Plasma cutter ?

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Well Xmas came early today. Went over to airgas and picked up a Cut master 42.  Told the guys what I could buy it online for and ask what they could do because I like to buy local.  They always treat me good over there and they came close enough so I got a new toy for Christmas.  Brought it back to the shop and plugged it in and started cutting.  Never used a plasma and didn't get a chance to open the book but it cut good 3/8 and some 1/4 angle, I could not belive how fast it cut the angle.  After looking at the book tonight I see your not suppose to cut metal with paint, grease or rust. The angle I cut had a little paint and some rust and it didn't seem to mind. My question is how much junk will this thing put up with cutting and what is the down side of cutting through it?  Thank Phil
Reply:A plasma will put up with a lot of rust and paint. As long as you have a good clean ground to the piece you are cutting and the pilot arc lights off you are good to go. The downside is you probably don't want to breathe some of the fumes that come from burning paints and such. I've cut though a good bit of rust and quite a few painted things with an older Hypertherm 350, and it cuts through it just fine.1988 Big 50 Diesel CC/CV1982 Weldanpower 225/2101968 SAE 300 motor generatorMaxstar 200SD2015 AHP 200x"The trouble with our Liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
Reply:I've never had it cause a problem and 40-50% of what I cut with my plasma cutter is painted. The pilot arc does a great job burning through paint and rust. As long as melted paint isn't sticking to the tip you should be fine.My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:Your exposed style tip will put up with less junk, if you are dragging it all the time.. Using a bit of standoff, and sticking with the 9-0094 Drag/Standoff tip instead of the drag only 9-0093 tip will help with consumable life. The 9-0091 (20-35 amp) is the best tip for when cutting on 120 volts input. Very narrow kerf, and best quality thin SS tip..Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:Originally Posted by Brand XYour exposed style tip will put up with less junk, if you are dragging it all the time.. Using a bit of standoff, and sticking with the 9-0094 Drag/Standoff tip instead of the drag only 9-0093 tip will help with consumable life. The 9-0091 (20-35 amp) is the best tip for when cutting on 120 volts input. Very narrow kerf, and best quality thin SS tip..