R Tech Plasma Cutters

[Porschemaniac]

Good evening all,

After clearing out some unused toys (via ebay), the wife has agreed that I can get a Plasma Cutter.

I'm only ever going to be using it on thin sheet - up to about 2mm, so power is not a priority. In fact, in some ways, the lower the better (the 2.5mm supply to the garage may get a bit marginal with anything bigger).

I have found R Tech on e-bay - and they look pretty good. Even better, they do a 30 amp version - which would be ideal for me.

Just wondered if anyone has used R Tech, or knows of them. Budget is still an issue, but these units seem to offer a decent unit, with warranty - and not a cheap Chinese import.

Any wisdom will be gratefully received.

Cheers,

Ian.

 

[Sid]

- and not a cheap Chinese import.
Ian.

You do know they are from China don't you?

 

[Porschemaniac]

Really! Ahhh, ****. Their website intimated that they are UK made!!!

 

[bigbadbugga]

http://www.weldequip.com/plasma-cutters.htm

 

[Sid]

The firm themselves have a fair reputation (apart from the occasional employee that comes on this forum and pretends to be a member of the public). Good support from what I've read. They're not just box movers.

Covering their machines with union flags is deceptive though. IMHO

 

[Porschemaniac]

http://www.weldequip.com/plasma-cutters.htm

Thanks bigbadbbugga.

I did, naturally, gravitate towards Weldequip's shop - but the R Tech ones are (almost) half the price.

To be fair, I know that the sales and aftersales from Weldequip is second-to-none. But, unbfortunately, I'm working to a budget - which wouldn't run as far as this unit.

 

[Shox Dr]

Really! Ahhh, ****. Their website intimated that they are UK made!!!

Where do they say that? Clearly states they source from around the world

 

[Luke]

They might not be UK made, but they do appear to be UK supported, which is more than can be said of the umpteen variations of the same unit unit you can find on ebay.

 

[Porschemaniac]

Where do they say that? Clearly states they source from around the world

Well, they actually state that they source components from around the world. In my opinion, there is somewhat of a difference between sourcing components and sourcing complete units.

In their ebay profile, they describe themselves as a manufacturer and supplier of welding equipment. Describing yourself as a manufacturer certainly seems to imply that you are manufacturing the units that you are selling - especially as they have your company badge plastered across the side.

It's probably fair to say that even premium manufacturers probably source components off-shore - what makes the difference is the dilligence that you apply when you bring them all together. I would like to think that standards are higher in UK (or, for that matter European) workshops than they are in some parts of the far east.

 

[Fazed]

A friend of mine has an R-Tech 160 amp DC Tig and it's a cracking little machine. He's had good customer support from them too, worth it's weight in gold if you ask me.

 

[malcolm]

There are some decent European and US made plasma cutters about (a few members have Hypertherm ones), but they are a lot more expensive than the Chinese made sets.

R-Tech are said to offer good support. Though plastering a welder with union flags is going to mislead people into thinking it's UK made. Surprised they haven't thought about that.

 

[Shox Dr]

Though plastering a welder with union flags is going to mislead people into thinking it's UK made. Surprised they haven't thought about that.

Maybe they have


I does make you wonder though. The first thing I do is search the web when looking to buy, it doesn't take long to realise these machines are available all over the world, as I mentioned in another post.

What is important is the backup the importer is offering. I believe from what I have read R-tech have this sorted

 

[Luke]

Ultimately, Anything you buy is made of resistors,capacitors and other components bought and sold by the thousand/million, and made in China and plenty of other places around the world.

It's about the whole product, including the design, support, communication, pre sales service, warranty etc that really matters.

 

[Porschemaniac]

Well, after much deliberation, I went for it!

I have to say that first impressions are very good - the communication from them has been excellent and the unit arrived in record time.

Looks like a nice unit - nicely screwed together, decent earth clamp, torch looks nice - even comes with an air reg on the back, with the PCL connector already in place - really is ready to go.

Just got to get a plug for it and I'm off - can't wait.

Only thing to sort before I pull the trigger is eye protection - what's consensus of opinion on this?

I hear various views:

• Keep behind the torch so you can't see the arc
• Wear gas type goggles
• Don't wear any goggles

I can't help thinking that because it's electrical arc driven, the dangers of arc eye are the same as those for welders.

But equally, I think I may struggle to see the line I'm following with my welding helmet!

 

[Shox Dr]

Which model did you get

I use very dark sun glasses, or a tinted face sheild, as for not using any type of eye protection. Not cool

 

[souljah]

something like this is what i have used really you need full face protection
http://vi.ebaydesc.co.uk/ws/eBayISA...are_sales_inc&category=11904&bv=msie&caz.html

 

[Porschemaniac]

Which model did you get

I use very dark sun glasses, or a tinted face sheild, as for not using any type of eye protection. Not cool

Hi Shox Dr,

I went for the 30 amp. The supply to my garage is only 2.5mm SWA at the moment, so I didn't want to be drawing a high load (which some of the bigger ones tend to quote). I'll only be using it on thin stuff (probably 3mm tops) so the 30 amp seemed to fit the bill.

Thanks for the tip about sunglasses - I know that you can get some quite cool looking JCB ones (with a sort of iridium coating) which may fit the bill - failing that, I have seen shade 5 face-sheilds online, which I may go for.

I'll post some pictures of the unit this evening if I can.

Thanks again,

Ian.

 

[Porschemaniac]

something like this is what i have used really you need full face protection
http://vi.ebaydesc.co.uk/ws/eBayISA...are_sales_inc&category=11904&bv=msie&caz.html

Thanks Soujah - that looks just the thing.

Cheers,

Ian.

 

[Shox Dr]

30amp *should* be Ok on 13amp, I've just bought a 50amp unit and it blows on a normal plugtop. Doesn't matter as I have 32amp blue sockets in the workshop.

 

[Wozzaaah]

You can use an auto-darkening welding mask if you cover the sensors with tape to prevent it from darkening.
It offers good visibility and also protects your face too.
Glasses are ok but tbh, I prefer something with a little more protection, those little hot sparks can fly all over the place!
Glasses under a clear face shield would work too.