Plasma Cutter recommendations.

[TMGT]

This is one of the consumable charts for HT air plasma.

 

[yomax4]

With Hypertherm and Miller you need the drag shield for drag cutting and that's all fine. Just an extra $12 part you need. With Thermal Dynamics/Victor you can drag cut with the actual tip or nozzle without a shield up to and including 60 amps. After that you need a drag shield too. If you try to drag a TD torch over 60 amps it automatically rolls back to 60 amps to protect the tip. Another reason to consider a plasma with a USA torch. Hypertherm made Miller torches for a long time ( ICE Torch ) That allowed Hypertherm to use Millers patented plug into any voltage or phase technology. Miller, Hyp or TD will give you a home grown designed and developed torch and machine. After all the Torch is the weak link to any plasma cutter. I think the best deal out there that has USA torch roots is the Thermal Dynamics/Victor Cut Master 42. 115/230 will cut 1/2". With a 4 year warranty. Takes 2 different torches. One only uses 2.6 cfm of air called Vent to Shield technology. You can get one new for around $900 and if you have a blown up plasma they will give you $10 per amp on trade in. ( No I don't work there ) anymore. One thing I used to call out Hypertherm on was I had a 3 yr and 3 month old Hyp 45 that blew up. They wouldn't stand behind it so I always told them that if I had bought a TD it would still have 9 months warranty left and fixed for free. I still vote Hypertherm if it can get into the budget but TD/Victor and Miller are right in there too.

 

[shaeff]

Huh? I bought Hypertherm drag shields for my 45.

Yes, you did. I incorrectly labeled it. My mistake!

Basically what I meant to say is that you don't need anything special on the Hypertherm, just drag the tip against whatever you're cutting and you're good go go. Apologies for the misnomer, it's been a long short week for me...

 

[johncanfield]

No worries mate, thanks for the clarification.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I have an everlast that has suited me well. Mine is 5 years old and does not gouge. But it does all that I need.

 

[BufordBoone]

You can get one new for around $900 and if you have a blown up plasma they will give you $10 per amp on trade in.

You wouldn't happen to have a link to one at that price, would you? Thanks.

 

[Smokeydog]

It didn’t too long for the Hypertherm 45 to pay for itself on my small farm shop. Got an extra coalescing filter cause in the south you have very wet air.
911motorsports. com templates save lots of time and give plasma table like performance. Their cutting table is great too and keep me and shop much cleaner.

 

[dragoneggs]

It didn稚 too long for the Hypertherm 45 to pay for itself on my small farm shop. Got an extra coalescing filter cause in the south you have very wet air.
911motorsports. com templates save lots of time and give plasma table like performance. Their cutting table is great too and keep me and shop much cleaner.

Thanks for the tip on templates. Correction though, website is .net not .com Welcome to 911 Motorsports - .

 

[Smokeydog]

Thanks for the tip on templates. Correction though, website is .net not .com Welcome to 911 Motorsports - .

Thanks for the correction. Their products have been very helpful.

 

[Big Barn]

Thanks for the correction. Their products have been very helpful.

same opinion here.

 

[dragoneggs]

same opinion here.

View attachment 658872

Dang it... another mail order I will have to explain to my better half!

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have been researching plasma cutters for low end users like myself and I think Everlast Supercut 51P is about the best for the money. Many of us retired professionals dont want to spend $2grand on a plasma torch that may get used one time a week or less so the Everlast at about $600 presents the most power for the money. It is over $100 less than the cheapest HF and $300 less than the HF Titanium series.

The cheap ones are the direct from China ones that I am sure you get no support from once the sale is complete and may or may not work as claimed nor have the amp power stated.

 

[BufordBoone]

I have been researching plasma cutters for low end users like myself and I think Everlast Supercut 51P is about the best for the money.

I've looked, hard, at the Everlast. I was leaning toward the 52i. It continues to be a contender.

Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Smokeydog]

The difference between a drag shield plasma torch and a stand off torch is night and day. Surprised they still offer that old tech style anymore. I would not buy a plasma cutter without a drag shield especially for template work. Rarely cut freehand without a straight edge, speed square, template or circle guide. 1/2” and bigger holes are cut much quicker, easier and cheaper than drilling.

I can layout complex lines and make precision cut in seconds.

Everlast and Hypertherm are more than different than just price.

I find the dross hammer the perfect plasma cutter clean up tool.

 

[dragoneggs]

The difference between a drag shield plasma torch and a stand off torch is night and day. Surprised they still offer that old tech style anymore. I would not buy a plasma cutter without a drag shield especially for template work. Rarely cut freehand without a straight edge, speed square, template or circle guide. 1/2” and bigger holes are cut much quicker, easier and cheaper than drilling.

I can layout complex lines and make precision cut in seconds.

Everlast and Hypertherm are more than different than just price.

I find the dross hammer the perfect plasma cutter clean up tool.

I will second the motion to buy a cutter that will allow drag cutting.

 

[Big Barn]

I find the dross hammer the perfect plasma cutter clean up tool.

What is that? Something you purchased??


This is what I use......

 

[Smokeydog]

Chips the dross right off, one hand and little if any marks. Never saw one till the flea market from an old welder. Thought it might have been homemade but no. They are rare and still made. How much and how tight the dross is tells you how you met the cutting parameters, cutters settings, consumable condition and speed. If everything is right the dross easily comes off.

 

[BukitCase]

Another Hypertherm owner here, a PM45 - second the drag tip, also I've used the scarfing tip a few times, it always surprises me how "surgical" I can get with it.

Dross - one of my chipping hammers has the flat blade in line with the handle, works OK; but my fave is this

Air Impact Hammer Kit

I found a wider chisel for it, a bit over 1" wide. I hold it flat and firm against the metal, then just "tease" the trigger and it walks right thru the dross. I hold the chisel with leather gloves, I can clean an 8 foot cut in about 15-30 seconds. Another half minute or so with a piece of 100 grit roll paper, and I can run a bare knuckle along the cut and not bleed... Steve

 

[Big Barn]

but my fave is this

Air Impact Hammer Kit

I found a wider chisel for it, a bit over 1" wide. I hold it flat and firm against the metal, then just "tease" the trigger and it walks right thru the dross. I hold the chisel with leather gloves, I can clean an 8 foot cut in about 15-30 seconds. Another half minute or so with a piece of 100 grit roll paper, and I can run a bare knuckle along the cut and not bleed... Steve

Steve, I like that idea the best.

I will try making a wider chisel for my impact. Maybe 4-5 inch. I like blasting off the dross at right angles to the cut.

 

[TractorGuy]

Found a You Tube video on the cheap $300 unit I bought. The guy demonstrates it by cutting a rusty piece of 1/2" and has to make two passes. Not sure I will ever need to cut anything that thick but looks like it will do it if I needed to.