[rgd]

I'm wanting a plasma cutter and thinking about a Hypertherm 45. Since ya'll gave me such good advice on the Miller 212 ,I would value your input on this.Is this a good one or should I hold out for a bigger one/smaller one ...or different brand,? I doubt I'll be working with anything much bigger than 1/2". :munch:

 

[dellwas]

I'm sure others will chime in... However, pop on over to:

http://www.weldingweb.com

Lots of good info there, and Jim Colt, a 30 year employee with Hypertherm is a regular contributor there. I'm sure he'd be happy to answer any questions you have on the Hypertherm line. Stay away from the Chinese stuff no matter what you do. lots of horror stories out there on them...

 

[kml]

I have a Hypertherm Powermax 30 and have been very happy with it. This is the only plasma I've ever used so I can't compare it to anything else. It does great up to a little over 1/2".

I wanted to have the ability to operate on 110V which is why I went with a dual voltage machine. There have been times I wished I had the cutting power of the 45 but fewer than times when I was glad I had 110V capability.

If 110V isn't a need for you I couldn't imagine the 45 would let you down.

My plasma has been on of those items I repeatedly find myself asking why I didn't buy sooner.

The pics are the first thing I cut with it. They were done on a 20A 110V outlet. I was quite impressed!


Kelly

 

[rgd]

Thanks ! Dellwas...I am a member of that site and didnt know it. I signed in with my usual member name and password....voila! I forgot all about that site,much less joining it:laugh:So...I'll be there now, I'm sure, much too much. Also...I'm embarrassed to ask this,but I dont know for sure but I believe we may be facebook friends?

Kelly, dang.....that looks almost machine cut! I too like the fact that one is 110v. It would make it so much easier to haul out to the job vs bringing the job to it. I'll have to think on that tidbit. I can see now it might be one of those situations where more than one machine would be handy....more tools...never enough:lol:Thanks

 

[dellwas]

Lots of info there, and i have other welding related websites bookmarked, just let me know if you want 'em. Yup, we are buds on facebook. sent an email sometime ago asking if you were here as I didn't recognize you but didn't get a reply. :unknown: :hi:

Thanks ! Dellwas...I am a member of that site and didnt know it. I signed in with my usual member name and password....voila! I forgot all about that site,much less joining it:laugh:So...I'll be there now, I'm sure, much too much. Also...I'm embarrassed to ask this,but I dont know for sure but I believe we may be facebook friends?

Kelly, dang.....that looks almost machine cut! I too like the fact that one is 110v. It would make it so much easier to haul out to the job vs bringing the job to it. I'll have to think on that tidbit. I can see now it might be one of those situations where more than one machine would be handy....more tools...never enough:lol:Thanks

 

[Kennyd]

I have a older Hypertherm PowerMax 600 that is great. I have also read Jim's threads on TBN and the Hobart Welding forum. They are a US company with a great reputation.

You need lots of clean dry air to use you new PC, what do you have for that?

 

[rgd]

I have a older Hypertherm PowerMax 600 that is great. I have also read Jim's threads on TBN and the Hobart Welding forum. They are a US company with a great reputation.

You need lots of clean dry air to use you new PC, what do you have for that?

What would you recommend? I'm probably over thinking this..but here's what I'm thinking:

I've got a smaller Ingersoll Rand belt driven 2HP 30ish gallon...I believe it's called a "Garagemate". For a drier ,I am building/using a small coil w/fan out of a/c unit and it will be piped in to the airline. I am splitting the rows of the coil to allow parallel chambers. This should up the airflow capacity of the coil. Where the rows merge back together,there will be another custom 7/8"copper header and it will have a drip leg with a solenoid powered drainline. The solenoid will energize thru an adjustable time clock. Sounds fancy...but its from parts I've robbed off of various old a/c's and refrigeration equipment. So its basically stuff that was going to the scrapyard before I salvaged it.

If this doesn't work as I hoped, I've got another idea which is... take several loops of 3/8" copper and run them into a big barrel filled with water for a heat exchanger. I doubt if I would need to worry about the water getting too hot over time with just me using it...but I could always pump the water thru an old swamp cooler if needed to maintain its temperature. Hopefully one of these ideas will work as I dont really want to buy a refrigerated air drier.

When I get my shop built I hope to get a larger air compressor.

 

[Kennyd]

Randy, your compressor "sounds" a little small, you need to check the CFM ratings of it and compare to the PC you are looking at. The Powermax 45 Specs say it needs 6 SFM @ 80 PSI.

Your drier plans sound good, I know you have the materials and know-how from your HVAC business. A larger compressor help with this also because it won't be running so much to keep up. I just have copper pipe plumbed from my basement up to the gargage, and I use a dessicant dryer that I got years ago. Motorguard Filters are highly respected for PC use also.

 

[rgd]

Thanks for the input Kenny. I picked up the Hypertherm 45 last week. I bought it locally for the same (cheapest) price I saw on ebay. (1590.00) with a list price of 2100.00. I also went ahead and bought a Motor Guard filter/drier at the same time. All I can say...what took me so long! I like it!...I like it alot:yahoo: Now....I 'm gonna need to upgrade my compressor. The one I have now is rated 5.7cfm @ 90psig. Its borderline and will probably be left in the garage when I get my shop built:hi::hi:

 

[Kennyd]

You will have a lot of fun with that Randy :good2:

 

[RandyM]

Really!

I am sorry, I know my eye sight is not what it used to be but, I just don't SEE it.:mocking:

 

[dieselshadow]

I am sorry, I know my eye sight is not what it used to be but, I just don't SEE it.:mocking:

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[dellwas]

Go with the largest CFM compressor you can swing, if you ever decide to sandblast or are planning on it. I bought a $3300 Speedaire, 7.5 HP that does 31 CFM @90 PSI. Got a kickass deal on it, out the door for $1900. You know what, it's still not ample enough for doing sandblasting for any length of time.

Thanks for the input Kenny. I picked up the Hypertherm 45 last week. I bought it locally for the same (cheapest) price I saw on ebay. (1590.00) with a list price of 2100.00. I also went ahead and bought a Motor Guard filter/drier at the same time. All I can say...what took me so long! I like it!...I like it alot:yahoo: Now....I 'm gonna need to upgrade my compressor. The one I have now is rated 5.7cfm @ 90psig. Its borderline and will probably be left in the garage when I get my shop built:hi::hi: