Need new plasma cutter....Eastwood??Hypertherm??

I had a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38 that just died on me after 4 years on a 3 year warranty period.
The repair tech said I most likely had a moisture issue, either from the air source, or the fact that the machine had been sitting idle for about a year.
I purchased the new Cutmaster 42 (smaller in size, larger in capacity) for about the same price it would have been to replace the fried motherboard in my 38. They even bought back my 38 for $300.00 ($10.00/amp)...and get this, they dont fix and re-sell them, they have them destroyed!
Ive almost got the 42 up and running, with a dedicated moisture seperator, and am looking forward to trying it out.
The 42 also has a 4 year warranty.

 

I really like the Hypertherm ALOT!!! I would stay away from any of the Eastwood welders, plasma cutters, etc... My buddy bought a plasma off of SnapOn and spent a grand on it, I used it once and hate it. If you are going to use it often, your better off buying the hypertherm for sure!

 

that tig is a scratch start. more like a stick welder with an air line.

 

i was in Airgas last year talking plasma cutter with them.. they sell Miller, Hypertherm, and Thermodynamics. they said they get more Miller machines in for repair than the other two combined.... i'd go with a Hypertherm myself

 

Hypertherm PowerMax 30. It runs on 120 or 240 VAC switchable by swaping the cord end. Only 1 style consumables. It will sever 5/8th stock, cuts 1/2 slowly and walks thru 3/8th and thinner.

 

my .02 Thermal Dynamics !

 

I went to AirGas and bought a hypertherm powermax 30. They matched a price of $1045.00 that was on ebay. $100.00 under their sale price of $1149.00. Good for you guys to know, a number of companies will match internet prices to get the sale. Thanks for all the imput, it made choosing a hypertherm easy. Gary

 

My local shop did same for me when I bought my PowerMax 30....and threw in some small extras too...

 

I use a Hypertherm, it hasent let me down yet. (well maybe that one time i tried to cut a used U-joint, but lets not get into that now)

My supplier carries a small 110v/220v one made by ESAB, i believe.(little thing, comes with a shoulder strap) Moderately priced, and seems to be perfect for the average weekend warrior. Especially if it will only be cutting sheet metal/tubing.

 

I am a Lincoln guy when it comes to welders and when I wanted to buy a plasma cutter the local dealer said they were not very good. He told me that every one he had sold had come back for warranty work of some kind.

He said to go with Hypertherm and the three pro welder customers in the shop backed him up. I bought a Powermax 30 that will cut through 3/8" steel with no problem. It is very small and light and runs on 110 or 220.

I use it mostly for cutting out rusty floors and sheet metal, once you use one it is hard to go back to a regular O/A torch.

 

I bought a Hypertherm.... years ago.....no problems

 

Hypertherm, consumables are available almost anywhere.
have never had any problems with it.......

I once bought a plasma cutter from HF, and it actually did pretty good, but I sold it because I expected it to break at any time....as far as I know its still going strong, but is used infrequently.

 

I just set up and used the hypertherm powermax30 for the first time, I cut 1/4" plates like butter. Sweet.

 

the problem is these are always just a couple of big ones always out of reach.....when i got an award at work once i went out and bought my shop compressor.....my wife thought i was nuts buying a compressor that was deliverd on a pallet

 

I've got a Hypertherm PowerMax 1250, and I love it.

Do yourself a favor, whatever machine you get, put a 10 micron coalescing filter and a refrigerated air dryer in the air line before the air goes into your plasma cutter.

Your consumable life will be at least doubled if you can keep the air supply absolutely dry and crap free.

Most guys just plumb the filter and dryer into the line just off the compressor, so that all the air in the shop is dry and filtered.

Your other air tools, and especially your spray guns will thank you for this addition as well.

At the very least you need the filter and a paper cartridge air dryer (the cartridge looks like a roll of TP), or your consumable life will be quite short.

 

I been using my hypertherm for about 15 years and no problems at all. Nice machine is all I can say

 

That about settles it, Hypertherm for me.

 

One thing to realize a with a plasma cutter is the thickness limit is the thickness limit it is not like a set of torches where you can just turn the heat up.

With that said buy the largest machine you can afford.
I went with the Miller 625 the next size up was a huge jump in price.

I buy everything in miller they have great customer support and very easy to get parts, plus my local welding supplier stocks miller parts. The welding suppler didn't like hypertherm support.

I would see what the local welding shop carries even if you don't buy it there to at least be able to get parts or help.
I would never get a Chinese plasma or welder who are you going to call when you need a new tip etc.


Support is more important to me than cost.

Another good thing to price out is consumables. Miller had the cheapest.

If your on a budget why not just get a set of torches you can do a lot more whit them and cheaper, Plasma can only cut clean metal like welding.
Plasma cutters are nice and fast but usually can get buy without it.

Just my 2 cents.
Good luck let us know what you decide.
~Justin

 

New member....just discovered this forum. Nice!

I thought I would clarify a few things about plasma cutting...I have worked for Hypertherm in New Hampshire for 33 years. I frequent many other car and welding/fabricating forums....and do not sell, however I am happy to share my knowledge of the plasma cutting process....from 12 amp systems (sheetmetal) to 1000 amps (6-1/4" stainless steel).

From what I have read on the posts of this thread:

1. Hypertherm does not build plasma cutters for anyone else....and we never have. We have built just torches for other companies plasma cutting power supplies...including Miller, Century, Snap-on systems.

2. All the Miller plasma systems for the last 15 years or so have had torches that were manuafctured by Hypertherm...they are however...different from the torches that we use on our own systems.

3. Thermal Dynamics did not build the first plasma system, rather it was the Linde division of Union Carbide corporation that patented the plasma cutting process in 1957. Thermal dydnamics came along in 1961, and Hypertherm in 1968.

4. Hypertherm products are all made in their factories in Hanover and Lebanon New Hampshire by employee owners.

5. Modern plasma cutters with a pilot arc starting system will cut dirty, rusty painted metals just as well as they will cut clean metals.

6. Most of the newest technology systems can drag cut, template cut, and have incredibly long consumable life.

There are some really easy to use, and sort of reasonably priced cnc cutting machines available today that you can mount most air plasma torches on. I have one in my home shop, as well as two other hand plasma systems. If anyone has any questions about cut quality, cut speed, or a particular application....I'd be happy to try it and send pictures and advice!

Jim Colt

 

I have a Hypertherm 1000 on my CNC table. it is a beast. I have had good luck buying cheap consumables on ebay. you can find parts everywhere

 

I bought the hypertherm powermax 30, very happy with my first cuts with it. AirGas has support, consumables and is only 10 minutes away. Thanks again for all the imput. Gary

 

A buddy of mine runs a welding/machine shop here in town and he says that DRY/CLEAN air is the only way to keep your plasma cutter up and running and cutting well. I bought Motor Guard filter along with the cutter and it does a great job cleaning/drying the air going into the cutter.

 

Dry air is important. I found a used refrigerated air dryer on Craigslist for $75....and added a filter as well. Also added an automatic drain to my compressor...best $20 I ever spent at Harbor freight.

Jim

 

hey Jim.... good to see you over here, i know you'll be a great asset to this site on anything plasma

 

OK here's the deal. I'm ready to pull the trigger on the plasma cutter. I've checked the internet stores, e-bay, and the local welding stores. I can get pretty much the same deal at the local welding supply store so I will buy local. Here are the options;
Hyper Therm PMX30- $1080.00
Thermodynamics CM39-$1000.00 (on sale)
These two are similar capacity machines. The Hyper Therm machine is very small, which I like. The Thermodynamics machine is about 2 times the size of the Hyper Therm and has a tubing rollcage/guard/handle around it.

The next step up is;
Hyper therm PMX45-$1645.00 local (cheaper on internet)
Thermodynamics CM52-$1555.00 local
I kind of feel that these are more machine than I need (input on this). Physical sizes are pretty much the same as the smaller ones.
There is one more that I am confused about. It is the
Thermodynamics CM42
Specs show that the capabilities are the same as the CM39 except for the duty cycle and the price. On the internet the CM42 is about $50 cheaper than what I can get the CM39 for. The local guy did not tell me about the CM42. Maybe because he did not have any in stock.
CM39- duty cycle-35% at 30 amps
CM42- duty cycle-40% at 40 amps

Any thoughts on all of this??

 

Well.....the most important piece of information was left out! How thick do you need to cut and how often?

Another tidbit....The CM42 is a Thermadyne branded unit, but it is imported from China. All of the others you have listed are designed and built in the USA....except for the T-D torches which come from Mexico.

The Hypertherm Powermax30 is well suited to cut 1/4 material with pretty respectable speed, can drag directly on the plate, and can sever 1/2" material, although you would not want to do a lot of 1/2" as it is rather slow. It will run on 120 volts, although if you plan to cut material over 1/4" you would need a 30 amp, 120 volt circuit. I use mine on 240 volts (it auto senses the input voltage) and I am happy with it. List price is around $1250.

The Hypertherm Powermax45 is the best seller on the planet, as far as plasma cutters go. It will cut 1/2" material all day long at reasonable speeds, has a shielded front end on the torch so you can drag cut even at full power, and has the longest consumable life in the business. List price is around $2150.

The Hypertherm units are designed, built and supported by the employee owners of Hypertherm in Hanover, NH, USA

Jim Colt

 

Great info Jim. Are the Hypertherm's easy to repair? I have (had) a Cutmaster 38 which died right after the warranty, cost to repair was more than a new unit. I argued with Thermal Dynamics and they gave me a new board. It cost me $250 to get it installed by their distributor, it also took about 6 months...Nothing on the board is replaceable and I was forced to use their distributor. Well, the second board finally got installed, and fried itself the same night I brought it home. Cutting 1/8 aluminum, standard garage circuit 240V at recommended PSI etc etc. Took the unit back about a month ago and never heard back from the distributor. I guess I'm walking away from it.

 

I'm in late on this but DING DING DING that right there is the primary thinking you use in buying welders, plasma cutters or any other piece of equipment that will need consumable parts and no doubt will need service and repair at some time if you use it enough.

You can cut corners buying a lot of things and get away with it but on welders, plasma cutters or other equipment that will need parts and service buy the ones that you can get serviced locally and walk into the local welding supply and get consumable parts and wear parts for.

I've been in the welding supply store that I deal with when they told someone that they couldn't get parts for or repair his piece of equipment that he bought online, out of a magazine or catalog or the discount tool store. Every time it happens you see a guy with a sick look on his face when his only recourse is to box the thing up and ship it off for repair. Or wait for parts to show up and hope they are the right parts.

 

Nope - Union Carbide, through their Linde division were the ones that invented and patented the first plasma cutters in 1957. Thermal Dynamics developed a variation and patented it in 1963. Neither of these processes are what we generally consider Plasma Cutting today, as the air assisted plasma cutting and low amp plasma cutting that we now know didn't come to be until the late 60's and early 80's respectively.

 

Have a ESAB PCM-875 plasma cutter, 5 years old and cuts thru everything like butter, also have an ESAB 250 MIGMASTER welder that has the spool gun attachment for aluminum/stainless it is 14 years old and welds better than any machine I have ever used and I have used them all. I clean my equipment after every use and replace the consumables when they start to look bad, not when they take a shit during use....