How thick for Plasma cutter

[drsportster]

How thick can a mid-range priced plasma cutter cut My [job is one inch thick which I suspect can only be done on a large expensive unit .

 

[Jim.ME]

How thick can a mid-range priced plasma cutter cut My [job is one inch thick which I suspect can only be done on a large expensive unit .

What are the dollar amounts of your "mid-range" price? Price and severing capacity don't necessarily run hand in hand. Higher quality brand name ones in the "mid-range" may not have as thick of severing rating as a lower quality one of the same mid-range price. You need to compare the ones you find in the price range you have in mind.

 

[drsportster]

I was going to go to my local welding shop and have them do it

 

[Steve in VA]

I was going to go to my local welding shop and have them do it

I would think that's the simplest option.

 

[Janicholson]

How thick can a mid-range priced plasma cutter cut My [job is one inch thick which I suspect can only be done on a large expensive unit .

85 to 90 amps can do it. Quality is really important HyperTherm, and other name brands are recommended for reliable use. and continued supply of consumables. Very dry air is also crucial for consumable cost savings. Refrigeration condensing dryers are best. Jim

 

[mtf]

I have a miller 625 it is rated at 5/8 quality and sever 3/4. It would not cut 1 inch.
If cutting torch would not yield the quality you need, I would take it to a welding shop, they may even have a Lazer, or water jet.

 

[farmersamm]

I have a miller 625 it is rated at 5/8 quality and sever 3/4. It would not cut 1 inch.
If cutting torch would not yield the quality you need, I would take it to a welding shop, they may even have a Lazer, or water jet.

I have my typical rant about plasma cutters.......................too tired to do it tonite. But..........I despise how they're marketed in terms of thickness of cut. Always to the high side............never an honest figure. I can sever a 3" piece of plate with the rosebud I have.........simply by melting it........but that ain't a "cut", and you're a liar if you call it so.

Anything thicker than sheet metal is a land of diminishing returns when it comes to plasma. Money is better spent on a quality set of regulators, bottles, and torch, for such things.

 

[Jim.ME]

I was going to go to my local welding shop and have them do it

farmersamm is right about the severing thickness, I should have said 1" clean cut, which is less than one will sever.

Many cutters spec both sever and clean cut. Unless you have a lot of use for one and you plan to spend north of $3000 minimum, more like $5000, taking it to a local shop is likely most cost effective.

 

[zuhnc]

I have a Hypetherm Powermax 45 Sync. Ratings are clean cut 5/8 and sever 1-1/8". That sever cut is going to be real slow and ragged. This is at the limits of the 45A unit. To clean cut 1" an 85 amp or higher unit is necessary, but for a one-time deal, is very expensive. Take the steel to your local welding shop, as aforementioned. It can be torch cut if you have the necessary equipment. A little hobby-type setup will not get you anywhere.

Another way to cut that steel is with a Diablo Metal Cutting blade in your skilsaw. I routinely use mine to cut up to 3/4" very cleanly. Probably do 1" but would be a little slower. PPE is a MUST, as the little chips go a lot of places. Very clean cut and absolutely no dross or any heat affected zone, as one will find with either gas or plasma. Slight grinding to remove the sharp edges, and good to go with other processes.

 

[moresmoke]

If you are doing shapes more than just hacking off a piece if steel, check local fab shops. I get parts machine cut for not much more than the steel would cost me. The primary shop i use has lasers and plasma tables, but 1” is still flame cut. Given the right setup the quality of cut is just fine.

 

[caterpillar guy]

I've wanted one for a few years now but keep hearing the same thing the thicker the slower and less likely it is to do it without going to a big expensive model for the 3/4-1-1/2 stuff. If I can't cut close to an inch thick decent then I guess I will stick with the torch for it. And use the grinder with a cutoff wheel for the thinner stuff and have clean pretty much no clean up edges for welding.

 

[cjunrau]

I've wanted one for a few years now but keep hearing the same thing the thicker the slower and less likely it is to do it without going to a big expensive model for the 3/4-1-1/2 stuff. If I can't cut close to an inch thick decent then I guess I will stick with the torch for it. And use the grinder with a cutoff wheel for the thinner stuff and have clean pretty much no clean up edges for welding.

I don't do enough to have a tank for a torch. $100 a year rent is to much when it takes 3 years to empty. I have a 42 plasma. works up to 1/2 inch but that is slow. 1/4 works great. i use grinders and chop saw a lot. cut off wheels work good in the right place. I some times miss the torch for heating and bending stuff but not very often. I paid $500 brand new but second hand for my plasma.

 

[wp6529]

My older Hypertherm Powermax 1000 60A plasma cutter is rated at 3/4" cut, 1" sever and having used it various times on those thicknesses it is pretty accurate. You will get through 1" ok but with a bit ragged cut with taper where on 3/4" you can get a pretty clean cut if you have your torch speed correct.

 

[Butch(OH)]

I have an older Hypotherm that came out of a fab shop, can't remember the model but it's far from a homeowner outfit. I will only repeat what others have already said. You will go through consumables like crazy unless your air is dry, not kinda dry but DRY requiring a whole lot more complicated arrangements than $19 water separator. Most small shops now use oxygen because it's cheaper than a quality drier and changing consumables twice a day. Beyond that they work well for thin materials and cut anything that will conduct electricity. If I could only have one I would stick with torches. Most fab shops have moved on to other technologies due to the cost and limitations of Plazma

 

[farmersamm]

I don't do enough to have a tank for a torch. $100 a year rent is to much when it takes 3 years to empty. I have a 42 plasma. works up to 1/2 inch but that is slow. 1/4 works great. i use grinders and chop saw a lot. cut off wheels work good in the right place. I some times miss the torch for heating and bending stuff but not very often. I paid $500 brand new but second hand for my plasma.

See if your LWS sells owner bottles. Around here, owner bottles are the smaller 150cf variety. I believe I paid in the neighborhood of around 200 clams apiece for mine. I've got 3 of them due to the amount of cutting, and heating, I do. Costs about $12 plus hazmat to fill them. I have my own Acetylene bottle, and 2 Propylene bottles for Propane.

I've had my bottles for near on 30yrs...................you can imagine how much rent I've saved in that time, plus the convenience.

Owner bottles are swapped out, same as rentals, when you get a refill. They don't stand there and refill them. If you do buy bottles, make sure the ring on the neck either says "owner", or says nothing. You can't exchange any bottle that has a company name on it........it's assumed to have been stolen. Keep your invoice...........this is 'title" to the bottle, and enables you to fill it anywhere.........or sell it if you please.

 

[cjunrau]

See if your LWS sells owner bottles. Around here, owner bottles are the smaller 150cf variety. I believe I paid in the neighborhood of around 200 clams apiece for mine. I've got 3 of them due to the amount of cutting, and heating, I do. Costs about $12 plus hazmat to fill them. I have my own Acetylene bottle, and 2 Propylene bottles for Propane.

I've had my bottles for near on 30yrs...................you can imagine how much rent I've saved in that time, plus the convenience.

Owner bottles are swapped out, same as rentals, when you get a refill. They don't stand there and refill them. If you do buy bottles, make sure the ring on the neck either says "owner", or says nothing. You can't exchange any bottle that has a company name on it........it's assumed to have been stolen. Keep your invoice...........this is 'title" to the bottle, and enables you to fill it anywhere.........or sell it if you please.

fill on oxygen was $65 when I last bought. Buy your own are about 16 inches tall and not cheap. My dad had one of those and had a hard time finding anyone to fill them. never could understand why they cost so much. I did hear some people went to the states to get buy your own and get them filled. I think my dad had to drive 2 hours from home to get it filled. I know guys in Alberta almost all own there own, but can fill up everywhere.

 

[zuhnc]

Most small shops now use oxygen because it's

Probably argon or CO2 instead of oxygen. Putting more fuel on that plasma cutting flame will just melt your steel, I think. Not to mention the possible ball of flame when the cut is started. Air comes on slightly before the arc starts.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Probably argon or CO2 instead of oxygen. Putting more fuel on that plasma cutting flame will just melt your steel, I think. Not to mention the possible ball of flame when the cut is started. Air comes on slightly before the arc starts.

Well, I saw tanks being used with plazma were I buy steel and assumed oxygen, my bad.

 

[wore out]

Probably argon or CO2 instead of oxygen. Putting more fuel on that plasma cutting flame will just melt your steel, I think. Not to mention the possible ball of flame when the cut is started. Air comes on slightly before the arc starts.

I'm not so sure about that, GOOGLE "oxygen or CO2 for plasma cutter" for some enlightenment.

 

[farmersamm]

Good read on Gases

Plasma Cutting Gases: Types And How To Choose

The different types of gas used in plasma cutting have pros and cons. Find out what the classes are and how to select plasma-cutting gas.

squickmons.com

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