I don't need one really, but I really want one. That said, Christmas and taxes have kicked my****... Is there good deals to be found on used older units? If so, what should I look for and how much should I expect to spend?
Everyone needs a plasma cutter..That being said I REALLY want one too. My buddy bought a Hobart I believe, and paid out tha**** for it. Pawnshops, maybe?
im in the same boat,i asked around at the local welding supply place a while back and the used units that they rent out there were also for sale at 800 and up,(they looked real old tho). not sure i would want to give that much for a used unit when the have new entry level plasmas for starting for a not a whole lot more
I bought mine off ebay, it's a Smith unit (Smith sold their electric product division to Hobart I believe) so these aren't in production any longer. The tips are standard and parts are readily available. This unit sold for $2,800 new, I got it for $1,250. This is a heavy-duty unit and will cut up to 3/4 inch steel, it's more than I need but it's what was available at the time. I got a Henrod torch awhile back, and if I had the Henrob before I bought the plasma cutter I'd a probably spent that $1,250 on something else...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2455791792&category=43997 $750 I need one too.......
Ryan- they will run around 7-900 for the average ones. I have an old 220 thermal Dynamics[220]cost 2000 new] it works well and can get parts for it....good news is the new smaller ones[110v] will do the same job....check availability of tips etc before committing to a sale.
I bought mine (Snap-On made by Hypertherm) for $290.00 at an auction. I had the high bid at $35.00 until some*****er told the auctioneer it wasn't a battery charger. With the economy as bad as it is, there's gotta be businesses folding-up everywhere. I'd say keep an eye on the auction listings in the local papers. Hell, half my shop is from auctions. My Miller "Gold-star" AC/DC liquid cooled TIG only cost me $800.00 I'll let you know if I see any up here, too. JOE
I wouldn't spend the money for one unless I did LOTS of sheetmetal cutting. I have one at school, it works great, but it's only slightly better than my Henrob torch. Really not any better, just a little faster and easier on thin sheet. Anything thicker than 16 ga, and I'll use the Henrob.
I have a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38, bought it new when I had the money. always wanted one and I knew the oportunity might not come again for a while. But.. if you wanted to save a buck or two you could call around to a few local pawn shops, some people don't advertise and just want instant cash.
i bought a miller on sale online it came with a whole bunch of extra consumables and a wheel guide for $900 it works great I love it
Duece Ive got the same unit and love it!! Ive yet to learn all the tricks other than cutting sheet metal.... any tips let me know
i would pick up a trading times or what ever swapper for sale mag you have and check there. I know out here most shops are losing there****es this winter and are selling off alot of tools. trying to make payrol and keep there****es afloat. i think when i bought my plazma it was a G.
I have get in line with the Henrob guys. If you have a chance check one out before laying big bucks into a plasma.
Around here any tool at an auction goes for damn near new price, sometimes more! Every winter there is a farm show here. They have specials on that stuff. I bought my welder there a few years ago from a booth the local supplier had set up. I got my Hobart 175 welder with cart for $525 and it was tax free too. I have never even seen northern tools sell them for less than 600 bucks and you still have to buy the cart! They had the same kick**** deals on Plasma cutters too. So ask your local cowpoke if there is a farm show coming up!
[ QUOTE ] Duece Ive got the same unit and love it!! Ive yet to learn all the tricks other than cutting sheet metal.... any tips let me know [/ QUOTE ] I've also have the Snap-On. Were can you get the tips other then Snap-On? Works great!
I bought a HTP last September, right before I got laid off. I considered sending it back..... but then I used it... They sure make life easier. It's like pointing your finger and cutting metal. I believe it cost $699 and came with a kit of consumables. I bought the model 300. I was surprised how small and light the unit is. Works fine. Just like my garage, I wish it was bigger.... Buy as big a unit as you can afford (within reason), and get adjustabe amperage, so that you can avoid dross on the thinner materials by turning it down.......
[ QUOTE ] I wouldn't spend the money for one unless I did LOTS of sheetmetal cutting. I have one at school, it works great, but it's only slightly better than my Henrob torch. Really not any better, just a little faster and easier on thin sheet. Anything thicker than 16 ga, and I'll use the Henrob. [/ QUOTE ] ryan I will reciprocate exactly what tinbender said I have a thermaldyne plasma at school and a HENROB torch at home. I could use the plasma any time I wanted... but I would rather use the henrob for any cutting I need to do.. its just that much better.. unless you have alot of cutting to do on really thin steel I'd go with the henrob Mine was like 200. I think the last one I saw for sale was new for 300 and it will allow you to gas weld too. later sawzall
Spend your cash on a REAL GOOD jigsaw instead. I like the BOSCH unit that runs about $100+ at Home Depot. Then buy a bulk pack of Bosch 123x Progressor blades. Try to get a saw with a bayonette style blade (a "T" blade) instead of the blades that take a set screw. The jig saw is much more useful than a plasma cutter. It produces an edge that takes less prep, and it is slightly more accurate. It takes less space, consumables are easier to obtain, and it doesn't require an air compressor or a compressed CO2 bottle to run. I was lent a plasma cutter for a year, and found that using the jigsaw was much faster for single pieces. Now if you were doing some short run production it might be a different story....If you start going down that slope you'll end up with a waterjet eventually.
Serious, I have one in the shop and I rarely find an interest in using it when I get to work..,,,,,,,,,,,, It's great for sheetmetal replacement in body work, Like in HARD TO REACH areas where you need to be precise!!!!!!It is HEAVEN when you are trying to match METAL to your CARDBOARD templates.......(Only****GOTS don't make TEMPLATES)... I like its ability to cut out different shapes in patch panel jobs but for building with scrap I like my cut off wheels, band saws and my chop saws.............I learned how to use a plasma in school, but if you are a******** in the HAND and EYE relation department, the*****ing price of TIPS and shields will make the cost of the machine seem cheap....... I like to think of the plasma cutter as an artsy fartsy machine like the english wheel... If you have the money spend it,,,, But it's not one of the tools that the average hobby dude needs................ I have an old L-tech machine and I like that alot better then my newer MIller.......... Might trade you something for one,,,, germ
Yeah, that henrob 2000 is the*****. Saw it at autofair with zman a few years back. You can use it to cut, weld and all kinds of*****. I think the website was www.cut-like-plasma.com or something like that. *****er cut his name in cursive in 1/2" steel, then switched attachments and welded a coke can back together!
[ QUOTE ] I think the website was www.cut-like-plasma.com or something like that. *****er cut his name in cursive in 1/2" steel, then switched attachments and welded a coke can back together! [/ QUOTE ] Yeah you got it. The Henrobs rock.... Definately look at them before you make a decision.
The real difference between a Henrob and a Plasma is that the Henrob cuts with compressed Oxygen, and the Plasma cuts with compressed air. You have to pay for that oxygen. Your compressor can always supply more air. If you are going to used compressed gas for cutting, I can highly recommend using propolene. It burns hotter, quicker and more accurate than an OA torch. With my small sized Victor setup, we can cut one inch plate as fast as most OA cut 1/8th. AND, with the oxy turned up a bit, the kerf is about 3/32 inch and fairly clean.
Miller has a small 110v unit with built in air supply-plug n play. Its only good for thinner metal (1/8, 3/16)but should do just about anything a car would use it for. Its less than a grand new, and miller has some real good financing. One thing to consider though is that anything you cut with the plas will have to be dressed with the grinder or you will get some of the worst welds known to man. You can use a small piece of flat stock as a******** to nock off most of the slag from cutting, but to get it clean enough to weld grab a grinder. I have cut steel, alum, and stainless with the plas. stainless takes nearly twice the machine you would use on the same thickness steel and alum leaves a jagged slag edge that will need more clean up that steel. Lower air pressure helps on alum. but most machines kick off if the air pressure drops below a certain pre-set. Plas is quick, but I traded mine off and haven't missed it too much. I still have access to sevaral if needed, but I haven't really needed one. Oldtin
A plasma is not a toy- you need to NEED it to afford it. I have cut aluminum[a cast manifold] Wwith mine as well as cutting stainless sheet and it was a lifesaver in those cases. it will blow a 1/64th inch hole 1/8" away from glass for a screw to be set i! without damaging either.it is a lifesaver in my shop on TOP I can cut an 8 feet long side panel on a sedan delivery in approximately 3 min- try that with the other implements of destructon we have! also as a side benefit-I CAN REUSE THE STEEL PANEL I CUT as it has no warpage!........he he
Ryan, Do you already have an Oxy-Acetylene outfit? You can do a hell of a lot of cutting with that, Henrob or not, at least on ferrous stuff. Modernbeat is right about the usability of a high quality jigsaw. And for a lot of things that the jigsaw can't cut, a sawzall will. Germ's description of a plasma cutter is right on, too. Like you've already said, you don't need one, but you really want one. Hell, they're really cool. But the reality is that you can accomplish the same thing with cheaper tools. As Modernbeat said, if you really need a plasma cutter, a waterjet is probably in your near future. And I don't think you need a waterjet. I've been through this plasma-cutter-lust too. It's like a mid-life crisis, or any other "tool-need" that you might feel. The need will pass, and (hopefully) it will make you make more use of the tools that you already have. You probably have all the tools you need to cut anything you need to be cut. Simply learn how to use them more effectively. That's my two cents. --Matt
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