Best budget YES BUDGET plasma cutter?
#1
Best budget YES BUDGET plasma cutter?
Got my eye on the thermal dynamics drag gun plasma cutter for 699.
Should do the light cutting I want to do with it, I also have my eye on a hobart, clarke and miller all for about 1100.
Post up your choices on what to get for the basic garage set up 120V
J
Should do the light cutting I want to do with it, I also have my eye on a hobart, clarke and miller all for about 1100.
Post up your choices on what to get for the basic garage set up 120V
J
#3
Thhhhaaaaannkssss
Yeah I'm pretty mechanically inclined and i'm adding to my selection of tools in my garage for more DIY'er projects, plasma cutter being one I want to add for making various flanges, cutting up the car etc.. etc...
So with that said, who has any experience with your base model plasma cutters from hobart, miller, thermal dynamic and did they last and do what you wanted it to do?
Yeah I'm pretty mechanically inclined and i'm adding to my selection of tools in my garage for more DIY'er projects, plasma cutter being one I want to add for making various flanges, cutting up the car etc.. etc...
So with that said, who has any experience with your base model plasma cutters from hobart, miller, thermal dynamic and did they last and do what you wanted it to do?
#4
Well, I know that plasma cutter prices are dropping, so I don’t know which exact models are available in that range right now, but I’d be pretty surprised if any of them were sufficient to cut out decent exhaust flanges (from the turbo stuff in your sig I’d guess 3/8” and ½” steel would be appropriate).
My HTP 38 (could be a 40, I think that they were changing their model lines around when I got it) works OK up to about ¼” and past that gets sketchy. It’s rated for 3/8”cut, and sometimes it will cut stuff in the 3/8” and even as heavy as ½”, but sometimes it won’t, it gets really sensitive to setup, air supply moisture and I’m guessing stuff that I haven’t figured out yet.
I know that the similar sized miller is about the same, just more consistent and seems to be worth a cleaner cut.
My HTP 38 (could be a 40, I think that they were changing their model lines around when I got it) works OK up to about ¼” and past that gets sketchy. It’s rated for 3/8”cut, and sometimes it will cut stuff in the 3/8” and even as heavy as ½”, but sometimes it won’t, it gets really sensitive to setup, air supply moisture and I’m guessing stuff that I haven’t figured out yet.
I know that the similar sized miller is about the same, just more consistent and seems to be worth a cleaner cut.
#5
Staging Lane
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Most of the Chinese imports use an inverter. Longevity and heavy duty use is not the best when using a cheap inverter.
Get at least one rated at 40 amps. Amps is what is important here, not what they claim in their advertisements, which tell what is possible under perfect conditions, not real world conditions.
Get at least one rated at 40 amps. Amps is what is important here, not what they claim in their advertisements, which tell what is possible under perfect conditions, not real world conditions.
#6
TECH Senior Member
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Look at the cost of replacement parts on the torch for the specific model you are looking at.
Spending $300 up front on a different brand might save you 3 or 4 times that in parts cost.
I have an old style Miller with a little ceramic cup at the tip. This cup costs $70 to replace and is extremely fragile.
Spending $300 up front on a different brand might save you 3 or 4 times that in parts cost.
I have an old style Miller with a little ceramic cup at the tip. This cup costs $70 to replace and is extremely fragile.
#7
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Originally Posted by frcefed98
Got my eye on the thermal dynamics drag gun plasma cutter for 699.
Should do the light cutting I want to do with it, I also have my eye on a hobart, clarke and miller all for about 1100.
Post up your choices on what to get for the basic garage set up 120V
J
Should do the light cutting I want to do with it, I also have my eye on a hobart, clarke and miller all for about 1100.
Post up your choices on what to get for the basic garage set up 120V
J
i have one of these and it works well, i am happy with it's performance for the price.
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#9
TECH Apprentice
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My friend has a Lincoln Pro-Cut 25, its about $1100. Does real nice cuts in steel up to 5/16 its a little rough on 3/8's but it will cut it. He uses a water separator, and a disposable inline paint gun filter to keep the moisture out.
#10
TECH Junkie
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Originally Posted by 1baddls1
My friend has a Lincoln Pro-Cut 25, its about $1100. Does real nice cuts in steel up to 5/16 its a little rough on 3/8's but it will cut it. He uses a water separator, and a disposable inline paint gun filter to keep the moisture out.