Plasma cutter

[waynehartwig]

Which one should I get? Wife said I could buy one - finally! lol She asked if it would allow me to 'do my axles faster', and of course the answer was yes! 'Good, then you will have more time to spend with me then' No, I said, but I would be able to do more jobs! ...I think I laughed harder than she did But anyway....

I've been eyeballing the Hypertherm 380....Seen 'em on ebay for $1050 with free shipping.

Harbor Frieght also has one....27/35A 40/35% duty cycle, if I remember right... 220v model with an external air supply. Looks like it might have been a Hobart at one time? $949 I think.... But I'm thinking if I'm spending that much, might as well get the Hypertherm with the extra $'s I'd save from no sales tax.... I doubt I'll ever do anything larger than 3/8"....Mostly 3/16-1/4".

 

[Unimog]

I researched these when I bought mine a couple of years ago. Hypertherm is the best from what I learned. I bought the Miller Spectrum 375 which is obviously the Hypertherm 380 rebranded for Miller. I landed on this model for four reasons:
1- Reputation
2- Ability to use 110 or 220
3- Price (I actually got the Miller a little cheaper than I could buy the Hypertherm)
4- Cost of consumables

The ability to plug into 110 for light jobs or 220 to do big stuff has been a big deal for me. The beauty of this unit is you don't have to change any wiring around when you do it! I just have a "suicide" adapter that adapts 220 to the 110V 20amp plug just for this use.

I usually just need 110 for small stuff, but a few jobs call for more. I shortened a semi truck chassis a while back and it was great to be able to cut the truck frame, 3/8" plate, and most the way through huge 7/8 huck bolts with relative ease.

I mentioned in my list, don't forget to look at the cost of consumables. It can go through a lot if you cut very thick stuff and/or you want your cuts to look really nice.

 

[waynehartwig]

I researched these when I bought mine a couple of years ago. Hypertherm is the best from what I learned. I bought the Miller Spectrum 375 which is obviously the Hypertherm 380 rebranded for Miller. I landed on this model for four reasons:
1- Reputation
2- Ability to use 110 or 220
3- Price (I actually got the Miller a little cheaper than I could buy the Hypertherm)
4- Cost of consumables

The ability to plug into 110 for light jobs or 220 to do big stuff has been a big deal for me. The beauty of this unit is you don't have to change any wiring around when you do it! I just have a "suicide" adapter that adapts 220 to the 110V 20amp plug just for this use.

I usually just need 110 for small stuff, but a few jobs call for more. I shortened a semi truck chassis a while back and it was great to be able to cut the truck frame, 3/8" plate, and most the way through huge 7/8 huck bolts with relative ease.

I mentioned in my list, don't forget to look at the cost of consumables. It can go through a lot if you cut very thick stuff and/or you want your cuts to look really nice.

On Ebay, the Miller is more than the Hypertherm. So I think I'll probably just go Hypertherm... I need to get some gas tomorrow, so I'll look at the local welding shop and see what they have. I'd rather buy local than on ebay...

Looking at the specs, if I'm reading them right, there is no difference in amperage between 110/220v, is that not true? They show 27A for 110, but don't say for 220. The only thing it does say is that it uses less current at 220v compared to 110.

Since these two only have a 35% duty cycle, has that ever been a problem for you? Overheating, etc?

 

[OCNORB]

I second the Hypertherm...mine has been very trouble free and low maintenance.

 

[waynehartwig]

I second the Hypertherm...mine has been very trouble free and low maintenance.

That's where I'm leaning at this point...

 

[troutbum]

I have the HT600 and I love it.

 

[mbryson]

Call Jake at Airgas.

 

[Shawn]

I have the Miller 625 and love it. If you are going to get a P Cutter, get one that will handle cutting up to 1/2" clean.

You really should call Jake at Airgas.

 

[waynehartwig]

I have the Miller 625 and love it. If you are going to get a P Cutter, get one that will handle cutting up to 1/2" clean.

You really should call Jake at Airgas.

Won't the HT 380 do 1/2" clean? Now that you meantion it and I'm thinking about it, I don't remember!

How do I get a hold of Jake? Which Airgas office?

EDIT: Just looked, and no... It will do 3/8" clean and 1/2" rough. The Miller 625 is $600 more than the Hypertherm 380. I barely got my wife talked into the $1000 Hypertherm, I don't think I'll be able to do the same with the other... Maybe if you can substantiate the claim of needing a bigger box....

 

[waynehartwig]

What is the warranty on the Miller 625? The HT 600 looks like 2 years on the power supply and 1 on the torch. The HT 380 was 3 years on the PS and 2 on the torch. Or should I even be worried about the warranties?

The HT600 and HT380 is only $400 difference, I can fake that one past the wife...So if you really think I should get the bigger box, I'll do it.

 

[Unimog]

Looking at the specs, if I'm reading them right, there is no difference in amperage between 110/220v, is that not true?

In theory, yes. In practice, I don't think you are going to get anything near the input amps from a 110 outlet required to get 27A output.

Since these two only have a 35% duty cycle, has that ever been a problem for you? Overheating, etc?

I've bumped into it once during a long (20+") cut on 1/2" plate. Other than that, my little compressor struggles to keep up more than the plasma cutter.

 

[bobmed]

I use a miller 375 at work and on 110 it trips the breaker
when you cut anything around 1/4 in. or more
and has a hard time with 3/8 in.
Higher voltage will use less amperage on the input.
We use 480 volts and run 10 HP motors on 12 Gauge
wire. It saves alot of money on wire when your going 1 or 2 hundred feet

 

[waynehartwig]

I think I'll take Shawn's reccomendation to go up to the HT600 model, unless someone can give me a reason not to? I do really like the HT380 being able to run on 110 - since I don't have a 220 outlet.... But I can see the benifits of having the outlet and amperage loads....

 

[bobdog]

If you are welding brackets to axle housings, my advice would be to forget about a plasma cutter for now and get at least a 210 class welder. I really don't care how good a welder you are you should not be selling axles with brackets welded on with a 110 volt welder, and if I remember corectly you are even using solid wire.

 

[Shawn]

Airgas
700 west and about 3600 south. You will be suprised at the killer deals Jake will get you. Remember, on the 5th Airgas is doing an offroad show and there will be some smokin deals going on.

http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=31060

 

[waynehartwig]

Airgas
700 west and about 3600 south. You will be suprised at the killer deals Jake will get you. Remember, on the 5th Airgas is doing an offroad show and there will be some smokin deals going on.

http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=31060

I just tried calling him and got a voicemail. Are they open on Saturdays or...?

I really don't want to wait until the 5th....I have a couple of jobs coming up that I would really like to have it for.

 

[waynehartwig]

If you are welding brackets to axle housings, my advice would be to forget about a plasma cutter for now and get at least a 210 class welder. I really don't care how good a welder you are you should not be selling axles with brackets welded on with a 110 volt welder, and if I remember corectly you are even using solid wire.

Yes, I use 030 solid core....What is wrong with solid wire?

What is wrong with a 110 welder? What will a 220 welder do for me that my 110 can't? If it's penetrate, I beg to differ. I can get a lot of flow and penetration with this little guy... It works great for what I need it for, and that is under 1/4", more like 3/16" and under. Granted, a 220 welder could weld up some nice 1/2" + plate, but I don't need to do that....

 

[muleskinner]

Yes, I use 030 solid core....What is wrong with solid wire?

What is wrong with a 110 welder? What will a 220 welder do for me that my 110 can't? If it's penetrate, I beg to differ.

If your asking this, you should not be welding anything.

 

[Caleb]

If your asking this, you should not be welding anything.

 

[bobdog]

Yes, I use 030 solid core....What is wrong with solid wire?

What is wrong with a 110 welder? What will a 220 welder do for me that my 110 can't? If it's penetrate, I beg to differ. I can get a lot of flow and penetration with this little guy... It works great for what I need it for, and that is under 1/4", more like 3/16" and under. Granted, a 220 welder could weld up some nice 1/2" + plate, but I don't need to do that....

Open up the door and look at the chart. It shows a setting for .030 solid wire and C25 for 12 guage(not even 1/8) with nothing thicker listed for that wire and gas combo right? You don't have enough welder for what you want to do with it. If you are going to sell someone a axle you have welded suspention brackets onto that will be driven on the road or even off do it right. A 90 amp machine wont get the job done.