Is a Plasma Cutter really worth having in the home garage?

I recently bought the Eastwood Versa cut because it was on sale and free shipping and to be honest its been 3 weeks and i haven't even bothered to try it out. I really do not have anything to cut.

I don't do much resto work on rusty cars anymore and i have a slew of other tools, i have 4 various cut off wheel tools, nibblers, air shears, body saws you name it.

Can some of you guys shed some light on this Plasma cutter if its really worth keeping or not. I cant even remember the last time i fired up my cutting torch to work on any of my cars.

 

Used mine last night cutting alum. for the scoop I'm making. It works great when you need it but I've used cut-off wheels and a torch for years.
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yes

 

comes in VERY handy for fabbing brackets in 1/8" or thicker. really beats the bandsaw on tight curves.

 

No.

 

You'll find that you can't live without it, I haven't picked up my torch in over 10 years and I'm always building something!!!

 

YES, I used mine just about daily.

 

I have one, have used it sporadically, but it is great when really needed and useful for many types of cuts including new sheet metal. Of course, if you have no cuts to make......well...it just sits.

Your post is very timely, as I just finished sending some pics to HAMBer and decided to check on the forum before leaving the shop to buy a new plasma cutter!

Seriously, I am going to get a larger capacity unit. I have an immediate need to cut some structural steel and mine is too small for the job. But I am selling the steel and will recover a portion of the cost of the new unit and will probably sell my smaller unit as well.

I am getting another Thermal Dynamics unit, a Cutmaster 52. My local welding shop sells the other major brands too, but they recommend the TD units and sell enough to know that customers are pleased with them.

Ray

 

While i would never get rid of my torch. I couldnt live without my plasma cutter. Its nice how you can just pick stuff up after cutting it out, well somtimes, but never with a torch.

 

yes, I use mine all the time. there is no equal and once you get one you will wonder what you did before.

 

they are nice if you have enough work to justify the price, a cut off wheel works just fine for me

 

i use mine every day. i ended up buying a torchmate just so i can cut and fab stuff at the same time. just remember to buy as big as you can afford, because you will always wish you would of bought the bigger one.

 

Yep, once you use it, you'll be lost without it...no more shears to cut metal....no more chop saw to cut 3/16" or thicker...no more strain on the fingers when your gloves have holes in them...no more metal curling on you while trying to cut it with shears...no more hammering the stuff flat once you've cut it with a shears...no more trying to cut a straight line with shears --an 1/8" thick metal ruler and the plasma is all you'll need for a super straight cut...many many, times...

R-

 

I bought the Miller 375 Extreme. 110 or 220. Would not trade it for anything. I love it. So much cleaner and faster than a gas axe. Paid for itself in loss of aggravation many times over. Was very instrumental in the install and construction of my c-notch and boxing my frame. Chicks love it too.

 

If you don't have anything to cut, as stated in your OP, then no. LOL.

 

I have a big Hypertherm that I hardly ever use. I find it much more enjoyable to use a torch or saw or shear. There are a few jobs it is great for but in general I could live without it.

 

'Nuff said.

 

They don't take up that much space, (unless you are working in a closet). Sure is great to have when you need it even if it isn't that often.

 

I have a nice one and getting ready to purchase that 'tracer' attachment so's you can make copies of tabs or brackets.

 

Man you should not be using a Plasma without the appropriate shade of eye protection!!

To the OP if you have nothing to cut with it than no I guess it is not a very useful tool. I use mine all the time and cannot imagine going back to not having one.

I will also add that it is a major pain in the ass for me to use mine because I am in a small one car garage so I won't use it inside. I have to haul all my stuff outside and set up everytime I want to use it and right now it is the dead of winter up here so it makes it even more of a pain in the ass to use but it is still the fastest easiest and cleanest way to cut metal for me.

 

my miller 375 sits on top of my welder, so it takes up no extra space. if you take the time to make a pattern, you can make some really nice stuff with it that needs very little clean up. i will not be selling mine any time soon!

 

Personally, I'd say no. Once I learned how much more accurate I could be with other tools, I hardly ever touched it. It has its moments, like hacking out a huge section of rotted floors, but even that can easily be done with an air hammer and a crows foot. Unless you are slicing long sections of thicker material all the time, i'd save your dough.

 

I have never used one and at this point in my life I couldn't justify the expense of buying one. HRP

 

Not trying to criticize but I am just curious what is not accurate about a plasma cutter? I rarely use mine for anything but accurate cuts and it takes about 1/2 the time of any other method.

 

i ve been building and playing in the garage for over 40 years and i just got mine this summer, i love it! i got the miller 375 extreme also. the price to fill a set of tanks to cut is crazy. this thing cuts half inch steel. i wish i would have bought one ten years ago. im building a trailer at the moment so its worked out well. if your not going to use it ,dont buy one.

 

Here's a semi-related question: If you already had a TIG welder, what would be the better investment: MIG or plasma cutter?

 

Absolutely my favorite tool in my shop.If you are into fabbing i do not see how anyone can not have one.If you want more friends,get a plasma cutter.

 

i think i should fire my Versa cut up by the weekend at my friends steel shop just to mess around and see if i like it

I recently dropped a ton of coin on a new Miller Matic 211, and Synchrowave 200 Tig with cart. My Christmas gift to myself this year

I plan on doing more architectural stuff with my new mig and tig, sculptures, furniture etc.

my only concern with the Plasma is slag and cut accuracy. I have viewed a ton of videos on youtube and the cuts look awful, jagged and sloppy and would require a ton of time just to finish off those cuts with a grinder where as a saw or cut off wheel wouldn't.

can it be due to a poor quality machine or the user lack of skills?

my Miller rep wanted to sell me into a 375 Plasma but i bought the Eastwood due to the much lower price. My Miller guy told me tips and parts for the Eastwood might me a PITA when i need them.

 

Jagged cuts are a combination of either going too fast for the thickness of your material or not having a big enough machine for the job. A machine that is the right size for the job and used properly should leave a cut edge that requires very little to clean it up.

 

Most of my manual cutters/shears and cut off wheels stay in the drawer since I bought a p-cutter ten + years ago. I have since up graded machines a couple of times.

Precision cuts are super easy and profiles are easy with simple patterns. I make a lot of my patterns from thin plywood/hardboard or a hardware store aluminum ruler and they always last thru the job.

If you don't cut metal on a regular basis. Leave plasma cutter alone. But, if you do. It is a much faster and amazing tool. My oxy-acty setup sets unused in the corner most of the time now.