I bought a plasma cutter a while back off Amazon and have used it rarely. I think I paid a little over $100 for it and had it shipped for free to a place in the lower 48 for free and had a friend bring it up to me. It's what's referred to as a "Cut50" supposedly rated for 1/2" thick steel. I used it to cut up a frame of ~1/8" wall square tubing to modify into an engine stand. You need a decently powerful air compressor to run it, so you have to set up the compressor and the plasma cutter to get it to work. AND the air needs to be DRY or the arc will sputter and you'll get a bad cut. So for me, another cutting method is usually quicker. A cutoff wheel is usually my go-to on thin stuff and a torch for thicker metal. And you need 220V power for thicker stuff. Also a pilot arc style works better for starting the arc. Looks like Amazon has them for $150 for the non-pilot arc, and up from there for the ones with more features.
The one I got was built in China and the instruction book includes a caution against using it in a "dropping environment."
I assume that means don't use it in the rain.
