Buying a plasma soon - DO I want a pilot arc?

[scouthead]

I'm gonna pull the trigger on a plasma in the next week. Probably going to be a chinese, just not sure which one yet.

My question: Do I want a pilot arc unit?

The pilot arc makes it easier to START a cut right? Does it do anything else? I get the impression a pilot unit has to have the torch held OFF the surface of the material that's being cut?

On a unit without the pilot, you have to touch the tip to the workpiece to make contact... do you then pull away from the material as you are cutting? or drag the tip the whole way?

 

[ktmoutfront]

Pilot arc is the way to go. Save up a while longer and buy a Miller or Thermal Dynamics.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Buy a Hypertherm Powermax 45. I've been doing alot of reading on them and they seem to be the best out there.

 

[502]

Scott
I'm curious if you have found a source here locally with a fair price and/or a reputation of excellent customer support. Or, have you discovered a preferred online source?
Having a brick/mortar locally is always worth paying a few extra bucks for (state sales tax), but not at the expense of getting butt-raped.

 

[motomech]

Buy a Hypertherm Powermax 45. I've been doling alot of reading on them and they seem to be the best out there.

Thats what i have. Had no problems with it. I've cut 1/2'' with it and its like butter!

 

[scouthead]

Well my plasma plans are on hold... because I was tooling around on Ebay... and won an auction for a chinese plasma... I never would have bought this under normal circumstances, but somehow my ridiculously low bidding landed a 40 amp chinese plasma(no pilot arc) and a set of thirty extra tips shipped to my door for under $230. ?????????
That's cheap even for cheap. I have played with it a little... not sure how I like it. I think it will be usable for things under 3/8" thick, but we'll see.

 

[ryoken]

I'm VERY pleased with my Parker..... and it cost 1/3 to 1/4 what a Miller, Hypertherm, etc costs..

 

[Avery4jc]

Buy a Hypertherm Powermax 45. I've been doling alot of reading on them and they seem to be the best out there.

X2 on the Hypertherm Powermax route.... I use a Powermax 1250 (big ol' beast) at work and it makes nice clean cuts well over 1" thick.

 

[runamok151]

I'm VERY pleased with my Parker..... and it cost 1/3 to 1/4 what a Miller, Hypertherm, etc costs..

x2 with the parker. i've done a bunch of rusty sheet metal and some painted 1/4" plate. handles it all well

 

[ScottMH]

i have a thermal dynamics plasma cutter. thickest ive cut with it was 3/8s alum and its handled that like a champ.