Chinese plasma consumables?

hydrogeo · 12-29-07, 08:43 AM

I'm about to buy a 40amp chinese plasma cutter and just wondering how fast these things go through consumables? I'll be cutting mostly rusty 1/4"-3/8" steel. Should I stock up now or will the 10 electrodes and 5 cups/swirl rings that come with it last awhile?

Junk · 12-29-07, 10:22 AM

Maybe harbor freight will start carrying them with the rest of their crapinese stuff.

Good luck.

Mace · 12-29-07, 10:26 AM

who's plasma you buying?

The tips can last a while as long as you do not drag them on thicker stuff..

I get all of mine from Plasma Cutter, TIG, Plasma/TIG/Stick Combination Machines... Inverter!

John Smith · 12-29-07, 10:26 AM

Yes, you should always have backup supplies. If you don't, invariably when you want to use the machine you will not have what you need.

Mace · 12-29-07, 10:29 AM

5 tips should last a while tho

I have had my "junk" plasma for well over a year and cut quite a bit with it. I am on my second tip and running strong..

John Smith · 12-29-07, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace

5 tips should last a while tho

I have had my "junk" plasma for well over a year and cut quite a bit with it. I am on my second tip and running strong..

That is good to know for when I buy my Parker one day.

hydrogeo · 12-29-07, 12:00 PM

Thanks for the input. I think I'm going to go with either the Gianttech 40 or 50 amp version. I was all set to go with the Parker MP version but I found out the Gianttech guy lives less than an hour from me and has gotten some good feedback. I am heading over to his shop on Monday to have a look at what he's got. I figure if this thing lasts 3-4 years it will have paid for itself in gas for the torch and trips to the welding store. I'll post up some pics if I come home with one.

hydrogeo · 01-05-08, 08:18 PM

So I ended up pulling the trigger on the Gianttech Cut 40. I've had it for about a week and have about 2 hours of cumulative cutting on it. This thing rocks!

As Larry's shop is only about an hour from me I drove over to check it out. Really nice guy and very helpful. I was uncomfortable buying one of these machines site un-seen, but once I got to play around with it for a few minutes I was sold.

When I first got it I messed around with a bunch of different pieces of scrap and it will cut up to 1/2" plate quite well and sever cut a little bit more. Also tried a piece of rusty, painted 1/8" and once the cut got started it went cut no problem. Gianttech also offers the Turbo upgrade, but I figured if I ever get the urge to cut 3/4" I'll just dust off the gas ax. Apparently there are several manufacturers of these machines but the design is basically the same on all of them. Hard to say if one supplier is any better than another. Just like others here have said many of the parts are kind of chincy and the manual sucks but if this thing holds up for a few years it was a great deal. I would love to have bought a Hypertherm, but I could not swing that kind of budget.

Of course with my luck I already burned through my torch hose with a piece of scrap

so I will let you know how I make out getting a replacement.

GiantTechGuy · 01-16-08, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydrogeo

So I ended up pulling the trigger on the Gianttech Cut 40. I've had it for about a week and have about 2 hours of cumulative cutting on it. This thing rocks!

As Larry's shop is only about an hour from me I drove over to check it out. Really nice guy and very helpful. I was uncomfortable buying one of these machines site un-seen, but once I got to play around with it for a few minutes I was sold.

When I first got it I messed around with a bunch of different pieces of s**** and it will cut up to 1/2" plate quite well and sever cut a little bit more. Also tried a piece of rusty, painted 1/8" and once the cut got started it went cut no problem. Gianttech also offers the Turbo upgrade, but I figured if I ever get the urge to cut 3/4" I'll just dust off the gas ax. Apparently there are several manufacturers of these machines but the design is basically the same on all of them. Hard to say if one supplier is any better than another. Just like others here have said many of the parts are kind of chincy and the manual sucks but if this thing holds up for a few years it was a great deal. I would love to have bought a Hypertherm, but I could not swing that kind of budget.

Of course with my luck I already burned through my torch hose with a piece of s****

so I will let you know how I make out getting a replacement.

How are you liking the new torch. Watching that molten metal closer now

Mace · 01-16-08, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GiantTechGuy

How are you liking the new torch. Watching that molten metal closer now

Welcome to 'Mud

GiantTechGuy · 01-16-08, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace

Welcome to 'Mud

Thank you for the nice welcome.

hydrogeo · 01-16-08, 07:55 PM

New torch is great, thanks

. Seriously, thanks for the help and the cutter has been working awesome. I've used it for about another hour and I'm still amazed. I'm hoping to get started on torching the old body on my 40 apart next weekend so I can fit up the 3/16" quarter panel blanks I bought. I'll start a thread in the 40 section when I get some pics.

GiantTechGuy · 02-15-08, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydrogeo

New torch is great, thanks

. Seriously, thanks for the help and the cutter has been working awesome. I've used it for about another hour and I'm still amazed. I'm hoping to get started on torching the old body on my 40 apart next weekend so I can fit up the 3/16" quarter panel blanks I bought. I'll start a thread in the 40 section when I get some pics.

How'd the body torching go?

hydrogeo · 02-18-08, 07:29 PM

Got sidetracked from the cruiser for a bit. Maple syrup season is rapidly approaching so I tabled the cruiser project to work on a new evaporator for a couple weeks. I spent President's day cutting down an older evaporator arch to fit the pan I have. Man, how did I ever live without a plasma cutter.

GiantTechGuy · 03-24-08, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydrogeo

Got sidetracked from the cruiser for a bit. Maple syrup season is rapidly approaching so I tabled the cruiser project to work on a new evaporator for a couple weeks. I spent President's day cutting down an older evaporator arch to fit the pan I have. Man, how did I ever live without a plasma cutter.

Been boiling sap lately?

GiantTechGuy · 03-24-08, 06:29 PM

I have the machines listed here on this site, in the classified section.......... http://forum.ih8mud.com/merchandise-...ppreicate.html

oldIron · 03-28-08, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GiantTechGuy

I have the machines listed here on this site, in the classified section.......... http://forum.ih8mud.com/merchandise-...ppreicate.html

Currently bidding on one of your machines on eBay.

GiantTechGuy · 06-26-09, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldIron

Currently bidding on one of your machines on eBay.

Did you get one?

shelfboy1 · 06-27-09, 07:37 AM

that make sense if it only lasts a few years it will be worth it then what buy another chinese made cutter and you spent yor money twice ,good luck

GiantTechGuy · 07-16-09, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydrogeo

Got sidetracked from the cruiser for a bit. Maple syrup season is rapidly approaching so I tabled the cruiser project to work on a new evaporator for a couple weeks. I spent President's day cutting down an older evaporator arch to fit the pan I have. Man, how did I ever live without a plasma cutter.

How's that cutter doing? Need any more consumables?

Mace · 07-23-09, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelfboy1

that make sense if it only lasts a few years it will be worth it then what buy another chinese made cutter and you spent yor money twice ,good luck

Why do you assume it will only last a few years? I've had my chineese plasma for ~ 3 years now. Still working perfectly and I am more than happy with it.

brokenparts · 07-23-09, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace

Why do you assume it will only last a few years? I've had my chineese plasma for ~ 3 years now. Still working perfectly and I am more than happy with it.

Agreed, I think you have the same one that I have Mace. Mine still works awesome. I did have a scare when I thought I popped something internally in the unit. I called Phil Sr. at plasma-tec and he was more than easy to work with. My problem ended up being a faulty wiring in the plug (my fault) but it was nice to know that they were ready to take care of me.

VETTE60 · 07-30-09, 07:14 PM

you can get them on ebay. usually a complete set of 5 0r 10 tip sets for around $30.

rustybucket · 10-21-09, 01:28 AM

Why buy a new chinese plasma cutter when you can aquire a higher quality us built unit in a part of the united state that is economically depressed? Price would be the same but higher quality unit.

Doug_S · 10-22-09, 01:38 PM

I bought a Thermal Dynamics cutter and it's been absolutely wonderful. I agree with Rustybucket too buy USA and support the economy. But...price for the Thermal Dynamics unit was quite a bit more than the Chinese knock off.

Mace · 10-24-09, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustybucket

Why buy a new chinese plasma cutter when you can aquire a higher quality us built unit in a part of the united state that is economically depressed? Price would be the same but higher quality unit.

Find me a US plasma for $400 that can cut 5/8" steel.

GiantTechGuy · 11-03-09, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustybucket

Why buy a new chinese plasma cutter when you can aquire a higher quality us built unit in a part of the united state that is economically depressed? Price would be the same but higher quality unit.

I wish the price were the same