REQ: Heavy Duty Plasma Cutter suggestions

[solidstate]

I know a guy who owns a scrap metal yard. He currently cuts everything with Oxy-Acetylene. He says he spends over $2K/month on acetylene. He said he tried a plasma cutter 10-15 years ago but the tip died in a day.

This is a very dirty environment. All the metal is dirty/oily/rusty.
Cut quality is absolutely not important!
The tips/consumables must last a long time!
The workers are good guys but they are not brain surgeons so consumable longevity and ease of replacement (and low cost) are of critical importance.
Most cuts are less than two inches thick.

He has three-phase in the shop area, not sure what voltage, I think just 277V.

What would people here suggest for a heavy duty plasma cutter?
What would people here suggest for an appropriate air compressor?

Thanks

[CEP]

See what he thinks about switching to propane. Propane takes a little longer to preheat is the down side.

[Blackslacks]

See what he thinks about switching to propane.

Then he would be paying 3x+ for O2 so what's the point?

[CEP]

I’ve been cutting with propane for several years now. I really haven’t noticed a big increase in oxygen usage. I still set the oxygen gauge at 40-PSI.
Now with propane it does take longer to preheat.

[Blackslacks]

I've never actually used propane in the field. Maybe Ill give it a try. My last bottle of acetylene cost me $180.

[CEP]

A 250 bottle of oxygen cost $30.00 here. It’s been so long now, I can’t remember what I paid to fill my acetylene bottle.

[jimcolt]

Progressive scrappers use Plasma as it will cut any metal, uses only compressed air, is faster, easier. Put the plasma in a truck with a generator and compressor and go anywhere you need to cut. You will spend less time cutting due to the speed (no changing gas bottles, finding striker, etc.). Todays plasma technology allows the torch to drag on the material (Hypertherm shielded technology) without damaging the nozzle (there is no "tip" in a Hypertherm plasma). Have him try one at a local distributor, go to www.hypertherm.com and click on "where to buy".

I know a guy who owns a scrap metal yard. He currently cuts everything with Oxy-Acetylene. He says he spends over $2K/month on acetylene. He said he tried a plasma cutter 10-15 years ago but the tip died in a day.

This is a very dirty environment. All the metal is dirty/oily/rusty.
Cut quality is absolutely not important!
The tips/consumables must last a long time!
The workers are good guys but they are not brain surgeons so consumable longevity and ease of replacement (and low cost) are of critical importance.
Most cuts are less than two inches thick.

He has three-phase in the shop area, not sure what voltage, I think just 277V.

What would people here suggest for a heavy duty plasma cutter?
What would people here suggest for an appropriate air compressor?

Thanks

[Ky farmer]

I have a Miller spectrum 1500 I'll fix him up with rated to cut 1 1/2

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[jimcolt]

I hope you are joking! the old Spectrum 1500 was rated for about 5/8" (could probably sever over an inch at very slow cut speeds). Non shielded torch....one touch to the material and you will replace the tip (nozzle). A newer Hypertherm Powermax65 is more portable, single phase and will cut circles around the Spectrum. Not a good candidate for a scrap cutter looking for good consumable life.

I have a Miller spectrum 1500 I'll fix him up with rated to cut 1 1/2

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[Ky farmer]

I wasn't joking, him the dial on it says 1 1/2 in the capacity settings. I know all about northern 65, that's why the Miller is for sale, CHEAP I'm not sure on the model, big *** 3 phase cutter

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[idacal]

I can't imagine a plasma lasting in a real scrap yard maybe on the nonferrous pad or something or maybe a high end type scrapping situation were you are being paid to remove something. the yard I worked when I was 18 did not attracted the highest talent to say the least. specially not the guys running scrapping torches, they couldn't speak english, and their cigarettes always smelled funny. they would have 6 or 7 patches in there hose from something landing it before replacing the hose. every one of them would have been a new torch. they probably make long reach plasma torches but scrappers use the long torches so less leaning over, higher reach overhead, and to get away from the heat. I can't imaging what a 3' plasma torch would cost. the yard I was at used propane and bought oxygen in the liquid form bottles go through 1 to two oxygen a week.

[lantraxco]

I wasn't joking, him the dial on it says 1 1/2 in the capacity settings. I know all about northern 65, that's why the Miller is for sale, CHEAP I'm not sure on the model, big *** 3 phase cutter

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I'm interested......

[Broccoli1]

https://www.bakersgas.com/HYP059582....RoC_xYQAvD_BwE

$1,500.00

Plus cost of PC but if there going through 2k a month in gas- $1,500.00 is nuttin'.

[Chad86tsi]

I know a guy who owns a scrap metal yard. He currently cuts everything with Oxy-Acetylene. He says he spends over $2K/month on acetylene. He said he tried a plasma cutter 10-15 years ago but the tip died in a day.

with 20 working days in a week, that's $100 a work day in acetylene. If burning up a plasma tips costs him less than $100 a day, he comes out ahead.

[Broccoli1]

with 20 working days in a week, that's $100 a work day in acetylene. If burning up a plasma tips costs him less than $100 a day, he comes out ahead.

That is some ball busting work weeks

[Ky farmer]

I'm interested......

Pm me

[Chad86tsi]

That is some ball busting work weeks

man, that would suck

20 working days a month...

[thegary]

He will never eliminate the use of a cutting torch but he could probably cut its use by 75% . That Hypertherm torch from bakers gas.com and the right machine would put a big dent in his gas bill. As CEP said change over to propane for the stuff the plasma can't do and he would see a huge difference in cost. If I were him I would get Hyprtherm out there with the best they have and tell them to sell me on their plasma equipment. I bet they would be there with bells on. That would be a very good sale for them and if they were to film the sales pitch with demo's and have the junk employees using the plasma torches it would sell even more stuff to other scrap yards.
If Hypertherm can't sell him any plasmas , nobody can. They have the best of the best in plasma.

[rexcormack]

solidstate I sent you a pm about more CGA580 valves.