Plasma / Tig combo

[Fire Ball]

I just bought a plasma / tig / stick welder from a local company. I know, never buy from any one but the big 3.

Well I went down to their shop and they demoed the unit right there for me. I guess they buy them from over seas and then modify them to their standards.

This thing has a cut rate on 5/8 " steel of at least 5" / minute or more. On sheet metal it cuts like an exacto blade through paper. I cut some #4 re-bar in just a few seconds.

The one I got runs on 110 or 220 but 110 sorta lacks but it will get the job done. On 220 volt it is nuts. It is DC so it won't do aluminum I guess They do have one that will but it WILL cut aluminum just fine.

Haven't tried the stick weld yet.

I have never tig welded before but he showed me a little and I thought for the price, what the hell. I got the info off of pirate 4x4 first then went to their site. The site price is like $1300 but I got it for $599.

I think he said the dual input plasm cutter alone would go for like $399.

So far it is working just fine and when I was there, a guy walked in with a unit with a couple problems. The tech fixed it and it was ready for the guy to come back and get it before I even left.

These guys are basically the manufacturers and are trying to make a name for themselves and will sell the unit at the lower price. Check out the threads on Pirate 4X4. and check them out at

http://www.parkermetalworking.com

I am not affiliated with them nore do I get anything from them, not that I won't ask to if anyone buys something from them :)

[TRLR8TDTJ]

That is good price does that come with foot control?

Kyle

[Fire Ball]

They have one but I didn't get one. I don't know the price for it. I figure the tig part will go unused unless someone is willing to school me on the fine art. I'm more of a mig person and not really that either :)

[1toughxj]

I had one of their Plasma cutters and it broke the first time I needed to use it.

[xFallen]

I had one of their Plasma cutters and it broke the first time I needed to use it.

Mine works great.

[1toughxj]

I must have bad luck!!!

[Fire Ball]

I did a lot of research and couldn't find anything bad about their stuff. I know there were some issues witht the first few but I heard they got the problems fixed. I'll abuse it for a while and let you guys know. Maybe if someone has a project to do we can do some testing. Right now I'm actually building more than I'm cutting

[RokNRich]

I am not affiliated with them nore do I get anything from them, not that I won't ask to if anyone buys something from them :)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with posting a positive message about a product. That is why many of us are here, to learn about stuff like this. Thanks for the link, I'll be checking them out as well.

But if the product is no good, there is no reason that can't be pointed out as well.

:cool:

[akecj7]

Please let us know how it all works out I have been lookin for a plasma, and thought about a tig and for that price you cant find anything close.

[xFallen]

They definitely work as advertised. It is difficult to say from a failure report consisting of "it broke", but after lengthy discussions with the Parkers, and from sifting through the massive amount of feedback from people on PBB it seems the bulk of the issues with the units have been from operator error. There apparently have only a handful of manufacturing glitches (which they owned up to readily).

I am waiting for new nozzles and a couple of o-rings for my so called "turbo" model 220V 40A cutter. The shipment my rig came in on apparently had variances in the nozzle diameters. They should be about 0.030" and mine measured between 0.035-0.050". Still cuts, just not as nicely and takes more juice. They said I could fill mine and drill them, or wait for a solution from them. I chose the latter, just because. My rig did not have o-rings, and although it works just fine without them I would prefer they be there if that's how it was designed.

Maybe the Miller, for example, will last longer (I would expect it should), but the Parker actually has a better warranty and no question that it works. I can't speak to the welders but it is the same (switching) technology so it should be just fine.


Barry

[Fire Ball]

I got my bottle of Argon and I'm ready to try out the TIG part of mine. I also upgraded from CO2 on my mig to Ar/CO2 mix and it is a much cleaner weld (Mig is Lincoln)

I finally welded my oil pan and decided to weld up the crack in my exhaust manifold. I started to wonder if the crack is factory and belongs there since it has been on every TJ I've ever owned.

[xFallen]

Cracked TJ manifolds are a right of passage. I like the 25/75 mix too as recommended by Renobobo. Not sure how well he knows cracks manifolds or otherwise, but he sure knows his gas.

Too bad that puppy wasn't a/c TIG too. TIG on Aluminum would be nice to have.

[Renob]

Renobobo sure knows his gas.Mostly from here (http://www.eventsounds.com/wav/tacobell.wav)