Ah... wasn't think in of that shop.... was thinkin of a NORMAL home shop
I like this shop better
Lol
CK5
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I want to buy a plasma table.
- Thread starter Deuling
- Start date
I like this shop better
Lol
Funny, I went through this phase last year. I actually had the cash to buy a 4x8 turn key setup and decided against it and here's why...
YOU JUST CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE GUYS DOING IT ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
Does that mean there isn't money to be made for a small start-up garage guy like us? Surely not. But there isn't a ton. I decided to take that money and buy a nice truck outright and go back to school to finish my degree. I like to think long term and a degree will make me money forever. A plasma table will make money until the next garage guy undercuts you by a half a penny and everyone flocks to him.
Here's what I'd do (and my plan still). Buy a used smaller table so you have something to make your personal stuff on and just have fun. Get efficient with it all and start designing products. Whip out a bunch of one off stuff and someday you'll make something that could take the market by storm (can you say Artec's "quart crate"? Now they're a full blown shop).
When the day comes to mass produce said product you will be able to justify a big new table and if not then the product isn't worth producing. But this is just all my opinion.
Jim colt and Hypertherm are awesome. We run a Hypertherm plasma at work.
Torchmate kills everyone in customer support and support of the off-road industry.
That company out of Texas (Burn Tables) seems cool and they answered a lot of my questions plus (as mentioned above in this thread) they offer that cool new tracing feature (but I haven't seen it in person yet).
YOU JUST CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE GUYS DOING IT ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
Does that mean there isn't money to be made for a small start-up garage guy like us? Surely not. But there isn't a ton. I decided to take that money and buy a nice truck outright and go back to school to finish my degree. I like to think long term and a degree will make me money forever. A plasma table will make money until the next garage guy undercuts you by a half a penny and everyone flocks to him.
Here's what I'd do (and my plan still). Buy a used smaller table so you have something to make your personal stuff on and just have fun. Get efficient with it all and start designing products. Whip out a bunch of one off stuff and someday you'll make something that could take the market by storm (can you say Artec's "quart crate"? Now they're a full blown shop).
When the day comes to mass produce said product you will be able to justify a big new table and if not then the product isn't worth producing. But this is just all my opinion.
Jim colt and Hypertherm are awesome. We run a Hypertherm plasma at work.
Torchmate kills everyone in customer support and support of the off-road industry.
That company out of Texas (Burn Tables) seems cool and they answered a lot of my questions plus (as mentioned above in this thread) they offer that cool new tracing feature (but I haven't seen it in person yet).
If it happens it will be a partnership, not just myself.
And I don't want to hit the stuff that's already covered. There isn't a need for another company to make crossover, and shackle flips, and zero rates etc.
I want to hit more of the middle class go fast guys that can't drop $30k plus on a dune rig.
I also would like to build some buggies. And being able to build stuff in a few hours instead of an entire weekend, would be so much nicer.
I could be dead tomorrow, so why wait and let it possibly never happen
And I don't want to hit the stuff that's already covered. There isn't a need for another company to make crossover, and shackle flips, and zero rates etc.
I want to hit more of the middle class go fast guys that can't drop $30k plus on a dune rig.
I also would like to build some buggies. And being able to build stuff in a few hours instead of an entire weekend, would be so much nicer.
I could be dead tomorrow, so why wait and let it possibly never happen
Gonna bump this. Nate got me thinking about this more today.
I think instead of going for the home hobbiest build it yourself, im looking more for the buy it, set up, have help from the company on any problems future and present....
Burntables is out. Who has the best software. Id love the tracer type stuff. Best customer service.
I think instead of going for the home hobbiest build it yourself, im looking more for the buy it, set up, have help from the company on any problems future and present....
Burntables is out. Who has the best software. Id love the tracer type stuff. Best customer service.
YOU JUST CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE GUYS DOING IT ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
With that kind of defeatist attitude we should all sell all out tools and start knitting and wear panties and drive Prius'. First and formost I want one to build what I want to build for me myself and I. Then maybe for making parts for others so I make some money. If it works out and I make money cool. If not I have a bad ass table to build anything I want to build for MYSELF
. Thats the reason I buy my tools. If every inventor said "I CAN'T compete" this world would still be in the 19th century. All great inventions or most were created in a garage with one man and his brain and an idea. I have a cnc mill in my garage. But there are guys making money with FAR less. ANYTHING is possible. I'd want to be THAT GUY who CAN compete with the big boys because my ideas are so innovative. Thats my plan, I have no quit in me I WILL SUCCEED. Without that kind of attutude you will always fail.
The two I'm most familiar with are Plasma Cam and Torchmate.
Both of them have pro's and cons. Like, I think Torchmate is a bit more user friendly but has lesser components and thus accuracy. I'm familiar with Plasma Cam and I think the software side is easy enough and from what I know they use better controls so accuracy of the machine is higher.
With that kind of defeatist attitude we should all sell all out tools and start knitting and wear panties and drive Prius'. First and formost I want one to build what I want to build for me myself and I. Then maybe for making parts for others so I make some money. If it works out and I make money cool. If not I have a bad ass table to build anything I want to build for MYSELF
This, if a new table can be financed between two people, and it only costs me $100 a month, thats just $100 I need to make extra a month to have a badass fab tool to make all kinds of things I want. If it goes farther than that, even better. If not i see no reason not too...
Awessome thanks! Im thinking plasmacam is the way to go from what ive been reading.
I've noticed a similar trend lately. Just not as cool as it's hyped up to be. I love the tracer tech but waaaay to many issues popping up online with them these days.
With that kind of defeatist attitude we should all sell all out tools and start knitting and wear panties and drive Prius'. First and formost I want one to build what I want to build for me myself and I. Then maybe for making parts for others so I make some money. If it works out and I make money cool. If not I have a bad ass table to build anything I want to build for MYSELF
You misunderstood my point. I have thousands in tools sitting in the garage because I like to build my own stuff. My point was there are so many guys shelling out small (relative) fortunes hoping to break into the market but even with unique products it's incredibly difficult. Buying a plasma table so you can make awesome parts for your and your buddies and maybe some side cash here and there is great and I'd never say that's a bad plan.
Pretty much where I would be. Theres enough out there that make nice parts. I don't feel the need to compete. But if I can make some cool stuff, sell some parts to some locals, and at least make enough for the payment, thatd make me happy.
Ive found that lately time has become more important to me. So this whole spending 6 hours making custom brackets by hand, just isn't gonna work for me. But I cant come to just make lame looking stuff and slap it together. In my mind I at least have to try and make stuff look nice along with work well. So to me, quick draw up a part, trim, dimple, weld and be done in 10% of the time.
I think the most important thing to keep in mind here is this, if you don't sell a single piece in the month, can you afford the payments to cover your end comfortably?
Also, can you afford the payments of your partner in case they can't?
Not saying you can't or anything bad about the other guy, just things to keep in mind. If that's the case I say do it just to have access to the plasma and that way anything you sell is just gravy on top.
Also, can you afford the payments of your partner in case they can't?
Not saying you can't or anything bad about the other guy, just things to keep in mind. If that's the case I say do it just to have access to the plasma and that way anything you sell is just gravy on top.
Im hoping that the payments would be around $200-$250 a month. Split that and I could definitely afford it.
If you are making 20 or 200 of each part that would be more true, but when you are making custom parts 1 or two at a time, I doubt it would work that way. You are probably going to trade the hand plasma and hand grind/sand time for measuring and drawing on the computer, and then likely redoing it because you didn't have an angle quite right or something, and its not going to save you much time. I would still like a plasma table though, I want one anyway.
Yah that's ok. I enjoy using cad software anyways lol. It's much less hurtful on my lungs and my derp wrist than grinding
No worries 
Well Brett is, but if he wants me to help with some towards it I would no problem....
I find it funny that I post up a thread about this here and get mostly negative feedback and reasons not to.
Post the same thing on pirate and i instantly get 10 plus replies all with good info on what tables they like....
Never said anything was set in stone. I was just looking for good info on tables.
Well Brett is, but if he wants me to help with some towards it I would no problem....
I find it funny that I post up a thread about this here and get mostly negative feedback and reasons not to.
Post the same thing on pirate and i instantly get 10 plus replies all with good info on what tables they like....
Never said anything was set in stone. I was just looking for good info on tables.
That's cuz pirate wants you to do something stupid so they can laugh at you. We actually care about your well being enough to make sure you know what your getting in to
True, and I know this lol.
I was just meaning, I wanted info on tables etc. Not the reasons to not get one.
I wouldn't get into something I don't think I can handle/manage/afford. Thats why I want good info on them. So i know what im getting if I do go for it etc.
