For basic cutting of new 20′ material to build things, cut off saw/ cold cut saw. For custom, intricate, work, you can’t beat a vertical band saw. I saw an Evo saw after the blade guard fell into the blade.
Plasma cutters are most effective on cutting sheet goods. If you plan to do a lot of long cuts, or cut shapes, from full sheets, the Pplasma is for you. For cutting hollow shapes, S and W shape beams, angle iron, flat bar and solid rod, a bandsaw is nearly indispensable.
“To me it’s kind of like the single-forge design conundrum: it has to be efficient, large enough, controllable for HT, get hot enough to weld well, have some flux resistance, have a floor to put small general items on, not have hot spots, not have a floor with a puddle of flux… what one needs is at least 3 forges, optimally.So, I have a portaband, a 20″ vertical wood/metal, a 7×12″ horizontal saw, a plasma cutter, a chopsaw, an oxy-ace torch. Personally, just for cutting profiles, my top choice is the 20” vertical saw. The abrasive chopsaw is also great for billet work, anytime you don’t want to have anneal something to save your band blades.
3 Re: Plasma cutter or bandsaw I have all of the other cutting tools you have and both the portable band saw and a plasma cutter and would say it depends on what you want to do. 13 Re: Plasma cutter or bandsaw Plasma cutter and band saw aren’t exactly what I call a hobby welders tools. 18 Re: Plasma cutter or bandsaw I can get by without a plasma cutter, but I couldn’t get by without my bandsaw.
Now if you have a CNC table and a large plasma power source yes you can do much more with it. Neither real suited for the air needed to drive a plasma table. “Also in my opinion, it cut 1” just fine, I just don’t think even with plasma 4 separate plates cut the same as one, and the travel speed is just exponentially slower with plasma, if he had traveled a bit slower it would’ve been fine.
My saw is only 16″ throat but weighs at least 1200 lb. My saw cost me $600, and I probably overpaid by about $200. If you want any advice at all on purchasing or evaluating a band saw, I’ve become somewhat experienced with them. As someone else mentioned, a band saw can be tiring making very long cuts.
plasma cutter vs band saw Related Question:
What cuts better than a plasma cutter?
Plasma Cutters might have the precision, but power goes to Oxy Acetylene. It should be noted that each process has different material type limitations, but most experts will still agree Oxy Acetylene can cut a lot more than Plasma.
Can you cut rebar with a plasma cutter?
Plasma or oxy-acetylene torches – These tools are often used to cut metal, but I find they leave a lot of “slag” or waste around the cut that I then have to clean up with the grinder to cut a smooth surface to weld. Plasma also took a long time to cut through the rebar and used a significant amount of electricity.
Can you cut wood with a plasma cutter?
Plastics and wood are not electrically conductive and cannot be plasma cut. However, you can use a rotary saw, router, or other tool if you want to cut these materials in the PlasmaCAM machine.
Can plasma cutter cut cast iron?
One of plasma’s greatest advantages is its ability to cut non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, stainless steel and cast iron, materials that are becoming more common in many applications.
How thick of metal can a 50 amp plasma cutter cut?
This inverter plasma cutter has 50 amps of power on tap, able to cut up to 1/2-inch thick steel plate.
Will a plasma cutter cut rusty metal?
Plasma can cut any electrically conductive metal including stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum and more, without pre-heating. Plasma is also great at cutting painted, dirty or even rusted metal. JoAnn Bortles is the national automotive spokesperson for Hypertherm.
Is it expensive to run a plasma cutter?
Plasma operating cost would again be the lowest, and is typically estimated at approximately $15/hour. The cost of laser would be slightly higher, typically estimated at around $20/hour. Waterjet is usually considered to be the most expensive, typically estimated at about $30/hour.
Do plasma cutters need gas?
Gas is needed for a plasma cutter in order for it to work and create the plasma. As mentioned, the most popular gases to use are oxygen, nitrogen or argon. Some plasma cutter systems include multi-gas features so a variety of gases can be used for different applications.
Does Lowe’s cut rebar?
Unfortunately, Lowe’s cannot cut rebar within its stores, even if you have purchased it from Lowe’s as of 2022. However, Lowe’s does sell tools to help you cut and bend rebar yourself both in-store and online. Also, local contractors or other hardware stores may be able to bend rebar for you.
Why does my plasma cutter keeps cutting out?
Too slow of travel speed when cutting- Moving excessively slow when cutting (especially at higher amps) overheats the torch consumables and can cause the parts to wear out prematurely. It can also cause the arc to terminate.
What is the difference between a laser cutter and a plasma cutter?
Plasma cutters can cut through thicker materials. Laser cutters are better for thinner, more intricate metals. Laser cutters are also used to cut through non-metals, ceramics, and glass.
Do you need a welding helmet for plasma cutting?
Obviously, if you were to operate an 800 Amp plasma torch at the same distance as a typical welding torch, you would need a welding helmet for protection.
Can you cut ductile iron pipe with a plasma cutter?
While you can cut cast iron with a plasma cutter torch, torch use is not the best method to cut cast iron. When cutting cast iron, it is best to use a snap cutter, angle grinder, or reciprocating saw.
What metals can a plasma cutter cut?
Plasma cutting is a process that cuts through electrically conductive materials by means of an accelerated jet of hot plasma. Typical materials cut with a plasma torch include steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass and copper, although other conductive metals may be cut as well.
Will a diamond blade cut cast iron?
A diamond reciprocating saw blade is used to cut through brick, tile and cast iron, reveals Family Handyman. The blade is 8 inches long, 3/4 inch wide and roughly 0.04 inches thick. The narrow kerf design of the blade creates a thinner cut, consequently cutting the cast iron in a quicker amount of time.