Questions on Hypertherm Powermax 800 plasma cutter

[icman95]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone out there has a Hypertherm Powermax 800 plasma cutter in their garage/shop. I'm looking at bidding on one at a local auction and have what I think is a fair price in mind. I've done some online research but can't find too much current info as it was discontinued and superceded maybe 5 or 7 years ago. Even that I can't pin down exactly. The unit has very little, if any, use as it was purchased but then left to sit as its owner became sick and unable to use it.

I am hoping someone can give me a ball park figure of what it might be worth today. I did find a video on youtube showing a guy using it in his shop. I like what I saw and he said in the video that he paid about $1600 for it. I assume this was new. Any info would be most welcome.

Thanks-Ken

 

[MChrist]

Not familiar with that brand. I bought a Miller Extreme 375 (I think that's right) and it has been great and trouble free. Works on 110 or 220V. Only difference is duty cycle. I think I paid around $1400.

 

[icman95]

$1400 as a new or used unit? I'm guessing you bought it new at that price. Also, how long ago was that? I know that they're different brands, but I'm trying to get a feel for the used market price of these things. From what I can find, I'm thinking somewhere around $600 is a fair price for this used Hypertherm about 5 years old, but really I'm not too sure.

 

[MChrist]

New, because I didn't want problems, and never had one before. Bought a few years ago. That price was tax, shipping, with carrying case and spare consumables. It was by far the best price around. Maybe $1300, now that I think about it. List was around $1600. It's not much bigger than a lunchbox!

 

[JLEONARD]

Hypertherm is a customer of ours. We supply all (I think) of their solenoid valves. So... . well, can't offer anything here..... you can send me a PM

 

[icman95]

JL,

Not that this has anything to do with the topic, but I was actually in Torrington yesterday doing deliveries when your post came in... . weird.



I took a leap of faith and got in on the auction for the cutter this morning. I had the winning bid at $625 which was right around what I was hoping to pay. I had found a listing of this model for sale online for $600 elsewhere, so I'm comfortable with the price. Hopefully it works as well as advertised.



Thank you both for helping me out.

 

[Flats]

Thats a good price I bought a hypertherm powermax 45 2 years ago and it has work vary good for my mobile welding business. I will buy another hypertherm when the time comes but will parable go with a powermax 85. Good luck with the machine.
Flats

 

[icman95]

Hey, thanks Flats. Good to know. I was pretty sure $600 range was good, but it's nice to hear it from someone else. Can't wait to fire it up. First project is to cut out bad metal from my snowplow blade and weld in patches. Get ready for snow season. Not quite here yet in CT, but I'm guessing if I were up in AK with you, I'd be a little late in getting the plow ready.

 

[MChrist]

If you are anything like me, you will be cutting everything you can get your hands on!! Even stuff that didn't need cutting!

There are several video tutorials that can help you if you have never used a plasma cutter before. They are very helpful, and offer several tricks to make things go quicker and smoother. That's how I learned I can cut, say, 1/4" steel on a 45 degree angle while using a straight edge. The edge was straight enough, and already beveled, so I could go straight to welding which saved me 20 minutes of grinding a bevel, lots of dust, smell, material, etc. .

You will have fun!!

 

[GHarman]

Dry air!

Make sure you have dry air to operate your plasma torch. Usually the water separators on the machine are not adequate. A additional water separator filter bank will help immensely. Especially in an area of high humidity.

Why you may ask? You will be able to increase the life of your consumables by leaps and bounds. Water(say 1 cu mm) in the air line will flash to steam at 1600 times its original volume as it hits the plasma stream. Steam is erosive and will blow out the orifice and erode the electrode tip.

GregH

 

[MChildress]

I have the Miller 625 and love it. Thing cuts through metal like butter. Like said before keep your compressor tank drained of water and at least run a moisture filter in line a drier would be even better.

 

[icman95]

This will be my second cutter, but the first working one in a while. I'm ashamed to admit it, but several years ago, I tried one of those cheap Chinese made models I found on eBay. My budget at the time wasn't going to allow me to spend too much and I couldn't find a decent used one for a decent price, so I rolled the dice and got one for $349. Fine example of you get what you pay for. It worked once or twice then quit. It turns on, but won't produce an arc. So much for that. It has been a few years since that happened and I've been cutting steel with a cutting wheel in my circular saw. Not perfect, but it works. Kinda pain in the neck, though. Let this be a warning to anyone thinking about getting one of those crappy plasma units. DON'T.



I have a moisture filter in my air line, but not an addtional dryer. I know water in the air ruins the consumables, but have never heard it explained as well as GHarman's post, so thanks for that!



Either MChrist knows me better than most people, or all of us here on the TDR are the same. OF COURSE I'm going to try to find things to cut even if they don't need it! I can't wait to play with the machine. I'm just a home hobbyist, not a professional, so I'm going to practice as much as possible now that I will have a machine that can actually stand up to some use. I've been looking online at the circle and straight edge guides that attach to the torch. Anyone have these? If so, are they a good investment or what?



I would have been playing with it today, but I have to go pick it up next weekend. Bid on it over the phone at an auction, but can't get there until next Sat.



Thanks everyone.

 

[DJW]

Painted or rusty steel no problem, aluminum and stainless the same, I believe the Air-Arc or as some prefer Arc-Air and Plasma Arc finest tool put in a Weldor's hand, sure solved a lot of problems. When I bought my first Plasma machine I asked the representative regarding consumables, he looked me straight in the eye and said, "Dry Air", and he surely meant it.