Guillotine or plasma?

[mike os]

Need one or the other or both... but cant do both now.

so, assuming I generally work in thin stock... say 1-1.6m will plasma give a good enough edge for most situations assuming that it is not exposed... ie turned over/welded? ( assuming using a guide and some edge dressing but not excessive)

Or do I really need a guillotine to get it right & plasma for later?

my feeling is a guilotine is OTT for my needs, but if I am going to spend forever cleaning up then maybe not.

Thoughts on adding a guillotine to a hydraulic press?/bender (yes it is nearly finished) ( non commercial use) I have 32ton/m available, only question is do you think it do-able & where to get/ what to use for blades? (either pivoted at one end or 5 deg rake for shearing edge)

 

[Weldingartisan]

Space. If you've got working space for a guilly and cut a lot of straight edges - by far the best bet. Plasma's are compact and portable but not a viable solution for sheet metal work. W/A

 

[Wedg1e]

Space. If you've got working space for a guilly and cut a lot of straight edges - by far the best bet. Plasma's are compact and portable but not a viable solution for sheet metal work. W/A

Not sure I agree, other than you may be able to pick up a guillotine for less cost than a plasma cutter.
I have a 30A plasma and on sheet that thin it would cut as fast as you could draw a line. The small amount of 'rag' that it leaves (kerf, is it?) can be clouted off with a small hammer, or probably a file would shift it.
Plus, as you imply WA, as soon as you detract from a straight line, the plasma wins hands-down
Then there's the other jobs you don't even realise you need a plasma for: I had some lengths of super-duplex lying around my garage... about 60mm dia and 7mm wall. They were too long to fit in my van to take to the scrappy. Took about 30 seconds a cut to shorten them; couldn't have done that with a guillotine... and a hacksaw would have taken all morning

 

[mike os]

Guillys going for c£200 at the mo on the evil one. 3'treadle type

Plasma not much more & more versatile (would love to get a thermadyne or miller but really can't justify the +1k price for the amount I'll use it)

Space not too much issue £££ & usage more important