About 11 years ago a bought a Hypertherm Powermax 800 plasma cutter from an fab shop that went out of business and had an auction. Me and my buddy went and they had a Powermax 1000 and a Powermax 800. My buddy bought the 1000 and I got the 800. I had to change the electrical plug and at that time I checked the jumpers on the machine for correct voltage input (220 volt single phase). The lead for the gun was very stiff but useable. The machine powered up and seemed to be ok. I did some test cuts and it seemed to work. Has projects came up I used the plasma and after about a month I noticed that the thing really didn't cut all that well. For a 60 amp machine it seems to lack power. It cuts 1/4" alright, struggles with 3/8", and is not even useable on 1/2"? I would think a 60 amp plasma cutter would cut 1/2" slowly but be able to do it. Even when I cut 1/4" the cuts are not that clean. The machine also sometimes just loses arc in the middle of a cut. Let off on the trigger and start again and is fine. It came with a Motor Guard M-26 file mounted on it and I was using it. I replaced the filter in it and it made no difference. I bypassed the Motor Guard filter and it made no difference. I hav a IR T30 5hp 2 stage compressor so I have plenty of air. I tried it in all 4 220 volt outlets in my shop and it works the same. Even measured the voltage at my outlets and they were good. I don't use the machine much because it doesn't work that good. Just recently I replaced the gun has a last ditch effort with the new Duramax H RT gun. It is just a touch better but still not what it should be. I cut 4 6" circles in 1/4" steel with a circle jig and it didn't do a very good job. The kerf of the cut is angled even know the torch is held perfectly straight in the jig. By the time I got the 4 circles cut and a few straight cuts to clean up the drop from the circle the tip and electrode were shot. So it is using consumables up very fast! This is very frustrating. My buddy that bought the 1000 has had great luck with his machine. I've even used it to cut some 1" steel and it had no problem. So I know there are some very knowledgeable people here that know these machines and I'm hoping someone can help me.
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Originally Posted by duramax-rob
