A plasma cutter thread

[catfishblues]

http://store.weldersource.com/088003.html

This is the one that's on my Christmas Wish List. Niiiice little unit. Small and portable, yet very powerful. And it's IPM rating on 1/4 is faster than I want to try to move! 33 IPM. And any Airgas will support the consumables.

[ddement]

I have this one and have been pleased with it so far.

http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.com/servlet/the-1628/MILLER-SPECTRUM-375-CUTMATE/Detail

[catfishblues]

I have this one and have been pleased with it so far.

http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.com/servlet/the-1628/MILLER-SPECTRUM-375-CUTMATE/Detail

Not to bash Miller, cause you know I love the blue welders, but what I hear from folks I trust is that the Miller just doesn't stack up to the Hypertherm units in a side-by-side comparisson. I've also heard that the Miller torches are made by Hypertherm, but the consumables cost more and don't last as long. This is all second hand, though, but it's from our rep for Airgas, who I've developed a pretty good relationship with, and I doubt would lead me wrong.

[ack]

There was a guy at the 09 melt with a hypertherm fixin' everyone's Carnage.  It was pretty cool to watch him burn off weld debris like it was a cutoff wheel.   He fixed PurEvil's front suspension and did a damned good job of putting my GM alternator bracket togher - it ain't comin' apart anytime soon...

It cost nearly $2000 new.  He got it used for around $600.

[trmartin]

i have a hypertherm powermax 380. i bought it 4-5 yrs ago. it cuts 1/4" fine, and will severe 3/8" you can use it on 110v or wire it for 220v. the only problem i've had with it is tripping breakers on 110v. I took it to the shop to see why, and the guy explained it to me. The unit comes with  20amp cord on it, and the unit says it takes 27amps to fire the torch.  Why would hypertherm do that? the breaker would get hot and trip. to fix the problem, i wired my garage for a 220v plasma. i just need to get off my but and rewire the plasma cutter. i would like to get rid of it and buy a bigger one, but i've become cheap lately.

[catfishblues]

i have a hypertherm powermax 380. i bought it 4-5 yrs ago. it cuts 1/4" fine, and will severe 3/8" you can use it on 110v or wire it for 220v. the only problem i've had with it is tripping breakers on 110v. I took it to the shop to see why, and the guy explained it to me. The unit comes with  20amp cord on it, and the unit says it takes 27amps to fire the torch.  Why would hypertherm do that? the breaker would get hot and trip. to fix the problem, i wired my garage for a 220v plasma. i just need to get off my but and rewire the plasma cutter. i would like to get rid of it and buy a bigger one, but i've become cheap lately.

How  bad do you want to get rid of it?

[Zukifever]

http://divtec1.startlogic.com/

I have the DT40 from these guys. I bought it 3 years ago for $475, and it has worked flawlessly. It runs on 220 though, but you would think when cutting with plasma 220 will be much better than 110. The money saved would pay for the electrical upgrade on the house. 

[sammi_davis]

 I have a cutmaster 50 and I like it a lot . I dont like the cost of consumeables , but as I continue to use it the consumables last longer . I do want one of the roller jigs as I think it would help me make even better cuts . As the owner manual suggests I run an in-line air drier .

[Sarge]

First, don't waste your time with 110v when it comes to welding or cutting. 220v , in the long run is cheaper, more efficient and lends itself to much better built equipment . If you just wait and save you're much better off in the long run. Welding equipment and air systems should be addressed as "lifetime" purchases . Buying good quality/repairable equipment saves money in the long run unless you want to spend a lot of time trading around . Some guys are good at that, but never had that much luck myself . With 220v , and a  good compressor you open yourself up to a lot more capability as well as durability . With that in mind, not all known name-brand equipment is exactly "the best" . Some of the off-brands are actually built/backed by the same exact manufacturers and in many cases will last just as long if not longer . Sorry for the rant, but in this realm you really do get what you pay for .
In that case, anyway, check these guys out - http://www.htpweld.com/ .
Sarge

[rancherlee]

Thermal Dynamics 38 owner, LOTS of use so far and not a single issue. Its an adjustable 110v/220v  20-30 amp machine and does well up to 1/4 and will do 3/8 if you go SLOW. Basically will do anything an offroader will need it to do. I've had mine for 4 years now and I see they renamed it the "39" and added a blue faceplate to it. My small 2hp air compressor keeps up to it also for extended cuts and as others stated, an air drier is a MUST as consumables last 3x longer with dry air.

[outsydthbox]

X2 Rancherlee , on the air drier.
     I don't have one yet, but I have a good friend that has owned a machine shop for many years, and also sells equipement.  His input on the topic is: 1) DRY AIR! ! !    2) CLEAN AIR! ! !  He has told me about guys buying a plasma, take it home and wnt to try it out real fast...hook it up to an air line (with an air line luber) and ruin the gun and liner! Even WD-40 floating in the air (sucked through compresser) will contaminate!
     Even if it has on-board air I would ask the manufacturer if it has a drier/ filter system. If it does, there should be something in the owners manual about maintenance / cleaning of that system.
    I don't know these thing personally, But I do trust my friends experience.

[ack]

Okay, the deal is done.

I purchased a Ramsond CT 418DY plasma/tig/arc unit for $495.

I'll report regularly on how it is working.

I Imagine that I'll be running it on 110VAC and spen most of my time practicing on steel and aluminum that I have laying around.

[catfishblues]

Okay, the deal is done.

I purchased a Ramsond CT 418DY plasma/tig/arc unit for $495.

I'll report regularly on how it is working.

I Imagine that I'll be running it on 110VAC and spen most of my time practicing on steel and aluminum that I have laying around.

Will it weld aluminum, or are you just talking about cutting?

Nevermind. Found it myself. DC only. Did you get the foot pedal with it?

[ack]

No foot pedal at this point.

My first goal is to get aquainted with the machine.

Then I plan to arc weld more than (if at all) TIG weld.  I need to study TIG as a welding process to see if I need to spend the time learning it for my project.

As I progress on my project, I may give aluminum cutting/welding a try.

Somewhere during all this I'll regret my decision not to buy the pedal... 

[catfishblues]

No foot pedal at this point.

My first goal is to get aquainted with the machine.

Then I plan to arc weld more than (if at all) TIG weld.  I need to study TIG as a welding process to see if I need to spend the time learning it for my project.

As I progress on my project, I may give aluminum cutting/welding a try.

Somewhere during all this I'll regret my decision not to buy the pedal... 

It will not TIG aluminum. Maybe stick or MIG, but you'll have to check.