Oxy cutting vs plasma cutting

[monkeymark]

Im getting sick of cutting 4mm sheet by hand now, hand is aching from the hacksaw. And the jigsaw just takes ages.
Straight lines are fine with a slitting disc but curves and circles are a pain.

I mainly do this on a diy basis so don't want to spend a fortune which is why im asking this.

When initial purchase cost and consumable are taken into account, what works out the best value for money?

Oxy gear is cheap to buy but then there is the cost of refill and maybe bottle hire (plus the space to store it) where as plasma is more expensive to buy but then the consumables seem a fair price.

I know a plasma requires a compressor and I have one of the 25l aldi specials but not sure it would be enough for the job.

Its not something im going to get right now, just planning ahead little.

Your thoughts please, and not the dirty ones!

 

[Mr shiney]

I use the plasma up to around 8mm and the Oxy/Acet for thicker stuff and brutal gas axing stuff thats big and thick. The plasma with practice can do stuff with surgical precision. You will need a lot of air and it needs to be clean and TOTALLY dry or you will just knacker the unit. I use a dropout filter on my air system which works perfectly.

I am rather fond of the plasma cutter!!

 

[The flasher]

hi monkeymark. i got an rtech plasma cutter and its fantastic. much better than the slitting discs and 9" grinder i used to use. they do interest free finance aswell. im not sure if ur 25l compressor will keep up with a plasma cutter though. mine runs off a 3hp 50l sip one and that copes ok. consumables are cheap enough. the downside is u cant use plasma for heating like u can oxy fuel.

 

[Fazerruss]

hi monkeymark. i got an rtech plasma cutter and its fantastic. much better than the slitting discs and 9" grinder i used to use. they do interest free finance aswell. im not sure if ur 25l compressor will keep up with a plasma cutter though. mine runs off a 3hp 50l sip one and that copes ok. consumables are cheap enough. the downside is u cant use plasma for heating like u can oxy fuel.

But on the plus side you can cut stainless steel and aluminum with plasma

 

[mfletch]

Plus if you use oxy it will distort the 4mm plate plasma will also but no where near as oxy

I use plasma R-Tech again

 

[Kent]

Gas burning is a waste of space on 4mm circles. You will spend longer cleaning them up after cutting than you will doing it with a jigsaw on slow speed with cutting grease on the underside. Plasma is what you need with a circle cutting kit. Frankly for hobby I should stick with the jigsaw and be a little more laid back about doing a faster cut, just slow down let the saw and the lube do the work and things get easier and you don't want any bounce in the work-piece!

 

[sardine]

The downside is every time the boffins bring out a new process you still have to keep the old one. Plasma is amazing but you still need the oxy propane for heating , mig is great but the stick welder works better out side in the wind ect.

 

[Shedendman]

Plasma cutter all the way
3 years back i had given me oxy/acet cutting torch,hoses,gauges and flash backs the lot all i needed was the oxy/act.
BUT,thought i'd do the right thing and checked out about storing the ACET in a private house,insurance what not,BIG no no,i would have had to have the local fire brigade come round and inspect where i was storing it etc,to much hassle IMHO,so plasma cutter it was R TECH to.i have a Clarke 60lt warrior and it does fine no problems,mind you,you need one steady hand with a plasma,slightest heartbeat and your off your mark

 

[Richiew]

Mark,

I have an Aldi 24L compressor and it runs my plasma cutter fine. I'm sure its no good for continuous production work but if you are just making a few cuts as a hobby in the garage it should manage.

 

[MattF]

There's always the good old fashioned methods too. Fretsaw, scrollsaw etc.

 

[monkeymark]

Thanks guys. Might go the plasma route then.

Anyone tried the Lotus brand? A few on eBay but no idea what the reserve is.

 

[Bill Edwards]

I understand that BOC are now doing a deal on O/A which may make renting bottles less expensive. However, it'll probably still amount to a fair bit of money over a couple of years and may make a plasma seem like a worthwhile investment after not many years.
You could get oxygen and use propane instead of acetylene - storing acet at home may not be palatable with your insurance anyway, you'd be well advised to check first. Oxy propane does work as an alternative for cutting.

If you are only going to cut thin metal with this gear then I would say plasma. Even if it costs a little more, which I don't think it will, it's quicker, cooler, at least as easy to use accurately.
Oxy propane has the advantage that you can also braze and heat metal to bend, free off rusted parts etc. Acetylene does this and also allows gas welding. These features may be very nice for you or completely useless, depending on what you do.

If your compressor isn't up to the job and you only do short bursts of cutting you might be able to add another tank (empty gas bottle) to your airline. It'll take longer to fill but will give a longer cut time. This may work if you do a bit of cutting then won't need to do any for some time while it fills again, if you'll want to keep going for long periods then a better compressor would be called for.