[Shop-talk] Air line driers---WAS Plasma cutters

[Tim]

Since the subject of "dry air" has come up, let's talk about compressor line driers. At some point I would like to learn how to paint my own cars, but for now, I am not in need of a line drier that good/nice/expensive. 

What I really need right now (well, this coming spring/summer) is a fairly affordable line drier for my compressor. I have a 80 gallon Porter Cable unit that works well enough for what I have used it for so far. 

Recommendations with web site links would be great! I live in Southern WI so we get pretty humid here in the summer. 

Thanks!

Tim
Dairyland Datsuns
---- john niolon <jniolon at bham.rr.com> wrote: 

=============
Moose,
plasma cutters are handier than a shirt pocket... you can buy cheap and 
expensive... I have an old Plasmark  with a transformer...that will handle 
up to a 1/4".  it's as big as a dog house and weighs a ton (but it's on 
wheels) new ones have an inverter and are lighter and cheaper... check ebay 
or craigslists for those... basically you need the machine and DRY 
compressed air... the tips are considered 'consumables' and they do make 
drag tips so the gap is constant...  it's basically a point and click 
operation... straight edges make it nice doing long straight cuts... cutting 
hose length is important... more is better 15-20' is nice.  if it's less 
than 10' you can't move around much without moving the unit. between $600 
and a grand you can find one that will cut clean thru 1/2 and 'hack thru' 
larger diameters...  ifn' it were me, I'd look for a used unit of the old 
style... but Miller/Lincoln/China make some really affordable portable units 
that will serve you well in a 'home owners' mode... high production work 
needs the big boys name on it.

john
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <eric at megageek.com>
To: <shop-talk at Autox.Team.Net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 10:56 AM
Subject: [Shop-talk] Plasma cutters


> OK,  I'm looking to buy a "thumb" for my back hoe.  While it is expensive
> to buy,  I realized that this is an easy piece to make, failing one
> thing...  I don't have a good way to cut heavy steel. (1/4" plate or
> better)
>
> I don't know much about plasma cutters, but I'm willing to learn.  With
> the cost of this thumb, I could justify getting a good cutter and making
> my own.
>
> What do you need for a cutter besides the torch?  Are they hard to learn?
> Any special skills I need?
>
> I'm just gathering information at this time.  So I'm looking for any and
> all suggestions on buying one and what I need to do to learn it.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Moose
> "Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a rational
> being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your territory." Ralph
> Waldo Emerson
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