Does anyone have a suggestion for a plasma cutter? I use a Miller at work, which works great, but I am not really interested in paying $1200. Is there really any difference in manufacturers as to quality in the way it cuts or anything? I have found a few used ones for about $500, but also saw one at Harbor Freight for $600 new. Any info would help. I am using it for auto body work, so nothing too heavy in gauge.
Plasma Cutters....
- Thread starter autobody
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DannyG
Active member
For just a little bit more you can get a Hobart, good quality and not so expensive. Or look around for a used one. .
Zrexxer
Well-known member
I've owned Millers, Hypertherms, and Thermal Dynamics. You'd be more than happy with any of those, or an equivalent Hobart. Avoid the temptation of the cheap Chinese plasmas being hawked on eBay and at Harbor Freight. That isn't a xenophobic statement against Asian products, I've used some of those and their performance is marginal. My current TD Cutmaster 52 is an exquisite machine and I'm more than happy with it.
crewchief888
Well-known member
i have a bluepoint 25 amp, not entirely impressed with it, comsumables are only available through snapon, or one online supplier, and are VERY expensive.
good thing i only paid $199 for it
good thing i only paid $199 for it
p1mlb03
Well-known member
I just picked up a Miller 375 Extreme brand new wth extra consumables for $900. The guy bought it 6 months ago an never used it. He has a larger cutter and thouht he would use the 375 more, just didn't work out that way. Figure I saved about 3 to $400 on that deal. Keep an eye on CL for new units. In the last 6 months I have seen 3 up for sale in my area.
FlameOut
Well-known member
I recently bought a Hypertherm Powermax 30. It was just under $1000. I thought about going for a cheaper (Chinese) model, but heard nothing but good things about the Hypertherms and Thermal Dynamics models. Was tough justifying paying that much, but this thing sure is sweet!
proorange
Well-known member
I bought a Hypertherm 45 in October of 08, it's far exceeded my expectations.
kooldino
Well-known member
I'm guessing this one is junk?
http://cgi.ebay.com/50A-New-Plasma-...dZViewItemQQptZBI_Welders?hash=item19b9b5212a
I'm considering picking up a cheap plasma. I'm looking for sub-$500. It can be new or used so long as the consumables are readily available. I just need to be able to cut 1/4" stainless steel without breaking a sweat.
http://cgi.ebay.com/50A-New-Plasma-...dZViewItemQQptZBI_Welders?hash=item19b9b5212a
I'm considering picking up a cheap plasma. I'm looking for sub-$500. It can be new or used so long as the consumables are readily available. I just need to be able to cut 1/4" stainless steel without breaking a sweat.
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
I wouldn't say junk I have basically the same in a 40 amp. Mine is a mitech, but it's the same stuff.
It does what I want it to. Is it a $1000 plasma? No, but that's why I paid $400 shipped for it with a bunch of consumables. It can get pretty precise if you take the time to dial it in. It will get VERY pissed with moisture. My air compressor drain had failed, and I hadn't dealt with it, and I thought the plasma was pretty marginal. I finally pulled the drain one day, dumped a gallon of water out of it, put a good dryer inline, and the plasma instantly worked well.
crewchief888
Well-known member
i think this is one of those tools that you truely "get what you pay for"
having had experience with "offshore" welders it's nearly impossible to get consumable products and parts locally. your only option is mailorder/internet.
ive useda couple of plasmas over the years, i have a bluepoint that i picked up used, it had never been used. the difference between it and a hobart that i used is night and day. the hobart ran much smoother, gun felt more natural in my hand, and consumables were available at nearly any welding supply.
only 2 sources for bluepoint consumables, snapon, good luck getting them right off the truck, or 'net company. 5 contact tips, 5 gas nozzles, 2 heat shields nearly $100.
i dont use it as much as i thought i would, good thing i only paid $100 for it.
First thing to do is figure out how thick steel you will want to cut. Look at the chart of the different cutters on Millerwelds.com. When I did this, I concluded I wanted at least 50 amps. And no way I wanted to spend $2,300 for the Miller 875.
I bought a fried 875 for $100. Paid $150 to get an estimate for $1,500 to repair, so sold it busted on eBay. Got my money back. These inverter based machines can be very expensive to fix if one of the circuit boards fails.
I ended up with an ESAB. Got it new on eBay for $800. It was a prior years model. But for a 50 amp machine, that can sever about 1", that's a great deal. It will clean cut at least 1/2". At the time, there were a number of these ESABs on eBay.
I bought a fried 875 for $100. Paid $150 to get an estimate for $1,500 to repair, so sold it busted on eBay. Got my money back. These inverter based machines can be very expensive to fix if one of the circuit boards fails.
I ended up with an ESAB. Got it new on eBay for $800. It was a prior years model. But for a 50 amp machine, that can sever about 1", that's a great deal. It will clean cut at least 1/2". At the time, there were a number of these ESABs on eBay.
kooldino
Well-known member
Interesting. Where'd you get the better one for $400 w/ consumables?
I'm in the habit of draining my compressor every day, so hopefully moisture won't be an issue for me.
kooldino
Well-known member
I have two nice Miller welders and I've had great experiences with them.
It's just harder for me to justify spending $2K on a good Miller plasma cutter, since I don't cut nearly as much as I weld.
RAYJAY
Well-known member
nice to know i for the most part do body work how wil this work on that ?????
Jeff
Jeff,
if you a only doing sheet metal stuff, get the Miller 125C. it has a built in compressor and only requires 110v power(20amp). you don't have to deal with compressor, flip one switch and you are in business instantly. it cuts 16ga. mild steels like butter. I've cut 3/16" if I go really slow, designed capacity is 1/8". I sold mine for $400.
if you a only doing sheet metal stuff, get the Miller 125C. it has a built in compressor and only requires 110v power(20amp). you don't have to deal with compressor, flip one switch and you are in business instantly. it cuts 16ga. mild steels like butter. I've cut 3/16" if I go really slow, designed capacity is 1/8". I sold mine for $400.
kooldino
Well-known member
I come up with this:
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/plasma/spectrum_375_x-treme/
$1600.
Eek.
Where are they made?
I buy quite a bit from these guys. There prices are pretty hard to beat with free shipping.
http://store.cyberweld.com/miplcusp375x.html
http://store.cyberweld.com/miplcusp375x.html
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
I don't remember the name, and IIRC, they aren't open anymore. Parker/mi-tech/riland/giant/etc., it's all the same.
honestly, I haven't used it on light gauge. All my stuff is 1/8-1/4" for the most part. I've done up to 1/2" with it, but that's pushing it.
kooldino
Well-known member
Damn, $1200 isn't bad for that, considering.
metal1313
Well-known member
damn good prices on a miller 180, better price on the dual voltage 211. i think i know what im gettin myself for my b-day
Joe69
Well-known member
Just remember, If you buy an off brand, you may not be able to get repair parts.
Joe
Joe
I have the PCM-875 (a somewhat older model). It was made in South Carolina, but ESAB is a global company, and the leading maker of welders and plasma cutters worldwide. So nothing to worry about in terms of replacement parts...it may not be as much of a household name as Miller, Lincoln, Hobart, or even HyperTherm but it's really a bigger company.I come up with this:
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/plasma/spectrum_375_x-treme/
$1600.
Eek.
Where are they made?
But the Miller 375x is 27amps...this ESAB is 50amps at 100% duty cycle. And I paid $800 new for this on eBay, and there were many available at the time. On the other hand, the 375 is tiny and light, and can run on 110v or 220v. My ESAB is 220v only, and weighs about 90 lbs. Here's a link to the current model:
http://products.esabna.com/EN/home/...y_id.id4367f5f99939b5.24989141/category_id.72
Here's a used one like mine starting at $950 on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ESAB-PCM-875-AN...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item23052c6405
kooldino
Well-known member
The ESAB Looks solid. No problems with it?
Where do you get consumables?
Where do you get consumables?
chappys4life
Well-known member
- Joined
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My dad has had a esab for about 10 years and the first 2 years where used in his metal fab shop at his company he owned. Thing is great and will cut through up to 1/2" plate I think
speed bump
Well-known member
Probably the LWS, I have been to very few that didn't stock or couldn't order ESAB parts.
kooldino
Well-known member
What's LWS?
No problems. It came with a whole box of tips and other parts, and I have not needed to get anything yet. But I know I will not have a problem getting parts.
If you're thinking about the ESAB, make sure you get one that will run on 220v if thats what you want to run, (these machines are too powerfull for 120v). Unlike a Miller 2050, which can run on various input voltages, there are different ESAB models for 430v and 220v, and they are NOT multi voltage machines.
This is particularly important if you buy a machine online....the different voltage models LOOK identical. Make sure you are getting the correct model for the voltage you want to run...for most home users, that would be the 220v model.
This is particularly important if you buy a machine online....the different voltage models LOOK identical. Make sure you are getting the correct model for the voltage you want to run...for most home users, that would be the 220v model.
speed bump
Well-known member
Local Welding Shop
It is rated to clean cut 7/8". It will sever 1-1/4". I have not used mine for anything thicker than 1/2" yet, but it will certainly do that very cleanly.
One other thing that I like about the ESAB is the ability to dial down the amperage (continuously variable) and air power seperately...some machines, expecially at lower price points are more simplistic. This allows you more control when doing thinner metal, and up to 60A when you need it. There is an automatic amerage control for the lower amperage levels.
I had a Hobart that we used quite a bit. I can't for the life of me remember which model it was, but it cost about $800 new. It was fine, but I am so used to using a torch that I forgot to use it most of the time. We also had to do a lot of in field repairs, and the torch was more convenient since we didn't need to load up the generator and everything else. The plasma cutter was really good, fast, and clean.
rowdyhillrambler
Well-known member
Miller and hobart are relatively the same machine, only difference is the internal. Hobart, the cheaper of the two, uses more plastic internals. But if you are not a fab shop using it 6 hours a day, it is probably all you need. I have a 2050 and a 675 miller it does great work, and did have an esab, made in europe. It was the only esab product i ever thought did a good job, i never liked their welding machines. But hypertherm makes most of the Miller machines. Hypertherm, miller and thermal dynamics all worth the money.