Plasma cutters/shop equipment

[Kunker]

Already have a set of torches (need tanks), but may be considering picking a plasma cutter up in the next year or so. Who has one, what brand/model, and was it worth the money? Do you find you use it a lot, or are there more important things I should be looking for first?

:beer:

 

[Richard]

I think it's just a nice to have, but depends what you want to do. I've managed so far without one, using torches for rough cuts (mainly demolition) and heat treatment, then various mechanical cutting tools for fabrication, see list below. I'll have to go through a lot of cut-off and grinding wheels before I reach the price of a plasma cutter, though the plasma would save time.

Tools I use regularly:
-MIG welder
-chop saw
-reciprocating saw
-jig saw
-rotary air tool (die grinder, cut-off wheel)
-circular saw with fibre steel cutting wheel (think hand chop saw)
-angle grinder and cut-off wheel
-drill press

 

[rikker001]

I have a miller 625 extreme. I would not give it up for anything, compare it to a hacksaw and a cutoff saw ah the hacksaw works but the cutoff is sooo much better. I use mine for everything, making holes, getting rid of rusty nuts and bolts of course cutting metal. I can cut thin sheet metal and up to 3/4 in a single pass nice and clean. I have cut 1" with two passes. I highly recommend one, other than consumables there is nothing else to buy, no gas, I buy very little cutting wheels anymore. So if your going to make an investment I recommend a plasma cutter.

 

[Kunker]

I think it's just a nice to have, but depends what you want to do. I've managed so far without one, using torches for rough cuts (mainly demolition) and heat treatment, then various mechanical cutting tools for fabrication, see list below. I'll have to go through a lot of cut-off and grinding wheels before I reach the price of a plasma cutter, though the plasma would save time.

Tools I use regularly:
-MIG welder
-chop saw
-reciprocating saw
-jig saw
-rotary air tool (die grinder, cut-off wheel)
-circular saw with fibre steel cutting wheel (think hand chop saw)
-angle grinder and cut-off wheel
-drill press

I've heard a lot of good things about a porta-band with the SWAG stand. The only things on the list I don't have are the drill press, chop saw and recip saw. I've been tossing around the idea of a band saw vs the chop saw (dust/noise issues mainly), and wondering how the porta-band would do instead of the larger horizontal band saws. I am thinking about building a new boxed tube frame for the CJ, and linking it at some point. Just wondering if the plasma is worth all of the hype for home use.

I have a miller 625 extreme. I would not give it up for anything, compare it to a hacksaw and a cutoff saw ah the hacksaw works but the cutoff is sooo much better. I use mine for everything, making holes, getting rid of rusty nuts and bolts of course cutting metal. I can cut thin sheet metal and up to 3/4 in a single pass nice and clean. I have cut 1" with two passes. I highly recommend one, other than consumables there is nothing else to buy, no gas, I buy very little cutting wheels anymore. So if your going to make an investment I recommend a plasma cutter.

How often would you say you are breaking out the plasma? How much fab work do you do? I can buy a lot of cut off disks for $1500+. Note that I've mostly been considering the lower end (entry Miller/Hobart model, PowerMax30) of the quality makers, or a cheap chinese unit (Everlast, Longevity, etc).

 

[Richard]

There are also low speed chop saws that use a metal cutting wheel. Less noise (I think), heat, dust, and cleaner cuts, but the unit and wheels cost more. Here's an example:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...ural&cm_cat=netconcepts&cm_pla=Google&cm_ite=

 

[mucovich]

I used to use a grinder and cut off wheels all the time, until I got a plasma - only now on the very rare occasion will I use a cut off wheel. Sure you can say $1500 buys a lot of cut off wheels but I think you would change your opinion very fast once you started using a plasma. My plasma was one of the top investments I made for my shop.

 

[junkpile]

I borrowed a hypertherm power max 30 from a buddy for a week and never put it down! I cut out my old floors and made replacement panels lickidee-split! Used a level laying flat as a cutting guide for perfectly straight, repeated cuts in 18 gauge, even used a cardboard pattern for a guide for a custom curve. Notched tubing quickly, cut out plate for brackets, no end to its uses! It gave clean smooth cuts in material up to 1/8" thick, would cut 1/4" but not that much smoother than a torch. It's a very handy tool to add to the shop. Keep in mind that you do need a compressor. It's also not a replacement for torches.

 

[Impact]

The biggest thing I find with a plasma cutter beside the reduced amount of cutting wheels used is the amount of waste metal when using a plasma cutter. There is no extra waste because you are pretty much cutting exactly what you need out of your sheet of metal... no 90* cuts with your cut off wheel then having to grind down the extra you don't need.

Something that I looked for when purchasing my plasma was something that came with a good warranty... on machine and gun... Take a look at businesses like Linde, Praxair and Air Liquid. They usually have deals on bigger name products once in a while like Hypertherm, Miller, Thermal Dynamic, etc. Also another thing to look out for is any manufacturer rebates/deals. When I purchased my plasma cutter the distributor had a sale price on the machine plus the manufacturer's sister company had a mail in rebate program for one of thier products when you purchased a plasma.

Like Mucovich has said the plasma is one of the top investments I too have made for my shop... I just wish I had a quality compressor to use it to it's full potentional!

 

[rikker001]

I do a lot of fab work bumpers and trailers mostly. If I'm fabbing the plasma is there it is on the same cart as the welder. Ill take a few pics of the 3/4 I cut for tow points and post them up

 

[junkpile]

How expensive was your Miller 625? The PowerMax 30 is "affordable" at about $1000, but definitely for light duty.

 

[rikker001]

I bought it a few years ago and it was around 2000. Well worth the money if you are going to do alot of fab work but yes pricey

 

[Mlorint]

I have a hypertherm 45, very rare that is use grinders. it ran me about 2k. tips are pretty cheap. Plasma's use lots of air so make sure you have at least 5-6 cfm you can do it with less but it's a pain.