I had a Hobart 250ci for couple of years which I used for my hobbies in my garage cum workshop. It was a decent cutter, and I made many custom made nameplates, wood templates out of it. But when I used the Hobart 500564 Airforce 12ci Plasma Cutter immediately fall in love with it.
The newer version is much more batter than any oxy-fuel cutter. It’s suitable for light cuttings, easy to work with. Infect this has the right combination of an electrical arc and compressed pressure which efficient on fast cutting.
The plasma cutter comes with lots of features that could impress anyone. Like XT12R plasma torch, post-flow air cooling system, diagnostic led light and more. And the good news is it comes with much decent cost than any hi-fi cutter.
- Built in Air Compressor
- Cuts faster than oxy fuel
- Smaller heat-affected zone for less warping
- No gas pressure settings for flame tuning needed
- More precise cut, thinner kerf, less slag to clean up
Last update on 2023-09-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Why you have the Hobart Airforce 12ci?
I like it because of its precise cutting power. The plasma cutter does what it says. Here are a few things that point this plasma cutter is worth to try. Like,
- Provides incredible cutting power which comes from its factory made piston-driven air compressor.
- The compact size makes it portable and flexible to use anywhere.
- Made of high-quality materials, the box, power pot cable, cutter etc. are much more robust and durable.
- Do not need any adjustment to make to set the air pressure. It’s preset already.
- No issue with overheat. The cooling feature on the torch and electrodes keep the device fresh when you are working.
- Thanks to its pilot arc for work with rusty or greasy pieces quickly.
Some Highlighted Features of the Hobart Airforce 12ci
I am working with a plasma cutter for seven and a half year now and used more than 20+ cutters until now. Recently I get a chance to work through the plasma cutter and made a name plat for my house. The latter cuttings on board are easy and tricky at the same time. But still, its end up well.
Here are some essential features of the plasma that found useful during the experiment. Read on to learn about Hobart Airforce 12ci more.
Multipurpose Performance
The main reason I like the plus cutter most is its adaptability. You can cut different types of materials with them. Such as copper, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. the cutting technology of the Hobart Airforce able to cut mild metal pieces of ¼ – 1/8 inches.
You can cut and design any of this sheet metal with vast flexibility. Comparison to other plasma cutting tools, this one is much lighter to handle. But don’t go with the weight. The power of the cutter is sufficient to handle new to old metal sheets and results in zero-damage and beautiful designs.
Durability Assured
I did not use it for longer. But things that grab my attention are some features that would make it last longer. Such as, it’s the post flow air cooling system. The torch and tip of the cutter cool down very fast. If you work with the machine for a long time, the feature will be active too and cools these tools. The main reason plasma cutter burns out within a short time is the excessive temp that creates during work and takes time to decrease.
In addition, the cutter also features a fan on demand. This cooling fan runs automatically and blows the dust-out and prevents entering it inside the unit.
Expedient practice
This best plasma cutter can be run using regular household current. All you need is 120 v and 20 amp circuit board in the workplace. This standard household powered machine is easy to work inside the garage, shop or workshop anytime.
The plasma cutter comes with high too- the piston-driven air compressor. This is installed inside and makes it device easy transportable. In most cases, you need to buy a separate compressor to increase its portability. So, the Hobart air force is more money-saving than others.
Useful features
The Hobart airforce plasma cutter comes with a finger contoured torch. This XT12R plasma torch gives better grip that saves you from slipping of fatigue during work. The plasma torch plays a vital role when you are working on a detailed work of cut.
In that note the pilot arch also a great addition of it. This arch makes the internal mini arch inside of the nozzle. So what makes the arc great? Well, it won’t let touch the tip the metal surface. As a result, it won’t burn out quickly. Also, you can work effortlessly on the rough, greasy or painted surface as well.
User-friendly Design
The design of the cutter makes it lightweight and easy to work with. Therefore it has a built-in inverter, so the plasma
The cutter becomes lighter in weight. Infect its total weight is around 31 lbs. So you can carry it with you or move around one place to another.
The plasma cutter comes with a long working cable, a torch and a cable management strap so that you can work more effectively by setting it up anywhere.
Safety
A diagnostic LED light comes with the plasma cutter, which alerts the user to check the temp, status, torch readiness and troubleshoot the power. It also cut done the downtime and let you assess the cutter status within a sec. So that you get the accurate info about it without predicting it.
Good news is the plasma cutter can bear up to 104 degrees F and features with particular thermal safety. So, is the duty cycle is overdone, or the airflow is blocked the cutter could be overheated. The auto shut of mechanism then turns on this time and slows down the duty cycle. The unnecessary build-up will destroy the inside tools. This safety mechanism turns on to shut down the machine to protect it.
Here are our top 3 picks of Hobart Airforce Plasma Cutter:
Last update on 2023-09-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
At a glance
- Duty Cycle- 35% at 104° Fahrenheit
- Cut Performance- 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) at 10 inches per minute on mild steel
- 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) at 3 inches per minute on mild steel
- Input Current- 20A
- Volts- 120V
- Plasma Gas Flow/Pressure- Preset with built-in Compressor
- Product Dimensions- 16.5 x 18.5 x 11.2 inches
- Weight- 31 lbs
Pros
- Nifty cutting capacity.
- Lightweight and easy to use.
- Comes with pre-built air compressor
- The small heat-affected zone occurs less wrapping.
- Good value.
Cons
- Not suitable for cutting thick metals.
- Runs with the only 120V current.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q- How loud is it?
A- It makes a sound like welding machine but not that loud.
Q- Has the machine come with the built-in compressor?
A- Yes.
Q- Can this cut 3/8 inches pieces?
A- Yes.
Q- Where is this product made from?
A- This is made in the USA.
Conclusion
At the end of the review all, you can say that the Hobart Airforce 12ci Plasma Cutter is an ultimate option for any professionals.
It offers excellent advantages, such as effortless operation, versatility, and neat cutting every time. Depending on your excellence, this one can be used faster with perfection. But yes this is not making for tackling giant pieces.
You can use it for your DIY projects for home, even in small shops and workshops. So if you need a portable, durable and flexible plasma cutter than Hobart Airforce, 12 ci is the best one to pick.
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