Baby Air Compressor? Can You Plasma Cut With It!

Smallest plasma cutting air compressor what size do you need ? I get asked a lot about cheap plasma cutting air compressors and do you really need to buy a big expensive unit. Most experts will tell you plasma cutting with small compressor is not advisable because with low air pressure you will find your plasma cutter consumables will burn out quicker and in some circumstances it wont cut at all. But if your only cutting for your welding projects in your workshop maybe you can get away with a small compressor so in my video I will try and cut 3mm mild steel plate with a $150 air compressor so once and for all we will see if it will even cut. If you love flux core welding and plasma cutting checkout my channel for lots of great tips and tricks.

[@DeanY98765]

Great Vid. You did something what most of us have been wondering

[@petestools]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@morrismurray3621]

I have a little compressor and I did a 600mm cut through 4mm steel. Worked really well! The compressor was running for most of it, but it maintained 40psi at the cutter.

[@petestools]

cool as long as it worked

[@altonjh]

Thanks for the video. I am 68 and recently bought a 3 in 1 machine. I then bought a P80 torch to convert it to pilot arc. Works better but still getting use to it.

[@petestools]

Right on

[@zr1vetteman985]

Thanks Pete, another very informative video. I have an 8 gallon & a 4.2 gallon compressor (looking for a 15-20 gallon auxiliary tank) and a Primeweld 60 plasma cutter. Keep going my you tube friend, appreciate the advise very much!

[@petestools]

Sounds great! Cheers pete

[@jvazquez53]

I do run my 45 amp plasma cutter wit a 20 gallon 45 year old Ingersoll Rand compressor. Not the very best one but works.

[@petestools]

As long as it works for you my friend Cheers pete

[@steved2136]

One trick I did a while back was I needed a lot of air delivered, but in shorter bursts with a while between uses- I had a big 3 piston air-compressor, but not enough power onsite to run its motor (on a generator)- the genny could easily handle my little bubby air compressor motor (almost identical to that one lol) but that would run the tiny air tank down too quick and I run out of air before I was finished...
:-(
The answer was to have both in the back of the ute, and I made up a T connector for the hoses- the little one would fill both tanks up off the genny (took a while, but that wasn't an issue), and the combined tanks gave me tons of air storage
:-)

[@petestools]

Wow great thinking mate. Cheers for watching mate

[@Casper_Espresso]

Now I know. I really like the term baby air compressor. Because that's the first one you normally get, unless you upgrade to a shop size. As a homeowner, the baby compressor will be enough. As a farmer, you will probably have the Grand Daddy air compressor. As long as it is around 130 PSI, it seems to do just fine

[@petestools]

True my friend

[@donaldhalls2189]

I run 2 10amp air compressors 160lpm a120lpm into a larger tank, from 3 phase air compressor, and they last longer than the 3 phase one did, and if one stops you change another one in, my opinion, all the best to you and your loved ones

[@petestools]

Cheers Donald

[@ACW3DDesigns]

Great Video buddy . going to try this out

[@petestools]

Hope you enjoy

[@9up9up9up]

Hey Pete, looks like you were dragging the tip instead of standoff?, When I drag, I felt the tip was sticking with the cut piece, anyway to fix that? Cheers

[@petestools]

Most of my tips are drag .Only when i use pilot arc can i use a stand off guide.

[@Vinlaell]

Great thanks!

[@petestools]

You're welcome!

[@lodwill4007]

I give a like to all peaty Pete’s vids. He’s funny like being kicked in the teeth.

[@petestools]

LOL YEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@WTF_BBQ]

Have you tried the Ryobi tiny compressor with the plasma cutter ??? That would be funny.

[@petestools]

lol good idea

[@eduardodaquiljr9637]

may I know the airflow of the pump compressor in CFM? ?

[@petestools]

31 psi