Plasma Cutters

[JRB]

I'm in the market for a plasma cutter and have been eye balling the Hypertherm Powermax 1000. The guys on here that use these what do you think of them? What size compressor should I buy to go with it or should I just use bottled nitrogen?

 

[johnnymac]

Nitrogen on a plasma? I thought that was only TIG/ MIG(80:20blend).
I have a longevity (Toshiba) 50amp unit, it was $400 from Pirate 4x4, works okay but I only use it on my personal stuff, never for production or for paying jobs.

If it is for your exhaust shop, spend the cash and get a good one, the Hypertherm seems to be a reputable machine.

 

[JRB]

Yes it's for the shop and at my job to have insurance they run bottled nitrogen on the portable plasma cutter.

 

[johnnymac]

Cool, never heard about the insurance info. Makes sense though, keeping the sparks inside an inert gas cloud.

 

[JRB]

I was actually referring to my "real" job. To have health insurance. Sorry for the confusion.