Plasma Cutters?

Hey guys,

With any luck, I'll soon be getting a plasma cutter. So I'm looking for idears, which one to get, which one to stay away from, tips & tricks, how much cutter to get, etc.

I don't "intend" on cutting thicker than 1/4" with it. Mostly for sheet metal and notching tubing, etc.

TIA

 

I've got a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38 and couldn't be happier with it. They cost around $1000, and will cut through 1/4" like butter. Cuts 1/2" without much effort at all.

 

get one with 1/2" or larger. dad's only cuts 1/4" and that's it. need 2+ passes for thicker steel.

 

We have a Miller Spectrum 375 at work (well the older model) it works great, it will cut thru 1/2" but its not really fast when cutting that thick of material, but stuff 1/4" and under it will fly thru.

 

I have been thinking about one for a while as well. So far I am leaning to the side of the miller 375(highly recomended to me several times), with the hobart 400 just behind. So far best I can find is $1200 delivered to my door. All I have to do is decide If I want plasma or paint for my tbird this summer.

I had planed to stay away from used cutters, but anyone have experiences good or bad?

 

I bought a lincoln pro cut 25. Salesman said it would go 5/8 if necessary and do 3/16 all day. Reality was it will do sheet metal. It will duty cycle out after about 30 seconds on 3/16 or larger. I would have happily bought a bigger machine if I had known then what I know now. Moral of the story....buy bigger than you think you need. Once you have it you will find all sorts of uses for it that you could do if you just bought one size bigger....

 

anyone who has one.....


How does plasma in general handle painted metal? I assume to get a good arc to cut the metal needs to be clean same as welding?

 

I've done a little reasearch, have been thinking about one for a year or so. The Cutmaster 38 seems to be the most bang for the buck.

 

We use a Thermal Dynamics and a Miller where I work. Both are fine machines. As far as cutting painted metal, we start the cut at a bare spot and plow through the paint. Wish I had one at home...