[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Thinking about upgrading the garage with a plasma cutter and tig welder. Anyone have any experience with these two?? Has decent reviews recently. Will be used for mainly restoration work on my 'Bird. Seems like a nice kit.

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-tig200-versa-cut-kit.html

[marxjunk]

I sell welders for a living..let me ask u a question..

Why do u think you need a plasma cutter..I'm in the body shop business..and 99.99 percent sit in the corner of the body shop and never get used after the newness wear off..

I have an inverter cutter..which is the only thing you should buy...and haven't turned It on in 4 years..it's the most awesome fire starter in your shop if you own one


I'd buy a use miller before I'd buy anything from Eastwood..consumables, service and parts are everything..and if you can't get the stuff locally..it's a bad deal. Although those really look like re-branded Millers to me...I'd make sure before I'd buy anything from them..if they won't tel you who's the parent company, move on.

All the chinese stuff is going to be a problem when it gets age and needs parts..I see it every week. They saved money up front but when there wasa problem, they get to buy a new one..and we are talking in less than five years.

My advice is buy brand name..you want a plasma cutter..Buy. Thermal dynamics cutter..I know of 20 year old cutters and they work flawless..or a miller or even a Lincoln..be careful..if a circuit board goes bad in a cutter..it's more expensive to repair usually than the cost of a new one..I know..I owned a $4000 snap on o bought new..it failed in less than 2 years..and the warranty expired...Over 3k to fix it..that was 14 years ago.

Anyway mill weld is the parent company of miller and Hobart..good stuff

Then Lin old..I don't like them but I'd buy one before an Eastwood (unless it's a branded miller)

Or an esab..esab is the biggest welder manufacturer on the planet..most of the heavy industrial stuff that welds stuff together 24-7-365 is esab...robots that build and weld stuff..those are usually Esab..you can call it a heritage welder..you will be able to pass it to your kids

Anyway..there's a few personal opinions...





Welder? Brand name it...mill-weld is the parent company of miller and also make

[marxjunk]

Stupid iPad..I can't edit it like I want..Lin old is supposed to be Lincoln..and the last line I want to delete but can't scroll down...and I have no other access right now

[nytrainer]

Marxjunk,
Good Info. Care to provide further advice like 120 vs. 220, gas/no gas mig, mig vs. tig, models and even things like best wire to use (if mig), gas mix for tig...? Love it when the pro's can give advice.

[marxjunk]

Keats gas..always..it shields the arc and helps cooling.

As far as voltage depends..if you're welding car related stuff...120 gets it..you're welding anything over 3/16 look at a 220.. It's about amperage and duty cycle...you will run the 120 at it's limit and as that happens amperage starts going down..you hit the duty cycle and the weld gets less and less safe in my opinion

Tigs are too difficult to learn..and if all you are doing is steel..mig will do it all..if you will spend the money to get real training you get a whole bunch more ability with the tig..but I know 20 year veterans on tigs that say they learn something new all the time..and they freak out if they have to weld sheet metal..like car bodies..

As far as using it on a car rest type job..my miller 135 has done everything I've evr needed it to..and would think about buying anything else really

[marxjunk]

Would not think about buying is what I meant..damn iPad...

[JSPONT]

Plasma cutter in a home garage is not the best idea. They throw sparks everywhere. As for tig welder Marxjunk is right on. The miller machines are great, even for mig. I had bought a Lincoln, went to my friends house and tried his Miller, I am sorry I have the Lincoln! Unless you know how to tig, you will need to take a class and practice a bunch. It is an art, I am no artist.LOL

[melemans]

I've had a gas cutting rig and arc welders in my home garage for decades and use them safely - have not come close to setting anything on fire yet. Eastwood is a good company for many things. However, I purchased a plasma cutter from them and did not like it. I sent it back and purchased a Miller, which I love using. I have a Miller mig welder and have had no issues with it. I say if you have a need or want for a piece of equipment that will make what you do more enjoyable or easier, then go for it! I'd go with Miller, Lincoln or Hobart.

[Sirrotica]

I guess if you want to cut metal and you don't want any sparks, you better be cutting everything with a saw.

Same here as melemans, I'm 63 and haven't set anything on fire yet unintentionally. I've been using and oxy acetylene welding torch and cutting torch since I was 16. I have a 250 amp Linde buzzbox (bought in 1976) that will weld anything I ever need to weld, and a Lincoln 100 amp mig welder (bought in 1987) I use for stuff up to 3/16".

I have plans someday to buy a plasma cutter for up to 3/8 inch stuff, just haven't come across the right deal yet.

I'd say good advice to buy name brand stuff if you intend on using it over the long haul.

[marxjunk]

My point of view on starting a fire was cutting on cars...not metal stock etc...I've seen more cars set on fire in body shops than any other source of flame there is...

People are over confident..and don't pull the cars apart completely ...slice into a b-pillar or a wheel house and it smolders and the car burns...the flame catches sealers or foams ..I admit, it's been a decade since I've seen it..but for a decade...if a car burnt or caught fire in a shop..it was prob a plasma cutter that stated it...then it seems they fell out of favor and gather dust in the corner..

I don't know anyone that even uses one in the body shops any more...I mean except for. 8 or 9 years ago, I haven't even seen one in action..


Just my personal views..I didnt mean if ya buy one you'll set your building on fire..but chances of catching a car on fire is there

[Sirrotica]

Anytime you weld or cut on an assembled car the potential for a fire is there. Using old pieces of sheet metal to deflect the molten metal is something I use. Soaking rags in water and laying them where a potential fire hazard exists, plus having either a squirt bottle or a water hose in the work area allow you to catch a fire before it's out of hand is uncommon sense, (I quit calling it common sense as so few people have it anymore).

I don't see a plasma torch any more dangerous in the right hands than a cutting torch is when working on an assembled car.