Plasma cutter - what to buy

[Mike Richards]

Ive got a hypertherm powermax 45 awesome piece of kit. not the cheapest but reckon its good value long term

 

[Tinman Steels Ltd]

There is a guy on youtube ChuckE2009 who I've been watching for years, at first he wasn't sponsored but now I think he is by hypertherm among others, but to be fair it looks a good piece of kit and has never seemed to be anything but honest in he's reviews.

 

[David.]

I've got one of the Plasmapart ones that were advertised in the Tractor mags about 5 years ago.
Bought it to butcher bearings off a bit more tidily than a gas chopper, and thinking it would be more convenient than flame cutting odds and sods.
To be honest it has not seen much use, but has done what I hoped of it when needed.
It was about 1/3 price of a Plasmapart etc at the time. If I was using it a lot I would buy quality I have to say.
There are as I understood it two types of handpiece and the dearer/better quality ones do not require dragging on the workpiece to strike arc.
@Welding Supplies Direct
Can you please clarify the above.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

Hypertherm normally have some deals at lamma, even if you can't make the show ring them and say you saw them but was too busy to stop at stand, they will normally give you the show deal [emoji6]

 

[Welding Supplies Direct]

As Welding Supplies Direct are not at "Lamma this year ....... If you are interested in any Plasma, MIg etc. Give us a call as we stock all of the main brands including Hypertherm, thermal arc, Oxford and many more and we will beat any like for like quotation.

Call our sales staff and tell them that you are a member of TFF.

0800 121 8802

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Hypertherm normally have some deals at lamma, even if you can't make the show ring them and say you saw them but was too busy to stop at stand, they will normally give you the show deal [emoji6]

Yeah bought mine from Drayton Welding a few years ago. Good bunch to deal with.

 

[tinman]

another one for the mix, but im not trying to take from any lad thats offering a deal on one here, best keep it in the family i always say.

that aside, i dont know much about this tec arc one here,
http://associatedweldingsupplies.co.uk/shop/products/TecArc-Plasma-Cutter-56i.html
but i do know i have their plasma cut 65 here and it can cut to say the least.
its not in the op's budget but if performance is anything to go by whats on the box is in the box.
this one here i have can sever cut 40mm with 65 Amps.
good machines and British built.

 

[tomlad]

A mate's got a tec arc. Good machine. Heavy on tip's but he is rough

 

[hilux]

Will a plasma cutter , cut through rusty steel?

 

[Shovelhands]

Will a plasma cutter , cut through rusty steel?

Yes, won't be as clean a cut as if it were new steel, but once it's got an arc it wil cut through rust, paint ect

 

[tinman]

Yes, won't be as clean a cut as if it were new steel, but once it's got an arc it wil cut through rust, paint ect

i wouldnt say that goes for all though.
the weaker ones would struggle with rust id imagine, if youve got some oomph then yeah, they can handle it.

 

[Shovelhands]

i wouldnt say that goes for all though.
the weaker ones would struggle with rust id imagine, if youve got some oomph then yeah, they can handle it.

Yes I suppose your right, hasn't considered that a baby plasma may possibly struggle?

 

[Premierweldingltd]

https://www.premierwelding.com/brands/gys/gys-plasma-cutters

We have these on at great proces with a special offer. Had some excellent feedback on them

 

[Bob lincs]

Hypertherm 65 here , superb bit of kit would be lost without it now

 

[Digester Man]

Took the plunge on a Powermax 45 there, hope its up to the hype!

 

[Shovelhands]

Took the plunge on a Powermax 45 there, hope its up to the hype!

You won't regret that

 

[dieselboost]

I'm also thinking of buying a plasma, going fabricating and erecting a machinery storage shed for ourselves and am debating whether to buy a new 12" bandsaw or a plasma to cut the H irons to the desired angles. Have guys done it this way with the plasma instead of the bandsaw?Assume it best to make up a fixture/jig if I go down the plasma route?

 

[clbarclay]

Will a plasma cutter , cut through rusty steel?

Just clean the area where the earth clamp will go first. Mine has a pilot arc which has no trouble with rust or paint, basic plasma cutters with scratch start though may also need a rust free place to start the arc.

 

[hilux]

Just clean the area where the earth clamp will go first. Mine has a pilot arc which has no trouble with rust or paint, basic plasma cutters with scratch start though may also need a rust free place to start the arc.

What make is yours? Single or 3 phase?

 

[clbarclay]

What make is yours? Single or 3 phase?

R-Tech P40hf, I would have liked a powermax45 but they were three times the price and apart from not having an isolated nozzle (so it wouldn't need a stand-off) its serving me well.