Who want to chat about plasma cutters?

[GeneV]

Who's got one or uses one?

I'm thinking of getting this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052OX87...&colid=TJYU61LC7LU&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I've been reading comparisons and watching some youtube reviews, that one seems to be a hit.

 

[Fixastuff]

I have the Hobart 14ci and it works well. I would have liked a larger one but $$ this one cuts 1/4steel if you go slow with it. It's still much faster than cutoff wheels and way clean and less stinky in the shop. Anything less that 1/4 is nice and fast.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I have one of these 3 in 1 units, works very well.

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Here is just a plasma cutter,

Pardon Our Interruption...

The Lotus is also good as far as reviews.... I have no experience with them.

 

[GeneV]

Fixastuff, I didn't find anything on 14ci on google. Saw a 12ci, same thing different name? They're pricy tho, right?

 

[GeneV]

I have one of these 3 in 1 units, works very well.

SIMADRE SIMA-CT5200D Plasma Cutter for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for SIMADRE SIMA-CT5200D Plasma Cutter at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Here is just a plasma cutter,

Pardon Our Interruption...

The Lotus is also good as far as reviews.... I have no experience with them.

I already got a stick welder, but yeh your second link, people seem happy with it per the reviews. $100 less than the Lotus, and comes with consumables, that's nice.

I'm new to plasma cutters. The Lotus has a non touch pilot arc, seems like a good feature to have. What do you guys think?

 

[Locoweed]

Lotos
I had one of the first generation machines. The power supply worked well, the consumables - not so much. I ended up using it as a trade in for a much better machine.

 

[grsthegreat]

Not sure on these smaller units. I have a hypertherm 1000. Had it for about 10 years. Expensive (like 4 grand as i recall) heavy, very dependable.

consumables aren't cheap though.
i wouldnt mind a cheaper, light and small unit for using around the farm. But these things require shop air, so unless it has a built in compressor, i guess im out of luck.

 

[hornett22]

The dryer the air, the longer the consumables last.

 

[HappyOne]

Ive been looking at Everlast plasma cutters. They can be used for a plasma table should I want to do that some day.

 

[2manyrocks]

The dryer the air, the longer the consumables last.

I bought a primeweld plasma cutter earlier this year. They seem to get good reviews.

Only thing I would say is to factor in adding a drier to your air compressor and think about the surface you're going to be using to make cuts. Plasma cutting is a lot hotter process than I was expecting.

 

[sd455dan]

Who's got one or uses one?

I'm thinking of getting this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052OX87...&colid=TJYU61LC7LU&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I've been reading comparisons and watching some youtube reviews, that one seems to be a hit.

I have the 3 in 1 LTPDC2000d version LOTOS makes

in October it will be 7 years old. Its very first job was sectioning a complete car into pieces of 4x4 or less to go to the recycler.

Today cut up an entire 55 foot mobile home frame.

For some reason the one I got just won't die. I think it is on it's second paint gun air filter
It is a passable stick welder but like my Idealarc Lincolns better.
A very decent DC TIG welder.
But it is the only Plasma cutter I have so it gets used quite a bit.

 

[tomplum]

The drag tips are nice. I have a Hypertherm and it has worked well. I did get their dryer for the inlet air. The big thing is that you will need air and lots of it, so check the spec of what you are considering getting. They do have small units as well with an onboard compressor.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ya, i have a dryer on my system also. Most necessary addition.

 

[Monster5601]

Ya, i have a dryer on my system also. Most necessary addition.

Very interested to know more about the air dryer you are using.

 

[mini14]

I bought one of those Chinese junky ones that cuts 3/8. Please save your money and buy a name brand quality unit.

 

[Smokeydog]

Hypertherm 45 love it. They make what everyone else copies. Long consumables life.

Water separator on compressor, coalescing filter inlet and has it’s own coalescing self draining filter internal. Dry air a must.

Use 911 Motorsports stencils and tub cutting table.

 

[ptsg]

Bough one of those cheap 40A plasma cutters (<180€) on Lidl a couple years ago. Lidl is a grocery store but it has its own line of tools called Parkside. Anyway, that thing has been an absolute trooper and has saved me loads and loads of cutting discs for the angle grinders. I'm sure the same exact product is available under a bunch of different names.

Cuts easily up to 8 mm (5/16") and does alright on 10 mm (~3/8"). Never tried anything thicker.

Maybe one day I'll upgrade to something better but this one will have to suffice for now.

 

[5030]

I have an IR refrigerated dryer on my compressor main outlet plus one of those cannister filters that take a toilet paper roll on the inlet of the Hypertherm. Dry air and plenty of it is the benchmark for any plasma cutter. They don't work well with a small compressor either. I have both a Sullaire screw compressor and a 10 horse Champion reciprocating compressor for a back up and the screw cannot keep up with demand when using the plasma table. With both running, really spins the electric meter.. lol

 

[grsthegreat]

Very interested to know more about the air dryer you are using.

I actually went with the harbor freight unit… 10 years ago and still working great. Removed 100% of all moisture.
how do i know this. I also have a Motor Guard paper air filter downline. The filter remains absolutely dry after a year of use. I do change out canister every year just to be safe, but the element is always spotless. And my plasma table get alot of use.

 

[grsthegreat]