Ive been talking about getting a decent mig welder for quite awhile. Been using my old one (flux) or borrowing a buddies. So today I went to the Miller supplier and decided on a Miller 211, it should do everything I need. And Ive read lots of good stuff here on the HAMB about it. While I was there I was checking out the plasma cutters. Ive never used one before. I was really surprised how small they were and how relatively inexpensive they are. Ive been selling off all my "extra" projects to get down to just a couple to play with (Im not getting any younger lol). Anyway I have a little extra cash and the dealer said he would cut me a better deal if I purchased both...the Miller 211 mig, and the Spectrum 375 plasma cutter. Right now I have the typical hand and power tools for cutting. Basically Im just curious if a plasma is worth the money or is just a cool toy to have?
They are definately worth it. It made cutting the plate steel to box in my frame 100 times easier. and they are also fun to play with. I cut up an s10 truck i had with one to haul it off to the scrap yard.
i have a plasma, just today i was cutting an old rusty piece of metal, it just blasts right through, an OA cutting torch would of made for hard cutting, i have a hypertherm powermax 1000 along with a hand torch and a machine torch for my tracing machine, i just swap them as i need them, two thumbs way up for a plasma.
I bought a 211 about a month ago... I love it. Couldn't ask for a better welder. And as far as the plasma. Be sure to get one that can cut though everything you need that way you won't have to buy again. Thermal Dynamics are good. I was using one the other day to build an oak pit. I'd recommend getting a Cutmaster 52. Yeah it's up there on the price but you'll cut through 1/2" and aanything else like butter.
Some guys are great with a cutting torch. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. A plasme cutter is another story...a definite must have for a fabricator. Ive got a Thermo Dynamics Cutmaster 38 and couldnt be happier with it. Just think of the amount of cut-off wheel dust you will no longer be breathing!
I own a Spectrum 375 plasma cutter. It is a rock solid performer, and I use it almost every day. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Seven years, and still going strong. They only thing that I have done to it was to replace the ground clamp with an all metal one.
When I was doing the front clip swap on my '56 Dodge, a good friend of mine lent me his Hypertherm 900 plasma which really made the job a lot easier. When I went into my LWS to buy a new TIG they also had the 625 Xtreme Plasma on sale at a really good price. For automotive type work it is a great package. http://www.millerwelds.com/products/plasma/spectrum_625_x-treme/
ive got a Spectrum® 625 it makes fabricating mounts, brackets and plating a 32 plymouth frame alot easier i dont how my dad used to the same thing with a blow torch and an arc welder. But its all so a cool toy
when possible i'd rather use my bandsaw....cheaper, quieter and less sparks.....also a better finish....plaz is ok if you have cash burning a hole in your pocket....although there are some cases when its irreplaceable and the prices have come way down since i bought mine
Ive got Danimals, Thermal Dynamics Plazma at my place..it rocks. its an older unit, but still does a good job.
I have a miller, use it all the time. Try Cyberweld.com for miller stuff. Cheaper than anyone I found, free shipping. No problems.If you use a staightedge to guide your cut, minimal grinding to have a nice clean edge.
I have a Hypertherm and it works great. Nothing works better or faster for cutting out floor pans or body sheet metal. It is really made for 220VAC but comes with an adapter plug so you can use 110VAC if it's all you got. It's about the size of a lunch box and will cut through 3/8" plate. You do need a very clean air supply, moisture will really screw up the cutting tips. About the only thing I use a torch for anymore is preheating or heating up a frozen part.
I actually went to Cyberweld.com and my local guys have a better price, Im pretty happy about that because the local service (if I need it) will be nice.
Not to hijack,I know it is a OA unit but the Cobra unit makes clean cuts. Plus you can still gas weld. Im sure there are different opinions and would like to here them. Looked at both plasma and the torch last weekend and cannot make up my mind.
if i were you i'd buy the OA first, it has many more uses then a plasma, cutting, welding, heating up stuck nuts and bolts, heating up plate so you can bend it, if i had to i can get by without the plasma, my OA setup i dont use that often but i'd be stuck without it.
I have a Hypertherm, which I love (I'm sure Miller will perform comparably) I have not regretted buying this time saving, $$$ making/saving "Toy" (original reason I bought it was to play)
I did use the cutting wheels that you put on a grinder. I called it my cheap plasma cutter. I did get a miller from Cyberweld and it was a good purchase. It was under $1,000 which was great pricewise. Well worth every penny to. Used it alot to cut sheet metal and some thicker stock. It never complained. Just keep replacement consumables handy. Next to the mig, the Plasma Cutter most handy too. Well thats until I can afford a Tig
We have a Hypertherm 600 in our CNC machine. It is so fast and the cut so clean. You can do all kinds or things with a plasma that you can't with other ways or cutting. We do a lot of 14ga stuff and it will cut at 250 inches per minute. Very fast. Here a rear radius rod bracket that was cut in the plasma. A very smooth finish. Making stuff like this would be impossible with a torch, ziz wheel or a bandsaw.
For what its worth, I have a miller 180 (185?) and have found it to be more than adequate for this hobby. Could save some with that to put more toward the Plasma. Oh, and I also recommend having a plasma cutter in your arsenal.
if you do a ton of cutting a quality plasma is excellent, I run a TIG machine, I have a Miller and a wire feed attachment can be used, I dont understand why so many guys are using wire feeders for frame work and structural assemblies, the weld quality from a metallurgical stand point is junk. With a TIG you can do almost anything.
i was in Airgas awhile back talking plasmas with them. they sell miller, hypertherm, and thermal dynamics plasma cutters and said they get more miller machines in for repair than the other two combined..... just a thought
Man a good verticle metal cutting bandsaw is going to run $3000 in Canada and the Spectrum 375 can be had for around $1400 so I definitley wouldn't say it is cheaper and you can't compare a plasma to those crappy horizontal ones that can be set up upright. If you have a plasma that is rated for the job you are doing they cut just as well as a band saw as well. I will give you the less sparks but mine barely makes a sound so definitley not quieter either.
Miller is a good old quality manufacture, look in the back of any welding rig owned by any ironworker running down the street, In the back is a Miller machine and a cooler full of Miller beer.
I have a Hobart 250ci 110v plasma. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200336604_200336604 Not a heavy duty unit, but it cuts pretty much everything automotive I'd ever need to. So handy to have for rust repair and fabrication, and hell, I even used it to cut out semi-irregular sheetmetal shapes for my wife to make earrings from (and after I made the first set for her, she got a lot of orders from friends for them...). I'd love a bigger, 220v unit, but I think I'd have to get a lot more serious about fabrication to justify the added cost.
Thanks for all the info guys. Looks like I will pick them both up this weekend. Miller is also having a pretty good sale right now and I can get a spool mate for around 100 bucks with the rebate they are offering. I have no idea what aluminum I would ever need to weld though...nother toy I guess =)
It does not mean any of them were in for repair of a defect. Cracker morons break things all of the time. Hypertherm is an OEM for other brands of plasma cutters, including Miller's. The consumables are not interchangeable, but much of the guts are. No way to explain why a Miller and a Hypertherm would have different warranty records.
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