[BranZ]

My buddy and I are planning to tub his 86 S10 Blazer. I am also getting ready to start on a 1950 Chevy Pickup. I am curious what the minimum plasma cutter we should buy for these projects. Thanks, BranZ

[zonk]

I would recommend IMO ,at least one that is 25 amps should cut around 3/8 mild steel, ideal size for general home use.

[Fat_46]

I have a Thermo Dynamics Cutmaster 38. It cuts everything I have ever asked it to cut, including a part of a semi truck frame. 30 amps, 110 or 220 auto-sensing, and the comsumables are reasonably priced. Also - do yourself a favor and buy 2 of the "toilet paper" air filters, run them inline from your shop air to the plasma cutter (I mounted mine on the back of the plasma/welding cart). With super dry air, the tips and electrodes last forever.

Good luck on your purchase!

[ckucia]

Anyone ever tried one of these Henrob O/A torches?

http://www.eastwood.com/shopping/pro...emType=PRODUCT

Apparently, you can do both cutting and welding with them.

I have no experience with them, but it seems like an inexpensive solution for many DIY cutting/welding projects.

[oldred]

Ckucia, The Henrob is nothing but a O/A torch but an excellent one at that. It is in no way a replacement for a plasma cutter although it does do a pretty good job on thin sheet steel with a bit of practice. This is one of those tools that has been around for many years and has developed a good following so you will hear good and bad about it. It is at it's best at welding IMO but I never did come to like it as much as some and I actually prefer my Victor welding outfit in most cases. As costly as these things are I would suggest you try one before you layout your money since even as good as these things are, again JMO, I think they are more hype than function but a lot of guys really like them and would disagree with me and I would not argue because they do have their good points. If I sound a little confusing it's because this is one of those things that it seems one either loves or hates and the only way to really know is to try BEFORE you buy. If you do not already own an O/A torch I would suggest getting a conventional outfit first because it is a lot cheaper and will do most anything the Henrob will do with the proper tips. My all time favorite is the little Victor outfits(100) and these can be found just about everywhere even for a bargain at Harbor Freight(yep genuine Victor!) just stay away from the Chinese knock-offs

[ckucia]

Thanks for the advice, oldred.

[OneMoreTime]

I have looked at several of the plasma cutters and it seems the one I want/need is about 1000$ so I am sticking with my torch for now..If one has a bit of practice and clamps a guide on his work one can do a fairly neat job of cutting with a small victor torch..

OMT

[gcrmcc]

Originally Posted by OneMoreTime

I have looked at several of the plasma cutters and it seems the one I want/need is about 1000$ so I am sticking with my torch for now..If one has a bit of practice and clamps a guide on his work one can do a fairly neat job of cutting with a small victor torch..

OMT

OneMoreTime, I know what you mean, I have used O/A torch for 35 yrs. and I still have to clamp a guide to follow on any thing longer than 3 or 4 inches if I want it straight, LOL
gcrmcc

[46chevyfleetline]

hypetherm(spelling??) has a great variance in a product line.They carry three models I think that have built in compressors and filters.If you want to buy one for all purposes that we will ever use is the model 600. They're not cheap(2200.00cdn)but to me are the best. Have sold about 15 of them in the last 2years and have not had a problem with one of them. Consumables are very reasonable. Cheers!!

[farna]

If it's thin enough for a good sawzall (reciprocating saw) that works as good and is cheaper than a plasma cutter. I cut my last wrecked car up and hauled it off with a sawzall and about eight blades. If it's more than 1/8" thick get an O/A torch. Plasma cutters are for production shops that do a lot of cutting, a sawzall and O/A torch is for real hot rodders!!

[Bugs]

I too will be trying to swing a Plasma cutter soon, I have the ole sawsall too, it's probobly one of the most used tools I own, I was in Tractor Supply Co. a while back and seen a metel cutting skil saw for $98.00 so I picked one up,this thing really surprised me, I haven't used it in any fabrication yet but I did try it out, it zipped right through a peice of 3/8" plate steel and a chunk of 2" angle iron, the blades being $28.00 plus shipping I didn't play with it to long but it seems like it will do what they claim, when my son saw it he told me that at the shop beside of his house they had bought one and they use it all the time and that they rarely use the plasma cutter any more, only on real thick metal and to get into tight places, they make a liveing in metal fab. so I was glad to hear that they liked theirs,matbe between my A/O torch and this saw I can get by without a plasma cutter, I know this will please the wife

The only thing that scares me is , it came with a set of spare bushes for the motor, not a good sign