Home-shop plasma welding & cutting

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Given the current availability of consumer plasma arc welders (PAW), I'd like info and opinions about when PAW would be the method of choice...Can anyone here offer a comparison with other common technologies? - stick, wire-feed, GMAW, and oxy-fuel being the ones that come to mind. What about a comparison of the quality of the welds? How is it to use PAW with very thin or quite thick metal?How about ease or difficulty of use? and ease or difficulty of learning to use it? General cost considerations of equipment (for decent home-shop type equipment)? and supplies?Thanks.
Reply:I don't know, this is only a guess because I'm NOT a professional with welding (metal surface finishing is another story  ), but I would guess that plasma arc welding is maybe used on big automated welding type machines?????  Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.  For home use, I don't think it would be economically viable, practical or even do-able with single phase wiring in a residence.  If you're talking about a commercial property site, the electrical wiring would be no prob.  Again, wait long enough and someone here will probably have the correct answer and clarrification.  I've never heard of anyone using PAW when simple mig, GMAW or SMAW would suffice and the equipment wouldn't require a "bail out" from congress to purchase it either! Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:I may be off-beam on this, but I'm going to persist... at least a little.Seems to me I recently heard about some plasma cutter/welders (PAW) in the $1500(U.S.) range - intended for lower-investment, home-shop type applications.  I don't remember if I heard manufacturer's names.  In any case, I do not now have the name of a manufacturer in mind.Possibly, maybe even probably, low-cost unites would be made in China.  Form a user standpoint - and apart from the national economic/political implications - I've found Chinese-made products to be okay, so long as a reputable American, European, or Japanese firm is supplying the design, standards, and quality control.  But that's a little off-topic. Anyhow, I do think lower-cost machines are coming on the market.  I thought maybe someone here might know about these units.  And know about their advantages and limitations.
Reply:Joel,Exactly what work/jobs have you encountered that your Dynasty 350 is incapable of handling?Have you at least done a Google search to "inform yourself" about what questions to really ask?Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIIJoel,Exactly what work/jobs have you encountered that your Dynasty 350 is incapable of handling?Have you at least done a Google search to "inform yourself" about what questions to really ask?
Reply:Hey Joel,Don't get frosted with responses as they are simply to have you provide a much more informative query as to your intended use, experience levels with any processes, & parameters of welding/materials you want to investigate.As far as PAW, I have limited experience as being able to go to a shop that uses PAW exclusively to do extremely intricate tool & die repairs. The can weld the tips of needles together with absolute perfect accuracy. They use Linde PAW units & can regulate the heat levels to less than 1A if needed. Quite fascinating. I have seen the Linde PAW units several times on E-Bay for sale. They do vary with voltage/current input requirements & need a precise gas mixing integration. Do a Google: "Linde PAW" or Linde Plasma Arc Welding"......DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Think you're going to find that PAW will run you a little more than a used ox/ace setup.And.... Not be nearly as versatile.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:PAC  have a lot of advantages.  PAW is great in place of TIG, but for most people the equipment is very expensive.  JGSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:I have seen two PAW machines in so far. The one I have is a linde needle arc that is much older than I am, and some imported piece of junk that a friend of mine baught that looks like a heat gun for shrink wrap. The linde is pretty much what yorkipap described. The other however is pretty much a joke
Reply:Originally Posted by weldgaultPAC  have a lot of advantages.  PAW is great in place of TIG, but for most people the equipment is very expensive.  JG
Reply:Seems to do a lot of different things but not one thing very well.
Reply:The multi-plaz machine is covered in this threadhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=56610Southpaw and my friend Jaime and i went to multi plaz in LA and looked at it did some cutting and welding it can do a few thing well but it has a lot of issuesOnes that are going to have to be dealt with before it will ever replace any of the current forms of welding or cutting available If you are a hobbyist with a lot of money to throw down one one fine ..It has a really nice power supply we all agreed on thatBut in DJ and Jaime and my opinion it has some serious draw backs for any serious welding applications that are not currently available that will run rings around it as far as production and weld qualityBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck