plasma cutter buying

[Gale Hawkins]

I'm not making a recommendation but if you want to go the import route check out Welding Web: WeldingWeb - Welding forum for pros and enthusiasts - Powered by vBulletin

There are a few contributing suppliers that regularly post specials for members. Their deals and selection seem better than ebay or HF.

Brad thanks for the link. I just joined WeldingWeb. It seems awesome for anyone interested in or does welding. :thumbsup:

 

[Reg]

Even in the used market that will be a tough budget to meet.
If you don't already have a GOOD source of clean dry air, better add that to the budget too.

I second Thermal Dynamics and they DO go on cyclic sales regularly, though I don't remember what time of year I bought mine..

 

[BrianR]

I have had the same Max-20 HyperTherm plasma cutter for the past 18 years. It has never needed anything other than consumables and I have cut the living guts out of this thing! Granted it cost me $1350.00 back then to buy it, but plenty of friends have purchased the discount plasma cutters and they just didn't last long. After a couple years of light use they would die and parts availability (or lack thereof) sent the unit the junk pile. In fact, my bodyshop partner has an AstroPlasma 450 that met it's maker after only a few years. My HyperTherm is still going strong!

Save your money and buy a name brand unit that you can get parts for....you will not regret it.

 

[jimcolt]

The major brand names (in order of the largest plasma manufacturer to the smaller) are:

Hypertherm (hand held units from 12 to 200 Amps, made in NH, USA)

Thermal Dynamics (hand held units from 12 to 120 amps, partially made in US, torches made in Mexico

Miller (hand held units from 12 to 60 amps, made in USA, torches produced by Hypertherm)

Lincoln ( hand held units from 25 to 100 amps,mostly imported and rebadged

Esab (hand held units from 25 to 100 amps, mix of us and imported units)

These companies have all been around for a while. There are many good used systems available on craigslist and ebay. In my opinion it is best to get one of these brands as they will be serviced for years, and parts are available for most models. A particularly good find is the Hypertherm Powermax600....there are over 55,000 of them out in the field!

Check out the Hypertherm | Plasma Cutters | Plasma Cutting Equipment | Metal Cutting Equipment website....a ton of good info about manual plasma cutters.

Jim