Plasma cutter recommendations?

My main concern is the ability to get into tight spots doing the sheet metal work, yet still having the capacity for at least 3/8 steel. Seems all the bigger units have such a bulky gun it is pretty unweildy for doing the intricate small stuff.
Thanks!

I have a Hypertherm 900 which I dearly love. Understand Lincoln makes a really nice litte unit called a ProCut 25 which has a very narrow kerf & is a good outfit.

When you decide which one to buy do check out the prices on Ebay. There are several regular Hypertherm & Lincoln dealers selling new units at huge discounts. They use their Ebay auctions as advertising. You'll need to call or email them for prices. They drop ship to you direct from the factory and you have a full warranty. I got my Hypertherm from a dealer 2,000 miles away - and saved $600.00 - yes $600.00, AND they paid the freight!

A friend, who is very loyal to his welding supply house, took the internet prices to them & they matched it!

Good luck!

And how does it handle gouging? The THermal Dynamics I borrow seems to not like that sort of work and shuts down if I do too much of it...

Thanks to everyone for all their input!
Truck

I bought Hypertherm because the machine at work has been a solid performer.At my local welding supply store I was able to negotiate the price of my powermax 380 down to $1040.

When cutting at the upper end of the rated thickness capacity progress tends to get a little slow and unpredictable. As is often the case, a unit a little bigger than needed is better than one that's not big enough. Good luck...Al English

• Hypertherm

• 30 yrs of cutting

Plasma cutting puts a relatively minimal amount of heat into the part, that's one of the advantages of using it. Laser cutting heats the part even less. If you are in or near an industrial area there is likely a specialty shop that can plasma or laser cut parts for you on a programmable "burner' at a surprisingly low cost. They can make even simple brackets and gussets cheaper than you can saw them, and the cut edges require little or no finishing. If you have more than one done at a time the cost will be even lower. Depending on the shop's equipment, the parts shapes and holes would be either programmed into the machine, or the machine would follow/replicate an existing part or pattern.

Although laser is amazingly precise and easy on the part, a CNC flame cutter can make pretty clean cuts using much less heat than would be the case if done by hand. If the part lends itself to flame cutting, and you are machining the parts flat after they are cut, automated flame cutting might work for you. Otherwise, look for a plasma or laser cutting shop. I hope this helps...Al English

I have a Hypertherm Powermax 350 (now referred to as the 380...bit different gun but same specs) that I bought a couple of years ago. I love it. But...

It is advertised as capable to 3/8" thick. I think that is pushing it too much. Mine works absolutely excellent at 1/8" and below. Also fair to good up to 1/4". I wouldn't consider it above 1/4" though. Above that and it's time for the oxy/acet torch.

If you are mostly 3/8" and above, you should consider one of the larger (and more expensive) units. I doubt other manufacturer's could do any better in the same price range. My 350 was $1175. I forget what the next size up was...but it was quite a bit more as I recall. Plus my needs were met at 1/4" and below. That's why I choose the 350.

Rod

• Hypertherm Plasma Cutters

I said pretty much the same thing you did, but I didn't copy your advice. While writing my post I stopped to eat lunch. I then finished and submitted it. At this point we know Hypertherm has at least two satisfied customers...Al English

Seams as the way the machines are rated hasn't changed in the past 20yrs. I always cut the mfg's rated ouput by 1/3 and that was pretty close to what you got for a useable machine.

T_Bone