I'm stupid

[Graham Brown]

I am interested an a plasma cutter. I know you have to have a hookup to an air compressor. Does it use gas? do you have to buy a gas bottle? Is the colossal Teck CVT 50 on e-bay any good? What are the consumables? Maybe you can direct me to the basic innformation

[Hotfoot]

Uses no gas.
Uses dry air supply. Some units have built-in compressor.
Consumables on a plasma are the torch parts. Vary by manufacture and torch type. Some import consumables are impossible to find.
Never heard of that brand, so dunno...its a gamble, with odds stacked against you..Kinda like Vegas...:p Others may have direct experience.

[mikecwik]

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/improving-your-skills/plasma/

dont cheap out and do some homework on this purchase...you surely wont regret buying a quality unit.

[Graham Brown]

Thanks feellows for the information. I know the weldidng instructor at the community college. Think I will go to see him and let him check me out on one

[taylorkh]

For what it is worth... some plasma cutters do require a special gas mixture. Here is the scoop: http://www.esabna.com/us/en/education/knowledge/cutting/plasma-cutting-recommended-gases.cfm

We have an older ESAB PCM 150 at the local CC. It uses a bottle of Argon/Hydrogen and a second bottle of Nitrogen. Just had a service man out to get it working - some electrical problems. It will cut steel to 1 1/2", stainless and aluminum. And it cuts them FAST!

Probably overkill for the average user :D

Ken