Plasma Cutters

[Glenn 'Stinky' Stankevicius]

I am thinking about getting some new garage toys and I am convinced I need a plasma cutter  ;D
I am interested to hear recommendations and warnings from current owners.

[FCRB26]

Stay clear of esab expensive rubish .

Hypatherm are excellent

For the hobbyist my mate got one with a built in compressor its ok.
You need ultra clean air no moisture cheapest way around a refrigerated dryer is to run a desicant dryer get all the water out or it will chew tips and play up.

Also whatever they say it will cut halve it .
so if they yeah it does 10mm it will only do 5mm clean.

[GM]

I use one at work sometimes, has a built in compressor. I think it's very handy for places a grinder would never get to. (I work on elevators) BOC I think, was around $2000. Won't cut over 8mm

[hsv-001]

Plasma cutters are real handy when removing rusted rubbish .Totally agree that bigger is better ,and I would add plenty of air pressure .Tips will disappear quickly when the cut doesn't penetrate the full thickness and the molten steel and hot gasses burn it . This also occurs when cutting double or overlapping panels . I would use a piece of flat bar like a ruler and run the tip against it so as to get a good straight cut . You will find that the cut edge will need to be ground a little before welding as a hard crust is left behind .Haydn

[Glenn 'Stinky' Stankevicius]

How about these CIG Plasma cutters?
http://www.cigweld.com.au/product/diy/cutskill-35a-inverter-plasma-cutting-system/

Around the $1000 mark

[FCRB26]

Looks good and has the same head as ours tips and consumables are 1/4 the price of the old esab tips thats why we fitted a CIG handpiece.

Pete