Buying plasma instead of O/A for now

[10Speed]

I was going to buy a new Victor torch set, tanks, cart, etc. I started adding all the prices up and thought to myself I could get a plasma cutter for that amount. Especially since I have been getting into more aluminum projects.

I know I want a 220 machine, but how do you truly tell the ratings apart. I am also on a budget so a plasma for more than 1200 dollars is out. I will not being using it more than every other weekend for hobby type uses.

I have seen on one of the welding sites where a 375 Miller cut through a 3/4" piece of mild steel and looked 10 times better than my torch cuts, but that is where my next question starts, How can you tell what the max cut capacity of a plasma is considering Miller underates their plasmas and Chineese machines are overrated.

I am stuck b/w the T/D, Hobart 400, Northern 375, Miller 375, HTP 400. Like I said I will be using it for hobby uses, do not need a professional unit, but want to be able to get parts for it fairly easily. I generally will be cutting less than 1/4" steel and 3/16" AL, but occassionally be cutting thicker material such as solid rod and 1/2" by 2" bar stock.

Thanks 10 speed.

[Joe H]

I've got a TD38 and couldn't be happier with it. It cuts 1/4" like butter, 1/2" cuts quite well without even rounding the edges at all. I have cut a piece of 3/4"just for kicks, and it did ok, considering it is only rated to sever 5/8".

AFAIC TD is #1 when it comes to plasmas. Even the price is better than the competition, and in my experience the consumables are cheaper and last longer. The "OneTorch" on the TD units is about as good as it gets too.

[garfish]

You have an air compressor with dry air and sufficient psi and cfm?

[10Speed]

You have an air compressor with dry air and sufficient psi and cfm?


Yes, I do have an air compressor with a paint gun quality dryer on it. The air compressor has plenty of cfm and psi, has enough to supply several plasmas at once if needed.

[mudbug]

I took a similar route and bought a plasma...I had a couple of O/A setups,but just didn't want to fight the bottles.

I bought a Power-Arc 35 which is supposed to clean cut 3/8"(and does) when I need to cut thicker I have access to O/A torches. I can say it would be nice to be able to heat metal to bend it sometimes,but this I can live with.

I like the plasma,which I bought to cut aluminum & stainless for projects. It does a pretty good job on the plain steel too. I just cut a bunch of 4"x4"x1/4" angle iron to build a lathe bench with no problems.

I don't have the ability take the plasma and go out to the field to cut stuff ,but I can live with that too(thankfully). I just bring whatever I want to cut to the shop or let someone else deal with it.

I'm not sorry about my choice,and while I don't use it everyday it's always setting there in a nice compact package(28#) waiting to work when I need it.

While on the subject....Anyone have any thoughts on the HTP plasma cutters? I can't even find a price on them on the www.

[10Speed]

The HTP 400 is $989.00. I probably will get a O/A setup later, but most of my needs are cutting, especially al the way things have been lately. I can use the torch setup at work if needed (would have to drag by projects to work though).

The HTP is so close in price to the TD that I would probably go with the TD considering more places stock the consumables. Also the HTP for being a cheaper brand seems to have expensive consumables (probably where they make up most of their profits).

I have heard some good reviews on the NT plasma, but I have a feeling the plasma will be hard to get torch parts for down the road, unless they copied one of the major brand torches.

[Hammack_Welding]

I would suggest you taking a look at the hypertherm 30. I have one on my truck, and it is an Awesome little machine. The consumable last longer than any other that I have used.

[platypus20]

I would suggest you taking a look at the hypertherm 30. I have one on my truck, and it is an Awesome little machine. The consumable last longer than any other that I have used.

One of the reasons I bought a Hypertherm Powermax 30, was the cost of the consumables, the nozzle and electrode sells for about $7 a set, and they last a very long time. For its size and its cost, I don't believe the unit can be beat.

Jack

[Northweldor]

Recently bought the PowerMax 30 for the reasons above, plus portability. For transport purposes, I have the 20LB machine sitting on a bracket mounted on my compressor (I remove it when in use, because I am not sure of the bad effects on invertor and circuit boards etc., of compressor vibration).

[hiflyer]

Spoke with HTP last week about the Microcut 400, they told me it has been phased out, in place they are selling the Microcut 625. List price is $1450. and they would sell it to me for $1150. Lots of machine for the $$$$.

[10Speed]

I would suggest you taking a look at the hypertherm 30. I have one on my truck, and it is an Awesome little machine. The consumable last longer than any other that I have used.

Where are you guys buying the Hypertherms from and where are you buying the consumables?

What is the max cut, thickness that you can barely cut through, such as solid rod or small solid rectangular stock?

[platypus20]

Its a 3/8" rated machine, rated to sever 1/2" material, see the link below. I have severed a piece of 5/8" plate, it was very slow, but it did it. I bought mine from the LWS, the cutter, case, gloves and circle jig, for $1095 with tax. The comsumables are cheap, about $7 a set, if I remember correctly, $2.46 for the electrode and $4.44 for the nozzle.

Jack


http://www.hypertherm.com/en/Products_and_Services/Manual_Plasma/powermax30.jsp

[Northweldor]

I agree with the above, that 5/8 " is max and very slow but will handle without destroying the consumables on 220 V. I also bought from lws for a few dollars more than best online suppliers, and in Canada the deluxe kit includes two power cord adapters.

[opsranch]

10speed,

You won't go wrong with the Hypertherm 30. Lightweight, 110/220v, cheapest consumables, great performance. You are pushing it with anything thicker than 3/16" on 110v, but will cut 1/2" (go slow)on 220v better than a torch. The new ones have all the adaptors for 110 (both 15 and 20 amp) and 220v. if you bought the machine prior to these being included, your dealar can order the kit for free. Most places are selling them in the "kit" (box, gloves, circle cutter, exta consumables, trolley wheels, cord adaptors, hold off device, etc.) for about $1100.00.

Bob