CT's new Parker Plasma...NOW WE'RE PIMPIN!!

[CTENG in KS]

Are you ready, cause I certainly was...



I snagged a scratch and dent 40amp dual voltage Parker Plasma off Pirate4x4 from a great vendor.  It came and all I could find were some rubs on the case...no dents, no real scratches.  KOOL!





I got me a cheapo HF compressor on sale this week for $130 and it meets the specs for the plasma cutter.  The whole setup is not very large at all.

[jimbo74]

what part do you need help on?

[CTENG in KS]

Now, initially, I got the compressor all set up and noticed a few things.
1.  I took a full 32oz of oil.  Why do they only sell 16oz bottles?
2.  It was faster than I expected.  Filled the 8gallon tank to 115psi in under a minute.

I was figuring this was cool, I would have enough air for sure.  So I got the plasma all setup too.  Easy as pie once you locate where everything goes.  I bought a set of air fittings at HF and I found it nice to have options as to how to plumb everything.  All in all I had the two units together and ready in under 2 hours and two rolls of teflon tape.

Then the generator wouldn't start.  Nother hour.  Finally got it going, sat too long methinks.

Finally I am ready to go, all regulators are reading appropriate air pressure and I start in on some scrap.

[CTENG in KS]

Something ain't right here.  The first corner sliced off pretty clean, but everything went down hill from there.  Then I noticed, I am not getting much air and the comp. has not cycled back on.

Sure enough, the compressor is unresponsive.  It has a reset button though, so I figure that it hit the overload and I need to reset it.  This ain't good, but not catastrophic either.  So I hit the reset button and try to turn it back on.  All I get is that sound an electric motor makes when it is up against too much load.  Just that buzzing sound.  So I thought maybe it just can't pull enough juice off the garage current.  Hooked it up to generator, same thing.  It ain't a juice problem cause that generator has plenty enough to kick the compressor over.  I look to hit the reset again, and the button is stuck in.  Dern thing won't come out.  So...just return it?

[CTENG in KS]

Second question, the plasma is a dual voltage unit and I want to run it off the 220 on the generator.  The plasma is 220 single phase and has three wires for the plug.
The generator has a four-wire circular pattern prong.  How do I wire the plug to get 220 to the plasma?  I got it running, but I am thinking it was kinda underpowered and I might have it only drawing 110.

[jimbo74]

did you get the warranty with it? hf can be nasty with the returns....

[CTENG in KS]

No, I bought it saturday, they ought to exchange it as a defective product or something.

[CTENG in KS]

Alright, I took that HF deal back and got cash money.

Now I am back in the market for a small compressor.

[CTENG in KS]

New compressor came yesterday!  Wahoo.  I upgraded to a smaller setup, MUCH better quality.  This thing is QUIET!  WOW what a difference. 
I also figured out that I did indeed have it wired to only run one 120V leg outta the generator, 220V is much more power!  Yeah!



NOW we are kookin!

[CTENG in KS]

So, it fires through 3/16 like it isn't even there!  Biggest problem is that I am using those welding goggles, #10 I think.  They are WAY too dark, I can't see the lines I drew on the metal.  I was kinda going blind, but decided to cut out a pattern I drew for the center section of a guard for my gas tank fittings.  No problems, had it cut out in under a minute.  It isn't pretty though.  I need to practice the angle of the torch and my speed.  Also I may have still had the machine turned up too high.  For reference I was cutting 3/16's with the machine slightly under half power.

[CTENG in KS]

I can also adjust the air pressure at the machine as well, that might need some fiddling as I just started at the recommended settings in the directions.

Just to prove I am not a complete hack, here is the piece all cleaned up.

[79coyotefrg]

[CTENG in KS]

Thank you, you know if you don't have anything nice to say...

[skipnrocks]

Thank you, you know if you don't have anything nice to say...

Then wait till you leave right?   LOL


Plasma looks pimp man!   i want one!  It seems to make a real clean cut!

[kneedownnate]

I upgraded to a smaller setup, MUCH better quality.  This thing is QUIET! 

  You can potentially make any compressor quiet/quieter by making an intake muffler

Cuts will get better with practice for sure, look like torch cuts right now.  When I used a torch on a daily basis I was far and above the best cutter on the boat, but that's been a few years now so I'm outa practice.

[CTENG in KS]

The big difference is that the HF was running in the 3000RPM range, this one is 1750RPM max.

[kneedownnate]

I see.  How much did that one run?

[unclejpl4x4]

wow nice

so AJ what you gona make me

[fordh8r]

Do you have any filters or moisture traps from your compressor?  They will help keep crap outa your cutting which will make your cuts nicer too...     Looks good, I've been really enjoying mine too!   

[snowshoebrue]

i have the same style plasma and you need to make sure you have clean air.  it will cut good a couple times with the filter thats on the back of the machine but then it starts to screw up tips and not cut good.  you will want to get an air dryer to get the moisture out of it.   
i cut with co2 now instead of my air compressor.  you can get about 45 min of cutting out of a 20lb tank

[CTENG in KS]

Anybody got a line on a decent priced in line filter/ seperator?

I can't afford some expensive refrig. dryer so...

[skipnrocks]

I dont know but could you use an air filter of some sort, or maybe inline fuel filter?  Dont know if that would work or not, maybe too restrictive?

[CTENG in KS]

SO I looked up the plasma safety guide from OSHA or whoever and the recommendation for 40 amp cutter is a #5-6 eye shield. I am using #10 goggles.  No wonder I can't see sh-t.

[skipnrocks]

LOL thats 

[Duffil]

Anybody got a line on a decent priced in line filter/ seperator?

I can't afford some expensive refrig. dryer so...

you might try an inline filter/desiccant designed to go in front of a paint gun.  They work well and are fairly cheap.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/6ZC63

[CTENG in KS]

NICE!  Thanks!  You sure know lots of good stuff.

[skipnrocks]

u know what they say with age comes wisdom, and duffil has lots of wisdom!   

[Duffil]

NICE!  Thanks!  You sure know lots of good stuff.

u know what they say with age comes wisdom, and duffil has lots of wisdom!   

somebody's been lieing to you boys...

[skipnrocks]

Maybe its with age comes white hair and funky smells, and duffil has lots of white hairs and um the other thing um  !

[CTENG in KS]

Maybe its with age comes white hair and funky smells, and duffil has lots of white hairs and um the other thing um  !

Not nice to smell Duffil's...eeeeeeewwwww!!!!