TIG ARC Plasma combined machines

[Gerry]

Hi guys
Looking to buy a Mig MMA and plasma inveterate machine for home. There are a few of these around especially in the USA Ebay site. All seem to around 450 bucks each.
Anyone had any experience with these. Good, bad, ones to steer clear of etc.
Please dont say go to 1000 bucks its worth it, as this is out of my price range. I need a light duty one just for the T.
Got a tec145 TIG arc set that has been brilliant. It was about the same money over 10 years ago and I'm hoping the technology has moved forward .All comments welcome
Gerry

 

[Youngster]

Most MIG welders come with stick leads. The ones you want to stay away from are the MIG/TIG combos. They make too many concessions to each process as a result they both suffer. For the work you have in mind Gerry I would suggest a MIG in the 175-185 range. I have a Hobart 185 ($635 new) and it has done everything I have asked of it.

A plaz is a wonderfull machine. I don't have one cuse I have a homebuilt oxy/act panograph and don't want to convert it to plaz. If you purchas one, be sure the consumables are readily available. Till you get used to one you will go thru a few tips and defusers. One really big advantage is the ability to cut non-ferrous metals with shop air or for cleaner cuts argon/hydrogen can be used.

Just my 2 cents.

Ron

 

[RPM]

I would shy away from the combo machines. They seem to do everything OK but don't do any one thing great. Just my 2 cents, or maybe its a tuppence, not sure. But as Ron said those machine are pricey, and as you know you generally get what you pay for. In our shop we have the 180 Miller welder, a Hobart 250 tig and 2 different Hyperthem plasma cutters as well as a cutting torch. Each has its place and use. Plasmas are great but you won't cut 3/8 or 1/2" plate with a little machine.

 

[ruggs]

JMO...I personaly don't like having all my eggs in the same basket. My tig can also be used as stick but if one fails you lose everything. My tig,mig,stick and plasma are separate....Ron(ruggs)

 

[Old Rotor Flap]

I'm not familiar with this type of combined product, however when two types of products are packaged to create a new product it reminds me of a tool box I once saw that had a radio built in.

Let's see, we'll take a three-hundred dollar tool box, install a seventy-nine dollar radio and sell it for seven hundred, add a non-descript sticker of a late model circle track car and a couple of stickers of unidentifiable brand beeer cans and it goes for a grand.

Never underestimate the taste of the American public.

America, it's about packaging.

 

[blownt]

I got a Lincoln 225 stick and a Miller 140 MIG. Now that my son graduated Wyotech we both want to get a TIG. Not planning on getting a combo. And whenever I finally get my 12 acres and big shop I'd like to get a motor driven setup.

 

[lkeuten]

I'll have to go with what Youngster, RPM, and Ruggs say. My main machine is a Hobart 187 it does 75% of my welding in the shop. It is reasonably priced and consumables are readily available and affordable, and they have a 5 year warranty. I also have a Millermatic 135, an AC/DC Hobart stickmate, and ready access to a Lincoln SA200 ( I love that pure DC ) and Miller Bobcat 250.
I've been around plasma cutters for over 20 years and my experience has been that they will quality cut at approximately half of what they are rated at although the new ones are definitely better.
When it comes to inverter technology I am waiting for a good 5 year stress test from professional welders that I know and trust. I've already heard that the mosfet technology isn't the best so I would stay clear of those machines.
Now we come to hecho in China, after last week it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 12 failures all related to hecho in China.
OK that's my 2 cents

 

[Corley]

Among the welders in our shop we (unfortunetely) have a Harbor Freight something or other 185 MIG, made in Italy. Piece of crap! Never use it. We also have an HF something or other little red plazma cutter. Also a piece of crap, never use it. The point being, stick to the name brand machines (Hobart, Lincoln, Miller, etc.) if you want something that will work reliably, last a long time, and you can get parts down at the local welding shop. Don't pile on function after function on one machine. Keep it simple and it will be much less trouble in the long run... Been there, done that with the combos. Jerry may have different brands over there that work for them, but here in the states, stick to the major brands mentioned.

 

[Lee_in_KC]

"Hecho in China" LOL, the best of both worlds. :yuk:

 

[lkeuten]

"Hecho in China" LOL, the best of both worlds. :yuk:

it started on Monday. 7 inch bench vise a piece of 18 gauge steel and a 16 ounce ball peen. A couple of love taps to the 18 gauge with the hammer and the back jaw broke off of the vise. Only words I could find on the vice were Producto Hecho en China. Things went down hill from there the rest of the week and everything that broke had Producto Hecho en China written on it. Hence if it says Hecho en China anywhere on it treat it as a very thin piece of glass.

 

[Gerry]

Thats all a bit of a downer.
I was hoping to get some positives, but never mind. My old TIG/arc set got a similar reaction from people when I bought it years ago (at an astonishingly high price, I might add) but its served me well.
Now the question is do I fly in the face of knowledge and experience and take a gamble or do I just buy a plasma and stick with my old welder. trouble is that I am always the one that takes that step.... and YEP I have been bitten in the butt for it.
I ll have a ponder and see what my gut feel says. Its hard to ignore you guys and your experience. One thing for sure, I cant go for the stuff you all have due to (I think the modern parlance is) budget restraints.

Thanks for all your opinions I do value them
Gerry

 

[Youngster]

The tools I have have come one at a time over a period of several years. Had to buy something to do what I already have the tools to do. It just takes money away from my projects.

If I might be so bold, I would go with the MIG first. Even a smaller one will speed things up conciderbly. You seem to have no trouble cutting parts out now. Maybe a plaz later.

Ron

 

[Gerry]

I have free access to a 185 amp SnapOn MIG so theres no problem there. Thats why I was thinking about a plasma.
Funny thing is everyone always asks me to do their welding for them with the MIG and they are my least favorite welder.
gerry

 

[lkeuten]

My favorite is still the Lincoln SA200, but the 187 is the machine that gets the most hours on it in a week. Throw the gas on it and it is fast with little to no clean up. Personally I would go for the plasma, that is the next item on my list if this great economic depression ever gets over.

 

[RPM]

A quick note on plasma. You "HAVE" to run dry air, they will not tolerate any moisture what so ever. You also need a lot of air. We ended up having to buy a refrigerated air dryer and a Motor Guard filter to run the plasma with out having to replace the nozzle in the torch every few minutes.

 

[Mike]

Ron, I don't think there's a quick and inexpensive means to cut material. Like you said, air dryers are necessary on a plasma. And water jets eat up the garnet. And the price tag on a laser? :jawdrop:

 

[RPM]

Ron, I don't think there's a quick and inexpensive means to cut material. Like you said, air dryers are necessary on a plasma. And water jets eat up the garnet. And the price tag on a laser? :jawdrop:

Cutting steel has a cost. Laser, WOW we were at the Fab show in Atlanta about a month ago and we were checking out the lasers. Base price for the least expensive one, $400,000. I don't think we will be getting one of those.

 

[Gerry]

OK Guys. It seems that a plasma for home is probably not a good idea. If they are so fussy about moisture then I will not be able, without spending more money, provide the clean air they need. I did wonder about consumables when every site that offers the cutter have consumables available in sets of 20 or more.
May just pay someone to do the cutting for me.
Gerry

 

[lkeuten]

OK Guys. It seems that a plasma for home is probably not a good idea. If they are so fussy about moisture then I will not be able, without spending more money, provide the clean air they need. I did wonder about consumables when every site that offers the cutter have consumables available in sets of 20 or more.
May just pay someone to do the cutting for me.
Gerry

Gerry, don't give up just yet. with a little piping ingenuity, a coalescer/filter setup, and a dessicant dryer you can get your compressed air dry enough to run a plasma as long as your compressor can handle the CFM and pressure needed. Actually this is a wise thing to do as your air tools and paint guns will like the dry air better.

 

[benT]

Gerry, don't give up just yet. with a little piping ingenuity, a coalescer/filter setup, and a dessicant dryer you can get your compressed air dry enough to run a plasma as long as your compressor can handle the CFM and pressure needed. Actually this is a wise thing to do as your air tools and paint guns will like the dry air better.

I agree. I have a Miller 375 Plasma and while it mainly gets used at the shop (through the shop compressor with a separate IR dryer), I've used it elsewhere with smaller compressors with no issues. I always run it through a compressor with a large filter making sure the compressor is completely drained first, and then I have another permanent small water separator screwed into the back of the plasma that the air hose actually hooks up to. Now I don't run the same duty cycles that RPM does, but the consumables still last me a long time. And really, the tips don't cost that that much.