Just because I wanted one

[Wishikldweld]

Today I bought my first plasma cutter, a Hypertherm PowerMax 45. I really have no daily need for a plasma cutter, but have you ever bought something "Just because?"

I have a very understanding wife that never gives me crap when I buy a new toy. When I told her I was looking for a plasma cutter, she said buy it. When I told her all the options that a person has when making up their mind on which one to buy, she told me to buy what I wanted. I told her it was going to be between $1300 to $2000 and she didn't bat an eye! Problem was, I didn't know what I wanted until I found this site.

I looked at and researched almost every plasma cutter I could find at the local welding shops and online. For my needs, I had thought about a cheap one off Ebay. Other than just playing with it today for 30 minutes or so, I'll be lucky to turn it on once a month. Maybe a little more in the beginning, just to show it off. But once I started reading about the cheaper units, I decided to do a little test on customer support. I sent a few of the companies emails stating I had a warranty issue with one of their machines, and only one replied back. I'm not going to name names, that's not why I am writing this. It was just one of the many reasons I didn't purchase their product.

I really wanted to buy something fairly local, to help support the people around here, and I wanted to actually see and feel what I was buying. I could have bought my PM45 online and had it shipped for free and paid no taxes, but I didn't, and I wanted it today.

My local shop, Jerry's Welding, carries Miller's, but he only had a Spectrum 625 Extreme. It was nice, but it was a reman from Miller and his price was too high. He can only order from Miller if a unit comes on a list first. They won't sell new ones to him, even though he used to be a Miller dealer before the company changed somehow. It was a bummer and cost him a sale. He offered to get a Hobart 500i, but again, he was $150 higher than I could go to the local TSC and buy it. I do buy other things here.

I finally started reading the reviews and opinions here and decided to see if I could find a local Hypertherm dealer. By random chance, one of the ebay sellers has a store in Monroe, Oh. I was working in Monroe when I had my motorcycle accident so I knew the area. I drove up to Harris Welding Supplies this morning and picked up my brand new PowerMax 45.

The showroom was very nice and they stock a ton of stuff, from various vendors. I talked to a fellow named Don, and he was very nice. I was asking tons of questions and he never once seemed to be put off by my ignorance. After about 45 minutes of deciding between the PM30 and PM45, I finally bought the PM45 with a 20ft cord. Don even threw in a extra kit of consumables. I know, I've read some people's opinions about people thinking they got something for nothing, BUT, he didn't have to give me the extra kit, because I didn't ask for it. I just thought it was nice. And, no, I have no connection to this company. This was the first time I had ever bought anything there and didn't know the company existed until last night.

When I got home I took it out of the box, installed an air filter / separator to it, attached the torch and air line, plugged it in and was ready to start cutting. It was so easy to set up. I had some equipment racks to cut off a trailer I had bought a few weeks back and it blew right thru every weld like butter. It was great!! :cool2:

Sorry for such a long post. I just wanted to say thanks for the help with buying a cool new toy for the shop. I'm not a one brand person, but I want what I buy to work when it is supposed to. I hope a made a good, and somewhat educated purchase.

Tim

Hypertherm PowerMax 45
Hobart Handler 175
Lincoln AC/DC 225
Harris torches
Various other shop tools and equipment
A few very big hammers, just in case.

[jdu140c]

Awesome buy, I think you will be thoroughly happy, I know I am!

[jimcolt]

Tim,

First, thanks for buying the American built Hypertherm Poweremax 45....from all of the employee owners of Hypertherm.

It is nice to see and hear the background of why you chose the product you did.....not simply based on saving a few dollars upfront....but with criteria like buying locally, and comparing the feedback that you read from users of various competitive systems online. You made a great decision and you have a plasma system that will be cutting well for many years.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[Gobysky]

"I really have no daily need for a plasma cutter, but have you ever bought something "Just because?"

When you start using it, you'll wonder how you did without it, like so many other tools I've bought.

When it comes to high quality stuff like this, I never worry about the price. Certainly not like buying an expensive TV that in five years, you'll be lucky to get 50 bucks for it.

[Wishikldweld]

Thanks, all. If it wasn't so stinking hot here today I would have been outside cutting up some of the parts I cut off my car trailer yesterday, just to play around some more. I have used plasma cutters at work, but this one is mine to goof around with.

There is nothing better than using something that works the way this thing does. And, I'll guarantee I am not holding the torch correct yet or have the speeds and heat down yet. But it just cuts away. Plus, on a side note, it doesn't interfere with my spinal cord stimulator. I was afraid the inverter may cause it to do weird things, but it didn't. I really hate when I have to turn the stim off, like when I have to drive. Not allowed to have it on while driving.

Jim; it's my pleasure. I know I am new to the site, but I am not new at buying what I want. It's my money and my decision on what to buy. I try to do a good job when researching things I have no experience with and you can find good and bad reviews of any and every product. I just try to sort out the BS. Also, while I was recovering from my accident, the plant I was working at closed because of the new, foreign owners. They bought the plant for the equipment and contracts, then shut the doors. I know my measly purchase alone won't keep Hypertherm's doors open, but I try to buy thru local contacts and as American as I can, which is increasingly difficult. Thanks again.

Again, I have no agenda here, I'm sure I own products from everywhere on the planet because I'm not a "branded" person. My Dad is 75 yrs old and I make him mad every now and then because I buy something that is not US. I keep telling him, I do care who makes it, but if it's bad, it's bad. No need to throw money at it for nothing. If someone wants to give me something, heck, I'd try almost anything. But I won't eat a free tomato!! I hate them!

I don't have the experience needed to comment a lot here at this site, but I want to thank everyone again in advance for my questions, when needed. I'm sure I'll do something stupid and need your help. I'm also fairly new at Mig welding, other than welding stainless steel material handling pipe. Our material would eat holes thru it fairly fast so we were always patching and replacing. Stick welding I've done for myself since I was allowed to use Dad's welder. Doesn't mean I'm doing it right, but I weld for myself and I'm still alive.

Tim

[netman]

I had no daily use for my PM 45 either. However I now use mine on a regular basis. I recently bought a Sea Ark 2472 boat and trailer. The boat had the worse aluminum floor you ever seen. It looked like a aluminum patch quilt floor. The sucker who welded it in was not afraid of stacking the alum welds up either. With the PM 45 I got busy and removed all of the flooring and in the process of putting in a new tread plate floor.
I recently added on to my pole barn. When it came time to lift up the trusses I made a 'jigger pole' out of some steel I had laying around. I cut the pieces with my PM 45 and welded up the pole and hung the trusses all in one afternoon..
The PM 45 is a wonderful tool and you will love yours too.
Netman

[dstevens]

Today I bought my first plasma cutter, a Hypertherm PowerMax 45. I really have no daily need for a plasma cutter, but have you ever bought something "Just because?"

Yep, my Powermax 30....

At first I used it somewhat regularly. During the race season back then it would sit for a couple of months at a time. As I started doing more for and with others, it started to get used more. Now it's used on a pretty regular basis. And I've yet to outgrow it. But when I do (and I reckon as get more and more into the business side), I know I'll get a good return on the investment and be able to upgrade a couple sizes, to say a 65 and still have good piece of mind in the tool.

My primary business is entertainment technology and we have a saying regarding buying reputable, name brand equipment. Buy once, cry once.......