[AnvilJack]

I am a bit slow. (I won't tell you this, but I didn't even know about portable metal-cutting band saws until I saw a thread in this forum about building stands for these animals... Bought one, love it, have some angle grinders and a chop saw sitting almost idle.).

I've longed for a plasma cutter, but there always seemed to be some technical trap that local agents couldn't answer. Now I've seen an ad for a Lincoln Plasma cutter with built-in compressor, a PC210.

Does this eliminate all the issues about "enough air" and "dry air", etc? Anyone use one?

Thanks.

[AKweldshop]

The built in compressor, I imagine, would eliminate your moisture problems....
But, the main drawback is, the largest machine you can get is a 115v 1/4 in max cutting capability....
So, they sound like the greatest thing since sliced butter....
John

[AKweldshop]

what have you guys heard about "oilless pump compressors????

[Tombstone]

I've never found the PC's with built in compressors to be "big" enough for anything but "lawn art" projects that the wife might make. To me, they're like buying a Nissan Sentra and trying to justify their use as a practical off-road vehicle in Moab, Utah.

[Antorcha]

1/4" looks slow but definitely do-able
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd1L_9nljdg

[noddybrian]

We have a Ranger diesel which has always been a good welder & I'm not anti Lincoln - but from what I've seen of that machine I'd avoid it like the plague ! - locally a rep managed to talk big & not too truthfully about that plasma & sold quite a few of them about a year back - I know several people that bought them & have spoken to many others - none of them are happy with it - several have gone back to Lincoln for refund or chopped in against something else - 2 workshops I know if the rep came back he'd not be walking out ! there are all sorts of claims on what it will cut - but real world is 5mm taken slowly & carefully - 3mm it's OK with when working correctly ( & reliability has been a major issue ) but half that on aluminum - also beware the supplied stand off conducts heat badly into the torch head if used on long cuts & destroys the head - this is not explained when buying & is not covered by warranty & has ruined one machine I know of - a replacement torch from Lincoln is more than a Cut 40 delivered to your door - the compressor will blow whatever moisture is in the air so is no different to using a separate one - it is also undersized & has virtually no reserve so when starting a cut you get a long delay between pulling the trigger & getting a proper cut ( you can plug an airline into the machine though if in your shop ) - add to this the consumables supplied in genuine Lincoln packaging is often inferior Chinese crap that does'nt work properly - they obviously know this is happening as if you manage to get Lincoln to send someone to look at your machine he always brings his own nozzles/ tips & changes them out - even if yours are new -& no - they don't even look the same - all in all if you have the budget go Hypertherm or Miller - if things are a bit tight go HTP / Everlast / Thermalarc - in my opinion - if your after a cheap hobby set then the Chinese sets actually work pretty well for the price & you can now get a Cut 40 with integrated compressor if that's your thing.

[AnvilJack]

Thank you.

That's one mishap avoided.

Appreciate your insight.