arcair SLICE pack

admin

so.. i was looking around online lately and ran across this slice system, exothermic cutting torch and was thinking oh cool finally a way to cut stainless w/o a plasma (i hate plasmas btw). and this weekend i stopped in at an estate sale clearing out an old barn and there it was on the floor among all things i would find here is this SLICE pack sitting in a nice little red box so i end up getting the thing for 150 bucks and im thinking i got a great deal but it has no instructions and im interested if any one else has one and what kind of uses they have found for it
Reply:I'd rather use a plasma to cut stainless. Yes it will work, but you won't have a lot of control or get precision cuts like you would with a good plasma. It is much more like Carbon arc cutting than plasma cutting. It's an oxygen lance but most don't know what that is.$150 is a steal. I'd love to get my hands on one for that price. The unit's probably worth at least $1000 new minimum. We used a similar system by Brocco for cutting underwater (the underwater unit is specially sealed). The exothermic rods will cut just about everything, steel, concrete, wood, alum, copper etc, but it's not a nice cut. The rods will probably last you about 30-90 seconds each and they are not cheap (at least the underwater ones we used were not) ours were like $5-6 Per ROD! Thats an awful expensive way to make a poor quality cut. They are very useful if you need to remove items in tight places, cut thru dirt and very heavy rust, cut hard to torch items like cast iron or stainless for demolition and so on. That unit will probably also cut underwater as long as you can keep the torch above water. We had one job where we had to cut off a ton of rebar stubs that were under 6" of water where they had an old dam demo'd in a small stream. There are not a whole lot of other methods that would do that and cut the rods flush to the footing/rock. IIRC we got maybe 2-3 rebar stubs done per  18" rod.If you go to Thermadyne's web site I bet you can down load a manual for that no problem..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I use one to pierce through stuck pins in equiment.  Usually large pins, like 12-18" diameter by 2-4 foot long.  Burn a hole through it, put a few hundred tons of pressure on it, and when she cools she usually pops right out---quickly and violently.6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:If you have not tried a good quality, modern design plasma system for cutting stainless....then you very well could have the "hate plasma" atitude!  You should try a new Hypertherm (of adequate power) out...your thoughts most likely will change!The Slice systems are usually used just for dismantling, and for very portable cutting applications. They are not real efficient...and do not provide the best cut quality at the lowest cost. That is where plasma sits!Jim colt Originally Posted by bravofabso.. i was looking around online lately and ran across this slice system, exothermic cutting torch and was thinking oh cool finally a way to cut stainless w/o a plasma (i hate plasmas btw). and this weekend i stopped in at an estate sale clearing out an old barn and there it was on the floor among all things i would find here is this SLICE pack sitting in a nice little red box so i end up getting the thing for 150 bucks and im thinking i got a great deal but it has no instructions and im interested if any one else has one and what kind of uses they have found for it
Reply:Originally Posted by ExpatWelderI use one to pierce through stuck pins in equiment.  Usually large pins, like 12-18" diameter by 2-4 foot long.  Burn a hole through it, put a few hundred tons of pressure on it, and when she cools she usually pops right out---quickly and violently.
Reply:ok, so it is useless on anything but demo work is what im getting. witch leaves me still needing a way to reliably field cut SS pipe all 3"-6" for weldolet tie-ins. any suggestions besides plasma or a pallet of holesaws?
Reply:okay, I gotta ask, why don't you like plasma?  I get that you don't like it...just wondering why.  With a good plasma machine, I've never had anything but good experience and very clean cuts.  What has put you off of using a plasma for this work (sounds like it's work that plasma cutters are almost purpose built for)?--Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:Plasma is the way to cut your pipe, in fact here is a link to a hole cutter that works with a hand plasma torch to cut perfect pipe saddles....normally is used in the sprinkler industry, but may work well for your application. The company is North Alabama Pipe....the link gets you to the website.   http://www.nalapipe.com/default.aspx?page=holeJim Colt
Reply:Originally Posted by bravofabok, so it is useless on anything but demo work. . .
Reply:ive got a 3ph hypotherm plasma (i don't remember the amperage and it aint small) and it works great on plate it just pisses me off cutting around shapes (like channel) and on pipe i guess im just used to a oxy-fuel torch where the length from tip to material isn't so finicky is there an attachment for the plasma torch that makes it more maneuverable like curved extension tips ????
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepBut it's a brutal butcher of a cutter when needed.If you want your money back + $75 PM me.But I want you to get as much as you can, if anyone wants to offer more, bid in.Good Luck
Reply:Originally Posted by bravofabwell now that i have it i can't sell it. you know that, tools are like guns you will regret every one you sell
Reply:Originally Posted by bravofabive got a 3ph hypotherm plasma (i don't remember the amperage and it aint small) and it works great on plate it just pisses me off cutting around shapes (like channel) and on pipe i guess im just used to a oxy-fuel torch where the length from tip to material isn't so finicky is there an attachment for the plasma torch that makes it more maneuverable like curved extension tips ????