t’s probably a very safe bet to say we all love tools—especially new ones! Whether it’s a newfangled ratchet wrench that clicks three times more than the others or a cordless flashlight that shines to the moon, when something new comes out that sets a precedence for either performance/durability or price point, true tool aficionados take notice. But what about when that new tool does both: performs as good as if not better than the best and is priced significantly cheaper?!
That’s precisely what Harbor Freight Tools’ latest offering to the world of metal fabrication offers: top-of-the-line performance at a fraction of the cost. Their new Titanium Plasma 45, an inverter-based, 45-amp plasma cutter that, just as the title suggests, is a “slice above.” When powered off 240 V, the machine can cleanly cut through 5/8-inch steel continuously for 5 minutes at 45 amps with a 50 percent duty cycle (100 percent at 33 amps). Using the lower 120V power source, that capability is reduced to 3-1/2 minutes at 20 amps with a 35 percent duty cycle. Having the dual power source option is great for the guy at home—especially those without the luxury of having 220/240V power in their garage.