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Which plasma cutter?

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MoonRise

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Hypertherm.

Find the unit(s) that fits your cut thickness requirements and money budget and just get the Hypertherm. Done.
 
Z

zmotorsports

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I posted this in the other thread but I would say Hypertherm, Thermal Arc or ESAB would be my vote.

As much as it pains me to say this, but do NOT buy a Miller plasma cutter. I hate having to say that becuase I bleed blue but after making that mistake at work and seeing a friend make the same one after warning him I cannot shout it loud enough.

Mike.
 
Z

zmotorsports

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Richard Cranium said:
Zmotor Thanks for your info. I am not the one asking the question, but do like the education....
Click to expand...

You are completely welcome. I just hate to see someone make the same mistake I did.

Maybe somewhere in this Miller will pull their heads out and remedy the issues. I have spoken numerous times to my local rep and he said I am not alone in my comments but yet I haven't seen any improvements lately.:dunno:

That said, I love my ESAB at my home shop and a friend has a Hypertherm that is awesome as well.

Mike.
 
K

Kensgarage

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If you go over over to the welding web and see what real welders and fabbers use and you'll find most have Hypertherm. You'll also see Hypertherms guy over there on a daily basis.
They back up their stuff and offer tech support. Spend some time on their website and watching some B00BT00B vids.

Be forewarned. Welding webs site also has dumpster divers trying to Hotrod HF-sss converted egg roll fryers and spreading the coupon plague in failed attempts to save $150 too.:confused:
They have an "ignore user" button over there as well :thumbup:

My main advice is make sure your compressor and dryer are up to par and get a nice headset with a flip down #8 shade shield. Hypertherm offers a good one. You need dry air and you need to go easy on the eyes at higher amps.
 
T

TheEquineFencer

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I have a HyperTherm PowerMax 45,it replaced the HyperTherm 600 that burned with the shop fire. It seems to cut 50%-100% better than the old one. I asked a friend that's a salesman for AirGas to sell me what I needed,not what I thought I wanted and this is what I got. If I remember right, it was less than I could find one off the Internet. (JW at Airgas out of Goldsboro or Wilson, NC) At least the last time I talked to him that's the branch he was working out of, he moves around, they'll know how to get up with him.
 
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OldmanB

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We have a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52 for 4 years now, it's as trouble free as they come! As Zmotor said, Miller for some stuff is getting very crappy.
 
G

GN4WHLN

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OldmanB said:
We have a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52 for 4 years now, it's as trouble free as they come! As Zmotor said, Miller for some stuff is getting very crappy.
Click to expand...

I have the same plasma. 10' cord, 20' leads, 60 amps. I seem to recall it had a better warranty than others too. Paid 1200 for it at IOC. Free shipping and no tax. Got it in about 5 days in CA. I've only had it since November, but I really like it so far.
 
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coljar

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OldmanB said:
We have a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52 for 4 years now, it's as trouble free as they come! As Zmotor said, Miller for some stuff is getting very crappy.
Click to expand...

GN4WHLN said:
I have the same plasma. 10' cord, 20' leads, 60 amps. I seem to recall it had a better warranty than others too. Paid 1200 for it at IOC. Free shipping and no tax. Got it in about 5 days in CA. I've only had it since November, but I really like it so far.
Click to expand...

I have the same as well. It is a great machine. No cons whatsoever. Tried out one with a built in compressor before I bought the TD. What a joke. I suppose it might work if you were only cutting sheet metal, but that's what shears are for.:lol:
 
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K

kmacht

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At the risk of being called a hf dumpster diver hot rod.... The plasma cutter that harbor freight sells for around $600 is actually a pretty good machine for home hobby use. Not everything there is junk as some people would like you to believe. You just have to do some research and be selective when buying from them. Yes a hypertherm is the industry standard for plasma cutters but for the typical home hobby work it is difficult to justify the 2x cost. Do some research and listen only to people who own and have used a particular machine and ignore the rest. Also really decide what you want the machine for and buy a machine to fit that mission. If you aren't doing daily fabrication work you probably don't need an industrial grade machine. If your lively hood depends on getting a perfect cut then maybe you do.

Keith
 
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NUTTSGT

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The last time I was at OE Meyer, local welding supplier, the guy said not to buy one with a built in compressor.

I'm glad to hear the advice of to steer clear of Blue plasma cutters.
 
R

Rogue1987

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Missouri
I've got a thermal arc cutmaster 42. It's been replaced once under warranty. The replacement has been fine, but if I could go back I'd buy a Hypertherm machine.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
D

dodge610

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Hypertherm or miller both have a pretty nice plasma machine. Gonna look at a miller to match my welder. Remember kid dodge knows.
 
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jeepinerdeep

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I got an ESAB from my LWS near cost on closeout. They were bringing in Hypertherm.

Not a thing in the world wrong with the ESAB. It's a workhorse. But it is really much super easier to find jigs, stencils, circlecutters, tables and consumables for a Hypertherm.
 
Z

zmotorsports

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jeepinerdeep said:
I got an ESAB from my LWS near cost on closeout. They were bringing in Hypertherm.

Not a thing in the world wrong with the ESAB. It's a workhorse. But it is really much super easier to find jigs, stencils, circlecutters, tables and consumables for a Hypertherm.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I love my ESAB and had to fabricate components for it compared to the Hypertherm but I still wouldn't trade it.

Mike.
 
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wagon

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calif
dodge610 said:
ESAB if i remember correctly that is the company that bought or aquired airco and part of linde.
Click to expand...

not sure about that, but ESAB bought out Victor Technologies, which includes Victor, Thermal Dynamics, Tweco, Thermal Arc, ArcAir, TurboTorch and Stoody.
 
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wagon

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calif
The Victor / Thermal Dynamics units are great machines.

If you like USA country of origin, then go for Hypertherm. I haven't heard anything bad about the Miller units from the guys I know, but I will say that they're priced high for the amperage they provide. Hypertherm is industry standard for plasma.
 
S

Skyline

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I have an ESAB, which works great. While not so much of a household name as Miller or Hypotherm here in the USA, it's a VERY big name brand globally.

What was great was I got a new-old-stock unit on eBay for $850, which for a robust 220v unit is really good. It can sever 1-1/2" and clean cut 1", which is more that twice the thickness of anything I'll ever need to cut.
 
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Finky198

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Feb 25, 2014
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Miller fixed the problems along time ago... Id stick with Hypertherm or Miller for a close 2nd probably the top 2 setups available on the current market
 
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