Harbor freight or Eastwood Plasma cutter ?

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I've got a chance for today only for my wife to buy me a HF Plasma Cutter.  Since I'm going out shopping with her, she said we can stop at HF on the way home and look around.  We'll be leaving in about a hour.Should I see if I can press her for ifor a HF unit today or wait til December when I can buy a Eastwood?If the HF or Eastwood units are junk, then I don't want them under any circumstance.Uses:  home garage mechanic.  Various small / medium  projects,I do have a full working oxy setup too.Victor Oxy weld/cut Setup Meco Midget Torch outfitEverlast 2016 250EX & Power Cool W300Lincoln Power mig 210MP  w/amptrol and Spool GunEverlast Powerarc 200 Hypertherm Powermax 45Bandsaw, Lathe, grinders, press, Bridgeport, etc.
Reply:I could think of a lot better way to spend $650.   Stay with the OA setup unless u r needing to cut aluminum.    Most off brand cutters ar crap...  find a nice used brand name unit.   If u have pawn shops in yr area those are worth checking out too.Also HF does not have standardized consumables on their cutter...Last edited by soutthpaw; 07-14-2012 at 12:46 PM.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawI could think of a lot better way to spend $650.   Stay with the OA setup unless u r needing to cut aluminum.    Most off brand cutters ar crap...  find a nice used brand name unit.   If u have pawn shops in yr area those are worth checking out too.
Reply:wish I had a 20% coupon.  She's ready early.  Time to go.   Thanks for the replies!!Victor Oxy weld/cut Setup Meco Midget Torch outfitEverlast 2016 250EX & Power Cool W300Lincoln Power mig 210MP  w/amptrol and Spool GunEverlast Powerarc 200 Hypertherm Powermax 45Bandsaw, Lathe, grinders, press, Bridgeport, etc.
Reply:Goggle ''harbor freight coupons''
Reply:Originally Posted by Housedadwish I had a 20% coupon.  She's ready early.  Time to go.   Thanks for the replies!!
Reply:I have the eastwood plasma cutter and it works pretty darn good, but I haven't tried more than 1/4".  The consumables are pretty cheap straight from china since the torch is identical to the hypertherm max-40 unit.  I keep dual air filters/ moisture eliminators which is key in any plasma setup.
Reply:Originally Posted by OscarI have the eastwood plasma cutter and it works pretty darn good, but I haven't tried more than 1/4".  The consumables are pretty cheap straight from china since the torch is identical to the hypertherm max-40 unit.  I keep dual air filters/ moisture eliminators which is key in any plasma setup.
Reply:I have both the hobart plasma cutter purchased from northern and a hypertherm 45...the hobart for the money is a nice unit if you recognise the limitations and its self contained air compressor is nice for a compact unit, I have that one upstate for hobby use,parts are avail many places, and it seems the hypertherm has no limitations that I have found yet..the chineese stuff....welll it may be a little cheaper but good luck getting service of parts down the road..Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:For 1/4 inch and under which is the limit of the hobart self contained compressor at a lightening fast 3" a minute, there are much better cutting options for less money...  a 7" steelmax or evolution circular saw,   OA which u have, sawzall, pnumatic body saw...  air nibbler...   electric or pneumatic shears..  cordless saw (my 6 1/2 makita works good) they also sell a dedicated cordless steel saw.You could buy a few of the above tools and cut various mltal faster than with a small plasma.   Unless you are doing extensive artistic shapes in sheet metals I really don't see the point of these machines... with how slow the cheap ones cut.   My ESAB 875 is a different story. But it has the power and design to cut thick and fast.  Beyond what the above tools can do. Hence where the value of Plasma resides...Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:I buy some stuff from HF like cotton gloves and a few air tools that I just toss when they crap out.......As far as welders I am kinda curious just how ****ty they are to the point I would buy a mig machine after having a good week I could afford to experimenthahahahaha   After 47 years of welding and cutting with the brand names I would probably get a good laugh.....But thats the only way you can give advise is to do a HANDS ON  demo....  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawI think Jim Colt will be along to disagree with you about that.   Can you use Hypertherm consumables in your eastwood cutter?  I think " it looks identical to a Max-40 torch" may be a better statement.
Reply:I am pretty sure that the Eastwood torch uses copies of the Max40 Hypertherm torch design. You can buy consumables from a Hypertherm dealer that will fit it.The Max40 was the first air plasma cutter from Hypertherm...introduced in about 1985. It revolutionized the hand plasma cutting industry with its unique "chopper" (pulse width modulated output) power supply and superior cut quality and consumable life. The chopper power supply was the predecessor to todays inverter power supplies. The torch is a high frequency start....which should not be used on entry level cutting machines that use a laptop or PC as the controller....due to electrical noise.That being said.....a new Powermax45  with its inverter power supply and its conical flow , blowback start (non-high frequency) torch cuts much faster, with better quality and with close to 10 times the consumable life that the 27 year old Max40 torch can achieve...and it can be used on cnc cutting machines.So, while the Eastwood torch uses its copy of Hypertherm technology to get some orders...remember that the torch technology is around 27 years old....and will perform like one of Hypertherms early systems. It will cut metal, the price is right...and Eastwood supports the products they sell very well (I have bought many automotive related components from them over the years)...it will not compare well vs a new Hypertherm system.If I was on a budget today and needed a 40 amp plasma cutter....I would be patient and shop Craigslist or Ebay for a used Hypertherm Powermax600. There is one on Ebay right now with bidding in the $500 range...it will cut faster, better and with longer consumable life as compared to a new Eastwood.....and has a pretty good company backing it up as well!Summary.....if I wanted a "new" 40 amp air plasma with a warranty....and my budget eliminated the price of a Hypertherm or other major brand...I would certainly consider the Eastwood unit first (as opposed to the many other Chinese offerings from various importers) as Eastwood is a well established company that backs up their products. I would probably rank the Harbor Freight units above the various importers as well...for the same reason. They will not perform as well or have the long term support and reliability you would expect from a major brand...but on a budget they will cut metal...Jim Colt   Hypertherm Originally Posted by soutthpawI think Jim Colt will be along to disagree with you about that.   Can you use Hypertherm consumables in your eastwood cutter?  I think " it looks identical to a Max-40 torch" may be a better statement.
Reply:There is so much BS on here!The person ask for advice on what one of these plasma cutters to buy and all I see he got was a lot of crap from people that have no idea on what they are talking about!Do you Owen of have used a Harbor Freight 95136 or Eastwood Versa cut plasma cutter!!If not then how can you give advice on something you know nothing about!!!And yes the Eastwood will use the Max 40 consumables.www.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's