Plasma cutters

[mortimersnerd]

One of the welders I'm looking at has a package deal with a plasma cutter. If I wait until after Christmas/Birthday it might be affordable. Who out there in Bronco-land has a plasma, and how much do you really use it?

 

[okie4570]

I've got a good friend about 10 minutes away who has a nice plasma set up and really nice shop......and I've got a key to the shop! I use his about 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[Amac70]

I borrowed one recently during my cage build and now i want one. I would probably use it as much as i use my welder. Its well worth having when you need it.

 

[Numberfool]

Pretty incredible tool. The how often depends on where you are with your build and the rust, resto level. I used it for my frame ends and will use for floor boards. I have a few in my work shop, including one in a plasma cam table. That was a game changer. To go from drawing it in Cad, to cutting the shape out in seconds. But again, it's production level stuff.
Lived without it, now that we have it, hard to not have it. Tools are toys.

 

[Broncitis]

I have a Miller 625.

Great tool. Sometimes I go for months without using it, but when you need it, sometimes it is the best or only tool for the job.

When I told a Bronco buddy of mine (BroncLoupy on here) I was getting it, he said "how can you justify the cost of that". I simply said "I can't, I want it". He now owns one as well! ;D

 

[joshuar6447]

Plasmas are like most tools. You only need it Here and there but it beats the hell out of cut off wheels. Factor in the cost of wheels and TIME. makes it more affordable. I have a dragon's breath. Tankless one. Serves my needs and I only use it a few times a year. Not to mention its cool telling people you have one.

 

[Broncobowsher]

When I first got mine (Thermal dynamics cutmaster 50 about a decade ago) I used it all the time. Actually got it before I got my MIG. I was doing a ton of building and fabrication at the time. Don't do as much fab work anymore. But when I do I still use it. Last summer I redid the suspension on a trailer, broke out the plasma for that. Pretty much anytime I use the welder for more then a quick fix I am using the plasma. Even as little as I use it, if I lost it I would still replace it.

~40 Amp output is a good choice for a home unit. More will always do better, but I could not be happy with any less.

 

[xcntrk]

I have a Miller Spectrum 375 X-TREME. It's 230V and can cut up to 3/8". As Broncitis said, sometimes I'll go for months without using it then other times it's priceless as the right tool for the job. I really only use mine when cutting with an angle grinder or chop saw isn't an option. Lately I've been making jigs and templates to aid in cutting with the plasma and producing CNC type of sharp lines...

 

[ep67bro]

I got a Eastwood Versa Cut last winter and it is great. I have not used it mutch but when I built my tire carrier it was priceless. And for the price for home repair non production jobs it is great. If I was doing higher volume I would consider a Miller brand.

 

[patterdale]

You can do a lot of the same work with a torch but it takes practice and patience. Plasma is much cleaner and quicker. When I can, I will have one.

 

[fordfan]

We have a Hypertherm 1350. Its a great machine! It cuts anything it's pointed at. It has a switch for cutting grating or expanded metal and it will automatically cut on and off instantly as the metal passes under the nozzle. You just clamp a straight egde and almost as fast as you pull it , it cuts. It requires a 60 amp 230 in single phase power..

 

[bmc69]

My plasma cutter is one of my favorite cutting tools; recently (couple years ago)upgraded to a Thermal Dynamics 150A machine from an older Esab 80A torch.

Having cut with an oxy-acetylene torch for 40 years, I guess you could say I got pretty good at it. But after acquiring a plasma cutter, the gas axe gets used only for chopping up junk and badly rusted metal.

 

[Justafordguy]

I've had mine a few years now and I don't know how I ever did without it.;D

 

[TRABY]

plasma cutter

I've got a Parker Metalworks (cheapo I bought off e-bay) and it awesome, it's a 230v machine. If you're gonna get a plasma, I would recommend getting a unit that you can get consumables locally, I have to order mine and they are a little pricey. As stated before, it's got a ton of dust on it right now, but if I had something that I want cut quick, it's right there and it's fast and easy!!!!!!!

 

[dube]

this is the cheapo one i got, cuts great up to 3/8
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-SIMADR...756?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27cd46c8d4

 

[broncosbybart]

I have a hypertherm. Use it a lot more than I thought I would. If you don't do a lot of fab work or work with 3/16" or thicker material it might not see much use. I don't have a torch set and don't plan to ever have one. Forget finding anything intact in case of a shop fire. The plasma is much safer to use and store.

 

[NCSUWoj]

I bought a Longevity unit here a while back. It was the combo unit Plasma, Tig and Arc welder unit. It is the 110/220 dual voltage unit. Figured out pretty quick it is pretty much useless on the 110 cycle... so I wired up a 220 circuit and made a 50' extension cord to be mobile. Plasma cutter is great, haven't used it building a bronco yet, but rebuilt a 40" mowing deck for one of my Gravely tractors and it was great. Have no idea how to Tig, but what the heck, I am just a bottle of Argon away from practicing...

They are like dealing with used car salesmen over there at Longevity, you can work them over pretty good on price if you play your cards right. They are always running a special on Pirate 4x4. The guy Daniel that you deal with most of the time was pretty good to deal with.