Page 1 of 2

Plasma Cutter

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:20 pm
by Baseshakers
Anyone have one I can borrow? I need to do some major surgery to my rear bumper and it will take about a year and a half using grinding wheels.

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:26 pm
by ZAEDOCK
Plasma Cutters = $

I don't think there are too many folks out there with one. Can it be done with a sawzall and whizzer? An air powered whizzer will be faster than an angle grinder.

When I chop tOOb for my cage, I use a table saw with a metal blade.

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:40 pm
by johnsxj
I WISH I had a plasma!!!!!!! Most of my on vehicle cutting is done with the 4.5" grinder, and sawzall. Off vehicle work is also done with a 7.5" skill saw using cutting discs, a jig saw with metal blades, and the horizontal/vertical band saw.

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:08 pm
by Baseshakers
so here's a thought, i could pick up this one and then if you guys want to use it i'll rent it out to recoup some of the cost.
either that or a bunch of us go in on it... whadya think? :)

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:42 pm
by mightymeglet
My dad has one. It worked great on my frame :) and my body and all the other stuff I did not want!

If your still looking when I have a CJ work party I can talk him into letting you use it, if you help on my CJ :)

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:26 pm
by extremeex1
Arc source welding supply rents welders and plasma cutters by the day week or month and prices are really good.

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:32 am
by beaker
I have a basic plasma cutter. Probably simplest to do the work here, otherwise it would involve pulling the plug off the cord to make it work for you. If you're interested, the next couple weeks are relatively free whether you want to do it on an weekday evening or weekend....

-mike

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 6:34 am
by ZAEDOCK
You can cut with a stick welder if you have one.

It's not as precise, but it works.

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:02 am
by DDewar53
Not plasma, but cuts just as fast, and pretty clean with practice:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=65818

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:12 am
by Baseshakers
thanks for all the responses/ideas! curious, anyone have an opinion on the hobart one I posted? I'm starting a new job in April, so hopefully now that i'm out of school I can afford to buy things again! not sure if that one has enough oomph, but it is relatively inexpensive. i doubt i'll be doing much cutting beyond 1/4" plate, but you never know. we had a hypertherm at my old company which was amazing, but stupid expensive.

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:39 pm
by wesley4x4
Baseshakers wrote:thanks for all the responses/ideas! curious, anyone have an opinion on the hobart one I posted? I'm starting a new job in April, so hopefully now that i'm out of school I can afford to buy things again! not sure if that one has enough oomph, but it is relatively inexpensive. i doubt i'll be doing much cutting beyond 1/4" plate, but you never know. we had a hypertherm at my old company which was amazing, but stupid expensive.

IMHO.. its shiny and expensive sooooo it's gata be nice :)

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:53 pm
by beaker
Baseshakers wrote:thanks for all the responses/ideas! curious, anyone have an opinion on the hobart one I posted? I'm starting a new job in April, so hopefully now that i'm out of school I can afford to buy things again! not sure if that one has enough oomph, but it is relatively inexpensive. i doubt i'll be doing much cutting beyond 1/4" plate, but you never know. we had a hypertherm at my old company which was amazing, but stupid expensive.
Do you already have an air compressor? If so, you could look at one that does not have one built in.

FWIW, here's the one one I have:

http://www.plasmametalcutter.com/produc ... ucts_id=32

It probably isn't the best, but it's worked so far for my needs.

-mike

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:05 pm
by Baseshakers
for $525 that looks pretty good! do you run it on 110 or 220? i'll probably have to limit it to 110V 20A for now, unless i want to make a 30 ft 220V extension cord! does it have a drag cutting tip?

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:15 pm
by Baseshakers
wow! today the big brown truck delivered the lower end version, only $450. this thing rocks!!! i just hooked it up to 120V (it can handle 220V) and it still blasted through 1/4" plate like nothing. i'm happy :)

Re: Plasma Cutter

Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:52 pm
by johnsxj
I'm...... :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: with envy!!!!!!!!!!