Hypertherm 190C vs Hobart Airforce 250ci vs...

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Greetings,I am shopping for a plasma cutter and have decided that for my purposes one of the units with a self contained air compressor is what will suit me.  I will be using it for home projects and for the cabin.  I would be using it for sheet metal, expanded/grating and perhaps some short cuts on up to 1/8".  I would like a Hypertherm 30 but I think that's out.  It's not a cost issue as a practicle issue.   I just don't have the room for a 60 gallon+ compressor tank that would only be used for the plasma.  My compressor needs to be portable for other jobs ie. brad/framing nailers.  I have a small 4 gallon compressor rated at 4.1 cfm @90psi   This would seem to be ok as the Hypertherm 30 lists requirements as 3.5scfm.  However, I have read on here and other places that this is a very conservative estimate and to avoid disappointment and frustration you need a large compressor.Does anyone on here have a Hypertherm 190C, Hobart Airforce 250ci, Miller Spectrum 125. or the Lincoln Plasma 20?What kinds of projects have you used it for?Likes, dislikes?Thank you for your help.
Reply:northern tools has the 250 for $799.00free shipping and you get a $100.00gift card you could put to consumables
Reply:Personally I would go with the Powermax 30 before either of the other choices. The Hypertherm Powermax30 is a powerhouse....30 Amps output compared to 12 amp outputs of the units with built in compressors. Use your existing compressor with the 30.....you will save money and get almost 3 x the cutting power out of it.Jim
Reply:I second that opinion by Jim Colt. A plasma cutter with built in compressor is OK for sheet metal but when you start getting above the thickness of sheet metal you need the added power. You already have a compressor so why skip on performance? The PowerMax 30 will breeze thru 1/8" all day long and its pilot arc is great to have on expanded metal. Plus the PowerMax 30 will allow to expand beyond your current 1/8" and do much thicker. Do your research online you'll find places like cyberweld and weldersource has prices below $1,000 with free shipping, no taxes, great service, and I know weldersource also throws in some freebies.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Well, the Hypertherm 30 is what I want.  But what I read is that a small compressor like mine will work but only for very short cuts.  I guess then, what is the meaning of "short cuts"http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...+plasma+cutterI guess I could try contacting my local Hypertherm dealer and ask for a demo and bring my compressor along.Oh, and I'm in Canada so free shipping does not apply (damn and the exchange rate is pretty good right now)Maybe I can find a dealer near Port Huron Michigan as I am only about a 45 minute drive from the border.Last edited by Tony Mo; 11-30-2009 at 04:48 PM.
Reply:I would suggest bringing your compressor with you and trying the 30 out. I think you can do long cuts with your compressor.....however it will run constantly. Jim Colt
Reply:Tony your best bet might be to go to the Hypertherm forum under Other Manufacturers and ask owners of the Hypertherm PowerMax 30 what they use for a compressor and if they had tried running it at 3.5cfm. You might also want to ask other 190 owners if  the unit has performed to meet all their needs! Who know you might find an owner that needs to step up to a bigger unit!Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:I am running a Briggs & Stratton 10Gal 1.5hp compressor that I bought for $139 with my PM30. Sure it runs pretty steady but it runs my PM30 just fine so far. I found a Miller 2050 used for $1650 but chose the PM30 instead because of the 110/220V but I still think about that 50A machine, 1-1/8" severance!
Reply:TonyMo-I have the Miller 125C BUT the only reason I have it is that I bought in through CL at a very good price.I like it, it does a decent job but eats Consumables like a kid at halloween( you can not put a Filter on these PC's with the built in Compressor)If I was buying a new machine I would go with a bigger machineEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:PM30 instead because of the 110/220V
Reply:Jimcolt is the guy to talk to about air requirements for the PM30. I figure it is a nice machine that runs on both, use it wherever you have an outlet. I can run it on 220V off my genset too but if you want to do some quick work, hauling a compressor is enough of a pain, who wants to lug the genset for every little job. The only drawback in my mind with the PM30 was that it is rated around 1/2" but everyone says it can do more, I cut 3/8" with it just fine, little more dross and slower but still decent (given my noob technique).In my opinion, buy the biggest, best tools that you can afford and you will thank yourself every time you use it.
Reply:I ran my PowerMax30 off of a little hot dog compressor. I was cutting 1/4 plate, normal cut was about 24". I burned the compressor up in a few months, it was an oil bath pump. I bet one of the oilless ones wouldn't have made it more then a few cuts. If your doing nothing more then 1/8" cuts, and your not in some full production enviroment, where you can allow your compressor to recover, you should be fine.  I got a 20gallon Husky compressor, its not huge and it allows me to take it anywhere I want. Runs like a champ now.If you cannot convince them, confuse them.         Harry S Truman
Reply:Thank you for the help.