multi plaz ?

[garage built]

Recentley I stumbled upon a an ad for this thing called a multi plaz. They were showing all sorts of operations welding brazing soldering cutting and welding. As near as I could get out of what literature I could find was it was using water and alchahol (at least 40%) turning it to steam and then to plasma. Sometimes my glass is 1/2 full and am kind of shy of the product. The closest dealer seems to be in Cali. Anyone know anything?

[billbong]

Hi Garage Built, I saw that "machine" too.

I was browsing Ebay and saw an add at the bottom for a plasma cutter with welding, brazing, soldering and cutting capabilities.

The company also had a couple of videos demo-ing the capabilities of the torch.....pretty awesome range of features.

Some years ago, about 1997, I was working part time for a guy just before I retired permanently, and I got to use a plasma cutter for the first time in my life.

I was intrigued by the fact that you could generate a hot flame by an electrical process and cut through steel etc, which got me thinking....what if you could somehow make a torch like that, and be able to do brazing and "gas type welding" without the need for Oxy and Acetylene bottles and the cost of hiring and filling them.....well now about 12 years later they've done it.....the Multiplaz 3500.

The bonus is there's no compressor needed, like the plasma cutter needs, it's all in the torch body and all it takes is some water in the torch body to generate the steam for arc plasma concentration.

In my book, the biggy is the ability to weld Stainless Steel and Alluminium without the need for Argon or any shielding gas at all

I see the price in the USA is about $1,995, and down in OZ it's $2,450.

If'n I can sell a bit of the junk in my garage and sell all my welding gear too I'll "invest" in one of these machines.....so many features it leaves me panting...and to top it off it runs on 110volts or 240 volts house current not industrial, and is completely portable.

Who needs Tig, Mig or stick, or as well an Oxy Acetylene set-up
Ian.

[monckywrench]

Do conduct a thorough test for your own self-protection including destructive bend testing of samples.

Who needs Tig, Mig or stick, or as well an Oxy Acetylene set-up

Not I. Advertisers ALWAYS tell the truth.

Everyone do the moral thing and send me your antiquated equipment for proper ecologically-sound disposal. You pay shipping and handling. Those nasty Red and Blue welding machines are particularly super-extra obsolete, and copper windings emit toxic homotrons when powered up!

Pack neatly with all accessories so none of you are tempted to aid and abet the use of other obsolete machines.

[urch55]

Those nasty Red and Blue welding machines are particularly super-extra obsolete, and copper windings emit toxic homotrons when powered up!

I would question the copper part... My 1983 Miller TB has aluminum windings.

BTW,, what is "homotrons" anyway???? Sounds like something to do with 'gay' marriage.

[usmcpop]

I think back then, Miller used only the finest "alyoominium" from the Queen's private stock in Great Britain.

And "homotrons" are similarly charged particles that are, somewhat strangely, attracted to each other.

[urch55]

And "homotrons" are similarly charged particles that are, somewhat strangely, attracted to each other.

So then, I can see where that fits in a marrage.

[brucer]

just asking,

is your lws stocking consumables? how much do they charge for each part?

how much do the consumables cost, plus shipping if your lws isnt stocking them?

how long is it going to take to get the consumables after you order them if your lws isnt stocking them?

[Sberry]

Who is going to hit the report button? ha

[billbong]

Hi all, still waiting for the supplier to get back to me about consumeables pricing.

The two main consumeables are the copper nozzles, and the cutting one has a hole 1.2mm diam, and the welding one 2.3mm diam, so when the cutting one gets too big (+ 1.5mm) you can drill it out to 2.3 mm and use it for the welding torch.

Now if'n there was a way to "reform" the nozzle end hole to 1.2mm diam you just might be able to extend the life 2 or 3 times etc.....hmmmmm......maybe a simple press tool that would reform the tip to a smaller hole.

At the worst supply problem I could probably turn some out of copper, as they're pretty simple in design....maybe that'll motivate someone to make them with CNC and supply them on Ebay.....we'll see.....they look pretty straightforward and appear to have been press formed in a die.

The other bit is the cathode that is a screw in part inside, also made from copper, and appears to have some sort of insert in it, looks like stainless steel, but I can't be certain, don't know what it does.....If'n I get really desperate I'll try making one out of copper and press a piece of stainless in the end and see what happens.....design wise it's also very simple.....good for a CNC/Ebay project.
Ian.

[Sandy]

The other bit is the cathode that is a screw in part inside, also made from copper, and appears to have some sort of insert in it, looks like stainless steel, but I can't be certain, don't know what it does.....If'n I get really desperate I'll try making one out of copper and press a piece of stainless in the end and see what happens.....design wise it's also very simple.....good for a CNC/Ebay project.
Ian.

Generally that material is hafnium. Each time you pull the trigger a micro pit is pulled out of it.

[GilaSlim]

Hi all, still waiting for the supplier to get back to me about consumeables pricing.

Hmmm. Twelve days and you can’t even get a price on consumables. I wonder how long it will take to actually buy some. Months? Years? Never? And now you are trying to figure out if you can make your own…

I can go to my lws five days a week, and buy a year’s worth of consumables for my Hobart and Miller welders. Cheap too.

[billbong]

Yeah, Slim, welding rods are cheap as bird sh!t, you can even get them in our $2 shop....but the Multiplaz is a welder/brazer/cutter in a different school.

I suppose I'll have to contact the guy again 'case he forgot my request, sigh.

Hi Sandy, what's Hafnium?.....on second thoughts I'll check on the net and see who supplies the stuff, also to see if'n a substitute can be used.

It appears that when you start the torch the cathode copper tip contacts the inside of the copper nozzle, and the centre bit (Hafnium?) doesn't make contact.

I know this happens, 'cos when I stripped it down to check on wear the cathode had a bit of pitting to one side on the copper.

Just checked the 'Net....Hafnium is rarer than rocking horse poo, so making the cathode with Haf insert might be a bit difficult......if'n Hafnium is indeed used......can't see the Chinese going down that path, but that might be the reason the torch design works like it does.....must find a substitute for Hafnium, or a supplier, or what the insert actually does and is made of.
Ian.

[brucer]

so what happens if you need parts and/or service?

i see this being a major problem. if'n it takes you more than a week to even find out if'n you can get consumables... if'n you get any pricing you better go ahead and order a drawer full of consumables just to have them on hand.. if the consumables are inexpensive enough to even consider that.. i would be a little worried if any of the parts are made of that rare material hafnium that they could be quite expensive, or not readily available.. would suck to save money on the argon or co2 that your not using, yet have to pay 10x or more times the money for tips/cathodes..

i wouldn't get rid of your welder, plasma cutter and air compressor that's for sure, still cant believe you didnt ask about consumables before you bought the thing.. seems like your lws or whatever it is pretty much left you hanging...

i hope you the best on getting some information on consumables.. i would like to see a price list ,shipping rates and shipping timeline... i know here in the states it takes around a month to get stuff shipped from china..

it might be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but without parts its a nice door stop..


good luck.