Should I buy this Plasma Cutter?

[AldeanFan]

Found a Plasma Cutter in the local buy and sell paper,

Its a Hobart Airforce 115v with the built in compressor, says used 3 times
asking $500.

I only have one 110v 20A circuit in my garage so I could run this, I can't run my compressor and a plasma at the same time as they'd be on the same circuit.

TSC has them on sale for $799, regular $1,129.

I do some body work and light fabrication on restoration and home owner projects.

Should I pull the trigger?

 

[Boredmechanic]

Sounds like a good deal

 

[Mr. Brooks]

$500 is not bad but $400 is better.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I almost bought a Miller 110v for next to nothing. Be sure to look at the cut ratings, not just piercing. The material limitations mounted up pretty fast. It's not a deal if it won't do what you need it to

 

[organ]

$500 is not bad but $400 is better.

300... better yet.

 

[sberry]

Those are pretty small. I havnt used one but think the statement about the thickness adding up real fast is likely pretty accurate. This is the time to be thinking about some garage power, you can live with it in an emergency but there is no substitute for a couple real work circuits.

 

[bcradio]

Those are pretty small. This is the time to be thinking about some garage power, you can live with it in an emergency but there is no substitute for a couple real work circuits.

This here. For me it wouldn't be worth the space it took up in my garage.

Get a bigger 120v plasma and then let your compressor fill and only cut till the compressor kicks on.

Or get more power in your garage.

 

[Syberia]

Or get more power in your garage.

This. If you have much of any background load on the circuit, you'll be tripping the breaker anyways. That said, though, there is utility in having a 120v plasma cutter/welder in that you can use them anywhere and are not tied to one 220v outlet in the garage.

 

[rslaback]

I almost bought a Miller 110v for next to nothing. Be sure to look at the cut ratings, not just piercing. The material limitations mounted up pretty fast. It's not a deal if it won't do what you need it to

And duty cycle.

 

[knobby]

Just a thought but I use my little 120v plasma with a 20lb co2 tank rather than toting a compressor for field work
Makes it a one circuit operation

 

[Boredmechanic]

The 115v hoabrt has a built in compressor.

 

[knobby]

The 115v hoabrt has a built in compressor.

My only problem with the "all in ones" is that I figure that the current powering the compressor would be better utilized powering the cutting part of the equation

 

[HMCFab9]

I tried a miller plasma cutter with built in compressor a number of years ago & it seemed pretty useless for anything but very occasional hobby (craft / decorative type) stuff.
If you don't plan on any thicker / extended cuts, it might be alright though.

 

[sberry]

I have seen them in some very specific applications with sheet metal and they worked. As I recall I looked at some specs and agree that making the wind is sucking up a lot of the available power on a marginal limited circuit.
Put on a 240 welder circuit and it would be something to write home about but I spose they figure if you are getting a good plasma you already got wind?
It wouldn't be the first time a guy got too small a machine to start with.

 

[ATC]

Check your Northern Tool (if you have one). I got my Airforce 500i for $860

 

[BK13]

Don't come around here looking for somebody to tell you "no". LOL