extra-long consumables called HyAccess for cutting in hard-to-reach places like none other.
Currently, this brand produces a variety of plasma cutter models, including waterjets, CNC, and other mechanical equipment to suit virtually any application. Some of them are most popular among its regular users (like me).
Hypertherm by far is the only company that offers a straight torch for plasma cutting (as well as a four-foot torch).
Final Verdict: Hypertherm produces plasma cutters with varying sizes, shapes, technology, and budgets, each with its own special features. A careful production process, advanced engineering, and the best reliability in the industry are always our guarantees here. I would highly recommend this brand to any DIY hobbyist, small shop owner, or industrial worker.
2. Miller
Miller is certainly a pioneer plasma cutter brand, but its high price is the only thing keeping it from taking the top spot. Despite offering high performance with power optimization, its products are not accessible to everyone.
PRICE RANGE: $1500-$3500
WARRANTY: 12 years (terms & Conditions applied)
MANUFACTURING COUNTRY: USA
SHIPPING: Worldwide
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Since 1929, Miller has provided plasma cutters and welding appliances for both commercial and personal use as a one-man company. Since its beginning, this company has set a standard to become a leader in the construction and metal fabrication industries.
Millerwelds offers a very limited number of highly engineered plasma cutters for commercial, noncommercial, and industrial projects. Find their hot products below:
With regards to performance and reliability, Miller is one of the very few brands that takes these concerns seriously.
Featuring PFC, LVC, PFCC, and WTT technologies each of Millers’s business units is solution-focused with continuous improvements.
Miller’s product quality and top-notch customer services are among its remaining USPs.
They are given paid time off to volunteer for community improvement projects, and Miller donates countless hours to them. Connecting with customers and distribution partners can lead to more business opportunities, better products, and a stronger brand image.
3. Hobart
Hobart is another fine brand of plasma cutters that designs cutting equipment for all metals with conductive properties. Their products are known for their innovation and ease of use.
PRICE RANGE: $900-$2000
WARRANTY: 5 years industrial warranty
MANUFACTURING COUNTRY: USA
SHIPPING: US only
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
For the last 100+ years, Hobart Welders has been involved in the manufacturing of welders, plasma cutters, and other fabrication equipment with long warranties.
Whether you are working on a DIY project, a professional industry project, an auto repair project, or a manufacturer project, there is always a Hobart product that can meet your needs.
The organization offers paid time off to participate in charitable activities throughout the year. As part of their commitment to customer service, they are available for communication, working with you, and providing information at all times.
Though I don’t rate this brand higher than Miller or Hypertherm, you can rely on Hobart, as all Hobart units must meet stringent reliability standards and are backed by an industry-leading warranty (5/3/1 Industrial Warranty).
4. Lotos
Lotos has developed a solid reputation as a reliable and praiseworthy source of quality welding machines, cutting tools, and other products for DIYers and small businesses alike.
PRICE RANGE: $150-$1000
WARRANTY: 1 year
MANUFACTURING COUNTRY: California, USA.
SHIPPING: US
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lotsos technology is based in Sunnyvale, California, USA, and manufactures high-quality plasma cutters that are easy to use, portable, reliable, durable, and offer performance at an affordable price.
Using their plasma cutters, professionals and non-professionals alike can deliver consistent and professional-grade results on a variety of metal surfaces and materials.
LOTOS has always been a well-known brand among metal fabricators looking for equipment that does not prevent them from taking advantage of modern technologies and conveniences in plasma cutting just because a budget is limited. With this company, it’s possible to buy a plasma cutter for up to $1000 depending on your usage scenario.
FINAL VERDICT: This manufacturer offers a variety of plasma cutters, multi-process welders, and similar other units, most of which have inverter technology, MOSFETs, PAPST cooling systems, and pilot arc arcs as common features.
5. Forney
With a reputation for selling industry-standard equipment and tools, Forney Industries focuses on balancing affordability and serviceability.
Forney manufactures welding machines & supplies, including plasma cutters, but they do not have a wide exposure compared to the above brands.
PRICE RANGE: $400-$1500
WARRANTY: 1 year
MANUFACTURING COUNTRY: China
SHIPPING: Worldwide
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forney Industries has been producing industry-standard welders and cutting equipment for many years. Among their specialties is producing Forney Easy Weld plasma cutters.
I am inspired by the appearance of their plasma cutters. Plasma machines from Forney are ideal for automotive repair, maintenance (farm, ranch, and home), HVAC, plumbing, and metal fabrication.
VERDICT: Despite its affordability, the machines from Forney are not reliable for heavy-duty metal applications.
FAQs
Which are the worst plasma cutter brands?
In my experience, Reboot, VivoHome, Tooliom, and Kemao are the plasma cutters brands to avoid.
What are the disadvantages of buying off brand plasma cutters?
A major risk of buying plasma cutters from non-brand sellers is customer support and service and compromised performance. In the past, I saw many examples of companies shutting down after 5-10 years, which makes it difficult to find some parts for those machines.
Select a brand with credibility and a long-term customer base as the priority for a machine owner.
Are Chinese plasma cutters any good?
In general, Chinese plasma cutters are ideal for hobbyists and those who don’t do heavy industrial work; however, if you have a small shop and plan to use it frequently, you may want to look elsewhere.
From where should I buy a plasma cutter with ensured customer service/ warranty/ returns/ exchange?
Amazon is an excellent place to purchase plasma cutters. They have always treated me well and have a great return policy, based on my experience. Additionally, they have some of the lowest prices around.
Sellers on eBay are often reluctant to offer fast returns on machines that have failed out of the box.
The Takeaway
These plasma cutters brands are all based on my personal experience. Although your list may conflict with mine, I strongly believe that if you give these brands a chance, you will have the best plasma cutting experience ever.
If you need a machine for heavy industrial work, I highly recommend Hyptherm and Miller. With a variety of solutions, Lotos, Hobart, Forney, and others are the best for your budget.
Last but not least, it depends on your usage frequency, power requirements, and type of metal you intend to cut. Put all these factors in one place so you can decide which brand and, most importantly, which product is right for you.
Do I miss your favorite brand?
