Plasma Questions

[Hilbilly]

why didnt you put your flatbar on edge?

I had to cut a 15 deg angle across the width and the Makita head doesn't pivot. So the onlt way to achieve that is to lay the bar flat.

When I was in the city I picked up a Makita steel cutting blade with diamonds impregnated around the circumference. The smaller bandsaws wouldn't cut a 45 on the 3" bar so I figured I'd give this a try. I also picked up a 110 cu ft oxy tank and will continue using that for cutting until I decide on Plasma or not. I didn't have time today but I'm thinking I should get the propane setup so I can use it for cutting too.

 

[CNC Dan]

I had to cut a 15 deg angle across the width and the Makita head doesn't pivot. So the onlt way to achieve that is to lay the bar flat.

When I was in the city I picked up a Makita steel cutting blade with diamonds impregnated around the circumference. The smaller bandsaws wouldn't cut a 45 on the 3" bar so I figured I'd give this a try. I also picked up a 110 cu ft oxy tank and will continue using that for cutting until I decide on Plasma or not. I didn't have time today but I'm thinking I should get the propane setup so I can use it for cutting too.

Diamonds are carbon.
Steel is mostly iron.
Carbon dissolves into iron at high temperatures.

Diamond abrasives don't last long when used on steel.
Cubic boron nitride (CBN) is a better choice.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I use a Makita steel cutting circular saw for cuts like that. Cordless.

 

[Hilbilly]

Diamonds are carbon.
Steel is mostly iron.
Carbon dissolves into iron at high temperatures.

Diamond abrasives don't last long when used on steel.
Cubic boron nitride (CBN) is a better choice.

Well that's not good news. The blade wasn't cheap ($130 plus taxes) and I tried it tonight. It cuts ok but definitely not 4 times as fast as the abrasive blades, like they claim. They also claim this will last as long as 120 abrasive blades. I'm thinking this is also BS. Anyways time will tell.

The other day, when I discovered the abrasive blade wouldn't cut the last part of the 3/8" flat bar, I used the OA torch and even though I'm not good at it, I was very pleased with the results. Very little grinding required (well for most of the cuts). Now I'm thinking I should have just stuck with that process. But it is always nice to have something better and more accurate. Besides I like tools and it can't be wrong to get more...........can it?

 

[Big Barn]

Well that's not good news. The blade wasn't cheap ($130 plus taxes) and I tried it tonight. It cuts ok but definitely not 4 times as fast as the abrasive blades, like they claim. They also claim this will last as long as 120 abrasive blades. I'm thinking this is also BS. Anyways time will tell. The other day, when I discovered the abrasive blade wouldn't cut the last part of the 3/8" flat bar, I used the OA torch and even though I'm not good at it, I was very pleased with the results. Very little grinding required (well for most of the cuts). Now I'm thinking I should have just stuck with that process. But it is always nice to have something better and more accurate. Besides I like tools and it can't be wrong to get more...........can it?

I just reread the KMS flyer ad for the Makita blade. They claim '120x the life of abrasive wheels and 4x the life of carbide blades.' I was looking at it in the store and might have purchased it if I was out of blades. Keep us posted.

Terry

 

[Hilbilly]

I'm saving the metal blade for the more difficult cuts. Today I used the abrasive blades to cut up some 3/8" x 3" flat bar for gusset plates for my grapple build but the cuts were made on edge and went fine. I cut the bars 8" long, then ripped them with the OA torch to make triangles. I'm getting better with the OA cutting and didn't have to do welding fills today. Maybe I just got lucky. Here's a pic of one of the cuts. Not the best put good enough for me. They only took a little grinder work to dress up.

 

[Underdog57]

Good job! Looks like you don't need to spend money on a plasma!

 

[Scooby074]

Your cuts are looking good. Little more practice.

 

[Hilbilly]

Good job! Looks like you don't need to spend money on a plasma!

Thanks, I was still thinking a plasma would be nice so I could use wooden templates to make my cuts but for the amount of cutting I do it really isn't needed. I found a 40 Amp unit for $500 and If I read a bunch of good reviews for it I would probably get one. But I'm definitely not going to spend a couple grand for something I will hardly ever use.

Your cuts are looking good. Little more practice.

The practice sure makes a difference. I've always been intimidated by OA cutting and have tried to find ways to avoid it. But for this project I was pretty much stuck with having to use it for some of the work. Now I'm gaining confidence and using it for cuts I could make on my abrasive saw. Whats that old saying.............. oh ya "practice, practice, practice".

 

[Hilbilly]

My birthday is coming up and I couldn't think of anything I wanted so I said to myself, "why not get a plasma .... you've thought about it many times". So I did some more research on the "less expensive" brands and there seemed to be 2 sets of customer reviews; 1) either very happy or 2) very unhappy, not much in between. It seems that if the cutter works then the customer is happy, but if there is any problem with the machine during the warranty period and it has to be shipped back for repairs it takes forever to get it back. or they can't get any response from the company. I read that someone sent there's in for repairs (at his cost for shipping, both ways) and 4 months later still had not got it back. Ended up buying another (different brand) machine. Others complained about horrible customer service if there is a problem and others couldn't find a local repair shop that was willing to work on the machine because parts could be an issue. With my luck I would end up being one of those unhappy customers.

I tend to be a "frugal" (read cheap) person and don't like to spend more that I absolutely have to for something but I have also had some bad experiences when buying the non brand name or less expensive stuff. Even so, I was still considering a "Chinese" cutter just because they are much cheaper. But when I was using my beloved Lincoln wire feed welder, that I have had for about 10 years, it hit me! I needed to get some new equipment for it so I could run larger wire. That meant I had to get a different liner for the wire feed, a different drive roller, different tips and the larger wire. I just went to the local KMS tool store and ordered the stuff. Most of it was in the next day. The important message to myself was that even after 10 years I can still get new parts and consumables for my welder, without any problems. So I decided then that I would get a name brand plasma but only if I didn't have to pay a huge amount for it.

I found a deal on a new Hypertherm Powermax 30 but was concerned that it might not be enough machine for my wants / needs. So the dealer said "take it home and try it and if you don't like it I will refund your money". I took him up on the offer but found it was a little too slow for me at cutting 3/8" mild steel. It is rated for 1/4" and at that thickness it performed well. I took it back and no questions asked he said he would refund the full purchase price. I was impressed!! Then I told him I did some checking on line and found that the 30XP was rated for 3/8" not 1/4" like the 30 and suggested that would be the right machine for me but I wasn't willing to pay the much higher price for it that I was quoted by another supplier in town. The dealer I was working with didn't have one. I really wanted the 45 but that was waaaaayyyyyyy to much for me. So he checks out the company inventory and finds a 30xp in a town a few hrs away. Tells me he will sell it to me for $75 over cost. His price was $350 lower than the quote I got for the same machine from the other dealer in town. I said go for it and he even managed to get it on a shipment that is supposed to arrive tomorrow. What a great guy. I gave him a $20 tip for being so helpful. Now I can't wait for it to arrive. The only negative to this story is that I am done with all the cutting I need to do for my grapple build. I guess I better find something else that requires metal cutting.

Oh ya...... happy birthday to me.