What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

torch and or plama cutter

RootBreaker

RootBreaker

3/4 ton status
 Premium
GMOTM Winner
Joined
Nov 29, 2001
Posts
6,998
Reaction score
1,423
Location
Williamstown, NJ USA
ok so i have a lincoln electric ac/dc stick welder.. 240v.. setup with a 30 amp breaker and wire to match.. dont need to run 50a .. at least havent needed it yet.. :whistle:
50' of wire that i threw together by taking an extension cord (yes appropriate size.. 10 or 8 gauge.. forget which... but like said it works..


so today i was in tractor supply and saw a torch kit
here she is
http://www.tractorsupply.com/oxy-acetylene-welding-and-cutting-tote-outfit-with-cylinders-3862540

$300...

but got me thinking.. yeah would be nice to have it.. but a plasma would be better..

so can anyone recommend a plasma that is $300-$500($600 if need be)
that is highly recommended and the sort..

few tasks coming up... torch frame behind the spring perches.... torch bed down to size (or jigsaw)....

now i dont have a ton of ideas right now but i know i could use one...

now i have had stubborn bolts that a nice torch would have heated up nice... but yet i dont need to cut more than say 1/4" steel.....

so torch or plasma? both are not in the budget... unfortunately...:dunno:
 
plasma will make much nicer easier cuts. but thats all it does. a torch will do so much more for you. Oxy/acetelene weld, braze, cut, heat stuff to bend, loosen, and it still cuts. and then later save up for a plasma.

IMHO
 
tourch first hands down.

and i have a mini setup like that thay dont last as long as some think. but are super for what you need them for in places you cant or wont wana bring in big setups.

and the refill price is like 15-20 each bottle little or small . 10x more money ahead if you get a decent med setup. pay better in the end.

and a good plasma worth its cash will be closer to 1k not no 4-6 hundred unit. thay suck.
 
One of those little kits would be the cats a$$ for the trail though. I have been thinking of one of them for a starter. Then get the bigger one for the shop later and put the little one in the tool box of the trail rig.
 
I can hook you up with a welding company that sells sweet refurbed torch units for about $350.. victor torch, new lines, regs, cart and like a 30 and 60 cube tank.. super nice little roll around unit.. oxygen supply in, i believe, lakewood has em all the time.. right on rt 9... i wouldn't want that small setup, you'd be filling the oxygen left and right.


if ya want a killer, cheap plasma in the $400 range, ya can't beat http://www.parkermetalworking.com/ ya ain't gotta spend a grand...

it's what i have and works awesome... but as the others said, a torch is WAY more versatile... heat stuff, cut, etc... a plasma is awesome for cutting flat plate and easy access stuff.. but you'll be nuking tips all the time when your using it to cut bolts, nuts, oddball stuff on a rig... and the tips get pricey when your blowing thru alot...
 
ryoken said:
I can hook you up with a welding company that sells sweet refurbed torch units for about $350.. victor torch, new lines, regs, cart and like a 30 and 60 cube tank.. super nice little roll around unit.. oxygen supply in, i believe, lakewood has em all the time.. right on rt 9... i wouldn't want that small setup, you'd be filling the oxygen left and right.


if ya want a killer, cheap plasma in the $400 range, ya can't beat http://www.parkermetalworking.com/ ya ain't gotta spend a grand...

it's what i have and works awesome... but as the others said, a torch is WAY more versatile... heat stuff, cut, etc... a plasma is awesome for cutting flat plate and easy access stuff.. but you'll be nuking tips all the time when your using it to cut bolts, nuts, oddball stuff on a rig... and the tips get pricey when your blowing thru alot...
Click to expand...


i knew youd chime in!!!! :whistle:

ok ill check into the funds for this.. i have some money but going to put the truck on the road and trying to convince the wife in a crew cab... still should have extra funds.... im also into dslr and we know that is expensive.. but a torch would go so much better than a lens!!!!!

but $350 shiet... gonna have to look at that...
 
torch by far.

As far as the cheaper plasma cutters go I have one and like it. It is a Parker Metal working one. They are not as nice as a Esab or Hypertherm but they do exactly what they need to do, cut metal. Has to be clean metal, so a torch vs a cheaper plasma cutter, torch hands down. Lots of guys can cut pretty dang clean with a torch.

Here is the thing the torch has more capability, get it first because of this. The plasma is a single purpose machine, it cuts metal.

If you are using a plasma heavy you need a good clean air supply too. Water in your lines can make you burn through consumables like it was going out of style at best, at worst it can burn your machine up
 
Hands down get a torch first. Like people have said there are tons of uses for a torch setup going beyond just cutting stuff.
I'd look on your local craigslist or start going to swap meets. I wanted a torch setup for a while but held out waiting for a good deal to come up. My buddy told me about a big swap meet locally and I ended up scoring a 40cu. ft. acetylene and 60cu. ft. oxygen (both unstamped owner tanks so I can swap them out wherever), with regulators and a TON of Victor torching equipment for $200.
 
RootBreaker said:
i knew youd chime in!!!! :whistle:

ok ill check into the funds for this.. i have some money but going to put the truck on the road and trying to convince the wife in a crew cab... still should have extra funds.... im also into dslr and we know that is expensive.. but a torch would go so much better than a lens!!!!!

but $350 shiet... gonna have to look at that...
Click to expand...

telling ya... that deal at Oxygen Supply is smokin.... I'd/will jump all over it when I'm in need of a torch... like new, with quality components... good sized bottles, etc...

just shoot me a pm and i'll dig out his number...
 
I'm not sure what it's like on the east coast right now, but in the past couple years there have been some smokin deals on used tools out here. Keep an eye on Craigslist (searchtempest).

I found a Miller welder, a Victor torch, and a Thermadyne plasma all in fantastic shape and for bargain-basement prices that way.
 
longbedder said:
I'm not sure what it's like on the east coast right now, but in the past couple years there have been some smokin deals on used tools out here. Keep an eye on Craigslist (searchtempest).

I found a Miller welder, a Victor torch, and a Thermadyne plasma all in fantastic shape and for bargain-basement prices that way.
Click to expand...

in this area... craigslist is more like craigsJOKE...

seems that people know they can list an item for $20 on ebay or $5.9million on craigscrap...

i just searched and used stuff... $450-$700 for the big bottles torch kit...

then some missing parts.. but new open box.. $400...

all a joke...:dunno:

i see the same with digital camera stuff... i saw a guy list a camera worth $200 with a $300 lens... i wanted the lens... let him know that $1475 was a bit much and if he wants to piece it id be interested in the lens... he said sure... $600 for the lens... but then i told him... sorry i just bought a brand new one with warranty for $180 shipped... DUHHHHHHHHHHH

but if your finding good deals.. sweet!!!!!!
 
I dont know how much of a farm population there is in your area. but around here that is where you find torches. farm and tool auctions. its a slow process to get what you want but there are deals galore on everything.
 
Yeah, there's definite differences between the coasts. I lived out east for a couple years and it was tough coming across good deals.

Anyway, yeah - get a torch first...and good luck :waytogo:
 
While a torch does have many uses I have one that i've owned for 20 some years and I doubt i've used it 3 times in all the years i've owned it. It has the largest tanks available and victor gauges and about 75'-100' of hose. If you were closer i'd give it to you.

When I have extra funds i'm going to buy a Hypertherm plasma cutter.
 
One more reason for a torch is you can learn to oxy acet weld.

I do not know how to do it well at all but I can stick two pieces of steel together. Thing is you learn alot about welding when you oxy acet weld. It will help all other aspects of your welding.

I, like Scott, don't use my torch much but when I do use it, its the only thing that will do. Mine is typically used for heating steel to bend it or form it.

But like I said it can also be used to cut. A plas while awesome can only be used for one thing.
 
A couple of things to remember is that they both have their place and function. The versatility of the 02/Acetylene outfit is wonderful. The down side is if your cutting that little 02 bottle is going to be gone in a flash... Remember to fill it up! nothing worse than getting started on a project and running out of O2. If its on a Saturday you might be out of luck till Monday. Bummer!

The heart of the plasma is the torch. Everybody makes a power supply but the torch is the key. Make sure that you get a unit that you can get consumables for. The nozzles, tips etc. Some lesser known machines use torches from well known companys like Tweco, Thermodynamics, Hypertherm, Miller etc. Id stick to a brand name machine, or at least a brand name torch. Again buy extra consumables so you have them on the weekend when your using them. Be sure to go to the welding supply house and have them show you what the machine can do. A lot of the less expensive machines will leave you disapointed on how thick of metal they can cut.

With the economy the way it is there really is a lot of good used equipment avaliable at very reasonable prices. If at all possible get into a 220v machine. You will be glad you did.

You might even have a welder repair facility in your area. They always have good used equipment for sale and often give good warrantys with the used equipment. What ever its worth. Remember Change is Opportunity, so go get it and get busy! :waytogo:
 
Last edited:
I own both, and I use the torch 95% of the time. I bought a killer thermodynamics plasma thinking I'd use it all the time, and I think I've used it once or twice.

I find it much easier to just string out the leads on my torch, open the gauges, and cut. No air, no electricity to get hooked up to it.
 
if your fabbing from plate steel, plasma can't be touched... clamp a guide and make a super nice cut... but it's really a fab tool that lends itself to THAT particular task....

heck, i was using mine this morn... no way in he!! could anyone get a piece like i made this morn with a torch... hacking out some old leaf springs or something, i'll take a torch any day....
 
I take a torch hands down, there's nothing I can't do with a torch. I do have a plasma too, had it for 7 years, used it once. It wouldn't be so bad but it's got the 80 degree neck, where as a torch is at 90 degrees. I guess I've used a torch for so many years that it's just second nature for me.

As for home, I just got a torch set from wholesale tool, torch, three brazing tips, cutting head, 15' of hose, oxy reg,and an act reg. For $120, bad side is it uses Harris tips. Harris tips are shorter then Victor torches. This one is nice for working on **** at home or at the tree farm, there's no way in hell I'm buying a plasma for at home or at the tree farm! Call me old school!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom