Need plasma cutter advice

[Dargo]

My dad teases me for having "high tech". He's one of the old time welders who has burned rods or something similar at least a few days a week for 45 years. My plasma cutter is a HyperTherm 1250. Yeah, it wasn't cheap. I don't have one of those cool submerged arc machines for heavy stuff, but I do have 3 arc welders 1 TIG and my MM251. I also do have one of the high end DeWalt metal shop saws as well as the metal cutting circular saw along with O/A and O/P.

I just bought a big load of stainless today. Man, has that ever gone up since 6 months ago!! Not only is there the fuel surcharge, but the actual product has really gone up.

Oh, cool pic. 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.

 

[Soundguy]

I just bought a big load of stainless today. Man, has that ever gone up since 6 months ago!! Not only is there the fuel surcharge, but the actual product has really gone up.

.

I work for a GC.. speaking of metal prices.. check this out. 60" ( yes.. 5' )corrugated metal culvert pipe is 200' a linear foot installed.... That's what our underground utility contractor is pricing to us.... Nice huh!

Soundguy

 

[Dargo]

I work for a GC.. speaking of metal prices.. check this out. 60" ( yes.. 5' )corrugated metal culvert pipe is 200' a linear foot installed.... That's what our underground utility contractor is pricing to us.... Nice huh!

Soundguy

Funny you mention that. I just bought a 25' length of that culvert that is 7' high and 11' wide. The cheapest price I could find on that was $157 per foot; and that's not delivered.

 

[Soundguy]

Funny you mention that. I just bought a 25' length of that culvert that is 7' high and 11' wide. The cheapest price I could find on that was $157 per foot; and that's not delivered.

We call that squash pipe. I guess the price sounds about right. Ours was for delivered and installed.. etc..

Soundguy

 

[RedRocker]

Nice ride Dargo.

 

[Dargo]

I know, off the subject, sorry. Thanks for the compliment. Against my better judgement I did take my '62 to a big cruise in last weekend. There are lots of things that "I" know that need to be finished on it yet, but apparently not many other people noticed. I got best in show and topped it off with best and longest burn-out. Yeah, I know, there went about $300 in rear tires. They are the D3 compound sticky tires, but when you really light 'em up they sure will smoke. No power braking needed either. I was on the rev limiter at 5600 RPM in third gear (automatic) within the length of the car.

Three hours later still cleaning all these melted rubber pieces off the bottom of my car!!

 

[Soundguy]

Do you bleach them.. or just let them smoke naturally?

Soundguy

 

[Renze]

O.K what power is needed to cut a certain thickness of steel and what does a plasma cutter of that capacity cost ?

BTW nice cars..

 

[Dargo]

Do you bleach them.. or just let them smoke naturally?

Soundguy

A la natural'. Here is a pic my son took yesterday when I lit them up for his girlfriend. I had the camera on rapid fire and he managed to take about 10 pics before I really got them going. I continued about 200 yards on this run but my camera pauses after 10 rapid fire shots.

 

[Dargo]

O.K what power is needed to cut a certain thickness of steel and what does a plasma cutter of that capacity cost ?

BTW nice cars..

I have a HyperTherm 1250. It cuts through 1" stuff rather easily with very little slag on the bottom. If you mostly use 1/2" stuff or smaller, a HyperTherm 600 would work just fine and is much less expensive. The 600 will "sever" 7/8" I think. Basically, that means it cuts with about the quality of a O/A on that thick of material.