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plasma cutters


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any one have any advice on buying? i know m.klotz bought one last year but haven't heard how well its lasted. i know miller and thermal dynamics have good ones. what about these cheapies i see on ebay? any good? the most i'll ever encounter cutting would possibly be 1/4".

 

i have a thermal and it is dope

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I got mine from these guys... http://www.otdeal.com/plasma_cutter.html

 

For the price, I'm very happy. I got the 60A plasma and the 200amp tig. Both do what they say they will....I've cut 1" steel with the plasma.

 

The downside is primarily the torches. I don't care for the design or the quality. You have to be careful and pay attention to how you use it. If you'r going to have it in a fairly protected shop enviroment and you aren't the kind of guy that drops/throws/tosses tools around, then you should be pretty happy with it.

 

I got a 5 year warranty with mine when I got them, so it will be a couple more years before I modify them. The consumables for the plasma are unique and I haven't found them anywhere esle yet...but I did buy a ton of them when I got the torch. If you can swing it, I'd highly suggest buying a second torch at the same time. The box/unit itself is pretty nice and certainly has the power...but kinda like some HF tools, the plastic on the torch is cheap.

 

If you're going to be using it in a shop like airedout, then I'd buy local and I'd buy name brand. You'll need to be able to get parts and service quickly. If you are using it in your garage like I am, and then only every now and then, it should work fine for you, just be careful with the torch.

 

The 40A unit for $380 should be more than adequate for 1/4". It's rated at 5/8" with a sever cut being a bit thicker than that. I'd believe it would do it. Mine did exactly what it said it would. I can cut up an entire rig...frame and all and never set mine over 35-40. I think I cut the leaf springs at around 35A.

 

Anyway...kinda hard to beat the price! I got my tig and plasma for less than what I would have paid for a 40A thermal dynamics locally.

 

If I remember right, I ordered mine on a mon or tues and had it that friday.

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oh....if you get it from them.....BUY the shipping insurance....they ship them in those chinese cardboard boxes like HF stuff comes in. I don't mind that for air tools, but it kinda scared me when I saw my plasma show up in one.

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We've always had Thermal Dynamics in our shop and they work great, consumables are easy to find at any welding shop. The problem with any setup that these guys in welding supply shops will try to sell you is that they don't tell you what the "real" rating is. For instance, we have a machine that's rated at 50 amps and says it will cut up to 5/8" plate. Bullshit, it will barely cut 3/8" plate and you have to move at a snails pace to do it. If you say you're only gonna cut 1/4" max, then get a machine that will at least cut 3/8" max. Because we all know that once you have that sucker, you're gonna wanna cut something bigger!

 

Esab has some nice ones now, Hobart (which is owned by Miller) has some good ones, and so does Miller. Stay away from harbor freight! I agree with Mike, get shipping insurance and a warranty. If you buy it from a supply store, make them throw in some consumables. They do it for all the big welding shops, so why not for you?

 

Oh, and one last thing, what makes these units super efficient is the type of air system that you're supplying them with. Make sure you run a water trap at the compressor and at the plasma. The shittier the air, the more consumables you go through.

 

Phew!

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That's exactly why I went with the 60A....I knew I'd want bigger. I was skeptical, but it will cut 1". Goes through sheet metal so fast you can't believe it. I have a trap when the air comes into the shop and again at the cutter...it came with one.

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i think i'm gonna go with the brand mike has, its quite a bit cheaper, and i trust mikes judgement(mostly) on tools. i'm basically just needing it to cut sheet metal. i've got about 10 rigs that need to go so...........

 

i've also got a good air system, water traps and regulators every where.

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kinda hard to beat that price for the 40A.....which should cut up your rigs nicely. Plan on buying as many consumables as you can...you'll go through several sets just getting used to using it. If you can hold the tip 1/8" off the metal after you strike the arc, they'll last longer.....and cut better. I typically keep a metal file in my left hand when I'm cutting up rigs. That way I can scratch through the paint with it where ever I need to start a new cut. If you have multi layers, you can cut a big hole in the first layer, then cut the next layer. I don't know if it's any faster than the sawzall, but you're elbows don't hurt when you're done :) I'd buy a second torch when you get it....like I said, it's the weakest link on them.

 

Of course, a good sawzall and some demolition blades will be A LOT cheaper!!! If you have unitized body cars to cut up, you may find it easier to use the sawzall anyway.....I cut the 300zx up with the Szall because of all the sound deadening asphalt stuff and multiple layers. Lenox makes a 6 tooth blade that's thicker than the normal metal blades.....rips shit apart quick!!!! Bre620 didn't believe I could cut a frame with it.....goes through the frame in under 30 seconds! Anyway.....

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oh.....I also bought a full face shield that is tinted to a shade 3 or 5..can't remember...about the same as for gas welding. When cutting up the cars, you will "see" a lot more of the arc than you'll want to....plus, it will spray sparks at you a lot more than you'd think.

 

you might try checking into renting one before you make up your mind....I saw a 40 amp at one of the rental places down here. I only bring it up because once you're done cutting up the rigs.....most people don't have any pratical use for a plasma. For most things, it's still easier to pull out the HF 4.5" grinder with a cut off disc in it to make my cuts. It was pretty hard for me to justify it....I just happened to have a bit of extra money when I got it....I rarely pull it out.

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well i'd have a use for it after i was done. i'm holding off just a bit till i get ahold of my aunt. she's the main sales rep for airgas here in olympia. see if i can get a deal on maybe a miller or thermo d. i've got $700 now, i should have close to $1500 by the 5th to go towards something like this.

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