So im shopping for a cutter. My options are plasma or torch. Im having a hard time deciding which way to go. Im looking at about $500 either way I go. Plasma I have 40% off and can get the powerplasma 50 for like $480. Or go with torch. I tried used. Well ended up with a torch that leaked between body and cutting head. Its a victor type 100 i think. Its got smith regulators which both started out working then oxygen started pulsing. It stopped and acetylene started pulsing. Well it kinda stopped but also got bad. It wont pulse unless the valve on the torch side is opened a little extra and it does it really bad. But back to the leak its not good and I found out the hard way when it got a little flame going on it. Not real big but it still was a flame and scared me. So the good news only paid $75 and it came with the tanks. The acetylene was a size B (20 cf) and oxy was the around 80 or 90 cf whatever the size is. So the Acetylene is worth $80 to buy there and thats also the trade in value. The oxy is worth $147 so thats a great win. So if I went with oxy acetylene I would get 130 cf acetylene and the 152 of oxygen. That would be a good semi stationary way. If i went that way id get a new torch set that will always work. Thats $200 right there. plus upping the tank size thats $139 plus the fill of the tanks. Which is like another $100 plus them may throw a charge to check the tanks i have because they are out of date on certification. So im looking about the same price. Now I have options. Get the torch it will always work every time unless out of fuel. Last my whole life which im only 16 so it needs to last. Or get a plasma. But i know electronics dont last forever they are a bit finicky. Great when they work. We have 2 at school. Old and new one. Old one dont work but teacher said just needs consumables. Its a esab and a newer i think hypertherm. So Im just worried about will it last? Will it be always dependable? Thats what i need. And if i get a plasma I could make the torch work somewhat. Get the leak stopped and just upgrade Acetylene to 80 cf for $50 and have a nice little portable set one of these days. Also be able to heat and bend. The torch also came with so many extras. Like 5 welding tips and 2 big tubes of welding rods, all different sizes and some aluminum. All would be great if i tig welded but dont. So Im just not sure which way I should go and thought that I would ask all you all that have been trough these decisions. Thanks everyone in advance.
