Plasma cutters: advice / comments wanted

[Squatch]

In a nutshell, I have considered picking one up for quite some time, but just not sure. For those of you that have one, what did you buy? A lower end budget unit? How'd that work out for you? Or an upper end unit? Was it worth the cost? Eastwood has a 40 amp unit on sale for under $500. And I found a Miller unit that's an older model, but has never been used. Asking price is $1,000. I'm generally not convinced I need one, but wouldn't mind having one.
Thoughts from the peanut gallery?
Thanks,
Squatch

 

[Boinked]

Well i have been at bases that have them. And bases that don't.
The bases that have them use the shit out of them (strangely never for aircraft parts).
They are a great tool to have. You will find yourself making thengs just because it is easy...

I would go with a brand you have heard of.

 

[Chris]

All I can tell you is that I'd love to have one!

It's one of those tools where I'd probably find myself making things just because I could.

 

[Squatch]

The Eastwood one is budget friendly, and has a 3 year warranty, but they're no Miller. Miller has the reputation behind them, and parts wouldn't be a problem should the need arise. The same cannot be said of the Eastwood product. It'd sure be nice to have one, but I'm really on the fence about it...

 

[derekmac]

Do you have a pretty good compressor to use with a plasma cutter? Any that I've seen are pretty air hungry.

 

[mrblaine]

I've never understood Miller to be the "plasma folks". I lean towards Hypertherm when I think of plasma cutters. Like most things that folks don't own and haven't used, the hype about them is pretty much just that, hype. They are a glorified cutting torch, that's it. If you gave me one tool to buy for cutting without precision, it would be a good oxy-acetylene set up. Not because it is better than a plasma, but because you can cut, weld, braze, heat, and blow stuff up with one. Plasma is a single function tool that does one thing and not always well.

Need to run a scarfing tip to cut close to an axle tube to cut a bracket off? Not gonna happen with a plasma. Got some water in your compressor? Now you get to buy some more disposables and they aren't cheap. Got a compressor a bit on the smaller size? The plasma typically uses a lot of air.

If you do get one, avoid one that short circuits the arc when the tip makes contact with the surface you are cutting.

When it comes to making tabs, brackets, cuts in the frame for outboarding, I would not trade 1 good angle grinder with cut-off discs for 2 plasma cutters.

This cut and many more like it was done with an angle grinder, good cut-off disc, and no clean up. That is the cut done in one pass per cut. If you did it with a plasma, you run the risk of over cut so you err on the side of under cut and now you have a lot of grinding. More grinding than I spend just making the cut. Plasma isn't more accurate, cleaner, or much easier to use than a cutting torch and about all it is good for is roughing stuff in.

 

[Chris]

I've never understood Miller to be the "plasma folks". I lean towards Hypertherm when I think of plasma cutters. Like most things that folks don't own and haven't used, the hype about them is pretty much just that, hype. They are a glorified cutting torch, that's it. If you gave me one tool to buy for cutting without precision, it would be a good oxy-acetylene set up. Not because it is better than a plasma, but because you can cut, weld, braze, heat, and blow stuff up with one. Plasma is a single function tool that does one thing and not always well.

Need to run a scarfing tip to cut close to an axle tube to cut a bracket off? Not gonna happen with a plasma. Got some water in your compressor? Now you get to buy some more disposables and they aren't cheap. Got a compressor a bit on the smaller size? The plasma typically uses a lot of air.

If you do get one, avoid one that short circuits the arc when the tip makes contact with the surface you are cutting.

When it comes to making tabs, brackets, cuts in the frame for outboarding, I would not trade 1 good angle grinder with cut-off discs for 2 plasma cutters.

This cut and many more like it was done with an angle grinder, good cut-off disc, and no clean up. That is the cut done in one pass per cut. If you did it with a plasma, you run the risk of over cut so you err on the side of under cut and now you have a lot of grinding. More grinding than I spend just making the cut. Plasma isn't more accurate, cleaner, or much easier to use than a cutting torch and about all it is good for is roughing stuff in.

View attachment 64969

That’s good to know! I always assumed people were cutting all these brackets off and frenching the outboard mounts using plasma cutters!

I think my mistake when using an angle grinder in the past was not having the right cutting disc for the job. That’s probably why it took an absurd amount of time.

 

[Squatch]

Do you have a pretty good compressor to use with a plasma cutter? Any that I've seen are pretty air hungry.

I have a 5 hp, 60 gallon Ingersoll Rand, so I think that should work.

 

[Squatch]

I have always done things with a cut-off wheel of some sort or another. Where I'm thinking a plasma cutter might be nice is when cutting on sheet metal. I've witnessed their use in that application. Much less chance of warpage than an oxy-acetylene set-up. Also, if I understand it correctly, most decent plasma cutters can be dialed down on the amperage to cut through a certain thickness, thereby not penetrating so deep that it cuts into the material behind what you're cutting. That, however, is still a concern for me, as I imagine there is a learning curve, and I'd hate to sacrifice an important piece due to my miscalculation.

I agree that the plasma cutter is a one-trick pony. I'm trying to be honest with myself about how often I would actually need it, as that is probably the biggest determining factor (for me) in justifying the cost.

 

[mrblaine]

I have always done things with a cut-off wheel of some sort or another. Where I'm thinking a plasma cutter might be nice is when cutting on sheet metal. I've witnessed their use in that application. Much less chance of warpage than an oxy-acetylene set-up. Also, if I understand it correctly, most decent plasma cutters can be dialed down on the amperage to cut through a certain thickness, thereby not penetrating so deep that it cuts into the material behind what you're cutting. That, however, is still a concern for me, as I imagine there is a learning curve, and I'd hate to sacrifice an important piece due to my miscalculation.

It doesn't quite work that way but close. The issue is blow back that blows out the cut, sprays you in the face, and clogs or ruins the tips. We do use it once in awhile to blow the brackets off the frame without cutting into the frame but it is hard to control the depth of cut and do anything clean.

I agree that the plasma cutter is a one-trick pony. I'm trying to be honest with myself about how often I would actually need it, as that is probably the biggest determining factor (for me) in justifying the cost.

Borrow one and try it. I suspect when you've used one a bit, you'll un-borrow it, toss the guy a few bucks for consumables and find other ways to make the cuts.

 

[Kathy]

@Dave K. bought the hypertherm xp 45 and loves it. He’s uses plasma cutters at work at times, and it’s his new toy at home. He says it makes quick clean cuts if you use the guides. Like any tool, it has its uses. I can say since getting it, he has found many uses for it. Most recently to cut up metal scrap he got from work, and then to make a welding table out of scrap 1/8 inch steel he cut up and welded together. It doesn’t replace a torch but he doesn’t have one either and is glad he has this. He says he thinks the plasma cutter is safer for quick cuts. He got it used/ demo for around 1500 he thinks but new was like 2000. Hope this helps you make a decision.

 

[Squatch]

It doesn't quite work that way but close. The issue is blow back that blows out the cut, sprays you in the face, and clogs or ruins the tips. We do use it once in awhile to blow the brackets off the frame without cutting into the frame but it is hard to control the depth of cut and do anything clean.



Borrow one and try it. I suspect when you've used one a bit, you'll un-borrow it, toss the guy a few bucks for consumables and find other ways to make the cuts.

Appreciate the tip. I hadn't considered the blowback, and can see where that could be an issue. Also, I do have a buddy who'd let me borrow his for a spell. Might just inquire about that, and give it a try. Nothing like being able to test drive something beforehand. Again, thanks for the tip.

 

[Squatch]

@Dave K. bought the hypertherm xp 45 and loves it. He’s uses plasma cutters at work at times, and it’s his new toy at home. He says it makes quick clean cuts if you use the guides. Like any tool, it has its uses. I can say since getting it, he has found many uses for it. Most recently to cut up metal scrap he got from work, and then to make a welding table out of scrap 1/8 inch steel he cut up and welded together. It doesn’t replace a torch but he doesn’t have one either and is glad he has this. He says he thinks the plasma cutter is safer for quick cuts. He got it used/ demo for around 1500 he thinks but new was like 2000. Hope this helps you make a decision.
View attachment 65060View attachment 65061

Thanks, @Kathy. The Miller one I was looking at sold already. $1,000 for a nice, new unit, still in the box. However, there are other ones out there, if I do decide to get one. That table Dave made looks hell-for-stout. I see he has it on casters. That'd be one handy unit to have around!

 

[Kathy]

Thanks, @Kathy. The Miller one I was looking at sold already. $1,000 for a nice, new unit, still in the box. However, there are other ones out there, if I do decide to get one. That table Dave made looks hell-for-stout. I see he has it on casters. That'd be one handy unit to have around!

Yes, Dave has everything on wheels. Seeing he has so much stuff in the garage already, he needs to be able to move it around to make room for more stuff .

 

[Squatch]

My garage is too small (2-car) to really warrant things being on wheels. However, in a shop the size of the one you folks have, it'd be a grand way to do things.

 

[astjp2]

I have an ESAB 550. make sure the consumeables are local and that they are OEM. Also you can get a harbor freight refridgerated dryer to help and get a good air filter just prior to going into the unit. Also air pressure is critical, read the instructions, some units only need 50 psi and they wont fire at 60. Tim