Advanced Consumables for Plasma

[MikeLorrey]

http://www.thermacut.com

We supply torches and consumables for all major plasma cutters. Check out our website for our online catalog and spec sheets.

[Henrob Jim]

Some one from the MM site had sent me an email question, I hit delete and itis gone please resend the question.

[MikeLorrey]

The Henrob is an oxyacetylene torch. Your advertising is misleading:

Oxyacetylene flame temperature ranges from 3000-4000 degrees. A plasma arc operates from 30,000-50,000 degrees. There is quantitatively and qualitatively no way for the Henrob to "cut like plasma" with oxyfuel given these temperature differences.

If you want more facts about plasma, or just a quote, try 800-932-8312.

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Mike, I completely agree that the Henrob/Dillion/DCH whatever is an OA device. I've owned and used one for 6 years. I'll have to take your word for the temps and stuff, I don't have a clue, I just know it works. I also have a Miller 625 Plasma Cutter.

In the "RIGHT HANDS", the Henrob will indeed cut at least as nice as my Plasma. And it will cut much nicer at the 'sever' thicknesses of my 625 which is 1/2". I've even cut 3/4" with the Henrob with less pretty results but the 625 won't touch it. Therefore I don't think the advertising is misleading at all.
Now, for the qualifications. The Henrob takes some practice and experience to be proficient with it. A chimp can operate a plasma with a drag tip and the plasma cuts at a faster inches/minute.

For the past couple years I used the Henrob frequently to cut long angles in 1/4"-1/8" rectangular tubing for legs. As I said eariler, it takes some experience to make a nice cut and I was unable to get my son to master it quickly so I got the 625 and made a template so he could cut the legs and free me up to do other things.

In addition to cutting, the Henrob is a dandy little torch for welding. Again, takes some practice to master.

If I could only have ONE cutting/welding tool, it would certainly be the Henrob and it does indeed, "cut-like-plasma". Certainly, the process is different but the result is what is important imho.

[Henrob Jim]

The Henrob is an oxyacetylene torch. Your advertising is misleading:

Oxyacetylene flame temperature ranges from 3000-4000 degrees. A plasma arc operates from 30,000-50,000 degrees. There is quantitatively and qualitatively no way for the Henrob to "cut like plasma" with oxyfuel given these temperature differences.

If you want more facts about plasma, or just a quote, try 800-932-8312.

Mike,

I am not trying to be a smarta$$ so please do not take it that way,

Please send me an address and I will send you a piece of metal that has been cut with the Henrob/DHC 2000 and you will see the quality of the cut first hand.

If you have never seen it cut you should not dis-credit it or me by making the above statement.

It is not the same process however it gives VERY SIMILAR results which is what the customer cares about not HOW.

It DOES cut steel up to 1 inch thich as good or as some of my customers say, BETTER than their plasma cutter.

The flame temp is 5880 - 6300 deg.F of a conventional torch and 600-900 deg.F higher with the Henrob/DHC2000 torch due to it's advanced mixing chamber.

See
http://www.encyclopedia.com/searchpool.asp?target=@DOCTITLE%20oxyacetylene%20t orch
and
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/AnthonyCheedie.shtml

The flame does not cut the metal so the flame temp is kind of irelavant the oxygen reacts with the ferrite in the steel @ around 1000 deg.F and basically oxidises the metal at tempratures of around 10,000 deg.F
With that said the oxygen is doing the cutting,not the flame.

Have you never seen a torch cut metal and the flame be extinguished and the cut keep taking place?

[Tisdelski]

hi mike,
your comments about jim making misleading claims is just wrong!!! i have been able to make cuts with the henrob that were every bit as good as a plasma. next time you call someone out on the carpet maybe you should actually have knowledge of both the processes you are comparing.
gary

[Avalonjr]

In a pinch, if my cutting torch isn't handy, I'll cut steel with a regular torch tip by just getting the metal red hot and then cranking up the O2 supply. It will cut.

The beauty of the Henrob is the narrow flame and narrow O2 cutting stream. The kerf is quite small and clean. It definitely cuts more cleanly than my regular cutting torch.

Frankly, I like the Henrob better than the Plasma torch. The best feature in addition to its clean cut is the low cost of consumables. I can buy a lot of O2 for the cost of the cups, tips and electrodes. Electricity isn't free either.

[MikeLorrey]

hi mike,
your comments about jim making misleading claims is just wrong!!! i have been able to make cuts with the henrob that were every bit as good as a plasma. next time you call someone out on the carpet maybe you should actually have knowledge of both the processes you are comparing.
gary

Did not intend to raise hackles, but coming from the machine cutting side of the world, I look at the accuracy of the cut, the tightness of the kerf edge (90 degree edge with our SilverEX electrodes), as well as the cutting speed. How many inches per minute are we talking about? I'm sure the Henrob can do some quite beautiful work, but can it cut that beautiful cut as accurately or as fast as plasma?

[Avalonjr]

No hackles raised here, just providing some feedback.

For me it comes down to quality for price. If I can afford it and justify it, it is in my toolbox. If it does great work, but it's price isn't justified, then it isn't in my shop and of no use to me. I won't be cutting thick metal very often, so there isn't any point in spending $3K for a high amp plasma cutter when a Henrob "Cuts-like-Plasma" and I already have one.

Just my 2c

[kustomizingkid]

I am planning on buying a Hnrob for many reasons. Its cheaper and it can heat, weld, and cut metal. Try doing that with a plasma.


Brandon McCarthy

[Boogiemanz1]

Mike, Jim is a very experienced operator. I have seen him do things with a torch that I would not attempt with a plasma One of our members took a piece that had cut out of 3/4 in steel home to Canada with him. His buddys mistook it for a piece of a gear.

If you set up a henrob on a gantry table like a plasma, it would not meet the speed on thin metal, but it will exceed the thickness that can be cut, and the quality is as good. Look at Jim's site for a price comparison, for the work it can do you will be amazed.

I do appreciate the offer to compare consumeables prices, and your participation on the site....................john

[Kerry Pinkerton]

... How many inches per minute are we talking about? I'm sure the Henrob can do some quite beautiful work, but can it cut that beautiful cut as accurately or as fast as plasma?

Mike, you may not have intented to raise hackles but your comment was pretty confrontational. You could have phrased it much more diplomatically.

I cut about twice as fast with the Miller 625 as I can with the Henrob. But then I have to beat the slag off the plasma so I'm not sure there is much difference on 1/4" stuff. The cut is actually better with the Henrob. Consumables are MUCH less and the Henrob uses precious little OA. Plus the Henrob is more portable because it isn't tethered to the air line and 220 cord.

Accuracy is totally the responsibility of the operator I'd think. It's actually easier for me to follow a line freehand with the Henrob because I can see the flame and the line which is much more difficult with the plasma (especially with a drag tip.)

I don't think there is any question that if someone was doing a lot of cutting, a plasma would be a better dedicated choice. However, for MANY folks who cannot afford a $1000+++ plasma, the Henrob is a great alternative. Not as fast certainly but of similar quality, MUCH less price, and many more features including the ability to weld steel, aluminum, cast iron, copper, etc nearly as well as a TIG.

Getting back to your original comment. IMHO, "cut-like-plasma" is not misleading at all. It will certainly give results just as good as a plasma cutter. Further, you can compare different plasma cutters and get a wide range of speed and quality results. Certainly, a top-of-the-line plasma will outperform the Henrob but you're talking apples and pineapples. And don't get me wrong, I love my plasma, but the Henrob is an amazing machine.

[Henrob Jim]

Mike,

Not to be arguementative but,

It is not fair to make direct comparisons in relation to plasma vs Henrob/DHC 2000 as such.

How does Laser or Water Jet compare to Plasma or even the Henrob/DHC?

With the exception of cutting metal,They do not.

On this site I see people trying to learn abut what is there on the market and what paticular tool applies to their situation,aquisition cost ,cost of operation, and cost of labor in production applications are all considerations that have to be made and most of the persons on this site are not in production situations and what I sell is much more affordable and portable than plasma,laser,waterjet,etc.

If money was no object I would own a laser to cut metal,LOL

As a person on this site that is an active member I do sell products to our members and hope to share information with others as I am learning to shape metal from some very fine and talented individuals and hope I can help others in a reciprical fashion with what knowledge I do posses about welding,cutting and the DHC2000 torch.

Selling products is now secondary for me, when I first attended a metalmeet event 3 yrs ago it was just to sell,

Now I am am hooked along with my Wife and 14 year old son.

Are you planning on attending any Metalmeet events?

If you like metal you would love getting involved.

If you have further negative comments please send me an email or call me personally as I prefer to not to addres any differences you may have with me or perceptions you have about my advertising on this site as it is an educational site, not a place to basically split hairs on such subjects.

You probably have great products to offer to Metalmeet members as do I,
so let's learn AND sell, there is enough out there for everyone.

Best regards and a very merry CHRISTmas and prosperous new year to ALL!