Necessity of a plasma cutter?

Sebastian K · Post by **Sebastian K** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 5:53 pm

There is a Beverly in the House.

I could buy a Plasma Cutte that will cut 1/5 inch for 100-150Ã¢â€šÂ¬=120-180$

Should I?

Thomas H · Post by **Thomas H** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 5:54 pm

yep- well worth it for those 12g projects. you could easily do with the beverly though.

Willing Pell · Post by **Willing Pell** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 7:03 pm

Man! Last I looked a plasma cutter was $1000 dollars!

Mike F · Post by **Mike F** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 8:20 pm

It depends what you get.

KNOW YOUR TOOLS. Some plasma cutters you have to drag the tip. With others, if you drag the tip you'll eat away the electrode in literally 20 minutes to an hour.

That being said, I'd take it.

Jeff W · Post by **Jeff W** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 9:31 pm

Greetings
First let me say that I suffer from an addiction, I'm a tool Junkie.
I have many shears(Beverly b-3 and s-2, also a few electric 10 and 14 ga shears, and others...) I also have an oxy/accetlyne torch and also a 50 amp plasma cutter.
If I had to choose I would want my b-3 over my plasma for armouring. For shop stuff and welding I want my Plasma. It is nice to go to 1/4" alum. and cut out a shape.
some things to think about buying a plasma are:
Do you need a compresser, or will yours handle the demand?
What is the rated speed of cut in the metals that you want to cut? Is it faster than a shear or saw?
How much "formed" metal do you need to cut? The plasma is nice for cutting apart things (helms that aren't right) that the bev can't get to.
What metals do you work in? If you are only working in steel (not stainless) buy a oxy accetlyne torch kit, it will be much more versitile.
If you are working in other metals will cutting the metal with a plasma affect the temper/strength of the metal(I've noticed a difference in alum 6061-t6)?
How easy is it to get parts/consumables for this brand of cutter?
I hope these questions/comments help you with your desision, I LOVE my plasma for some jobs for others I LOVE my B-3.
Jeff

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 9:42 pm

Sebastian, since you live in Germany, you need one that will cut metric thicknesses of metal, not thicknesses measured in inches. That one won't work for you, but it will for me, so buy it, and I'll take it off your hands.

For armoring, a Beverly will work just fine, and a plasma cutter is mostly redundant. At that price, I'd buy it even if I didn't need it, and suddenly find places where it was indispensible, and thereby justifying my purchase.

Plasma cutters are best where you want to cut metal w/o distorting it, like for blades and other weapons. Armor doesn't tend to remain flat, negating an advantage the PC has over a Beverly.

Signo · Post by **Signo** » Mon Jul 26, 2004 7:19 am

Telwin makes a plasma cutter that have an integrated compressor, is the only kind of plasma that can run at home (at least there in Italy with 3Kw max) the model is : http://www.telwin.it/webtelwin/prodotti ... aSintetica)/E815084?OpenDocument&E
Can cut up to 6mm