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Looks like I'm picking up a new (to me) tool this weekend. Scouring Craigslist and stumbled across a well used Thermal Arc plasma cutter. Comes with extra consumables and 25' leads.

Guy has it hooked up in his workshop and I can play with it before I hand over the cash.

I can't believe how many times working on TETANUS or the R1 project that I WISHED I had a plasma cutter. Should come in handy removing the small rusty sections on the Mini project.


Anything I should be wary of when I got to check it out????

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Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

The availability of consumables that actually fit the machine. ...
There's no real standards but Thermal Arc is one of the better units so they should be easy to find.
Other than that the only things that I'd worry about is having a dry air source and a solid power feed.
My sis in law thinks hers is the cat's miaow.

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"There are times when a broken tool is better than a sound one, or a twisted personality more useful than a whole one.
For instance, a whole beer bottle isn't half the weapon that half a beer bottle is ..." Randall Garrett

Thanks
I've got plenty of air from my compressor and a good sized drier separator that I can plumb in
I talked with Airgas about 5 miles from my house. They have consumables for that model in stock all the time. Said it's a pretty robust machine.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Make sure it's a drag tip type, i.e. one that you hold the tip onto the job rather than holding it clear, makes life a lot easier.

You will never regret having one, it's a "How did I ever get by without one" moment.

I hadn't thought of that. Every one I've used was a drag tip. I can't quite imagine trying to follow a line or pattern and keep the torch elevated off the work. A bit too much like oxy-acetylene cutting

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

The "off the surface" type are no big deal if you use their "rampart" tips. These tips have gaps in the tips so you can see your line. I've made stand-offs for my regular tips out of fiberglass rods hose clamped to the tip.

If yours is the type that uses carbon rods as an RF generator, make sure the rods are gapped properly and clean.

Tom

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My short term memory is absolutely horrible and so is my short term memory.

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