Plasma cutter?

Does a guy need to Spend a fortune to get a Farm plasma cutter?

Only one I have seen in operation came from Harbor Freight. It worked.

Some of em you can weld with of you need an excuse to spend a little extra.

Do u have an air compressor already? If not looks like about 1500.

I have a good Welder

And Big Air compressor

Looks like about about 500 for 1/2” cut shop rated with external air.
So no fortune needed.
Looks like I have one in my near future. I thought they were more like 3-4K.
I hav a couple sawmill cuttoff blades (3/16” thick high speed steel x 60” in diameter) that have many dozens of
hunting knives imprisoned in them. Just need the plasma cutter to release them. Already have a small forge to make them tough. And a lead bath to draw the temper. Grinders and buffers for shaping and polishing.
It could be a fun thing for me to do in my retirement. Got lots of exotic wood and elk antlers for scales.
Thanks! I may not have looked them up if not for your post. I’ve got a small victor cutting torch but the plasma is
so much cleaner and more efficient.
Sorry got excited didn’t mean to highjack your thread.

Scott, I got a Hobart Airforce 250 ci with built in compressor from the local Fleet Farm store about the time the new owners where taking over. Mine was a display model and I got it for about half price since it they where clearing them off the shelves. I'll cut 14" soft steel with no problems but harder steel puts up a fight. Overall I am very pleased with it but there are times I would like a bigger one to cut thicker metals.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200647339_200647339?cm_mmc=Bing-pla&utm_source=Bing_PLA&utm_medium=Welding%20%3E%20Plasma%20Cutting&utm_campaign=Hobart&utm_content=48736&cmpid=53403406&agid=320007

Mine came from tractor supply
It is supposed to do half inch.
Wife uses it for garden art
I got it on clearance for 349. About 500 plus now

Plans cutter work great on new or clean materials, not so we'll on dirty or oily

I got a hyperthem, they’re made in the USA, not overly cheap but if you watch airgas or sites like that you can get them on sale, here’s a link to their website.


https://www.hypertherm.com/

How thick of metal are you going to cut?

I want to be able to cut 1/2" easily.

I'm glad you read this.

I'm building yard art and Bells from Non explosive or purged tanks

I was getting ready to buy a band saw untI watched one guys video where he used an upside down castor cart dollt for rolling the piece and cut it in half with his plasma cutter.

Plasma cutters are a great invention. Buy once..cry once.

Have you ever tried one? If you want to easily cut 1/2 you need to get one that is rated for more than 1/2 inch. I have an extra one rated for 1/2 inch that you can use if you would like to try one before you spend the money. One thing very important for a PC is you need clean dry air. I use 2 good filters.

Yeah I read your post on making bells out of tanks, cool projects. Be careful with the tanks.

I Need to clean out mt shop before I get one or borrow one. I'll remember your offer, Thanks, Scott

I haven't used one yet, No., ; forgot to answer you. Edit

Gman is absolutely correct in having a source of clean dry air. Water is no good. Also don't forget that the nozzles,swirl ring and electrode are called CONSUMABLES for a reason- they wear out or burn up. There are also specialty tips for gouging.

I think I spent about $1800-2,000 for a Miller that will clean cut 1 1/8" steel and gouge 1 1/4". We bought it for a job to cut a 7/16" tank up with. The better the machine the faster the cut and the more production you'll be able to get out of it. The labor savings paid off big time for me. Instead of a crew of 4-5 cutting with a torch for a day and a half we had that thing cut up and removed in 2.5 hours.

Sounds like more to the story missing with that much time difference.

It will be here if you decide you want to try it out.