Plasma or Henrod

Charlie_in_TX · Oct 28, 2002

I was going thru the archives and saw the link to the Hendod tourch with some positive comments from users. I am considering a plasma cutter and would like your input.

First about me and how it will be used. I am a hobbiest/home owner. I have a ox/ac rig already. I have no skill with the cutter. Looks like I drilled holes and connected with a chisle. Most material I cut will be 1/2 in or less.

Should I brake down and get a $1.5k plasma cutter or will the Henrod do what I need (in unskilled hands).

http://www.cut-like-plasma.com/

PitbullMidwest · Oct 28, 2002

Charlie,
I know nothing about plasma cutters but saw this link in a farm magazine and thought I'd pass it on. They say it out performs plasma cutters hands down.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.magnumusa.com/> Magnum USA </A>

gmason · Oct 28, 2002

Charlie, I'm a Henrob user and have just recently started using the cutting tips. Here's my opinion, if you want to make a cut that a chop saw or band saw can't make what are your choices? Cutting torch...

As far as the Henrob goes, used correctly it does cut a very nice cut. I've used it on 12ga channel and 3/8" bar stock. I needed to use the "training wheels" at first, but after a bit of practice have had a few free hand cuts. It really helps to use something to steady your hand on to do the cutting.

The distance from the tip to the metal is critical and also the oxy pressure.

Once the cut begins, just keep it smooth and it's a great tool.

As for most metal cutting/welding tools I've used, practice is everything...

If you have any specific questions let me know.

gary

gerard · Oct 28, 2002

While not a user of either I did see the henrod demonstration at the Farm Days in Seneca Falls NY this summer and was very impressed. While it's not cheap ($400) and I've heard it takes a little practice the demonstrator did some amazing things. He but slices from 1/2 plate that were thin enough to bend with your fingers, then welded some dirty aluminum sheet metal. Now with tig the aluminum has to be really clean so it was pretty impressive to see some dirty aluminum together. Also did some rusty metal without a problem. Guy also said you only use 2lbs o2 pressure which is quite a bit less than with a conventional tip so you save some money there on your gasses. If it was a choice between a plasma cutter which will only cut, and a henrod that cuts and welds I'd go for the henrod.

gmason · Oct 28, 2002

gerard, with my Henrob, it's set-up to use 4 1/2 psi of both oxy and acte, except when cutting heavier steel, up to about 15psi of oxy, but because of the small tips it's still uses less than a conventional cutting tool.

BTW, I recently got a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=159>http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=159</A> DW872 cut off saw that is awesome when cross cutting pieces up to about 6". I've cut 4x4 12ga channel in about 20secs with a super smooth no bur edge.

gary

gerard · Oct 28, 2002

thanx for the correction, my meory isn't what it used to be and it was never too good!! Heard about those carbide chop saws. I think the first cut would be hard to do, looks so much like a wood blade. How much did it cost? I guess my question would be if it miters like a wood power miter saw couldn't you get by with one saw and just switch blades? I know the metal cutting saws have sealed bearings so you can't cut metal with a wood saw but couldn't you cut would with a metal saw with the right blade?

gmason · Oct 29, 2002

gerard, I got mine off Ebay for about $300+shipping. The blad has 70teeth. I does looks alot like the dewalt wood chop saw, but the base is much heavier and smaller for the metal. It's a 15amp motor and has a little different spring. They advertise that the blade with make 1200 cuts before it needs re-sharpend.
we'll see....
This saw blade is 14" and my wood chop saw is 12".

gary

Rockyroad · Oct 29, 2002

I just bought a 14" Ryobi chop saw that has a good solid cast base. It uses an abrasive wheel. The question is, can you buy one of these new carbide blades and just put it on you regular 14" chop saw instead of the regular abrasive wheel? Is the rpm range the same, or do you have to buy the whole rig because of the difference?

gmason · Oct 29, 2002

rocky, good question, I'll check the rpm in my OM tonight and see and let you know about that. What amp/hp does your abrasive saw have? That may have something to do with it too.

gary

Hoeman00 · Oct 30, 2002

The abrasive blade turns about 3 times faster than the
carbide tipped blade.

Rockyroad · Oct 30, 2002

Yeah, I thought that might be it. When I was looking my Ryobi chop saw over I did notice that the electric motor shaft feeds into a gearbox to boost the rpm's. I thought the rpm's would be the issue regarding the new blades on older chop saws.

Charlie_in_TX · Oct 30, 2002

Ok fellas, what does a chop saw (which I already have) and a carbide blade have to do with the relative merits of plasma vs henrod for cutting 1/2 in and less material?

I guess there is only one person on this board with a henrod or a plasma cutter and an opinion about its usefulness?

Rockyroad · Oct 30, 2002

Sorry, Charlie. Guess we kind of got off the point there. I have been looking at the websites for the Henrob, but I would also be interested in hearing more from people who have actually worked with them.

gmason · Oct 30, 2002

Charlie, just that if all you are looking to do is cut/chop 1/2" metal that a relative cheep option would be a good carbide chop saw. Nicer cuts than any plasma or henrob cutting torch could make and faster. Plus you can cut cast iron and SS which I don't think any torch will touch.

You didn't say exactly why you were looking at the plasma or torch so if you have some further input I'll be happy to tell you my expieriences with the Henrob.

gary

Charlie_in_TX · Oct 30, 2002

Fair enough, as I said above, I am a hobiest not a pro. I do like good tools. I do as much or more wood working as metal. The first project I have planned is a bbq pit. I have the metal already. The smoke box and fire box are 16in dia pipe 7/16 thick. The end plates are 1/2 diamond plate. The other night I cut one of the sections of pipe for the fire box to 27 inches long. Looks like I drilled around it with a 3/16 drill and connected the dots with a chisle. Far too much grinding and welding to make it uable. I will be buying a tool that I can make cut better than that. I went thru the archives here and saw the henrod. Many people had it and said they would report their results.

O' never mind, this is getting way to difficult. I can make the $1500 to buy one easier than this.

geneP · Oct 31, 2002

I've had a Henrob for several years. I bought it to weld repair panels in rusty old cars. I've used it to cut, but it takes a lot of practice/skill to make cuts like the people who demonstrate them. The distance from the oxy tip to the metal is critical, as is metal temp. I've made some cuts that portions were very professional, while just a short distance from that good cut looked terrible. I've never used a plasma cutter, so I can't compare the two.

jimgerken · Oct 31, 2002

>Plus you can cut cast iron and SS which I don't think any torch will touch.
I used a plasma cutter yesterday at the local welder dealer, as I am contemplating buying one. I can assure you they cut stainless steel with ease. In fact SS cuts faster than mild steel because it does not conduct heat as well. Aluminum on the other hand cuts slowly.

centex · Oct 31, 2002

Unless you just have a lot of money to spend you already have what you need except a lot practice. With practice you should be able to do a very good job of cutting 1/2" steel with a regular cutting torch and for a LOT less than either of the orther options. If you have a lot of sheet metal to weld and cut the Henrob might be a good investment but you will still need a lot of practice. If you have something other than steel to cut then the plasma cutter is required. The bad thing about the expensive machines like a plasma cutter is that they become obsolete relatively quickly. I bought a very expensive Heliarc welder in the 80's for home use. It worked great for almost 20 years but this year it broke and parts are no longer available to repair it. I got lots of good use from it but for a home/hobby application I did not get my money's worth from it. I would have been money ahead to have all of my Heliarc welding done by a welding shop. I am pondering what to do since I now know that a $3K welder is a bad investment for home use but I am moving to the country where there are no welding shops nearby so I will probably buy another one and hope it lasts until I get too old to care. At the rate the welding companies are going out of business and merging this is probably wishful thinking. I am looking for a plasma cutter because I use a lot of non-ferous metals but I have been leary of spending $2k on a something that I may not be able to get consumables for in 2 years. I did a lot of research and concluded that Themal Dynamics makes the best plasma cutters but they are a relatively small company and I am afraid that they will not be able to survive. If they are bought out, the parts for the current machines will likely not be available in a few years and even if they are not bought out, the technology is changing fast enough that the current parts will probably become hard to get before long anyway. It used to be that you could buy a top of the line machine from someone like Miller and expect it to last a lifetime. These days it seems that 5 years is the expected life of a product so if you buy expensive industrial equipment you had better use the heck out of it when while it is new and expect to feel like you got screwed when it breaks down ten years down the road and no one can fix it. This is not a problem for industrial users who recover their costs in a couple of years or less but for a hobbiest it is the pits because you never recover the cost. Of course one can always buy some of the cheap junk from TSC of Harbor Freight but then you will never know what a real machine is like and the difference is usually like night and day.