Thread: Plasma Cutter Recommendations

I bought myself a plasma cutter from Magnum Welders, she's been a great little unit.

Hi Ray,
There's these - Plasma Cutters|Plasma Cutters Sale|Plasma Cutter Equipment|Plasma Cutting Machines|Plasma Cutters For Sale Australia. One of which got a bit of a writeup on this forum only a couple of weeks back.
I've got the older version of the Alusync incl. plasma. Haven't had a need to really flog the plasma yet, but have only good things to say about the welder and the company generally.
I didn't see any duty cycle specs on your link - might be something to investigate. Would be nice to have a separate units for plasma and the welder - it's annoying swapping leads around if you forget a couple of cuts, after you're just set up ready to weld.
Cheers
- Mick

Hi Mick,

Thanks for that. I've now found that review, funny it didn't come up before when I searched for Plasma Cutter?


Here it is, it's a good recommendation for TokenTools. Thanks to Ben78

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/lo...cutter-167230/

Regards
Ray

EDIT:

What about this one?

AC DC Tig welder Plasma Cutter Tokentools Multifunction plasma cutter welder Alusync 200 inverter welding machine

After reading all the reviews I could find, I've finally settled on the PAC50, and will keep looking for a seperate AC tig.

This is the one. eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d

Interesting that the ebay BIN price is $659 for the PAC50, but the website has the same item at $899? $240 cheaper on ebay?

Plasma Cutters For Sale|Plasma Cutting Machine|Inverter Plasma Cutters For Sale Online Buy Compare Prices Shop Central Coast Sydney Australia




Regards
Ray

One difference is the warranty - 5 years if you go direct, but only 1 year advertised through ebay. I think generally you're better going direct as in the end ebay charge the seller fees. Ring Pete direct and he'd clarify it all.

As far as the Alusync 200 - my welder is an earlier version of this one. It's been really good, but like I said - having the cutter separate from the welder would be more convenient, so I would go that way if you can justify it.

Cheers

- Mick

Originally Posted by WelderMick

One difference is the warranty - 5 years if you go direct, but only 1 year advertised through ebay. I think generally you're better going direct as in the end ebay charge the seller fees. Ring Pete direct and he'd clarify it all.

As far as the Alusync 200 - my welder is an earlier version of this one. It's been really good, but like I said - having the cutter separate from the welder would be more convenient, so I would go that way if you can justify it.

Cheers

- Mick

Thanks Mick,

I've been looking at 200 Amp AC/DC Tig's around the $1500 mark, and come up with the following..

I like the Alusync 200, and I'm tossing up between the following..

TokenTools AC DC Tig welder Tokentools Alupulse 200 inverter welding machine includes tig welding Foot Control and tig welding Argon Gas Regulator for $1499

CIGWELD Cigweld Weldskill 200 AC/DC Tig - Day's Industrial for $1550

EverLast Welders, Arc Welder, Tig Welder, Welders For Sale, Welder Repair, Plasma Welder, Aluminium welder Australia for $1535

UniMig New Unimig 200 Single Phase Tig Welders in Kirrawee, NSW Price: $1,490 <16628> $1490


Any advice? I can't really justify going upmarket and spending $4000 or more for the sort of use it's likely to get..

Is the el-cheapo CIGWELD any good?

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

Any advice? I can't really justify going upmarket and spending $4000 or more for the sort of use it's likely to get..

Is the el-cheapo CIGWELD any good?

Regards
Ray

Hi Ray,

Interesting the level of competition at that price level isn't it?

Sorry - I couldn't really comment on those other machines, I haven't used them - so would be relying the same info you've probably read on the net already. Your buying criteria are probably different to what mine would be too, I'm not sure. For instance, I was pretty keen to have maximum capability (i.e. AC/DC tig, plasma, good duty%) and needed to be comfortable that I was getting good advice and service from the supplier. So I went for the 4 in 1 tokentools. Other machines/companies may (or may not) be better but I wasn't convinced at the time of my purchase. I don't think everlast were even available then. I've been happy to provide favourable comments on tokentools since because I think people who do business the right way should be rewarded. I've no affiliation, etc. .

I guess if you get a 4 in 1 combo machine, then you will always have it separately as a welder, or plasma and get a second machine in the future to take on the other function if you didn't like swapping around cables and air/gas supplies. For my use, although I'd love to have the 2 separate machines, I just couldn't justify it.

[edit 1:] There are some people who swear it's a bad idea to have plasma in with the welder as it shortens the life of circuitry, etc. From what I can tell, this isn't really the case, as the plasma circuitry is separate and takes the current off a separate winding. I may be wrong, but Pete at tokentools did talk me through it at the time. The main issue is having "all your eggs in one basket", but even that is not necessarily an issue. See https://www.woodworkforums.com/f160/e...1/#post1315854

[edit 2:] Hey what do you plan on cutting anyway? everything??

Good luck with it

- Mick

Originally Posted by WelderMick

Hi Ray,

Hey what do you plan on cutting anyway? everything??

Good luck with it

- Mick

Thanks Mick,

I've got a heap of 1/8 plate and 1/4 plate that I'm recycling into a muller for sand casting.

I've ordered the PAC50, so I'll see how it goes later in the week.

Still looking at ac tig's... I'm leaning more to the Tokentools. Alupulse, looks pretty good, includes a foot switch, which I've always thought would be handy to have.

Regards
Ray

Nice one Ray, It'll be good to see what you think of the plasma!
A foot pedal is great if you're doing heaps of bench (or at least upright) work, but you've still gotta get the hang of using the torch switch in combo with a downslope setting for out of position stuff, so you can still vary your amps when you just can't get a foot onto a pedal. Having the trigger instead of the foot pedal is usually handier for tacking (when you're moving around a bit). I probably use a pedal 50% of the time.
Cheers
- Mick

Just a wrap up.

The Tokentools PAC50 plasma cutter arrived a couple of days ago, and I've given it a bit of a run.. on thin (1.0mm) sheet steel, this thing is magic, it cuts as fast as I can move the torch across the steel... cutting random shapes out of 1/8" steel is a piece of cake.

I tried cutting out a vise handle from 10mm mild steel bar, and while it cuts ok, I stuffed up all the tips in the process... now I have to wait for some new tips to arrive...

A bit more practice and I'll get the hang of how to drive it, never having used a plasma cutter before I'm surprised, it's a very impressive bit of gear!

Regards
Ray

EDIT: here is a video on thin sheet steel
PAC 50 Plasma Cutter - YouTube

And cutting 2mm aluminium
DSCN2734 - YouTube