Best choice?

[Sasquatch912]

I am looking at purchasing a plasma cutter for my farm, but do not want to buy something that's thousands of dollars even though its a good name (Hypertherm).

I was looking at the Lotos plasma cutters and they seem to have decent reviews.

I was interested in purchasing the 80 Amp one for $800+, but then I thought I may could get away with the 50 or 60 amp one and then buy an oxygen/acetylene set up and be at the same price of the Lotos 80 Amp cutter.

Reason I am wanting a plasma cutter is because I plan to build me a skid plate/cage on my tractor and the cuttee will make life much simpler. I figured getting the oxygen/acetylene set up would be handy later for bending or heating up objects.


What would be the best thing to do?


Thanks

 

[xela456]

There's a 65 amp hypertherm at work I use all the time. It cuts through up to 1 inch (slowly) just fine. Running on 480 3 phase. I haven't used anything bigger than a 65 before so I'd bet for general fabrication 65 amps would be more than enough. I'm betting the lower end Chinese ones have come a long way just like the welders.
Sorry I don't have any info on brands or price it's always been Miller's or hypertherm at work for me. Just wanted to give my opinion on the size.

 

[Sasquatch912]

There's a 65 amp hypertherm at work I use all the time. It cuts through up to 1 inch (slowly) just fine. Running on 480 3 phase. I haven't used anything bigger than a 65 before so I'd bet for general fabrication 65 amps would be more than enough. I'm betting the lower end Chinese ones have come a long way just like the welders.
Sorry I don't have any info on brands or price it's always been Miller's or hypertherm at work for me. Just wanted to give my opinion on the size.

Thank you! I think I will opt for the 55-60Amp and get the oxygen/acetylene set up as well.

 

[sberry]

I havnt used a new one. But,,, the plasma has ruled the fab work over the torch. If I am farming or in maintenance in any way the torch is an also must have and I get an anxiety attack if I get too much farther away from one than the end of the hose. Get big as bottles as you can. A 25 ft hose is too short, my whip started leaking and I took it off and I can make do in my shop but if I am using it a lot want 35 to 50 and like 100 on my service truck.
Before plasma torch was our main fab tool, before 4 1/2 grinders. In an older shop with different layout I had a bottle corral, had aceyt and 100# lp, 100 ft of hose on each. I wasnt so fussy about the ergonomics, it worked, had sprout helpers and used the lp for most cutting.
I use a torch some, certain things heat is different, use it on cars a lot. Got only one set on a cart in the shop though, used it yesterday for a minute to blow some rusty bracket off. At one point lit one so much actually carried a striker.
Its a little like welding though, a guy needs to do it regular at least a bit to be comfy and smooth to do fine work. A torch can be a precision cutting tool, not everyone that uses one truly knows how to operate it. I got to admit to wasting some fuel over the years but the point at the time was some speed.
A guy can get a lot better than this but it can be typical.