Chicago Electric 58605 20 Amp Plasma Cutter: What to Know
The Chicago Electric 58605 is one of the most recognizable entry-level plasma cutters around, a small 20-amp machine that has introduced a lot of people to plasma cutting on a modest setup. It is not a professional tool and does not pretend to be, but for the right work it does a job. The key is understanding exactly what 20 amps cut, where the machine falls short, and whether it fits what you actually need before you commit. Here is a straight look at the 58605.
What the 58605 is
The Chicago Electric 58605 is a compact 20-amp inverter plasma cutter, a low-power, entry-level machine aimed squarely at thin-metal cutting for hobbyists and light home use. It is small, light and simple to run, which is a large part of its appeal for someone trying plasma for the first time without a large commitment.
What 20 amps really cuts
This is the most important thing to be honest about. At 20 amps, the 58605 is a thin-metal machine. It handles light sheet steel and thin material well, roughly up to about 1/4 inch in practice, and severs a little thicker slowly. It is not built for plate, structural steel or anything approaching the 1/2 inch that a 50-amp machine handles. Bought with thin-metal expectations, it satisfies; bought expecting to cut thick steel, it disappoints. Match the tool to the task.
The torch and consumables
The 58605 uses a contact-start torch, meaning you touch the tip to the metal to start the arc rather than using a non-touch pilot arc. This works but has trade-offs: the tip wears faster, and starting on rusty or painted metal is harder than with a pilot-arc machine. Keep spare consumables (electrode and tip) on hand, since contact starting consumes them faster, and replace them when cut quality drops.
Air supply
Like any air plasma cutter, the 58605 needs clean, dry, oil-free air. Because it is a small machine, its air demand is modest and most home compressors can supply it, but the usual rules still apply: keep the air dry with a filter/dryer, drain your tank, and make sure the compressor holds pressure through the cut. Moisture in the line hurts cut quality on any plasma machine, including this one.
Where it falls short
- Power ceiling: 20 amps limits it to thin metal; it will not cut plate.
- Contact-start torch: more consumable wear and harder starts on rough metal than a pilot-arc machine.
- Duty cycle: as an entry machine, expect a modest duty cycle suited to short cuts, not continuous work.
- Consumable availability: being a store-brand machine, plan ahead for consumable supply.
Who the 58605 suits
The 58605 suits a hobbyist or occasional user cutting thin metal who wants an inexpensive, simple introduction to plasma cutting without a big commitment. It is a reasonable first machine for sheet-metal art, light repairs and thin fabrication. Who should skip it: anyone who needs to cut 3/8 inch or thicker, wants a pilot arc for rusty or painted metal, or cuts often enough to value a higher duty cycle and readily available consumables. Those users are better served by a 50-amp pilot-arc machine like the ArcCaptain CUT50 or PrimeWeld CUT50DP.
The verdict
The Chicago Electric 58605 is what it looks like: a low-cost, 20-amp entry plasma cutter for thin metal. Judged as that, it does its job; judged as anything more, it will let you down.
Three things to be clear on. Treat it as a thin-metal machine, good to roughly 1/4 inch, not a plate cutter, and buy it with that expectation so it satisfies rather than disappoints. Accept the contact-start torch, keeping spare consumables on hand and knowing starts on rusty or painted metal are harder than with a pilot arc. And match it to the user, a hobbyist or occasional thin-metal cutter wanting a simple, low-commitment start, while anyone cutting thicker or more often should step up to a 50-amp pilot-arc machine.
Bought for thin metal and light use, the 58605 is a fine first plasma cutter; expected to do more, it is the wrong tool.
Frequently asked questions
What can the Chicago Electric 58605 cut? At 20 amps it is a thin-metal machine, handling light sheet steel and thin material up to roughly 1/4 inch in practice, severing a little thicker slowly. It is not built for plate or structural steel, which need a higher-amperage machine.
Is the Chicago Electric 58605 a good plasma cutter? For its purpose, a low-cost entry into thin-metal plasma cutting for hobbyists, it does the job. It is not a professional or thick-metal machine. Judged against its 20-amp thin-metal role it satisfies; expected to cut plate, it disappoints.
Does the 58605 have a pilot arc? No. It uses a contact-start torch, where you touch the tip to the metal to start the arc. This wears the tip faster and makes starting on rusty or painted metal harder than with a non-touch pilot-arc machine.
What air compressor does the 58605 need? As a small 20-amp machine its air demand is modest and most home compressors can supply it. Keep the air clean, dry and oil-free with a filter/dryer, drain the tank, and make sure the compressor holds pressure through the cut.
How thick can a 20-amp plasma cutter cut? Roughly up to about 1/4 inch of mild steel cleanly in practice, with a bit more on a slow severance cut. Twenty amps is entry-level, suited to thin sheet and light material rather than plate or structural steel.
Who should buy the Chicago Electric 58605? A hobbyist or occasional user cutting thin metal who wants an inexpensive, simple introduction to plasma cutting. Anyone needing to cut 3/8 inch or thicker, wanting a pilot arc, or cutting frequently should choose a 50-amp pilot-arc machine instead.
Why does my 58605 tip wear out quickly? Contact-start torches consume the tip faster because the tip touches the metal to start each arc. Keep spare consumables on hand, use the correct technique, and ensure clean dry air and correct pressure to get the most life from each tip.
Is a 50-amp machine worth it over the 58605? If you cut anything approaching 3/8 to 1/2 inch, want a pilot arc for rough metal, or cut often, yes. A 50-amp pilot-arc machine like the ArcCaptain CUT50 or PrimeWeld CUT50DP cuts far thicker and starts more easily than the 20-amp 58605.
