Trying to decide on a plasma cutter, do not have over 1,000.00 for a miller(wish i did) only have 400-500 to spend on one. It will be for occasional use not everyday working with mostly 3/16 maybe 1/4 thickness. I have seen some on e-bay for 375.00-to 450.00. Does anyone have any experience with any of these chinese brands?, say lotus,rstar, or ofcourse the harbor freight brand?. And can you get the consummables for them?, thanks for any input.
plasma cutter buying
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yomax4
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You may better off to call all of the welding supply distributors in your area to see if they have any used Plasmas. You would be in better hands with a used brand name unit that can be repaired and or have available parts.
J
JCB
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Randy,
I'm pretty sure you've priced yourself exclusively into the used market.
I have a Thermal Dynamics 38. I don't remember the price, but I don't think it was well over $1000. I can't imagine being remotely happy with anything less for even occasional use.
The machine is so slow to cut 3/8 that it is impractical even for "occasional use", and TD has about as good of a duty cycle as anything out there. Duty cycle may not seem like much, but once you have a smaller machine it means everything.
1/4" is very slow and 1/8" is still fairly slow but really all that can be reasonably cut. Just be aware that with most plasma cutters the printed specs are gonna be laughably optimistic and you'll really want a size bigger than you think.
I don't have first hand experience with off brands, but really suspect that the discount brands in this price range are really for 16ga on down.
Hope that helps!
Joe
You really don't want to think you got a deal and then be disappointed.
I'm pretty sure you've priced yourself exclusively into the used market.
I have a Thermal Dynamics 38. I don't remember the price, but I don't think it was well over $1000. I can't imagine being remotely happy with anything less for even occasional use.
The machine is so slow to cut 3/8 that it is impractical even for "occasional use", and TD has about as good of a duty cycle as anything out there. Duty cycle may not seem like much, but once you have a smaller machine it means everything.
1/4" is very slow and 1/8" is still fairly slow but really all that can be reasonably cut. Just be aware that with most plasma cutters the printed specs are gonna be laughably optimistic and you'll really want a size bigger than you think.
I don't have first hand experience with off brands, but really suspect that the discount brands in this price range are really for 16ga on down.
Hope that helps!
Joe
You really don't want to think you got a deal and then be disappointed.
paulinkansas
Member
Randy, I was in the same situation as you a couple of months ago. I opted for an oxy/acetalyne setup. It'll cut, heat, weld and braze. The plasma can only cut. In the last 4 months I've used the O/A to cut a tractor drawbar, heat up 1/4" flat stock hot enough so that I could bend it around a metal tube, braze a gear that goes around the flywheel of a lawnmower engine, heat up the previously mentioned gear so that it would go back on the flywheel, heat up lawnmower decks and linkages to straighten them out, heat up roll pins in order to extract them. In other words, the O/A is about 10x more useful than a plasma cutter.
2manyrocks
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If it's thin sheet metal being cut, there are reasons for the plasma cutter. If it's thicker stock and the cut isn't so important, then O/A shouldn't be overlooked.
This is the only welder I own now and it does everything. And I can take to the field and use it. I would pay double for this. Lots of demos on the web site.
DHC 2000 Welding and Cutting Torch $369 shipped 803.429.2545
DHC 2000 Welding and Cutting Torch $369 shipped 803.429.2545
i'm never one to discount a lower priced item as being lower quality without proof, so i'd say to do what you are currently doing - look for anyone who has experience with them, and try to get a feel for both them and their experience with the unit. look for an analytical response. generally i don't put a lot of faith into responses form people who say things like "total crap". people that say things like: "it did this, but didnt do this" or "i couldn't get it to do this" are generally a better source of information.
i'm sure there's got to be some differences between the el cheapo tools and the name brand ones, but i don't think the cheap ones are totally bad. let's face it, if they fell apart when you looked at them, they wouldn't even try to bother to sell them after a while. they would spend more in legal fees and lost time to make it worth their while. i'm sure they will work for some people and certain applications, but you just have to figure out whether they fit your needs.
i'm sure there's got to be some differences between the el cheapo tools and the name brand ones, but i don't think the cheap ones are totally bad. let's face it, if they fell apart when you looked at them, they wouldn't even try to bother to sell them after a while. they would spend more in legal fees and lost time to make it worth their while. i'm sure they will work for some people and certain applications, but you just have to figure out whether they fit your needs.
smfcpacfp
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I have been seriously looking at buying one of these. How long have you had it?
yomax4
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A Torch set is Great, I sell them. But ,,you can get one for next to nothing and yes they do a lot as long as you are working on Steel. If you don't work with Stainless, Aluminum, Rust, Grease, Paint, Galvanised or Cast.. They are priceless...:thumbsup:
RPW
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Well
not to start (or continue) another brand bashing thread but....being in the same boat as you on amount I could spend on a plasma cutter I went ahead and purchased a HF a few years ago. It's a 40amp and I've cut up to 1/4" without any problems 3/8 it struggles and I'll switch to O/A. As long as you have clean dry air it works pretty good. I also only cut on occasion. For a commercial business I'd pass but for the hobbiest it works fine. If I had the money I'd go for a Miller etc. I've cut long lengths until the unit over-temped but letting it cool it would start right back up. Consumables are plentiful and not very expensive. Cuts are clean (again as long as air is clean and dry). Warranty is decent.
Good luck.
not to start (or continue) another brand bashing thread but....being in the same boat as you on amount I could spend on a plasma cutter I went ahead and purchased a HF a few years ago. It's a 40amp and I've cut up to 1/4" without any problems 3/8 it struggles and I'll switch to O/A. As long as you have clean dry air it works pretty good. I also only cut on occasion. For a commercial business I'd pass but for the hobbiest it works fine. If I had the money I'd go for a Miller etc. I've cut long lengths until the unit over-temped but letting it cool it would start right back up. Consumables are plentiful and not very expensive. Cuts are clean (again as long as air is clean and dry). Warranty is decent.Good luck.
