I am in the market for a plasma cutter and noticed that some are also tig welders. Anyone have an opinion about these? I am not very experianced with either.
make sure you stay away from the smaller plasma cutters..
November 26 2008, 2:46 PM
I bought one almost new from one of the local swapper papers for about $800. On the papers that came with the cutter it SAYS it will cut metal of up to 1/4 inch....yeah if you use a oxyacetylene cutting torch. The one I had would only cut mild sheet metal which was only part of the reason I wanted one. I thought it would come in handy with making brackets, but it was too small.
I would recommend going to a local dealer, and tell them what you plan to use it for and also asking them to let you try the model they advise BEFORE you buy it..........Mike
I bought a cheap plasma cutter. It was something like a 16 amp. Would hardly cut through floor pan sheet metal, with very, very slow movement, and even then it slobbered on it. It was no good for me. Forget cutting angle iron! I was told that you need at least a 21 amp cutter to have any kind of efficiency.
I waited and kept checking ebay. I ended up getting a used rebuilt pc for $800. It is a hypertherm. It was $2,400 new. It came with a new torch head and torch cord and over $299 in consumables. Deals are out there people are unloading equipment. Get a bigger machine than you think you need. You won't be sorry. Mine will cut 1/2 inch plate with ease
HTP America about 10 years ago. I can't tell you the designations without a trip out to the garage, but the welder runs on 110 and the cutter on 220. The reason for acquiring both at that time was a projected job of removing the spring towers from Brother Lon's '67 Mustang. Both worked admirably for that purpose. We converted to a coil-over arrangement, using tubular A-arms for a circle-track application. The cutter easily went through the multi-layer steel around the towers, and the arm mounts were installed after being carved from some 6 inch I beam. FWIW, I will happily endorse both bits of equipment.
KS
I bought a 40 amp with a turbo upgrade from Parkermetalworking and I have cut 5/8 Aluminum it is rated 1 inch sever cut on steel and 3/4 clean cut and will do it. A secret get a log on for pirate.com and tell them what it is when You order(decent discount)just over $500 for the machine and extras. Parker has a good rep and good machines. they have tig machines and stick too.
This message has been edited by tiemal on Nov 26, 2008 6:19 PM
Others also sell them. It's the same model Parker sells.
They don't have a pilot arc, so you actually have to touch the torch to the metal to get it to start cutting. (no big deal, you just have to scratch the paint/rust off if it's dirty) I've cut 1/2" steel with mine, and it will go through 1/8" about as fast as you can drag it.
Yes, they are definitely Chinese, and their instructions are quite hilarious, as the English is REALLY bad. LOL However, they do cut really well. Mine will plug into EITHER 120V or 240V. I bought a big box of consumables from someplace else when I bought it... 115 pieces, I believe, for around 50-some bucks. It's a cheapie, but I don't use it every day. It works just fine for the amount I use it.
Your debate about TIG welders reminds me of how I came about buying mine about 10 years ago....
I was working as a diesel mechanic for Safeway Stores, and I found a storage trailer parked at the facility that was loaded to the gills with all kinds of shop equipment, apparently long forgotten.
Of particular interest to me was a 1970's vintage Miller Dialarc HF250...a great big AC/DC stick/TIG welder with an output of 315 ampsAC. It had all the accessories (flowmeter, TIG torch, stomp box) as well as a portable coolant tank/pump.
When I inquired to management about the possibility of me purchasing the welder, they told me to submit a written bid, which I promptly did...for the generous sum of 100 bucks.
After a few weeks I hadn't heard anything from them, so when I inquired the manager who was probably having a bad day told me "We don't sell used equipment. We're going to scrap it".
About a year later, I saw another employee unloading a drill press from the same trailer. When I asked him what he was doing, he told me that he'd bought the drill press from the company.
Naturally, I went up front and inquired, so they told me to re-submit a bid for the welder. Since a hundred bucks didn't work the first time, I bid FIFTY, and they took it!
And it worked like a champ from the first time I used it. The only thing I don't like is the size, but hey, for fifty bucks I can deal with that!
I was at the Good Guys show this month and saw a Lincoln plasma cutter cut 1 1/4" steel with a price of around $950. It was no bigger then my Miller 185 mig. I was impressed with both the price and performance. It cut the 1 1/4" with no problem. The size was an added bones The one they were using was a 220 volt they also had a 110 cutter that would do 1"
