Torch set or Cheap Plasma Cutter

[sberry]

I use a plasma over a torch if possible. So much cheaper. Super fast, super clean, super with thin plate and has smooth edges. Quiet and cool. A torch is irreplacable for maint work, stuck and busted. Heat and beat in combination with impact gun and vise grips.

 

[JonnFX]

You can also cut nonmetallic materials like fiberglass, etc.

Cover the area to be cut with aluminum tape and of course, wear your respirator.

 

[sberry]

I cut most ways you can but envy a cordless porto band, a steel saw too. I have been waiting on the "right occasion" I have a small band saw but for such general work I like a chop saw when I can, fast but requires mess containment. I also buy me a big ole fistfull of sawzall blades for cordless saw. I was on the remote job the other day and mentioned I would bring a piece home to modify then I looked again, simple cut and we could leave with it fitted. There were faster methods than the less than 5 minutes there, 30 seconds with a hi power plasma but it involved other costs.

 

[sberry]

I love all the simple **** but any of the metal working tools are worth their cost if a guy is modestly busy. Doesnt take long to save 400$ fixing something any more. The modern small wire welder has really helped.

 

[jimcolt]

I use a lot of rectangular and square tube in my projects. I bought a horizontal band saw a few years back to produce nice, repeatable cuts. The set up time for the bandsaw, especially when you have to do miter cuts, as well as the cut time was rather long. Today my bandsaw is no longer used as I have made a few jigs and guides that allow me to plasma cut tube to length with my Powermax30 or Powermax45 (hypertherm) hand plasma. The cuts are pretty accurate, just need about 30 seconds cleanup with an angle grinder and they are about as good as the bandsaw with much better productivity. Here are a couple of pics.

Jim Colt

 

[sberry]

I also do miters similar. I use a chop eaw and cut square if I can possibly do it and when I do need a 45 zip it off with the plasma. I never move the saw.

 

[AndyA]

I use a lot of rectangular and square tube in my projects. I bought a horizontal band saw a few years back to produce nice, repeatable cuts. The set up time for the bandsaw, especially when you have to do miter cuts, as well as the cut time was rather long. Today my bandsaw is no longer used as I have made a few jigs and guides that allow me to plasma cut tube to length with my Powermax30 or Powermax45 (hypertherm) hand plasma. The cuts are pretty accurate, just need about 30 seconds cleanup with an angle grinder and they are about as good as the bandsaw with much better productivity. Here are a couple of pics.

Jim Colt

Yep, the jigs work great. I've made several for cutting brackets and stiffeners.

Here's one for cutting stiffeners to fit a W12x14# beam.

 

[garboui]

Excellent choice! Incidentally, what regulator pressures do the instructions that your Victor came with say to run? I have a Smith oxy/propane torch that the instructions say to run the oxygen at 20psi and the propane at 15psi and when I first got the torch I did a bunch of cutting using those pressures and my cuts always looked like garbage and were hard to do. I found on a welding forum where people were saying to use around 35psi for oxygen and 5psi for propane. Tried that and my torch cut SO much better so I've been with that since.

Another thing I've found with mine is that when heating up the metal when getting ready cut, hold the torch so the tip face is about a full inch from the metal. Then when you can tell the metal is ready for the oxygen stream, drop the torch down closer so the inner cone is almost touching and then start cutting. That's different from acetylene where you hold the inner cone very close when preheating and when cutting. But if you try to use the tip of the inner flame cones to heat the metal like you do with acetylene it takes much longer. Must just be a difference in the way propane burns. The hottest part of a propane flame seems to be about an inch out from the tip, where there is no visible flame cone.

So what are you going to use for a cart?

According to the Victor reference charts we are both way off. Heres the chart for reference.
http://www.cousesteel.com/AndysPlace/Pdf/PropaneTipSet.pdf

After doing some test cuts today I realized that going off of what I remember from OA cutting only doesnt pan out too perfectly for OP.

 

[garboui]

Great idea on using an old shopping cart I used an old wheelchair. It's a good idea using something somewhat large like that because you can hang all sorts of cables and things off of it. If you decide you want something different than an shopping cart check craigslist for an old wheelchair, a bariatric wheelchair would be even better because they have extra weight capacity. And they roll so easily even loaded down.

Here's a pic of the cart thus far. Still needs a few things like hooks and cord wraps. It was modified with breadcrumbs of scrap so don't make fun. I plan on rebuilding with some better steel in the future but for now this is functional.

 

[sberry]

I like the cart,,,, real good, exactly what this is all about. Poster case.

LP is great for heat cut, I never use it for welding since they invent the wire welder.

 

[PatDoody]

I have both. I use the oxy torch mostly for cutting scrap out in the yard. I have one of Eastwoods cheapo plasma cutters, it works great. I used it last week to cut 1/2 plate and it did it in one pass.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

The only time I fire up the torch now is to heat rusted parts for removal. PAC is what I use for cutting 100% of the time.
I went to welding trade school in early 70's and mastered the art of gas welding back in the day, but now use only MIG welder.