What to buy?

[9 LIVES]

Im so pleased with my hobart 187 mig welder (big step up from my lincoln weldpak 100)

I want to buy a plasma cutter to aid in my light fabrication work I do. It would make my work look alot more professional. What size unit do I need to cut at a max of 1/4" steel.

Is the AirForce™ 250ci a good size to start with? Any place I can find one used to start with?


How does a plasma cutter work? do you just hook up the ground wire and go straight to work? Or do I need a gas tank etc..?

[txfireguy2003]

I don't own a plasma, although I have done a lot of research on them as I plan to buy one soon.
The only thing you need is a power source to plug the machine into, and an air compressor with filter/dryer to supply plenty of clean dry air to the machine. The machine can be run with different types of compressed gas out of a bottle but that's mainly for cutting specialty metals as I understand it.
Now, with the 250ci, there is no need for a compressor since the machine has one built in, but what I have heard is that it doesn't have a very good filtering/drying system in it which will cause your consumables to be worn out faster. As far as 1/4 inch material, the 250ci will "sever" which I have learned means cut, but it will look like you did it with an axe, 1/4" steel. If you need to cut aluminum, from what I've read most machines will do aluminum, but only about 1/2 the thickness of it's steel rating!
If it were me, and it basically is since I'm looking for a machine to do exactly what you're looking for, I would go with the Hobart Airforce 400. That's what I'm considering, but also thinking along the lines of a Thermal Arc, Miller Spectrum etc, if one pops up on Ebay or craigslist at the right price. There will be others on here to give more advise, but that's my oppinion.

[tigster]

FWIW,
i'm saving my money for a thermal dynamics cutmaster 51 next spring. this one is rated for 1/2 inch quality cut. the thickest i will "probably" cut is 3/8. this will fit the bill nicely, as i hate to be up against the upper limit on most anything.

[hankj]

How does a plasma cutter work? do you just hook up the ground wire and go straight to work? Or do I need a gas tank etc..?

Plasma cutters are basicly air-arc cutters. The arc superheats the metal; the air or bottled gas supply blows away the molten metal. The big difference is precision. Plasma cuts are super clean.

Essentialy, you do just like you say, except that you need a supply of air or gas at the volume the manufacturer specifies. Compressed air needs to be dry. Air with any sgnificant humidity eats consumables pretty quickly.

The 250ci is a good machine, but if it were me, I'd go for a "rated 3/8" minimum.

Hank

[mynameisnobody]

I just purchased a Hypertherm 30. I actually tried out this model at a car show before I bought it. I haven't tried it at home yet but I will write a full report on it here.
Using it at the show it seemed very easy to handle and made good clean cuts in the 3/8 material I used it on.

[keenavv]

I have a Cutmaster 50 and it is great!!!:D

[AnotherDano]

I just purchased a Hypertherm 30. I actually tried out this model at a car show before I bought it. I haven't tried it at home yet but I will write a full report on it here.
Using it at the show it seemed very easy to handle and made good clean cuts in the 3/8 material I used it on.

I just plugged miy new 30 in last night. Cur a 1" piece of 1/8" strap and had to let it go at that. Now I need some time to really play with it.

Are you running on 110 or 220?
I have some questions about making a jumper wire to be able to switch between the 110/20 amp in the garage and a 220/30 amp on a generator.
Let's compare some notes when I have some time to get back on here.

Dano

[SavageSunJeep]

I just purchased a Hypertherm 30. I actually tried out this model at a car show before I bought it. I haven't tried it at home yet but I will write a full report on it here.
Using it at the show it seemed very easy to handle and made good clean cuts in the 3/8 material I used it on.
Did you get your PowerMax30 from Kris, at the Off road expo in Pomona in Oct?

I just got a Hypertherm PowerMax 30 from him yesterday. He is FEDXing and it arrives tomorrow.

I did a lot of research on plasma cutters before I bought one. I was going to do the Miller 375 Extreme but then I came across some technical articles on Plasma cutters and I went with the Hypertherm over all others as a result. IMO the Hypertherm uses a superior technology albeit a Thermodynamics, Hobart or Miller are all good or great units and I don't think you would go wrong I give the edge to Hypertherm.