do I want a plasma cutter

[kingcreaky]

Id say, my grinder is the most used tool in my workshop. I perhaps use about 20 discs a month, but this is just a hobby, I have a office based day job.

Since using a plasma for the first time a few years ago, ive always fancied one, and now seems a gooder time as any. so Im just on the brink of ordering one off r-tech...

I guess, Im looking for a bit of reassurance that the tool is not a waste of money, and I will use it as much as I suspect I will.

Ive read lots of good things about r-tech, and I was going to buy the p30... as its £500, im thinking I may aswell spend £700 for the advantages the p50 offers over the p30... id rather it be more than i need that forever wished I had bought a bigger one...

sigh... need inspiration

 

[Spark plug]

Go for it! You won't regret it especially the when you come to do things you can't do with a grinder.

 

[500e]

Of course why are you asking

 

[rikrobson]

DO IT

 

[pedrobedro]

If the question you ask should really be "do I need a plasma ?" then you probably don't, but if you want a plasma, have the money and have a compressor already then you will be the only person who can answer your question. If you want to cut intricate shapes and curves and unleash your inner artist you definitely need one.

P.S. I haven't got one and don't need one but I still think I want one

 

[HughF]

Make sure you buy one with pilot arc (yes they are more expensive, but worth it)... If you ever cut anything other than new stuff, you'll be glad you did. I have a chinese cut50 without pilot arc and mostly try and cut old rusty stuff - not good.

 

[rikrobson]

the eastwood from frost has pilot arc and is very reasonable. I've not had a problem with mine.

 

[ukracer]

Id say, my grinder is the most used tool in my workshop. I perhaps use about 20 discs a month, but this is just a hobby, I have a office based day job.

Since using a plasma for the first time a few years ago, ive always fancied one, and now seems a gooder time as any. so Im just on the brink of ordering one off r-tech...

I guess, Im looking for a bit of reassurance that the tool is not a waste of money, and I will use it as much as I suspect I will.

Ive read lots of good things about r-tech, and I was going to buy the p30... as its £500, im thinking I may aswell spend £700 for the advantages the p50 offers over the p30... id rather it be more than i need that forever wished I had bought a bigger one...

sigh... need inspiration

Just think interest free credit and there is your answer.

 

[Gareth J]

I bought one in a similar position to yourself.

I thought I'd use it more than I have but find more than 9 times out of 10, I still use the grinder.

Reasons include;
-time consuming and fiddlly to set up, there are cables all over the place and by the time I've got it all out and charged the compressor, the grinder would've got it done twice over.
-consumables aren't so cheap as you might imagine.
-Cutting straight lines requires setting up a jig when freehand grinder would suffice
-the cut edge needs more cleaning up than a grinder.

All that aside, many of the jobs I've done with it would be nigh on impossible with a grinder. The jobs it comes out for remind me that it wasn't a wasted purchase.

 

[BrokenBiker]

do it. i want one more than need one but i know as soon as i buy one i wont be buying many more cutting discs and will just leave a flap wheel on the grinder.

i had to repair some exhaust hangers a while back on a mates drift car and as the exhaust was a bit rotten we dicided to cut it out and put a new one in. took about 2 hours of trying to get in with the grinder before he went to get a mates plasma...30 seconds after plugging it in the exhaust was on the floor

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I agree with Johnser, I have a CUT50 and although it got a lot of use recently cutting structural steels and plate most of the time it just sits on the shelf.
If you want to cut profiles for a weathervane it's excellent or for cutting heavy sections (not very cleanly) but for general 90 deg cuts there are a lot better, cleaner and cheaper tools out there.
For cutting sheet an angle grinder and thin disk gives a clean accurate cut, you can cut gentle curves with one as well.
A bench shear is also invaluable, air shears are good and a nibbler can be handy.
Would buy another plasma - Yes.
Would I spend £500 on one - No.

 

[HughF]

You hit the nail on the head there... Anyone who tells you that you'll be throwing your grinder away after buying one is lying!

 

[Shedendman]

Agree with both johnser and wendelspanswlck, you can actually manage without one,but you get the day you really need it,esp anything with curves,another thing,is it just as quiet as a grinder,when the compressor kicks in its just as noisy.
Also one main thing you do need..............THE STEADY HAND

 

[kingcreaky]

thanks so much for your replies gents. Im glad I asked. Might opt for a cheaper alternative.

 

[Gareth J]

I'm not saying don't get one. If you can afford to without justification, just do it. Being able to slice and dice everything in sight is great.

If like me, £500 might get you your next car rather than a night out, build up a few mental jobs to justify the cost first. Weather vane, house sign, wood burner, lacy chastity belt, that sort of thing.

If you then find you only use it on odd occasions, won't make you feel it was a wasted purchace

 

[HughF]

Buy the very best one you can afford, best being torch first, power supply second imho. I've got through 2 Chinese torches, the pt-31 is terrible, the Sg-55 I'm using now is marginally better. I would recommend a name brand torch over a Chinese own type. Trafimet or similar would be my suggestion and is what plasmapart ship I think.

 

[Bladevane]

Kingcreaky - I'm no expert and still at the bottom of the learning curve as far as plasma cutting goes, but one thing I have learned is that a decent air supply is essential. When I bought mine I thought "How difficult can it be?" Plug in, switch on and go. No. As has been pointed out a steady hand is a must otherwise you'll get disillusioned that what you have seen on videos and in brochures is not what's on the workshop floor. I'm just building a plasma copier because I needed a number of shapes that pass for identical. And I also upgraded my old, small compressor to a decent sized one with a bigger tank. Good luck in your quest.

 

[Wedg1e]

The only problem with having a plasma cutter is you then find yourself asking whether you really NEED a thermic lance...

 

[Wedg1e]

lacy chastity belt

Mmmmm... Cate Blanchett in 'Robin Hood'...:dribble:

 

[Wedg1e]

I bought a wife in a similar position to yourself.

I thought I'd use it more than I have but find more than 9 times out of 10, I still use my hand.

Reasons include;
-time consuming and fiddly to set up, there are clothes all over the place and by the time I've got it out and charged in, the hand would've got it done twice over.
-wives aren't so cheap as you might imagine
-wife requires setting up when freehand would suffice
-the wife needs more cleaning up

All that aside, many of the websites I've looked at would be nigh on impossible with a wife around

Edited for the rampant innuendo of it