Looking for a Plasma Cutter, i'm low budget.

admin

I've searched and there's Eastwood, Northern tool, Hobart, Lincoln, chicago electric......I perfer a 110v unit. Under $1000. and easy to find consumables parts for.BTW i live on Guam. So i have to pay up for shipping.I'm leaning on eastwoods cutter for the price and Lincoln 20 just to keep my machines the same brand. I need advise from you guys. I dont need to cut more than 1/4" So a 110v is good nuff.Last edited by toycoma98; 05-10-2012 at 09:45 AM.Lincoln 140 HD
Reply:I read good things on the eastwood.I had a drag-gun thermal dynamics. It worked really well, although heavy. 62lbs and didn't blow air after to cool the tip.Now I have the hobart 250ci and I like this one a lot as well. This one sense line voltage so don't expect great use if using an extension cord unless it's got heavy gauge wiring. This one is far lighter (about 40+ pounds lighter) neither have adjustable amps but they both do have built in air compressor. Also for the hobart 250ci they do not make a drag tip...not sure if it's common on 110v models or what, but I still drag the tip.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:What about Lotos LT5000D? Amazon has one for $450 shipped to Guam.......Lincoln 140 HD
Reply:Dont forget guam customs will also charge to a customs tax.  They did it to me when I lived on guam
Reply:Did you visit your LWS? There are a few that carry Linclone and ThermalArc, and Miller.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleI read good things on the eastwood.I had a drag-gun thermal dynamics. It worked really well, although heavy. 62lbs and didn't blow air after to cool the tip.Now I have the hobart 250ci and I like this one a lot as well. This one sense line voltage so don't expect great use if using an extension cord unless it's got heavy gauge wiring. This one is far lighter (about 40+ pounds lighter) neither have adjustable amps but they both do have built in air compressor. Also for the hobart 250ci they do not make a drag tip...not sure if it's common on 110v models or what, but I still drag the tip.
Reply:Never had the pleasure of going to Guam but iis there a LWS there, and are military?
Reply:Originally Posted by Ron PadillaNever had the pleasure of going to Guam but iis there a LWS there, and are military?
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1because you can drag with the 250"DO NOT put pressure on shield whendrag cutting; instead, slide shield alongthe surface for proper cutting results"It just shortens the life of the consumables.
Reply:hypertherm powermax 30!!Ya gotta spend money to make money!
Reply:Its actually cheaper to get it shipped in, then to pay inflated guam prices.  See if you could order one through the new home depot that opened up.
Reply:My first thought when you said you were on a budget, needing low cost etc etc. I have to wonder if you need a plasma at all.  Consider a O/A torch setup instead.  O/A torch is limited to stuff that rusts (steel etc.) but can cut much thicker that a plasma and can be used to pre-heat + loosen rusty bolts.  In a pinch you can weld with it as well.Just a thought.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:I would love to have a plama rig also and also on a budget,but so far a metabo and cutoff wheels have sufficed me well.Not being a smart a$$,but money here in the south is tight right now everyone is holding on the their money.Went to bid a job the other day and the guy wanted to know if i"ll swap out the job for a date with his wife. I lost the bid.Magicial Magician Of Molten Metal2006 Chevy Dually Welding Truck1975 SA-200 Lincoln Red SealMiller AEAD 200-LELincoln 225 AC/DC tombstoneVictor Contractors Flaming TomahawkProfax Tig RigMore pipe fitting tools to mentionMetabo's
Reply:Originally Posted by 74hotrodWent to bid a job the other day and the guy wanted to know if i"ll swap out the job for a date with his wife. I lost the bid.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonHa! Ha!Don't know if you were serious or not, but that was funny!
Reply:I've searched but most of the replies are off topic. What about Simadre? They are under $600 Shipping is only $60 USPS. I'm looking at the 50DP, its black and the 50RX looks nice.Lincoln 140 HD
Reply:Lots of the "cheap" plasmas are old technology. They tend to go thru consumables a lot faster than newer top end units like the Hypertherms, TD's and so on. Also some of the import machines have a spotty reputation at best for quality control and the machines don't hold up well.In the end like most things, you get what you pay for. Go cheap and you get to save money up front, but at the possible cost of lower consumable life and more cost over the life of the machine,  and you roll the dice as far as how long the machine might last and if you can get it repaired or find parts easily. If you need to buy a 2nd machine, you might as well have just spent the money on a decent one up front.I'll agree with the poster who asked if you really NEED a plasma. I see a ton of newer guys who just have to have one... for no reason other than it's "cool" or "neat". O/A as mentioned tends to be more versatile and usually is less expensive. Plasma's big advantage comes when people need to cut lots of thin sheet material in odd shapes, or they need to cut stainless or alum all the time. At home I almost never break out my plasma. It's O/A almost 95% of the time. At the tech school I'll grab the plasma, but only because it's more convenient than the O/A rigs. The plasma just needs the leads uncoiled, hit the switch and start cutting. The O/A rigs I have to dig out of the back room most times and hook them up. The tech school has plasma because the recut a lot of the 1/8" alum coupons and the 1/4" stainless to maximize the material. However all the steel bevel coupons are cut with O/A on the track torch.Think about what you really need to do with this and then decide if plasma's really the way to go for you..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:Buy one and post a review.  We kinda see where you want to go, so go for it. I understand the desire for a plasma cutter, (well, sort of, I don't do enough sheet metal work to need one even though I can afford it easily) but if it were my money I'd save it then ask Jim Colt at Hypertherm what the "latest greatest" is for my particular application. Plasma is about as mobile as a quadraplegic Fat Chick so unless I had a specific need to buy one (a plasma, not the Fat Chick) and the support equipment I'll pass.