Need plasma cutter advice

[DaryleD]

If you want to save time grinding, than I would recomend the plasma. If you don't mind cleaning up the plate after the cut than I think O/A is cheaper in and of itself. Obviously you'll have the added cost of grinding wheels, time etc. I work for Hypertherm, and I can say that if you get one of our systems, I'm sure you'll not only be happy with the system but you'll be happy with the customer service if something ever goes wrong. Hypertherm doesn't sell direct to the end user ( Which I wish that we did ) you will have to buy from a welding supply store. I can only tell you that I have priced them with our employee discount ( which isn't much ) and the powermax 600 was in the $1,300 range. I've never priced our 1250 unit. I don't spend as much time working with metal these days, so getting one would be foolish until I have more time/money. You can run the 600 on 220/240 . I will tell you that our stuff is a little more than other companies, but it is supposed to be the Cadillac of plasma. The consumables are engineered not only to cut great, but last longer, reduceing down time, which in turn is why they are more money.The rateing for a system is below what it can actually cut, like a ladder will take more weight than what it's rated for. It doesn't sound like you'll need anything more than the 600. I want to tell you, so that you don't think that I am a salesman or something, that I am a machine operator running lathes and mills and machine some of the torch parts. I would't recomend something that I didn't believe in. I also would like to tell you that if you can get a Miller system that has the same capacity, cheaper, than go for it. We make the toches for them ( and I think Hobart as well ). They make their own systems but we make their torches. The cut quality, and longevity of the consumables is controlled mainly from the quality of the torch and it's design, so you would enjoy the same great benefits with theirs as ours. Happy shoping..
Daryle.

 

[TractorDale]

Yeah, nice car and wholeshot. Not that off-topic if you consider your tires as 'consumables'.

I need a bigger garage.

Dale

 

[TractorDale]

Thanks for the great info Daryle-I think the 600 will serve me well.

Dale

 

[Renze]

O.K. i'd like to thank you guys as well, i can use this info as well...

But what amperage (or Watt) of machine are these ? I'm in Holland, so when we're talking 240 Volt, we're talking lightbulb and kitchen electricity, like the North American 110 volt system. We have 230 Volt for in-house electricity and 400 volt for power, e.g. pig barn fans, and my 7,5 Kw irrigation pump.
I dont think i can get Lincoln, Hobart etcetera in Holland, though i do know Lincoln from the 2 months i've visited Canada...
When i know an estimated price for a certain machine, and the output power they give, i can see what a comparable machine for the European power network will cost.

Can i assume that buying a cheap plasma cutter, throw away the heads and buy new, high quality heads, will give the high quality cut ?

I like plasma very much because of the free hand cutting, and being able to cut big sheets as well. Next to that, i hate the smell of disk grinders abrasive dust in my clothing.

 

[dbdartman]

I have a '62 Biscayne with a 625 hp 502ci. During the 5 year frame off restoration, I did plenty of welding on the frame to strengthen things up. That's where I had to have some very precise cuts and darn "pretty" welds that would be strong. If you know those old cars, I had to take out the carrier bearing and tie the "X" frame together along with building a 4 link rear suspension.

I do have a "burn out" pic, but my photographer (my son) was too much "wow" and waited until half the car was hidden in tire smoke.

Nice '62 'cayne! 4-linking that X-frame must have been an experience... (I worked in a fab shop for 13 years that specialised in drag race chassis, suspension & roll cages).

My car is a '68 Dart 2dr sedan built as a canyon carver (mild 360 maybe 400 HP, A-518 4spd AOD, 3.91:1 8.75" LSD rear, & lots & lots of steering & suspension up-grades using bigger car parts). My brother has the "fire breather," a 69 Coronet 500 wagon with a 550HP 590 TQ 493 (4.15" stroke 440), PS, PDB, A/C. Just got done converting from vacuum booster to Chevy 1500 hydra-boost, but still need to swap out the old 8.75" rear for a Dana 60, Cal-tracks & mono-leafs, but it does go for the occasional bomb through the back roads & to the local cruise-in until all the rear parts are purchased(new rear & leafs are here, waiting on the bars & driveshaft). After the rear is swapped, we'll get some 1/4 mile numbers.

BTW, that pic of my car was taken 2 days after getting it on the road. I think it had 30 miles on it... 2 weeks later I drove it to Carlisle, Pa (150+ miles each way) both Saturday & Sunday. The only part of the drivetrain, steering, suspension & brakes I DIDN'T change was the steering column & brake pedal.

 

[wushaw]

O.K. i'd like to thank you guys as well, i can use this info as well...

But what amperage (or Watt) of machine are these ? I'm in Holland, so when we're talking 240 Volt, we're talking lightbulb and kitchen electricity, like the North American 110 volt system. We have 230 Volt for in-house electricity and 400 volt for power, e.g. pig barn fans, and my 7,5 Kw irrigation pump.
I dont think i can get Lincoln, Hobart etcetera in Holland, though i do know Lincoln from the 2 months i've visited Canada...
When i know an estimated price for a certain machine, and the output power they give, i can see what a comparable machine for the European power network will cost.

Can i assume that buying a cheap plasma cutter, throw away the heads and buy new, high quality heads, will give the high quality cut ?

I like plasma very much because of the free hand cutting, and being able to cut big sheets as well. Next to that, i hate the smell of disk grinders abrasive dust in my clothing.

ESAB is from your neck of the woods, I would start there. They have been around for awhile.

 

[DaryleD]

Renze,
I can say with confidence that you should be able to get a Hypertherm unit somewhere. Hypertherm has salseman and distributors throughout the world. We have people in europe, singapore, china etc. If you like, I can find out who you would have to see to get one or at least check them out. It may take a while due to myself not being in the chain of sales or service. I am just a machine operator that machines some of the parts that we put into them. It isn't as easy as buying a high quality torch and putting it on a bargain basement unit. You would have to find someone that has something to fit the cheaper unit and I'm assumeing that it would be a problem. When you talk about aftermarket products, they have to either be cheaper or better than the original manufacturer. I am just guessing, but I think that the aftermarket wouldn't make a high quality torch for a cheaper unit due to considering the purchasers budget when buying the cheaper unit, and wouldn't or couldn't buy a high quality torch. I also think that you get what you pay for with our units. There is alot of testing that is done on our systems trying to push them to the failure point. I can't get into specifics, but can say that they should be extremely dependable in the real world. The cheaper stuff from other companies might not be tested as harshly. I would imagine that you would be safe with Miller, Hobart, Lincoln esab etc. I wouldn't buy an off brand unit though. I wouldn't worry about the voltage issue, because it would be stupid for Hypertherm to have people over in other counties selling systems that wouldn't work. Let me know if you would like me to check. Whatever you decide, I hope it works out for you.

 

[Renze]

DaryleD, i didnt mean network voltage, but the amperage of cut... I was told at the company i used to work, that plasma cutters used the same basic elements as a stick welder, so it must be converting net volt/ampere to a lower ampere, higher volt cutting electricity.

So there's my question: how strong of a machine do i need to cut 1" steel, 3/8 steel etcetera ? And what's the price for a typical machine with that electrical capacity ?
I'd better be sure they fit into my budget before i get more information...

 

[DaryleD]

Renze,
I will try to find out for you as soon as possible. Please allow me a few days. I'm not sure how long it will take for our tech guys/gals to get back to me. I will either post it here or send you a private message as soon as I know anything.
Daryle.

 

[DaryleD]

Renze, I sent you a private message with information on whom to contact.
Daryle.