[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by johnnymac46

Mr. Weld you appear to ne very knowledgable about metal work do you have any bias on plasma cutters?

I'm already looking one bigger than I think I'll need but I dont see a reason to be able to cut something I cant weld I was thinking Miller again one of these:

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...p?model=M13811

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...p?model=M00243

My welder is rated to 3/8 and I really dont see myself doing anything bigger.

Boy do I have you fooled....

I own Miller welders - and a Thermal Dynamics plasma cutter....

I use the plasma cutter so seldom that it's hardly worth owning.... But when I do need it - I really like it. But it's not a tool I'd recommend a home hobby guy buy unless he's got all the dough he needs to do everything and just wants one. So having said that.... I'd always buy bigger before I buy smaller or "enough" to do the current job. I had to cut some 1/2" steel plate the other day. My machine is rated to a max of 1/2" and they're not kidding.

SO -- if you're going to buy one - get the bigger version. YOU WILL end up sometime in the next 20 years wanting to build a nice work table -- or your buddy will want to build something... and that whatever it is - will be thicker than the clapped out floorboards in an old car.

SHOP AROUND --- there's so much USED equipment available from all the shop closures and guys hawking their stuff because they were laid off etc. Try to get a machine like this CHEAP 'cause you just won't use it very much.

Whenever I use the plasma -- I cut wide of the mark and take the piece to my Burr Kings for sneaking up to the line. The only cuts I've ever made that are 'nice' are the ones where I can use a "fence" and cut a straight line. They're great for freehanding - but if you so much as breathe you will wiggle.

If I was going to gut and cut the floors out of a car - I'd use the plasma to cut myself a work 'hole' so I could get inside and then I'd mark my lines and use my electric cut off wheel machine for big cuts and my smaller air cut off tools for the fine work.

I'm pretty sure I use my sawzall about 10 times as often as I use the plasma. Cutting off old exhaust or a bracket etc is just as fast (faster really) with the hand tools I have.

As long as we're talking tools --- the least used equipment in my shed is my oxy acetylene. It gets used about once a year.... and usually just to anneal some aluminum... or to heat something I want to bend.

Hope this helps!