Plasma cutter

[jbill]

Is a plasma cutter worth the money for metal work. Or can you do just as well with a torch and a band saw?

[Hexhead]

Thats a hard question. I guess it would depend on what you do the most of.

Like if you like to cut things out like a bull dog or something like that out of steel the plasma would do a great job.

I might mention though a torch in the hands of a skilled metal man can do it just as fast and just as good as a plasma cutter.

I'm not sure how it would work out financially. I do know if I could afford a plasma I'd have one today. I have torch set up now. If your not experienced the plasma will make you look better than you are, especially cutting out things in metal.

A tig welder is on my wish list too. :)

[Serge]

They are great to cut up rough stuff fast. Its hard to cut a straight line. Then the line it leaves is hard to weld without prep as it leaves a hardened edge with some slag that has to be eliminated. I dont use it if I am to butweld metal for example.

Its a good de-construction tool when you want quick access to some wierd spot welds so you cut out a quick access hole or roughing out a quarter skin or something like that, it does not do precision work though...

When cutting a part like an a pilar or a car in two to re-weld, I use either my makita reciprocal saw (I find Bosh and Hitachi blades are the best) or a cutting wheel on my grinder...

I own a Miller plasma and if I had to do it again I would by a Hypertherm...They perform better in my book...

[dave_demented]

always wanted to try a plasma cutter... i like using cut off discs and my torch though

[marc]

It should also be noted that plasma cutters need replacement cutting head parts which can, as they say in the UK, "cost an arm and a leg" so to speak, my father bought one and seldom uses it , always complaining about the cost of parts for the cutting gun, coincidently which his eats at an alarming rate!, remember last year him mentioning about some small padded envelope that was delivered in the post, containing a little packet of bits had cost him £200 ($400+) and so take note that the world of plasma cutters do not stop with just buying one!. As someone else has already said, in the capable hands, oxy / acetylene etc, can be equally as good, although arguably not as neat.
With regards, Marc.
(from UK)

[All Dry]

Is a plasma cutter worth the money for metal work. Or can you do just as well with a torch and a band saw?
You can make more accurate cuts with a band saw I dont know about a torch being anymore accurate than a plasma but a torch is more versatile for all sorts of things take the 900-1000 you will spend for a unit and you can equip yourself with more useful and accurate tools I have a Hypertherm 380 collecting dust(actually I keep it covered) mine is rated for1/4'' steel with 1/2'' being a maximum less than ideal cut, but it doesnt seem to cut very well above 1/4'' or less I think a lot of the hype about Plasma is the (gee-whiz factor)but I have found in working on my vehicle when your doing fit up for welding the plasma doesnt even come close to the precision you need when prepping joints for welding besides the cost for the unit you have to have a compressor my manual states 4.5scfm@60psi of dry filtered air or nitrogen if you want to be portable The torch and an array of power and hand tools saws.shears .nibbler.hole punch, saber saw are WAY more useful and less fussy.Mike

[All Dry]

They are great to cut up rough stuff fast. Its hard to cut a straight line. Then the line it leaves is hard to weld without prep as it leaves a hardened edge with some slag that has to be eliminated. I dont use it if I am to butweld metal for example.

Its a good de-construction tool when you want quick access to some wierd spot welds so you cut out a quick access hole or roughing out a quarter skin or something like that, it does not do precision work though...

When cutting a part like an a pilar or a car in two to re-weld, I use either my makita reciprocal saw (I find Bosh and Hitachi blades are the best) or a cutting wheel on my grinder...

I own a Miller plasma and if I had to do it again I would by a Hypertherm...They perform better in my book... I was told by airgas that Hypertherm made the Miller units............ who knows.Mike