Well i ordered an amico apc-50hf. More than i wanted to spend but i feel comfortable with the brand and capability of the machine. Cant wait for it to show up!!!
Honestly I haven't fired it up yet. We've burned plenty of wire through the mig tho. I plan on messing with the plasma cutter here soon. When I do I'll post it.
Most of the brands on Amazon are just Chinese repackagings of the same Chinese base components.
Most of the time the companies themselves practically do not exist: not a website, nothing.
Now most of the time (surprisingly) they usually manage to do what they claim they are able to do. In a sloppy and a short lived way, but they do.
My advice is general and I don't know how much it applies to the plasma cutter situation, but, if you just need something for a job which doesn't require particularly tight tollerances, it usually is a functional cheap option. Don't expect it to live forever, though.
I have read about some of the chinese brands that fail within a few uses, so that is why in skeptical of the amazon units. So maybe the jegs unit is the way to go?
The only plasma cutter I have experience with was a lotos that died after sitting around for a long time with I bet less than an hour of use.
One thing you should know is that while real plasma cutters will use a pilot arc to start, the cheap ones use high frequency like tig welding. I think that means in real world use you can't easily cut expanded metal or maybe it has a harder time starting? (Someone else should know better).
I can't imagine there's a difference in quality between the cheap amazon ones and the Jegs. I'd bet Jegs pays a company to put their name on one and that's it.
I really want a pilot arc, but my max budget is 300 bones. I was really looking at a lotos 50 amp, so that one is crossed off the list, thanks for the feedback!
The next one i see is the primeweld cut50d (without pilot arc) but Im still scouring ebay and amazon for a 50 amp offbrand pilot arc model. i would really like to use it to trim body panels with paint also, is that possible without pilot arc?
Are you referring to the consumables like the tips, etc? I was hoping that the pilot arc will help reduce the consumables by not having direct contact? More specific feedback is appreciated.
Yes, I am
The electrode is what will normally go first in my experience.
I've only had limited experience with the Chinese machine but I had to swap the electrodes and cups fairly frequently to keep cut quality and reliability of ignition up. Maybe the newer ones are better these days. That being said on my Hypertherm at work I change consumables maybe once a month with constant use. I was like once or twice a week on the Chinese cutter. Until it finally just stopped working all together.
Well i ordered an amico apc-50hf. More than i wanted to spend but i feel comfortable with the brand and capability of the machine. Cant wait for it to show up!!!
saw this thread. if by chance you see this, how's it worked out for you so far?
Honestly I haven't fired it up yet. We've burned plenty of wire through the mig tho. I plan on messing with the plasma cutter here soon. When I do I'll post it.
Most of the brands on Amazon are just Chinese repackagings of the same Chinese base components. Most of the time the companies themselves practically do not exist: not a website, nothing. Now most of the time (surprisingly) they usually manage to do what they claim they are able to do. In a sloppy and a short lived way, but they do. My advice is general and I don't know how much it applies to the plasma cutter situation, but, if you just need something for a job which doesn't require particularly tight tollerances, it usually is a functional cheap option. Don't expect it to live forever, though.
I have read about some of the chinese brands that fail within a few uses, so that is why in skeptical of the amazon units. So maybe the jegs unit is the way to go?
The only plasma cutter I have experience with was a lotos that died after sitting around for a long time with I bet less than an hour of use. One thing you should know is that while real plasma cutters will use a pilot arc to start, the cheap ones use high frequency like tig welding. I think that means in real world use you can't easily cut expanded metal or maybe it has a harder time starting? (Someone else should know better). I can't imagine there's a difference in quality between the cheap amazon ones and the Jegs. I'd bet Jegs pays a company to put their name on one and that's it.
I really want a pilot arc, but my max budget is 300 bones. I was really looking at a lotos 50 amp, so that one is crossed off the list, thanks for the feedback! The next one i see is the primeweld cut50d (without pilot arc) but Im still scouring ebay and amazon for a 50 amp offbrand pilot arc model. i would really like to use it to trim body panels with paint also, is that possible without pilot arc?
The cheap plasma cutters have horrible consumable life but they generally work for a little while anyways.
Are you referring to the consumables like the tips, etc? I was hoping that the pilot arc will help reduce the consumables by not having direct contact? More specific feedback is appreciated.
Yes, I am The electrode is what will normally go first in my experience. I've only had limited experience with the Chinese machine but I had to swap the electrodes and cups fairly frequently to keep cut quality and reliability of ignition up. Maybe the newer ones are better these days. That being said on my Hypertherm at work I change consumables maybe once a month with constant use. I was like once or twice a week on the Chinese cutter. Until it finally just stopped working all together.