ANYBODY know ANYTHING about plasma cutters

[Dirtbmw20]

I'm looking to buy one here shortly, looking for anybody that has one or has used one that has any knowledge of them.


How about you Paul, you use any plasma cutters at your machine shop ???

[cd]

any questions in particular, I've put in my time with them, might be able to help.

[Rubberdown]

Not at work, but our buddies that build bikes use one all the time for the custom chopper parts, I'll give them a call and see what kind they use. I'll post back after I get ahold of one of them. its a pretty small unit, and it plugs into a 110v outlet and has an air regulator on it and uses compressed air some how.

Heres one of the projects they cut out for me, I stenciled it and set it all up, then they cut it out, and it got me a free year at the gym I go too ;)

[Dirtbmw20]

Nothing really in particular CD, I've just never used one and I'm dieing to get one and I don't want to make a mistake. I came real close because I actually bought a Miller Spectrum 375 X-Treme off ebay last week and when I got it the cord was cut off, pissed me off because #1 it wasn't mentioned in the auction, it was described as NEW, #2, it is a multi-voltage cord and you can't just replace the end, you would have to replace the entire power cord so I sent it back and got my money back, THANK GOD she actually gave me my money back, but I don't want to make another "hasty" decision. I actually, really wanted the regular Miller Spectrum 375, not the X-Treme model but it was a good price so I went for it. So I've actually been studying and eyeballing the Spectrum 375, how is that for an entry level plasma cutter ??? I don't do anything extreme, just make some radiator brackets, modify my trailer, small stuff like that, I don't ever mess with anything over 3/8".

[Dirtbmw20]

Yea, I forgot to mention that it really needs to be a 110V unit but I REALLY liked the multi-voltage unit of the Miller, it will have a better cutting capacity and quality on the 220 but it will still work on the 110 in my garage, I don't have 220 in my garage. I'de have to bring it inside and move the drier or stove and the wife wouldn't like that too much.

[Rubberdown]

I'de have to bring it inside and move the drier or stove and the wife wouldn't like that too much.

LOL, ya I bet :D

[cd]

Have you looked at Hypertherm, I always liked them and they seem pretty popular. I looked up the Miller and thats a nice little rig, we have a little guy like that set for 220 with its own air compressor and its kinda piddly for anything other than sheet metal but the one your looking at has fairly impressive specs. Keep in mind if you have the plasma on one circuit you should have for air compressor on another as that would be too much on a regular 20 amp circuit. I have had alot of experience with 80-90 amp single and 3 phase rigs, seems like whatever you buy it will be too small, from 11 gauge and up I like a lot of amps, for 2 reasons, easier to cut and when you get a steady hand you can really fly. Get some drag tips and trace tips. Drag tips can contact the work metal, trace tips shouldn't, I use trace tips or sometimes extended tips depends who makes them as to what they are called but there are different ones. Make sure you have a good ground too when your cutting. If your confused, get the biggest thing you can accommodate and afford and thats the best advice I have.

[Dirtbmw20]

I looked at some Hypertherms on ebay but no-one I talked to had any experience with them, neither good or bad, just none. I have always had Miller welders, the last one I had got stolen was a Millermatic 125, now the one I have is a Millermatic 135. I have a dedicated circuit for the welder, one for the compressor, one for the window unit air conditioner, and one spare one that I will use for the cutter so it will be on it's own circuit. Now when you start talking drag tips, trace tips, extended tips, drag cut, severence cut and all that stuff is new to me. Keep in mind that I have never even held a plasma cutter in my hand before, I've never physically looked at one other than in pictures so it's REAL foreign to me. I've had plenty of cutting torches before, just never plasma cutters. The Miller Spectrum 375 is about the most I can afford and is the biggest that my little garage will accomidate since I have to stay at 110V. It looks like the older model Hypertherm 380 or the newer model 30 might be the equivilant to the Miller I'm looking at.

[98frontier]

what do you need to know i have a plasma cutter it's a snap-on model 230 its the big dog. it is 220 and will cut 3/4" alum. or 1/2" steel and they are very user friendly all you really need is around 70psi constat and a air dryier. hope this helps.:thumb:

[Riven]

We have a Hypertherm & some other model at work but these things are BIG. They are computer controlled & hold 2 5'x10' sheets of steel each. They will cut 1" with little trouble.

I have an Esab in the maintenance shop but its 600 volts. It’s not a bad machine, cuts good up to 1/2 but will do 3/4+. It has been having some weird fault issues lately but not sure if its bad design or just an overworked machine.

When you get one just remember the dust etc that comes off the steel is Iron Oxide & not good in you lungs & Aluminum is even worse. Get a good welders dust mask if not a full respirator.
You wont believe what some of this dust & fumes can do to you.
TRUST ME! I know from experience.
I have something called Manganese Poisoning & it basically causes brain damage etc. It’s just like Alzheimer’s. I’m 32 & there is a good chance I wont remember my name in 10 years.

So just be careful if you do get one.
Steel & aluminum are not as bad as Manganese so don’t get too freaked out about cutting it.

[Dirtbmw20]

Dang Riven, yea them sound like some big ole cutters yall got. I've been looking at those HUGE and ridiculously priced plasma cnc tables on ebay, most of them are made and manufactured right there in Canada, but dang they range from $40,000 up to $140,000, I ain't never seen nothing like that, that's bad ass. That's also GOOD info to know about the dust masks, I never would have thought twice about it.

[Riven]

I hat to have to post things like that but living through it sucks ASS. So i figgure it better to be informed.
Its a work related injury so i hope to see some compensation in the next few years.

We also got a $750,000 laser too. When its workin good it is accurate to .0005" Not like we need it for making trailer hitches. LOL

[98frontier]

riven those sound like sum cool plasma cutters, never seen one like that around here. i usally find a internet company to cut some of my trucks parts with a cnc plasma cutter because they can do complex designs and my hand aint stedy enough for that. i had a iron cross with flames cut for my tailgate just have not had time to weld it....yet ........dang that laser cutter for 750,000 makes my $4000 look small

[Riven]

The laser id friggin expensive to run. We did some stainless for a guy & you need to run straight nitrogen to cut it. We usually cut only steel & use O2 for that. We hooked a 200lb ? 3500psi bottle up & this thing would suck it dry in 15 min.

[98frontier]

The laser id friggin expensive to run. We did some stainless for a guy & you need to run straight nitrogen to cut it. We usually cut only steel & use O2 for that. We hooked a 200lb ? 3500psi bottle up & this thing would suck it dry in 15 min.
:jaw: that sucker was thirsty. i like mine cause oxy/ac torches run out to quick and the plasma just uses air.

[Riven]

If we are going to do lots of stainless the bulk tank we get will be the same size as a transpot trailer set up on end. 15000 gallons or something huge like that.