I hope someone chimes in here as I am in the market for one myself only I thing a 120 will suit me fine. Been looking at the Eastwood one. Would like the Miller but $$$

 

For your price range I would look into the Hobart plasma cutters. Before purchasing any machine check on the price and availability of the consumables.

You can also watch eBay and find good used machines if your patient. One machine to stay away from is the Miller 2050 plasma cutter with the ice55 torch. These like to go through consumables faster than others.

The Miller 875 it's a nice machine but a little more than your budget.

 

X2-I bought a used Hypertherm 380 on Ebay, and it has been a great machine, with nary a lick of trouble-I would look at Craigslist as well, they're out there-

I think I would try and stay with a known name-Thermal Dynamics, Hypertherm, Lincoln, etc.-

 

Head on over to welding web.com as there is a forum dedicated to the cutting methods there..Lot of info there on plasma cutters..

Sam

 

If you have a local Airgas or Purity you could go talk to them also. They'll definitely want to sell you one of the machines they stock but they also see what machines come in for repair and warranty work. They might also have a list of refurbished and scratch and dent items. There will probably be a bulletin board on your way out for local listings of used stuff also.

One of the biggest things to look for on a plasma is torch flexibility and durability.

When looking at the advertised cutting thickness divide the thickness in half for good clean cuts.

 

just to edit looks like I want to go with the Hypertherm units only. the 2 models that catch my eye are the 30xp and 45

pricing $1325 30xp and
$1625 for the 45

for 3-400 bucks is the 45 model not alot more machine?

I like how the 30 can be 115 or 230v which might be handy.

most of my use for be for floor or body sheet metal. but if I am going to buy a machine. larger metals when working on brackets etc would be nice to be ale to cut.

I am looking for new units only.

 

our shop just bought the hypertherm 65 it is a nice machine and if you need tech support you can call them and get a real person
you can also go over to plasmaspider.com and chat with jim colt, he's been with hypertherm for 30 years
we use our 65 on a cnc plasma table, some of the people on plasmaspider use the 45 on cnc tables
with a machine torch and hand torch it was in the $3000 range

 

65 is a big machine not needed for car use that I get into.

I like the new 30xp but funny how the 45 is only 300 more

 

For the extra 300 I would get the 45..it will make cleaner cuts on some of the heavier metal and you may be surprised at the times you need the extra capacity..I wish I had done that though the one I have is a good machine..

Sam

 

silly questions but since I will use it a lot on light stuff like floors or sheet metal panels.will it still do nice job with the light stuff like the 30 would? I guess I just have to turn down the power(amps) on the 45

 

Oh yeah the 45 will do a fine job on 18-20 gauge.. You will need to make some guides in order to get nice straight cuts.. And you will be happy if you are making some jigs and fixtures and need to cut some 1/2 material..

Sam

 

Plasma cutter

I bought mine through Miller, it's 110V and works fine. Used the heck out of it when I boxed and modified my 39 Ford Frame.

My son bought one from Eastwood and it also works very well. It's 110V also.

 

thanks for info guys big help. I will go with the 45. funny thing is I emailed 3 companies about shipping cost and no one has replied all day. keep you all posted

 

It's Halloween for one. And the companies may get many emails per day and sorting through the junk and good stuff takes a minute

 

we bought ours through Harris Welding Supplies, they're good people to deal with
we tried to deal with out lws, they wanted to mark up the hypertherm 65 50%
Lincoln Welders, Hypertherm Plasma Cutters, Welding Supplies and more at Harris Welding Supplies

 

I just checked their link thank you.

looks like they are 100bucks more then weldersuppy.com but shipping to Canada is only 83 compared to welder supply of $250

so will go with Harris

 

Pattern cutter,

I made my own pattern cutter that follows plywood patterns for brackets, I made a longer knurled shaft, replaced the driver in a ford windshield wiper motor, and power it with a small battery charger and variac speed control. Rotten leonard now makes a kit at a resonable price.
Plasma-Tracer
the college has an optical follower that will follow the lines on your bluprint, I copied the CCR t bucket plans but the photocopies were a little distorted, parts were a little off.

 

does the 45 come with a cover?

http://www.harrisweldingsupplies.com/ProductImages/hyperthermimages/PlasCov_web.jpg