Brand new Hypertherm Powermax 600 or Powermax 30?

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Hi,First of all let me say that you guys have a great site filled with extremely useful information.This is my first post on the forum, I'm fairly new to welding, etc.So here's the deal, yesterday bought a brand new Hypertherm Powermax 600 from a friend of mine, he basically bought it new in 2005 and never used it (It still has the tags attached). I originally was saving up to buy a Powermax 30 but my friend gave me a good deal for the 600. After online research and reading the instruction manual I found out that the machine needs 6 cfm at 90 psi and my current compressor can only handle 5.2 cfm at 90 psi.So my question is, should I sell the Powermax 600 and buy a Powermax 30? or just save some money and buy a new compressor? I want to say 99% of my cutting will be 3/8" or thinner material, plus I really like the portability of the 30 and the dual voltage.Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Reply:For occasional use your Powermax600 will work fine on the compressor you have. Depending on the tank size....you probably will get between 45 seconds and a couple of minutes of continuous cut time before the pressure drops too low for the Powermax600.The 600 will cut faster than the 30 on all materials....and you will be able to sever up through 3/4" with the 600.Jim Colt   Hypertherm
Reply:Thanks for the information Jim, my tank size is just 4.5 Gal, (Dewalt,5.2 cfm, 200 psi max), I will only use it for hobbies at home, do you think this compressor would give me 20 seconds of continuous cutting?  if so, I may just keep everything as is.Thanks again.
Reply:Honestly I would get a decent compressor.  20+ gallon tank and oiled,  not oilless compressor...  220vac too if you have enough power supply.    That said, the powemax will probably bring you enough money to cover or almost cover the cost of a powermax 30Tiger 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:Thanks for your input soutthpaw, I would not be able to run a 220v compressor, the more I analyze it the more I think I'm just going to sell the Powermax 600, I would need to upgrade a few things in order to keep it like a 220v outlet (I only have 1) and a compressor (maybe).Just out of curiosity, why not oilless compressors? the only ones that I found on Craigslist that were above 6 cfm and used 120v were oilless.Thanks again soutthpaw.
Reply:Originally Posted by ohicosJust out of curiosity, why not oilless compressors? the only ones that I found on Craigslist that were above 6 cfm and used 120v were oilless.Thanks again soutthpaw.
Reply:Save for the biggest compressor you can get. I have the Powermax 600, and a Champion 5HP, 80 gal tank. You WILL use the plasma more, the more you use it. On long cuts, even my compressor gets a workout. I now wish, like ALWAYS, that I didn't try to save a buck and I would have got the 7 1/2 HP."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:I have a new powermax 30 i just bought within the last 6-8 months ill have to dig out the recipt, anyways i would maybe be interested in trading for your 600 if intersted i dont need the dual voltage capability and could really use the higher cutting capacity for my welding business as it is growing. Also already have a compressing of sufficient size to run almost any machine. Anyways just thought I would throw it out there Please message back or PM me Thanks Ross
Reply:Thanks for the input guys, It's difficult for me to have big equipment since I live in a small house, and as I said before I will only use the plasma machine for hobby, basically cutting images out of 1/8" plate.Schartzross/Ross, I have sent you a PM as I would be interested in the trade.Thanks!
Reply:You will easily get 20 seconds of cut time out of your compressor. You will probably get 30 seconds (same compressor) with a Powermax30 (slightly lower flow)Jim Colt  Hypertherm Originally Posted by ohicosThanks for the input guys, It's difficult for me to have big equipment since I live in a small house, and as I said before I will only use the plasma machine for hobby, basically cutting images out of 1/8" plate.Schartzross/Ross, I have sent you a PM as I would be interested in the trade.Thanks!
Reply:You will regret trading that machine off. Your compressor will work just fine for playing around with it. I ran mine on a 20 gallon, 115vac, belt drive compressor for years.
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerYou will regret trading that machine off. Your compressor will work just fine for playing around with it. I ran mine on a 20 gallon, 115vac, belt drive compressor for years.
Reply:If you get rid of it you will go to hell  !
Reply:Hello guys, sorry for the late reply but I don't have access to weldingweb while I am at work. I appreciate and value everybodys comments and I will take them into consideration in making my decision.
Reply:A good test of compressor size. Put your plasma in gas test or set.Run it with just the air, no arc. Watch the tank pressure. Time how long it takes to drop down to about 60 psi. That should be your max run time. Allowing the air pressure to drop any lower and trying to cut will ware out the tip real  fast.Operating a plasma with air pressure below 65 and down to shut down (around 42 psi)Will cause the tip and electrode to ware fast.
Reply:Hypertherm units will cut out at about 80 psi inlet pressure. The torch actually runs at a lower pressure...but the inlet pressure is sensed with a pressure switch.....which is set to minimize potential damage to torches and consumables at low pressure. So....whe the plasma uses up more air than the compressor can produce...the pressure will start dropping, and the plasma will shut off the arc at pressures below 80 psi (varies slightly from model to model).Most major brand plasma's are set similar to the Hypertherm's. many low cost imports have no inlet air pressure switch. Low air pressure will cause arcing inside a plasma torch...destroying the consumables and possibly damaging the torch body.Jim Colt   Hypertherm Originally Posted by ccawgcA good test of compressor size. Put your plasma in gas test or set.Run it with just the air, no arc. Watch the tank pressure. Time how long it takes to drop down to about 60 psi. That should be your max run time. Allowing the air pressure to drop any lower and trying to cut will ware out the tip real  fast.Operating a plasma with air pressure below 65 and down to shut down (around 42 psi)Will cause the tip and electrode to ware fast.