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Changed my mind on using a plasma cutter for boiler tube prep
For years I only used a torch and grinder to prep tube ends, thinking a plasma cutter was too much cash and hassle. My buddy in the Tulsa local kept telling me to try one, and I finally borrowed his Hypertherm 45 for a job last month. I cut the prep time on 2-inch tubes from about 15 minutes each to under 5, and the bevel was way cleaner. I'm sold, and now I'm saving up for my own unit. Anyone have a favorite model that holds up to daily shop use?
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ivanc457mo ago
Totally get it, man. Fought the same fight for ages with a torch. Borrowed a Miller Spectrum from the shop down the road for a rush job on some 3-inch and it was a game changer. The cut was so clean it almost didn't need a touch-up with the grinder. My old way felt like a waste of time after that. Been running a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster ever since and it just won't quit.
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schmidt.eva6mo ago
Gotta push back on that a bit. A good torch setup is way more versatile if you know how to use it. Plasma is great for straight cuts on clean metal, but try cutting through rust or painted scrap. The torch just burns right through where a plasma would sputter and fail. Plus, there's no power cord or air hose to drag around. Sometimes the old way is just more reliable for the nasty jobs.
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