The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Hobart 250 ci airforce plasma cutter?

I just dropped 8 bigs on Hobart 250 ci airforce plasma cutter? Any one has experiece with this and my purpose at present is only 52 AD and later on only cars nothing else I want to use it for.

Ganesh

I think this is relatively new in the Hobart line. I think it is probably a good machine because I don't think Hobart puts their name on anything unless it is good. I have heavier plasma cutters out at my shop to cut aluminum and stainless. They run off a 50 amp 220 volt circuit. I discourage the guys from using them on steel because the consumables are expensive. However, I do miss a plasma cutter at my house because that is where I do most of my tinkering on my jalopies. I have looked at this machine on Amazon.com and considered buying one for at my house. Plasma cutters are nice to cut sheet metal because they don't warp things like gas. I will be interested in hearing how you like the machine.

I receive this Plasma cutter, it is great. It does what is said cutting sheet metal. Dont expect beyond 1/4" and at the most 1/2" but for vehicle restoration this is the best one because of size and portability, 115 volt and built-in air compressor.

I think it is a good decision for me. Tired of cut-off wheels

Ganesh

I hope you still like yours. I ordered one last night. I do a lot of my tinkering on my jalopies at home. Its really not practical to drag a large plasma cutter and air down here and I'm tired of loading my jalopies on a car hauler and hauling them to my shop. I have several projects that need patch panels. I use one of these to clean before I cut.
http://www.monti-tools.com/e_video.php
I use the pneumatic ones at the shop but I have an electric one to use at my house.

All of Hobart's plasma cutters are made by Hypertherm.. They basically all but invented the good plasma cutter.......

That'd be a good unit for you.

I know what you mean crenwelge, we have a ThermalDynamics Cutmaster 81 at work.. Consumables for that thing are outrageous!! Totally a rip off.........

I reserve the plasma cutters for stainless and aluminum at my shop. The consumables are too expensive for mild steel. However I really like a plasma cutter for cutting rusted out spots on my jalopies. A torch warps everything, a nibbler is fine if there is nothing in the way and a cutoff wheel is too much work. However, having the metal clean is a big part of cutting old iron. That's why I clean the metal with the Monti tool or MBX blaster first. I placed the order Monday night. Ordinarily I should have it Friday so I can play with it this weekend, but the holiday may throw it into next week.

Well, ours gets used for steel all the time.. That's all we do at the shop I work at......

I think the consumables are a rip..... Especially when compared to gas difusers, tips and nozzles for a mig welder........