Plasma Advice

[liam.mccaffrey]

Im building a circuit racing car in and am looking into getting a small plasma for cutting probably a max of 1/8" steel plate. I'm looking at the Hobart Airforce 250 which seems to fit the bill.

I wanted to get an incorporated pump as I don't really want to buy a seperate compressor at the moment.

The house I rent does not have an available 240V drop so I am stuck with 110V and a 20A breaker. Using the dryer outlet is not really an option and I don't really need to cut thicker than 1/8" anyway.

Could someone confirm that I have made a sound decision and that I have not missed anything glaring. Also what is the performance of this machin cutting 1/8" steel i.e. cleanliness of cut and speed

Many Thanks

Liam Mc

[whateg0]

If you don't have a 220 oultet, how are you going to weld the car?

Dave

[liam.mccaffrey]

Not going to, already have. I need to do a lot of 1/8" plate work now hence the question

I have a Lincoln power mig 140c, running from a regular socket. it works fine and when i need to weld heavier gauge steel i do it in work.

[weldgault]

A cylinder of Compressed air or nitrogen will work fine. John

[JimYo]

I think the 250CI will work (I use it on a 20 amp house line) ... but I think your cutting is going to be pretty slow. I think I would go with a 400 with tanks or a small compresser if you have a lot of plate to cut.
Jim

[Woodshed]

I have one and I have no problems with it. Once you pass 3/16" it start slowing down. Have cut 5/16" and small cut on 3/8" but was vey slow. I/8" and down cut very fast. The more I use it the easier it is tow work with like all other machines.

[Northweldor]

One of the problems with using a machine with a built-in compressor is that, due to being unable to sufficiently dry and filter the air used, they are harder on consumables than a machine that is using dry well-filtered air (more expensive to use). This may be less of a problem in low humidity climate, but you have not indicated where you are located.

[liam.mccaffrey]

Sorry, I live in mid oklahoma. Thanks for the advice

[Northweldor]

Your air may be dry enough that you won't have many problems. However, you might consider getting the Airforce 400, which will cut up to 3/8 ", will cut 1/8" very quickly, is only a little more money, and is still quite portable. (I would have bought this machine, but in Canada, they are still priced about the same as an HT Powermax 30,which I bought instead). Then, as I did, get a reasonably priced small portable compressor to go with it.
I bought a Briggs and Stratton 2.5 HP
oil-lubed 4.5 cfm 10 gal. compressor and used a cheap China-made filter/dryer, and it works very well for me (can cut continuosly and compressor keeps up).

Also, this set-up would have more resale value when your project is finished.

[Northweldor]

Your air may be dry enough that you won't have many problems. However, you might consider getting the Airforce 400, which will cut up to 3/8 ", will cut 1/8" very quickly, is only a little more money, and is still quite portable. (I would have bought this machine, but in Canada, they are still priced about the same as an HT Powermax 30,which I bought instead). Then, as I did, get a reasonably priced small portable compressor to go with it.
I bought a Briggs and Stratton 2.5 HP
oil-lubed 4.5 cfm 10 gal. compressor and used a cheap China-made filter/dryer, and it works very well for me (can cut continuosly and compressor keeps up).

Also, this set-up would have more resale value when your project is finished.