plasma cutters

[torch guy]

I'm getting more and more aluminum fabrication requests and am beginning to need one. I was looking at the Miller spectrum 875 and a thermal dynamics cut master 82. My shop is all blue and was leaning toward the Miller but I'm not against another color/brand. Let's hear some suggestions and experiences. Thanks.
 

[Bus Driver]

Some brands have very expensive consumables. Investigate that aspect before purchase. Hypertherm was my choice.
 

[JD Seller]

The Miller is the better of the two you are talking about. I personally have an older Hobart and it works fine. The newer Hobarts are not the same machine. They are more of a consumer grade product now.

You will find that you will use the Plasma cutter much more than you thinking. I even use mine to cut bearings out of cases and such. Fast and the surrounding metal does not get as hot.
 

[Puddles]

Hypertherm and Thermal Dynamics are hard to beat. With my Hypertherm 1250 on my CNC table I get a minimum of 250-feet of cutting before I ever see any drop in quality of cut from the electrode or nozzle.

Remember if you're going to Tig weld aluminum after plasma cutting, you want to cut the object 1/32 to 1/16-inch big, and grind / sand to the desired size.
 

[timcasbolt]

Most consumables are pretty cheap on ebay.
 

[504]

Thermal Dynamics is the machine of choice. We sell all of them, but if it was my money it would be the TD. They were running a special for a while, buy the plasma and get a free 115V inverter stick machine.
 

[GlenIdaho]

I just did considerable research on plasma cutters and ended up with a Hypertherm. Miller makes quality equipment, I have a Miller mig and it does all I want it to. You probably already know this, but I learned that you want to buy a plasma cutter that will cut material thicker than you intend to cut.
 

[Stick welding]

What are you basing it on that the Miller is the better machine? I work at a full line Miller dealer and we don't even bring in Millers for display but try to keep the TD units in stock. Not saying the Miller isn't a good machine but the TD machines sell a lot more and we don't have any complaints with them. A lot of standardized parts as well.
 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

Hi Puddles,

Why is that?

Stan
 

[Puddles]

Stan it is the contaminates in the dross. I've been told only other way around this is to cut with Argon instead of air.
 

[Ken Macfarlane]

Hypertherm here, works the very best.
 

[DKase]

Hypertherm hands down! I researched and talked to several owners, and pro shops. Almost everyone told me Hypertherm. Only thing I do not prefer about mine is the switch on the back.
 

[torch guy]

Thank all you guys for the replies. I'll be looking more into the hypertherm and thermal dynamics and go from there.
 

[blunosr]

I have often used wood working tools to cut aluminum (table saw, band saw, even a wood router). So long as you don't go too fast it works great.

I also want a plasma cutter, and have settled on the Hypertherm 45.

Bye for now,

Troy