Plasma Cutter
- Thread starter RocknT
- Start date
benT
Active Member
I don't know anything about those particular plasma cutters. They may be great or they may not be. I have a Miller Spectrum 375. I love it and it makes great cuts, but it cost about 4 times what that one you are looking is going for on ebay. I'm not saying everyone needs a miller or esab, but they do make good reliable machines. If you don't plan on using it much it may be a good gamble. My concern is where would you get parts if you have an issue? Will the seller return it if there is an issue when you get it? Are the consumables readily available?
I will say the best investment on any plasma cutter is a water trap/filter. We have our shop air run through a large IR dryer, but I still have a small water trap mounted on the bask of my plasma. I've never had any water in it, but is very important to keep dry air to it.
I think Ron (RPM) has one rated for more continuous duty and thickness. He also uses his quite a bit more that I do. He should have some good advice.
I will say the best investment on any plasma cutter is a water trap/filter. We have our shop air run through a large IR dryer, but I still have a small water trap mounted on the bask of my plasma. I've never had any water in it, but is very important to keep dry air to it.
I think Ron (RPM) has one rated for more continuous duty and thickness. He also uses his quite a bit more that I do. He should have some good advice.
donsrods
Member
We have a Thermal Dynamics 3.8 and for the longest time I hated using it. Sparks would fly and end up down my shoes and even worse places ! 
Then I started to play with it and learned more about how to control it. I guess it also doesn't help to use it when you are wearing shorts and tennis shoes only. 
Don
Then I started to play with it and learned more about how to control it. I guess it also doesn't help to use it when you are wearing shorts and tennis shoes only. Don
I don't know any thing at all about that brand of plasma cutter. We run Hypertherm plasma cutters. I would be concerned about consumables and their life and expense. Also where can you buy those consumables. Water and plasma don't mix. We run a refrigerated dryer in the shop and then a Motor Guard filter right before the plasma.
Fred call me if I can answer any questions for you.
Fred call me if I can answer any questions for you.
fordsbyjay
Active Member
I don't know the brand either and the previous posters have all made good points. My advice is to buy bigger then you think you need. I have a Hypertherm 380 (IIRC) and it is nice but I wish I would have bought the 600.
We started with a 600 (they dont make them anymore) and soon went to a 1250. We are now looking at the new Max 85 they have.
The 600 is a 40 amp cutter and would barley cut 3/8 at about 15" per minute. The 1250 is a 80 amp cutter and it will cut 3/8 at 75" per minute. A great big difference. We have cut some 1" stuff with the 1250, just playing to see what it will do.
I belong to a plasma cutting forum and about 99% of the members all use Hypertherm.
fordsbyjay
Active Member
I looked at the new ones last fall at Cruising the Coast. The electronics are different and they cut a lot nicer then the older models like mine. Just like phones technology is always changing.
RocknT
Member
Great answers guy's I knew I could count on you,, I did some more digging and found I can get the consumables . I know I would like to have another Miller to and to the family, I have a Miller Two Fifty Two Twin I have had for years and just got a Miller Matic 140 last summer,, I think the 50 amp would be more than enough they show cutting 1/2 plate with it ,, but all I plan on doing is cutting 3/16 and maybe 1/4 sometimes ,, and is 50amp really enough ??,, I do have a water trap on the compressor and it comes with one to put on the machine
fordsbyjay
Active Member
Mine is rated for 3/8" but even at 5/16 it starts to make a pretty ugly cut so that is why I recommend going bigger then you think you need. I looked up the spec on mine and it says 27amps so I would think 50 would be alright. BTW, you can get by with a smaller unit but your cuts will take more prep work to clean up after that's all.
The water jets are very nice, a lot slower than a plasma, and a whole lot more money. There is a shop in knoxville that has a water jet. It will do all kinds of stuff, like etching. It will also cut through 6" thick material. Wood, plastic, glass, Just about any thing at all. It only cost 1/4 million to set up and start with.Having the water jet at Murf's less than 5 miles from the house is soooo nice.
Mike
Well-Known Member
Yeah, you can even put a stack of paper in the machine and cut a logo into each sheet. You can put a piece of tubing in and cut a logo into one side of the tube. Just be sure you have a healthy water supply and plenty of garnet on hand. It ended up being a better arrangement for him, over the long run, as we were constantly burning out tabs and then spending hours running material through the tumbler. We were even having some stuff done with a laser, in another shop. Lord, that tumbler somehow became my responsibility and I was sick to death of changing rock and fluid. I would be elbows deep in wet rock, trying to find that one, last tab, and the P.A. would light up, "Mike, a customer on line 2 wants to order a bellhousing." 
