Yeah I think I'm leaning back towards the Smiley unit. The thermal arc dragster looks like a overpriced HF Tig.

 

Thermal Dynamics and HyperTherm are the best plasmas on the market. HT consumables are the cheapest last time I bought some it was $15. Here a couple of TIG machines I would buy.

Lincoln http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Cat...eet.asp?p=9760
Thermal Arc http://www.thermadyne.com/evolution/...=99&pdtnbr=567
ESAB http://products.esabna.com/index.htm...tegory_id/4406

Oh yeah Thermal Arc is def not over priced HF bullshit. Its made by Thermal Dynamics

 

WTF? No, most smileys people are using are 40A plasmas. 35A would probably do about 1/4-3/8" cut.

 

My price range is 5-600. I was saying as the Dragster is like the harbor freight as it's a scratch start and the numbers are pretty much the same. Numbers are just a bit higher from the 220 I assume. Only thing positive is that it runs off of 110v and the numbers are almost the same. Plus the Thermal Arc name behind it instead of the HF reliability but hell HF never gave me a hassle returning things.

 

I own a smiley champ. They don't cut for ----. It barely gets through schedule 10.

 

Henry you can find some TA 185 Prowaves left over. Its the same thing as the new Arc Master and it costs less.

 

Dave what do you think of that Thermal Arc Dragster 85 I posted up? I'll just get a Plamsa cutter for my birthday in March. I searched for the 185 Powerwave but didn't find anything on ebay or anything with those parts in the name for under 1g. I've only got that much to spend so no dice on anything over that amount.

 

Did you check Craigslist? that way you can test it out.

 

One step ahead of you already. Nada. I'm thinking I'm gonna go with the TA Dragster.

 

Nice. Let me now how it runs. I used one for a minute tacking ---- up and fairly happy with the results.