Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 24
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Australia
    Age
    75
    Posts
    1

    Default Aldi Plasma cutter

    I see ALDI are having a special on workzone Plasma Cutters soon in South Australia. Can avyone tell me if they are a good brand or are they inferior quality.
    The model has 35 amps and cuts to 10mm

  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by farmer john View Post
    I see ALDI are having a special on workzone Plasma Cutters soon in South Australia. Can avyone tell me if they are a good brand or are they inferior quality.
    The model has 35 amps and cuts to 10mm
    I seriously doubt it will cut that thickness and if it does it will be a very rough cut.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Everything Aldi sell is made to a price, the lower the price the better, unfortunately quality goes down as well.
    I've seen some absolute rubbish there, I don't even bother opening their advertising flyers.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Wodonga Vic
    Age
    38
    Posts
    633

    Default

    Our Men's Shed had one, thankfully we were broken into and someone stole it

    We replaced it with a Unimig Viper and I haven't heard any swearing when cutting since

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    So, they did you a favour then????? Probably find it in Cash Converters or at a Garage sale, if you're really interested in getting it back!!!!!!!
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Wodonga Vic
    Age
    38
    Posts
    633

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    So, they did you a favour then????? Probably find it in Cash Converters or at a Garage sale, if you're really interested in getting it back!!!!!!!
    Yeah they did us a favour, it probably has been pawned at cashies for drug money, they also got into the paint cabinet and scrawled illegible sh#t all over the walls

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    HI JOHN
    Welcome to our Metal Work Forums.

    I'll near guarantee you will have problems with a cheap and nasty machine.

    Start off by working out what metal/s you want to cut and in what mm thickness.

    First you need to know that that the nominated 10mm cut might only be in aluminium. It is easy to get caught in the wording.
    As the metal changes- aluminium, steel, stainless steel you will find that while it might cut 10mm Aluminium it will only cut a lesser thickness in Steel and and less again in Stainless due to the heat dissipation rates of the various metals. So, advertising that might claim it cuts 10mm,but it will be in Aluminum but not 10mm stainless steel.

    Work out the biggest cut you may wish to make in stainless and go from there.

    Look for unit thats preferably sold from a bricks and mortar shop-not online-,fewer problems with warranty-if needed. The machine needs to have has a reliable source of spare consumables and can be repaired quickly. Price is not the only factor!

    Known brands that also make other welding products eg.mig,stick and tig machines are also a good indicator to finding reasonable quality.

    Cheers and
    Welcome again
    Grahame

  8. #8
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    My understanding is that PC max Al thickness cuts are usually 2/3rds to 3/4 less than for mild steel.
    I have seem some manufacturers claims for max thickness cuts to be the same for Al and MS but these are usually for just a few higher end machines.

    Cheap PCs are a lottery and longevity depends on what its used for.

    At the mens shed we have been given 3 cheapie PCs. One was bought on ebay and only a year or so out of warranty but in a non working state and not worth repairing. One we could no longer find consumables for and the 3rd one was a POS that struggled to cut more than 3mm MS.

    A mate of mine who's more of an artist bought a cheapie on ebay about 6 years ago and its still going strong. He can still find most consumables and we had to do a minor repair on the torch a year or so back. He doesn't cut more than 1mm thick MS or SS with. he's tried 3mm but it he wasn't impressed with the roughness of the cut. I've cut a couple of thick pieces with my machine for him and he says that's what he will buy when his finally dies.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    78

    Default

    I have a number of Workzone tools. Never had any problem with them and found the quality to be pretty good, certainly good value for the price.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Ballina, NSW
    Posts
    900

    Default

    I have a pile of workzone tools too. The various spanners, etc. are pretty good - I do a lot of work on boats, underwater, etc., so it's great to have tools that I don't care about getting rusty. Cheap tools have a place.
    However, I would never bother with something like an aldi welder, plasma cutter, table saw etc. - just too cheap and useless.
    If you are still tempted, I'd check whether the consumables are standard/easy to obtain.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    70
    Posts
    7

    Default Aldi plasma cutter

    Yeah, I bought one about a year ago. So far it has been great. I have cut 10mm steel with it.....it struggled and left a ragged cut but it did it.
    It goes through 3mm like butter and handles 5mm very well. I was sceptical but am now very satisfied with it for occasional use.
    I was concerned about getting consumables for it but found it uses a common hand torch and got about 20 sets of consumables for around $12 from China (Banggood.. they use PayPal + a 5 week wait.).
    MIG tips for my small welder ... $11 for 40 off. (@.8mm)
    Anyway, we'll see how long the PC lasts.
    Note that you need 10amps for the PC plus probably 10 amps for your air compressor. I use 2 separate circuits in my shed.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default Aldi Plasma cutter

    I bought one for a birthday present when they were on special back in April. Gave it a quick test on some old 4mm steel checkerplate just to check it wasn't DOA. It cut that nicely.
    It then had to go back in the box until my birthday last month

    Used it in anger for the first time last night, cutting the mudguards off a ute tray. Probably 1.6mm thick but could be 2mm.
    Seems to be a bit hit and miss as to whether the arc strikes up properly initially, but given it was on painted galvanised steel probably not ideal conditions.
    Once struck it cuts well and definitely did the job much more easily than having to use cutting discs in an angle grinder. Also a lot quieter. Not that I have close neighbours but I'd happily use the plasma any hour of the day without fear of upsetting anyone - unlike the angle grinder.
    Here's a couple of photos. Keep in mind this is only my second time using a PC and I didn't play with the settings much - just got the job done!





    Steve

  13. #13
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    70
    Posts
    7

    Default Aldi Plasma cutter

    I understand the reluctance of some to buy cheapy gear. I have had to get refunds from Aldi myself. I only use the Aldi PC occasionally so a "proper" one would not be appropriate in my situation. Having said about cheapy Aldi gear, I keep my Aldi inverter gasless MIG right beside my bench. I own 4 welders including a quality 200 amp gas MIG which I run on CO2 but the Aldi MIG is the one I turn to first for tracking and small jobs.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,322

    Default

    Seems to have done the job. My only observations as a relatively inexperienced PC operator, are that unlike a grinder, there's no physical contact with the work, hence no inherent guiding of the cut, or feedback when it gets harder or thinner. Also, an ideal cut means adjusting the amps or travel speed such that the plasma stream exits at an angle, not straight down - the latter means too slow a travel speed or too many amps, and leaves excessive dross to grind off.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    With the cheaper units, when they say cut thickness it means its maximum thickness it will sever. If it is 3mm for example, it will/should cut 2mm without any problems.
    More quality units will state severence cut, which means you'll get a rough cut, and cut thickness is a thickness where you'll get a nice neat cut with little dross on the underside of the cut. This is of course that you have ALL the settings correct.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Plasma cutter
    By clive hugh in forum WELDING
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 2nd Nov 2015, 11:43 PM
  2. Plasma Cutter help
    By Swarfmaker1 in forum WELDING
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 11th Jun 2015, 09:33 PM
  3. CNC Plasma Cutter.
    By the_duke in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12th Jan 2010, 01:32 AM
  4. Plasma Cutter
    By Dingo Dog in forum WELDING
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 8th Sep 2008, 07:05 PM
  5. Plasma cutter
    By Ironstine in forum WELDING
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 23rd Feb 2008, 01:25 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •