Plasma Cutter vs. Oxy-Acetylene

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I just scored a new (to me) plasma cutter off of ebay.  I had planned to purchase a new Hypertherm Powermax 600 or 1000 unless I could find a decent used one for less than $700.  All the used ones seemed to be overbid, but I eventually won an auction for a Max 43 below my target price.  Now for the question:I just tested the thing and boogies through 1/4" plate so I'm left to wonder if I'll ever use my oxy-acetylene torch for cutting again.  I wonder how often those with plasma cutters find a need to do OAC?-Heath
Reply:There is always a need for O/A i think, its functional for so many things, i use mine all the time for heating things and especially for making bends.  I feel that both tools have thier place in my garage .
Reply:When you need to cut a 6" thick steel plate, the o/a will come out on top again.  Other than that, the plasma cutter is far superiour for sheet metal due to low heat input.  It can cut thinner strips off if you're shaving a part down to the correct size.  But in terms of a straight line cut in 1/4 inch plus, a good o/a torch and a plasma cutter perform about equally.The biggest advantage to o/a, when that ol' plasma cutter starts giving you crap, the o/a will always be there ready to go.
Reply:You'll need it.  I use my O/A almost as much as my plasma.  Don't forget pre-heating and thick stuff.  I also use O/A on irregularly shaped pieces...of which I get a lot.  Plasma is hard to beat on sheet stock, but if there are lots of nooks and crooks, it sometimes is just easier to hit it with plain ole o/a.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I gotta go with "E", all of the above-
Reply:Kinda in the same boat,hardly use my plasma and thinking of selling but if i sell i know i will need it the next day.Both have there advantages. Consumables are big money for my plasma thats why i'm the only operator!!
Reply:It's a given that I'll need the O/A torch for heating and cutting anything thicker than the capacity of my plasma cutter.  However, I rarely work with material thicker than 3/8", so it's likely that I won't be using it that much.  I also had an experience yesterday where the O/A torch would've worked better because of its shape.-Heath
Reply:I have a 215 amp MIG welder I bought to use to repair farm equipment and do some light fabrication.  The next problem is cutting metal to use the welder on.  I have used the metal cutting blades on a circular saw to cut angle to size to replace crossmembers in a cow trailer and got through that with a lot of struggle, time, and a number of blades, which has caused me to look at cutting tools.  I recently had to have a bearing on a disk harrow replaced at a shop because I couldn't break the big nut off the end of the axle due to age, rust and use and didn't have a way to heat it or cut it off.  It cost me over $200.00 to get  that done. $170.00 of which was labor.  I could have done that if I'd had a torch or means to cut the old nut off and just replace it.I had looked at torch prices and realized I could have bought a set, minus any tanks, for just a little more than I paid in labor to have the bearing replaced.  In looking at the price, plasma is several times the cost of a set of torches, but one must have tanks for the torches, which adds to the cost.  I will probably need to cut everything from steel the thickness of a water tank or less to 1/2" or 3/4", possibly up to 1" material, mostly steel.  Now to my question.  If you only used a cutting device on occasion, and wanted to invest in only one for that reason, knowing what I will use it for, which would you recommend buying?
Reply:You're working on farm equipment and doing light fabrication and already you have a need for an O/A rosebud to remove a frozen nut?  I'd definitely recommend an oxy-acetylene set.  If you have the means to acquire them and move them around, then I'd suggest the largest cylinders you can find (350CF Oxygen and 250CF Acetylene).  You won't break the 1/7th rule when using a small rosebud or cutting >1" plate and you'll need to have them refilled less often.If you're anywhere near a Tractor Supply Company, they have good prices on welding gas including C25 for your MIG welder.-Heath
Reply:There are some really good deals on Smith OFW welding outfits on Ebay.  I don't know what tanks cost, but it was about $130 to have a pair of 280 cuft tanks filled.  The parts for your Smith stuff will cost you an arm and a leg (or $25-$32 per welding tip), but the tips are very heavy duty and last a very long time.  Smith is very good about honoring their lifetime warranty as well (second hand knowledge because I haven't had to use it).  I also suggest large cylinders.  I had mine filled over a year ago and still haven't used it all up.
Reply:It sounds as if the consensus so far is to go with O/A and large tanks as opposed to plasma.  Very honestly I had considered O/A welding when I bought my welder, as the torches were considerably cheaper, but a local tech school welding teacher I spoke to about the two convinced me to go with the MIG welder.I am about 20 miles from a Tractor Supply Company and have looked at their gas cylinder exchange program when I was looking at torches and welders.  I use flux core wire so I don't use gas with the welder.  From what I've heard the flux core is better in breezy conditions and welds less clean metal better, which is what we usually have around here.  And by the way, if anyone out there has a MIG welder and uses flux core wire I notice that Home Depot has about the best prices around for the 10 pound spools of .035.  I also looked at a product by Petrogen that uses gasoline to cut steel, and it appeared from the information to be pretty potent, but it is as expensive as plasma to buy the equipment.  I could use a lot of oxygen and acetylene with the difference in that and a set of torches.I want to build a grappler for a front end loader, which will require cutting the upper and lower fingers out of 1" or so steel.  Do you think A/O would be better for that or plasma?
Reply:I've never been around Plasma, but I've owned an O/A set for 30 yrs.  Can't be beat for versatility and use on heavy iron.About 10 yrs ago, I bought an inexpensive chop saw for iron.   It works GREAT for straight cuts of bar/round/tubing/angle--as long as it's small enough to fit in the vise.  Blades are reasonably priced.  SPARKS are an issue--just as many as running a cutting torch, so you have to watch where you are using it.  Before my chop saw, I used a sawsall to cut most of what I welded.  It was SLOW, but accurate.  I still use it for precision notching, etc.Chops saws have a limited function, but for farm use, I'd not be without one.  You can cut angle fast and clean, so your small projects look very good!Ron
Reply:You are correct in that flux-core is better than solid wire and gas out of doors and on less clean steel.  I use it for that purpose and I hate flux-core.  You are also correct in that Home Depot has the best price on Lincoln NR-211MP at $3.20/Lb for a 10Lb spool.I love my plasma cutter, but if you're cutting or scrapping heavy stuff, then O/A is definitely the way to go.  If you're welding heavy stuff with your MIG welder, make sure that you have enough power to achieve the desired penetration.  Fit-up can be important.-Heath
Reply:Have you ever tried welding flux cored wire with shielding gas?  I hear it makes a pretty nice bead.
Reply:My welding will be the "quick and dirty" type, which means making repairs on old equipment like a mower deck I need to work on now, as well as making things like mineral troughs.  I've cut a 100+ gallon water tank down the middle and have two halves I'm going to weld legs onto for the troughs, and I would like to try my hand at building a grapple for a front end loader.  We have pecan trees that delight in shedding limbs, both large and small, and I'm tired of using back power to clean them up.I am not concerned that much about appearance of a weld, as long it is strong.
Reply:I'd be concerned about the appearance of the weld.  While it's true that one can make a pretty weld that isn't strong (poor penetration), it's unlikely that one can make a strong weld with poor appearance.-Heath
Reply:Originally Posted by 76GMC1500Smith is very good about honoring their lifetime warranty as well (second hand knowledge because I haven't had to use it).
Reply:If you have a problem, give them a call.  I do believe all Smith handles come with a lifetime warranty.  My particular handle (MW5) is imprinted.  My regulators are not, I believe they only come with a 3 year warranty.
Reply:i use o/a and plasma there both have there place but in my job i could not do with out o/a as must of what i do is sriping down all stuff to build back up and plasma dose not like the drit    but i do love my plsama cutter it saves a lot of o/a gases witch keeps costs down       living life  and learning the hard wayDrive it like you stole it                 spot