I have zero experience with plasma cutters. The ratings on the following machines look very similar. What I'm curious about is consumables life/price with different machines and other characteristics that I am not aware of, that make one better than the other. Pros/cons of each? If you can recommend another machine with comparable ratings, please do so, and also provide a link if possible. I appreciate the help.

HYPERTHERM POWERMAX 1000 PLASMA CUTTER
http://cgi.ebay.com/HYPERTHERM...wItem

MILLER SPECTRUM 2050 PLASMA CUTTER
http://cgi.ebay.com/MILLER-SPE...wItem

THERMAL DYNAMICS CUTMASTER 81 PLASMA CUTTER
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...&rd=1


Modified by hondacivicowner at 6:36 AM 2/15/2007

 

All three units are quite powerful for most automotive fab applications. What are you wanting to do with it? I think you will find all three of those units overkill for any sort of sheetmetal on a car and in fact it will have trouble keeping an arc on something thinner like that (wheel tubs, floors, torque boxes, etc).

 

This is not for thin stuff. I wanted to use it mostly for 1/8-1/2" mild/stainless steel, al. I think I'll bite the bullet and go with miller, or hypertherm. In school all I've seen is hypertherm plasma cutters. I know they could have bought millers, but they went with hypertherm for a reason I'm sure. I never asked, as I wasn't looking into buying one at the time. Of course it could have been the lower pricetag, but maybe not.

 

If you dont mind me borrowing your thread whats a good cutter for me I generally do : Body work & frame .

 

thermal dynamics for me check out the prices of the consumables I have a friend that has a hypertherm and the he goes thru donsumables like crazy. The tip design is also important if you want to follow a template. I know my therma has a really good design for that purpose also. Had 1 issue over many years of use and it was a fuse that I fixed nyself with the help of thier tech

Indiana oxygen seems to be the best place for $'s saved

 

I have the thermal dynamics cutmaster I have had it for about 3 years naw and use it allot I have never had any problems
the feature I like the most it the switcher that allows 110 or 220 voltage automaticly

as for consumables I dont burn them up that bad and I abuse it sometimes I would just buy a bunch of them extra when you get the machine so you dont get stuck

cutmaster

 

you can get away this will even cut thru a frame on a pickup you could also go wil the next model also

http://cgi.ebay.com/THERMAL-DY...wItem

 

Thanks for replies. I went with Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 81 from Indiana Oxygen. Price was a deciding factor as well as the fact that I couldn't find any negative info about them.

 

Good choice thermal dynamics specialty is plasma cutters so I think you defintley made the right choice let us know how it works out

 

Man !
those are some quite powerfull plasma you got there!

I own a Powermax 380, for thin automotiv stuff, it slice through 3/8 metal with ease,
1/4 and 1/8 are very easy. it's a small unit, carring is easy, although I dont carry it much...

yours will be some heavy plasma power... although, having a big one will only result into running it on the smaller power scale... no big deal. On the other side, having a smaller one will make you damn about it!

hope this help!
Kranked!