Plasma cutter who has one?

[thedodgeboys]

I am looking at maybe getting a plasma cutter my question is do I get a cheap $600.00 to $800 one
Or pony up for a $1200 -$1300.00 miller.

Do you get what you pay (better cuts) for or as long as it cuts its fine.
Won’t use it much just at home to work on light metal mostly on cars.




Thanks

[hotrdblder]

thermal dynamics/hypertherm are the cats meow, they created the process way back.
i woul dnot go with anything else. the thermal dynamics cutmaster 51 is in your price range as well as the hypertherm 600
both quality cut to 1/2

[Steve1968LS2]

I just won this Miller 675 in a contest. Have only used it a couple of times but man, does it cut nice.

Can go up to 5/8" but I've only cut 1/2" and that was just messing around.

The two benefits for those of us that are hobbiests (ie, not production) is that it's easy to use and that it's VERY small and easy to store and transport.

Street price is a lot less than what's shown on thier site.

The 375 Xtreme is also nice (one at the shop) and it's benefit is that it can do 110 or 220V power. But it's not as strong at the 675 and doesn't offer a drag tip (although you can drag it to it's low power, just hard on the tip)

One I have:
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...m_625_x-treme/

[LSXfan]

have had a Lincoln Electric Pro-Cut 25 for a few years now

3/8" cut capacity

dual voltage input 110/220 v


best investment I ever made

[gearheads78]

I think I paid 800ish for my Miller off Ebay new. I can't believe how much I use it. If you work on and modifie cars you will wish you bought it years ago like I do.

[gkring]

I got a good deal on a Miller 125c. very light duty and runs on 110 and has a built in compressor. I figured 90% of what I would do would be thin sheetmetal which is where this should shine. It doesn't and I would not recommend it. It does okay, but the surface has to be so clean that the time it takes me to prep something to plasma cut I could have just cut it with a cutoff wheel, hole saw, sawzall, bandsaw, etc. Unless I need a weird shape I don't break it out. heavier stuff I just use the torch. I don't do anything intricate and really just got it because it was priced right. ww.garagejournal.com had some positive threads on the cheap harbor freight ones for the limited nonprofessional use. miller also has a good message board where you could get some really informed answers. I guess it all depends on your useage. if you just want to blow some money on a cool toy (like I did), then there are much better tools to spend your money on.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...spectrum_125c/

[thedodgeboys]

Thanks for the feedback

[edog1]

I would spend a little more money and buy a name brand and a larger machine than you expect you will need. You will end up using it more than you think. I own a hypertherm as well

[LSXfan]

nothing wrong with tryin to find a good deal, but DO NOT BUY A HARBOR FREIGHT PLASMA CUTTER !!!!....I had one, lasted 4 days, took it back and took 6 months to get my refund

[thedodgeboys]

nothing wrong with tryin to find a good deal, but DO NOT BUY A HARBOR FREIGHT PLASMA CUTTER !!!!....I had one, lasted 4 days, took it back and took 6 months to get my refund

Thats good to know

[oestek]

We run an HTP Microcut 400.. it's very small, cuts everything we need, and have never had any issue in nearly 4 years. The smaller HTP units are nice for car shops, too.

[70SS98SS]

have to agree you will use it way more than you expect. I bought a hypertherm 380 6-7 years ago and use it all the time. never had to clean anything to get a good cut. did research back then and found hypertherm makes the machines for miller. have a friend who has a miller and the machines are pretty much identical (mine had storage for extra tips on side). would recommend 100% let me know if you have questions

[jpdeuce]

Thermal Dynamics here. Good stuff!

[D Impala95]

I have a Hypertherm
Powermax 1000 and it's the cat's meow for the home hobbyist. It'll do 1" but Hypertherm recommends 3/4" continuous cutting. I got mine new for $1000.

[wiedemab]

I have a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38. It works great for what i use it for which is mostly sheet metal, but sometimes a little thicker stuff.

It is certainly a handy tool to have around the shop. I bought mine used from someone that needed a higher power unit to cut thicker stuff.

[mikey]

Thermal dynamics cutmaster 38 here also. I was looking at a smaller machine the salesman told me to go with the bigger one. It will cut the thinner stuff faster and with less power. BTW the one I bought was pretty much the same price. I would have gone even bigger but I'm out of 220 space in my breaker box.

[elitecustombody]

I like my Daytona Mig Power Plasma 3100

http://store.daytonamig.com/powplas30.html

[jr421]

I just bought this one (hypertherm powermax 30), after doing a ton of reading it seems to be very versatile. It works on 110 or 220 which means if I need to take it somewhere other than my garage I could use it at different locations. Once I get it fired up I will let you know how it works

http://www.hypertherm.com/en/Product...powermax30.jsp

[davenport]

we also use a hypertherm powermax30 at work..

i cannot fault it at all its been in service for a few years now and still operates perfectly.. my only critisism would be the earth cable goes a bit brittle and has a mind of its own rather than lay flat when uncoiled.. they seem to be the most common brand in the UK..

[eddiep]

Another happy Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38 owner ... It's a great machine and will plug into both 110 or 220 volt outlets. Mine has been going strong now for 7 years without a problem and it gets lots and lots of use.

If I were cutting stuff regularly over 3/8" think I would have gone with the Cutmaster 50 (I only use it for car related work, and never run into anything bigger than that though).