Everlast Plasma Cutters

[SeeingSpots]

Gonna post this here as my State Chapter didn't product any feedback. Hopefully one of you guys can help out.

"So I'm in desperate need of a plasma cutter. Considering how many side jobs/projects I've been doing lately, using an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel sucks when you're cutting anything thicker than 1/8".

I've been reading a lot of reviews for the Everlast 80amp units but I'd like to see if anyone here had some real-life experience with them. They're within my price range. Even though I'd rather buy an American product, I just can't pop for the extra $$ and I need one sooner than later. What I'm looking to find out is overall quality, consumable life, tech assistance, etc..."

Any advice is appreciated.
Jim

 

[SPECFab]

I would hold out till you can get one that your local suplier stocks parts for.
I use a hypertherm powermax 45 and love it. tips last a while on it and easy to get and it has a drag torch so you dont have to hold a distance off the metal to keep from burning tips up the 45 will cut 1" thick plate but its not happy doing it but cuts 1/2" or smaller great

 

[SeeingSpots]

Just an update on this thread:

So after many months of researching Everlast plasma cutters and reading some nightmare-ish stories, I saved my pennies and purchased a Hypertherm 45. And after using it for the last month, I'm SO happy that I did. The main reasons for me buying the Hypertherm were:

• Made in the USA
• Technical Support
• Consumable availability
• Quality shipment packaging

The shipping/packaging materials is important to me because I can't tell you how many pieces of equipment I've purchased online over the years that were beaten-up in transit and arrived busted. When I opened the Hypertherm box, it was a like the Hope Diamond. They must've killed at least 3 trees with the amount of cardboard they put in there. I read many accounts of Everlast units arriving with their face plates cracked, and then Everlast taking forever to ship them a new one. And if the face plates were messed up, who knows what problems were lurking on the inside of the unit. Aside from that, getting Everlast consumables seemed to take a few extra steps that I just don't have time for. If I'm in the middle of fabricating something, I may need to run to my LWS and grab a drag tip and be back at it within an hour. I just don't have time to waste going online and ordering parts, and then waiting a week to get them. Time is money to me. And yes, I always keep extra parts laying around, but it's just the ease of mind knowing that If I'm in a pinch, the parts can be purchased locally and quickly.

So my final comment on this is, if you're looking for a plasma cutter, save your cash and buy a quality unit from the get-go. All-in I spent $1610 for the Powermax 45 from Harris Welding Supply. And now that I have a plasma that can cut 1/2" without breaking a sweat, I don't really know how I lived so long without one. Very liberating. lol

Jim

 

[billyjp2]

very valuable review, thanks for sharing