Plasma cutter

[vegadesign]

I'm looking to get a new plasma cutter and I don't have the money up front so I'm considering financing one

Do you guys recommend any decently priced plasma cutters and where to get it

I do a lot of cutting with 3/8" and 1/4" steel and I'm going through angle grinders like crazy so it's time for a good investment that will pay for itself in no time
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[dwcsr]

What are you cutting? 3/8 what? makes a difference in what you need.

[vegadesign]

My bad, I guess that would help.
The main stuff I cut is steel, mostly mild
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[dwcsr]

Plate, tube. Bar, sheet???????

[vegadesign]

All of the above
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[dwcsr]

Speaking of hand held units only Plasma doesn't do as well on tube or bar stock its best performance is on plate thats what it was designed for. For 3/8 and up then you can expect about $1800 to 2 k. If you want quick clean cuts on round tube rectangular tube and bar stock then get a saw like the Milwaukee 6190-20, very quick and precise and about a third of the plasma cutter price. Plasma needs to be in the 60 amp class and not 110v stay away from the lincoln p20 , p25. and cutters in that class, I have one and its limited on what it cuts nicely. It will do 3/8 but it looks like rats chewed it off. You will need an air dryer for the plasma torch to work properly.

One thing to remember is that the plasma cut is only as good as the hand that uses it. If you're shaking the cut will show it and not produce what you think it should look like. A saw always cuts nice and clean and as straight as you set it up to cut..

Since I got my saw the plasma sits more than it gets used when cutting jobs come up. I never use my bandsaw anymore, its so inaccurate compared to the milwaukee saw.

So that why I asked what your cutting. Plasma isn't for everything.

[dwcsr]

I forgot to add that low dollar plasmas ( under $1200) don't gouge or lop very well. Cutting off the side of a frozen rusted nut or gouging off the top of frame rivets over heats the plasma machine. Torches are still better for those types of cutting. Plasma can harden the rivet head so you can't drill it later.

[Indian113]

I have a 110 snap on and it's only good for sheet metal. Thicker steel is a joke, I've cut some 3/16's and it was all it would do. I use my saws all on thicker steel.

[vegadesign]

For the tube and bars its more than likley I would use my chop saw, like you said it is cleaner and in my case more precise



My main reason for the plasma cutter is that I cut alot of plate for brackets and whatever else plate can do so it's fairly offten

Great advice about the Lincoln, I've had a couple of people tell me they are crap
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[dwcsr]

I don't mean an abrasive chop saw. I mean an actual metal saw for about $450 you can get very clean cuts far better than a chop saw. The lincoln isn't crap it does very well on thin stuff and has lasted 10 years so far. Its a light duty plasma and just a little too light for what we do on these trucks.

This is the saw I have http://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/6190-20 well worth the money. They call it a Dry Cut saw

[Mr. 250r]

hypertherm powermax 30

[Lee H]

Vegadesign, I have a brand new Hypertherm Powermax 30 deluxe that I have never used. I bought it about a year ago for a project and ended up not needing it. Paid $1,400, will let it go for $900 plus the ride. Lee
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[NONHOG]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

I don't mean an abrasive chop saw. I mean an actual metal saw for about $450 you can get very clean cuts far better than a chop saw. The lincoln isn't crap it does very well on thin stuff and has lasted 10 years so far. Its a light duty plasma and just a little too light for what we do on these trucks.

This is the saw I have http://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/corded/6190-20 well worth the money. They call it a Dry Cut saw

On my wish list! I know there are many variables but how's the blade life?

[johnnyclack]

Check out Thermal Dynamics (Google) the one here at work get's quite a workout from those who know & those who don't have a F=clue what's going on

It's held up well over the years

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by NONHOG

On my wish list! I know there are many variables but how's the blade life?

One big NO No is moving the material in the clamp while the blade is part way down. I got lazy and slid a piece of square tube to make a next cut and it dragged across the carbide and chipped it. They cut badly with chipped carbides and the teeth start coming off and sting when they hit you.

But with the new blade I have cut all kinds of stuff and it has lasted so far through what would have been 5 abrasive wheels. I cut copper bar, aluminum, Mild steel tube and angle, Stainless tube and DOM. The dust reduction is great and the nice smooth surfaces you get and far better than a wheel. I got a refurbed unit that looked new.

[ETsC10]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

... slid a piece of square tube to make a next cut and it dragged across the carbide and chipped it. They cut badly with chipped carbides and the teeth start coming off and sting when they hit you.

Or take your eye out

VERY good advice!

.

[Mike Bradbury]

I have found that even an "ok" plasma can have new life with a new gun. I bought my Esab plasma many years ago for $1800. Compared to the new ones now days it is not very good and it is a lot bigger than I would like and the consumable prices were through the roof, but it is a 220v and I put a new universal torch head on it and it is cutting better than ever and the tips are half the cost of Esab.
I also have Hypertherm and Thermal dynamics units, they both have great quality and consumable pricing. For big stuff over 3/4 I still use my oxy fuel torch.

[johnnyclack]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

One big NO No is moving the material in the clamp while the blade is part way down. I got lazy and slid a piece of square tube to make a next cut and it dragged across the carbide and chipped it. They cut badly with chipped carbides and the teeth start coming off and sting when they hit you.

Chipping may also occur if you’re using a fence or stop and you “load” the tail piece against it. This will force the piece back into the carbide teeth once the cut is complete resulting in chipped teeth. A quality saw blade can run upwards of $250.00.

My advice would be to purchase a saw with a quality clamping system, and use it, use it, use it, use it ...it will save you a multitudes of headaches down the road as well as $

[Ron 586]

I bought a new Hobart Airforce 400 from Rural King a few years ago. I never got to use it due to my health going south but it was supposed to handle anything I would need it to playing with these old trucks. Sorry that I never got to try it out.

But it's not over yet.

[_Ogre]

i'll need to ask... what do you want a plasma cutter for?
if you have money to burn and just want one, then buy one.
i can't think of any reason you'd need one to work on a truck

i bought a gas torch setup when i started my truck, i just had to have one
sold it 3 yrs later with the original gas in the tanks

i've gone thru five $10 harbor freight 4'' grinders and $100 worth of cutting wheels building my truck
they cut cleaner than any other cutting tool out there and i still have 3 out of 5 grinders

[vegadesign]

I cut a lot of flat plate and the grinder just isn't cutting it lol get it
But for me it's a time issue, in order to make money it has to be accurate and it has to be fast
I'd rather do some extra grinding on the edges for slag than straight cutting plus its kinda hard to cut turns with a 4-4 1/2" grinder
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[johnnyclack]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

i'll need to ask... what do you want a plasma cutter for?
if you have money to burn and just want one, then buy one.
i can't think of any reason you'd need one to work on a truck

i bought a gas torch setup when i started my truck, i just had to have one
sold it 3 yrs later with the original gas in the tanks

i've gone thru five $10 harbor freight 4'' grinders and $100 worth of cutting wheels building my truck
they cut cleaner than any other cutting tool out there and i still have 3 out of 5 grinders

The distinct advantage of a plasma torch over a gas torch is heat transfer, a gas torch is way hotter than a plasma torch. Which translates into distortion of your parent metal resulting in additional work and a lower quality output.

But hey ‘ if your happy using a 4” grinder (you did say grinder, not a rotary cut –off disc ?) these would not be concerns for you.

[tlorber]

Has anyone here ever used one of these?

Ramsond CUT 50DY 50 Amp Digital Inverter Portable...
Price and reviews look pretty good.

[johnnyclack]

I have not used this brand, but it has been my experience that a plasma cutter is not something you want “low end” .

MY advice (for what it’s worth) would be mid range or upper level

Good Luck

[eldogg]

I have a Lincoln Pro-Cut 55. (bought it used) It works great, even though I'm a Miller man at heart. lol.