Plasma cutter & compressor advice

[VillageBlacksmith]

Hi all, new to the forum and have a very basic question (apologies in advance if its already been asked & answered a million times).

I've been working old-school for way too long and recently realised the necessity for a plasma cutter. Being a new topic for me, I am struggling to decide what to buy. Budget balanced with value is important, and came across the R-Tech range. 6mm clean and 10mm rough cut is ample for my work.

So I found this little one: http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/review/product/list/id/316/category/40/

Now being quite thick at working out bar/cfm and the difference, I've gathered that a 24L baby-bottle compressor won't suffice.

My Question is will the following be sufficient to run the R-Tech above?

http://www.wholesaleweldingsupplies.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=54_64&product_id=704

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[rtbcomp]

I've moved this to the PLasma Cutters section.

That cutter & compressor should work together OK, but I would say if you can stretch to a belt driven compressor it would be quieter and probably more reliable.

Bar is the pressure and cfm is the volume (cubic feet per minute). The size of the tank isn't that important in this case.

 

[VillageBlacksmith]

Thanks rtbcomp, and apologies for being in the wrong section already (not a good start)

When you say that the size doesn't matter too much, would a 50L tank be sufficient for light cutting (and spraying etc of course)?

An example is http://www.wholesaleweldingsupplies.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=54_64&product_id=2300

 

[VillageBlacksmith]

stretch to a belt driven compressor

Like this for instance? http://www.wholesaleweldingsupplies.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=54_64&product_id=706

 

[rikrobson]

I have the eastwood versacut plasma cutter from frosts and a 90l Wolf 3hp compressor. Both work fine together.

They are approx £6-700 for both

 

[T0rnado69]

Like this for instance? http://www.wholesaleweldingsupplies.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=54_64&product_id=706

yes that sort of type. but you dont have to go that big. unless you want to..


i current run a 14cfm 100L direct drive and its noisy,
but im sticking with it for now.
as my next upgrade will be to belt driven and lots more cfm

 

[rtbcomp]

Thanks rtbcomp, and apologies for being in the wrong section already (not a good start)

When you say that the size doesn't matter too much, would a 50L tank be sufficient for light cutting (and spraying etc of course)?

An example is http://www.wholesaleweldingsupplies.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=54_64&product_id=2300

It's the CFM figure that's important.

A larger tank takes longer to fill and empty so the compressor switches less frequently but runs for longer when it does run.

 

[VillageBlacksmith]

I do understand CFM is important, but seems the compressors in Ireland are a far sight more expensive than in the UK. What would you reckon is the minimum CFM I should be looking for, for the R-Tech plasma mentioned above?

 

[skotl]

Welcome to the forum

The R-Tech specs read 3.5CFM / 50PSI which most compressors will do (probably including, I'd expect, your current one). The only downside, as mentioned, is that it's noisy and with a smaller cylinder will be running more often. But you won't exhaust the capacity of the compressor with the R-Tech plasma cutter.

On the other hand, if you are just desperate to justify the purchase of a new compressor (which is a perfectly reasonable position ) then +1 for the Wolf 90L (Amazon UK URL, I presume they wull ship to IE or you can buy locally).

 

[VillageBlacksmith]

Thanks that's very helpful... The Wolf does look great but states on Amazon.. 'Sorry, this Seller doesn’t deliver to Ireland'. I haven't come across it in my searches in Ireland yet, and spent a lot of time searching options/suppliers.

 

[skotl]

Sounds like you're determined to buy a new compressor despite us all telling you that you don't need one - I like your style

 

[evobilly666]

Sounds like you're determined to buy a new compressor despite us all telling you that you don't need one - I like your style

Err I read it that the op doesn't actually have a compressor at all yet.

 

[skotl]

Err I read it that the op doesn't actually have a compressor at all yet.

Ah - I can see where you're coming from. I read it as him having a 24L one, but you're right - it could read that he doesn't

 

[VillageBlacksmith]

Yup, no compressor yet.. lol

Done a bit more searching and saw the following:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Cut50-10-50A...549211?hash=item43d9108c5b:g:QbAAAOSw34FVAUUs

http://www.mcquillantools.ie/sip-05289-airline-50-ltr-direct-drive-2hp-compressor/

According to the chap I spoke to re: compressor, he reckons the 8cfm one above should run a small plasma cutter fine?

 

[eSCHEn]

Yup, no compressor yet.. lol

Done a bit more searching and saw the following:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Cut50-10-50A...549211?hash=item43d9108c5b:g:QbAAAOSw34FVAUUs

http://www.mcquillantools.ie/sip-05289-airline-50-ltr-direct-drive-2hp-compressor/

According to the chap I spoke to re: compressor, he reckons the 8cfm one above should run a small plasma cutter fine?

Yeah it'll be fine. I've got the same compressor model badged differently and it runs my cut40 no problem even on top whack.

It's a busy little thing as it's got such a small tank and NOISY NOISY NOISY!

 

[VillageBlacksmith]

Thanks eSCHen... don't mind the noise.. drowns out my wife nagging :0

What would your take be on the ultra-cheap plasma cutter on ebay (link above)?

 

[steve t]

Hi welcome to forum, don't know where you are in Ireland but theres a gent that reconditions compressors in Wicklow, no Chinese stuff used in his builds and great after sales care I can highly recommend him, let me know if you want his no

 

[eSCHEn]

A few peeps on here have got them and they seem to either work flawlessly or go bang in a big way.

A couple of the bang ones have been fixed by the members themselves (@skotl and was it wendlespanswick?)

The return is usually pricey and a pain in the poo hole hence why people try and fix them instead.

For under 150 quid I'd probably have a go on one. Then again I'm happy working inside them so horses for course mate.

If you do go for one then don't plug it in until you get the side off and check all the tightness of components inside (ask on here). They come loose in transit or can be over tightened in the factory so that causes a lot of instant deaths.

 

[skotl]

A few peeps on here have got them and they seem to either work flawlessly or go bang in a big way.

A couple of the bang ones have been fixed by the members themselves (@skotl and was it wendlespanswick?)

The return is usually pricey and a pain in the poo hole hence why people try and fix them instead.

For under 150 quid I'd probably have a go on one. Then again I'm happy working inside them so horses for course mate.

If you do go for one then don't plug it in until you get the side off and check all the tightness of components inside (ask on here). They come loose in transit or can be over tightened in the factory so that causes a lot of instant deaths.

^^ all of that ^^

 

[VillageBlacksmith]

Hi welcome to forum, don't know where you are in Ireland but theres a gent that reconditions compressors in Wicklow, no Chinese stuff used in his builds and great after sales care I can highly recommend him, let me know if you want his no

I'm in North County Dublin, so Wicklow is not far... I'd really appreciate the contact!