plasma cutter recommendation

[MMIXJ]

{i asked about this in the CO forum, but thought i'd cast a wider net.}

so my mom wants to buy my dad a plasma cutter for christmas...
any recommendations?

somebody said they had good luck w/ one from THERMAL DYNAMICS. :dunno:
hobart, miller, other?? he's got 220 in the garage, and will mostly use this for light duty fab and sculpture-type work i imagine. (of course i'll want to learn how to use it to make myself a front bumper).

thanks.

 

[KarlVP]

I've got one of these. It does pretty well on stuff up to 1/2"


http://www.millerwelds.com/products/plasma/spectrum_375/

 

[xjparts]

I also have the same Miller unit and am VERY happy with it

 

[jfiscus]

I was looking at plasma cutters & saw a guy on Pirate (vendor) offering a good deal on plasma cutters to Pirate members. His company website is: http://www.parkermetalworking.com/ He goes by "divtec" on Ebay & Pirate IIRC.

 

[racer32]

I was looking at plasma cutters & saw a guy on Pirate (vendor) offering a good deal on plasma cutters to Pirate members. His company website is: http://www.parkermetalworking.com/ He goes by "divtec" on Ebay & Pirate IIRC.

I can personally vouch for these machines. I got the Plasma Tec 40dv. Cuts awesome for the price...

Around $475 shipped to my door. The regulator is a POS but that can be fixed for $20...

 

[Israel]

I can personally vouch for these machines. I got the Plasma Tec 40dv. Cuts awesome for the price...

Around $475 shipped to my door. The regulator is a POS but that can be fixed for $20...

How long ago was that? Was it with the pirate discount? I checked out his site and the lowest price I could find was 699.00, which isn't too bad, but 475 is a "I'm going to order one right now" price.

 

[Israel]

Nevermind. I found it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/40Amp-Plasma-Cu...yZ113743QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=539511

 

[89Daytona]

If you can afford it I would get the tig/stick/plasma one.... kill 3 birds with one stone.

 

[racer32]

Sorry for not responding sooner Israel... looks like you found the right price though...

I would have ordered the combo machine but I already have a tig and a stick. From what the guys are saying though, the combo machines are awesome too...

 

[IntrepidXJ]

I got the MiTech Cut 40...which looks like the same thing as the Parker above. It has served me well so far

 

[CSaddict]

Just so you know. That Parker machine is Chinese made. I have the TIG/Plasma/ARC combo one. I have used it for 2 years off and on. It has never failed me. On the other hand I have 2 friends where theirs both died on the 10th to 20th time it was used. Mine only plasma cuts, I have a TA 185 TIG I use daily.

 

[Israel]

Just so you know. That Parker machine is Chinese made. I have the TIG/Plasma/ARC combo one. I have used it for 2 years off and on. It has never failed me. On the other hand I have 2 friends where theirs both died on the 10th to 20th time it was used. Mine only plasma cuts, I have a TA 185 TIG I use daily.

Were their machines still under warranty? Did the Parkers take care of the problem or leave your buddies high and dry?

 

[xjbubba]

Here's the Pirate thread discussing ParkerMachine--18 pages! http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=534964

 

[MisterFubar]

I was looking at plasma cutters & saw a guy on Pirate (vendor) offering a good deal on plasma cutters to Pirate members. His company website is: http://www.parkermetalworking.com/ He goes by "divtec" on Ebay & Pirate IIRC.

You can't go wrong with these units. I don't personally own one, but have used them several times, and I know more than a couple people with them now. They can't be beat for anywhere near the price. On the off chance you do have a problem with the unit, Divtec goes out of his way to make it right.

They are a great company to deal with.

 

[waxer]

These have actually sparked my interest. I used to own a Miller Spectrum 375 and I liked it a lot.

I can't afford another one, but these Parker Units look to be the ticket.

 

[Ramsey]

Any more feedback on these?

 

[RCman]

Any more feedback on these?

While I don't own one it seems to me like lots of people are having issues with the Parker ones on the PBB and the service has been less than good.
To me I'd rather spend the little bit of extra dough (ok $300+ is a lot of dough) to get a good reliable unit and not some Chinese junk you can't get service for.

Just my $0.02, it'll be a little bit before I can afford a plasma.

 

[swbooking]

We have a Parker, about 2+ years now. The stinger button did get a little messed up once, but i think that it was more from us not taking care of it too well. We regularly cut 1/4" with it and it seems to work fine. Normally 2 in passes though. Leaves the same kind slag burn through crap on the back as others.

IMO, Its a good plasma. It does everything we want it to.

IIRC, I believe it took about a month to get to us though.

 

[TRCM]

I have a cut-60, also chinese made, and I got it off ebay brand new.

It does the same thing the more expensive ones do, and it can cut up to 1" max.

I have already used it enough that if it died tomorrow, it wouldn't owe me anything.

All I do is turn it on, hook up the air, and cut what I need to cut. No hassles at all.

 

[Team Willys]

I know I know... Plasmas are expensive. I put off getting one for some time, but when I started the Fab business, I knew I would need one that was very reliable, and one that I could get service for. I ended up getting a brand new Miller Spectrum 625 XTreme... cost me $1425, but it had the highest duty cycle, was rated to cut the most (5/8 rated, although I have cut 3/4), and because of the Special introductory pricing, it was the cheapest. I love it. I have had no problems from it whatsoever and I would recommend it to anybody any day of the week.