In reply to:

---

HMMMM, I haven't actually seen one of the combo units. Is there much capability lost to compromise?

---

Not that I have seen. But then, I havent used another plasma cutter prior to getting mine other than trying the same model out over at my buddies house so I am no expert on it. It does what I need it to do so am satisfied with it. I used it to cut a 1.5 inch bent bolt off a piece of equipment. Not something it was exactly designed for but it worked quite well though it took a couple of passes to cut all the way through.

It can be used as a touchless or dragging it. You dont need to touch it to the piece to strike the arc, which works quite well. I am VERY unsteady trying to freehand any cut. Looks like waves on the ocean and lots of grind time.

Post Extras:      

In reply to:

---

Just curious but does your handle, Goldchaser, relate to a hobby activity such as promoted by the Gold Prospectors Association of America? Been there, done that, had fun, but didn't change my tax bracket.

---

Hahaha....good guess, Pat. Yep....same as you...been there, done that and definately didnt raise my tax bracket. Actually, if you counted time, cash spent, equipment...I lost money. But gained alot of knowledge and had fun. Still have some of the equipment but dont get out to do much. So many restrictions now and hard to find a place to just pan a bit for fun where you have a chance of finding something. I actually own the internet domain of the same...Goldchaser.com. I have a basic webpage up there, just for a lark for now.

This plasma cutter I have is perfect for me. Enough power to do heavier cuts if needed and plenty for doing anything else. And its not too bad on the consumables either. I still havent run through the 1st batch of consumables I got with the machine. Not what was included in the box, bought an extra batch. If interested in something like it, let me know and I can PM you with his email address and link to his auctions. Not here to sell the things though, so no misunderstandings on that. But I can recommend the units and the service is great even if he is a friend, he takes service of the units his priorty. And he has good prices. I think he is now branding them with his own brand and specifications.

I dont use mine as much as I could, but my neighbor borrowed it for a few days to dismantle an old stock trailer. He raved about it when he brought it back. Trying to remember offhand but I do believe at full power it has a 60% duty cycle and at half power its at a 100%. Regardless, whether this or another type or brand, I dont know how I got along without it. And being able to do TIG welding with it, when I do have time and motivation to learn to do it, is a big plus without having to buy a seperate unit. Well, guess I have raved enough myself on it.

Post Extras:      

In reply to:

---

Note, I said didn't CHANGE my tax bracket! Neither up nor down.

---

Hahahaha, well, I likely did lose some money. So I guess you could say mine did change.

I thing I went out maybe a dozen times. I had a 4 inch dredge and a small packpack dredge, a drywasher, one of those spiral powered pans and other odds and ends. Got rid of the bigger dredge after a while. Too much work as far as I was concerned for an old fart like me. Still have the little backpack dredge and the spiral pan and the drywasher and such, though I havent used any of them in a couple of years now. I had planned on going up into the mountains this summer for a week of relaxation and doing a bit of prospecting, but it didnt pan out.

Since I really dont have time or inclination to go prospecting much anymore I am thinking of just selling what equipment I have off come spring except for maybe the spiral pan and a couple of pans. I dropped my membership a couple of years ago since I really wasnt using it anymore. About all I do now is do some metal detecting locally and thats about it. I have an older Garrett CXIII that I enjoy using. Found some pretty neat stuff with it.

REgarding eye protection, I guess if I just use a #4 or 5 I should be ok then with the plasma? I have been using my auto-darkening and like you, having a hard time seeing anything.
So am going to go get a #5 plate for my other shield. I still want to have the face protection. Even though most of any spatter is blown down by the airflow it does sometimes bounce back.

Dennis

Post Extras:      

In reply to:

---

row more beard! I have been using the plastic brazing goggles

---

I had replied to your post above, but it seems to have disappeared, anyway, what I had said was, I used to have a beard. Was doing a vertical weld and now I have a fair sized patch on my chin where hair wont grow. I was lucky there was a bucket of water handy. I ended up being called "Smokey" in the shop thereafter. So no more beards for me.

Dennis

Post Extras:      

In reply to:

---

Ah, burnt beard syndrome. A common problem among those of us with hair on our faces who DO NOT use a good OSHA approved fire retardant in aerosol or the HD cream version.

Some guys use the anti-splatter aersols but they aren't labeled for the purpose and aren't nearly as good.

Pat

---

Umm...well, I was a relative newby at the time...been almost 25 years ago at a small shop up in Montana. I was teased pretty good about it for a while. Then the guy who was the worst about it forgot to tie his bandana on top of his head one morning and set his hair on fire. Till I left that shop, me and that guy were known from then on as Smokey and the Bandit. You know how that goes.

Dennis

Post Extras:      

In reply to:

---

I suppose you changed most or all of the fluids as after 8 years of breathing in and out......

---

Pat, yea I did. I figure to put about 10 hours on it and then change them all out again. By then any crud that can be worked loose will be and then run it till warm and drain the engine and tranny, change out the filters again and I suppose change out the front axle oil as well. Then I think I will go ahead and repaint it. The paint has been weathered pretty good and there are a few rust spots.

I wont rub it in much to my friend. Just a little. I appreciate him giving this to me too much. I have been wanting one of these little tractors for a long time. And he gave me the front end loader for it as well as a finish mower and posthole digger that he had for it as well. Those had all been in a barn. But he could have sold those seperate if he had wanted to. So I owe him...alot more than he realizes. Never had anyone give me something like this. I mean, I have given away alot of things over the years. Some of it I guess you could say was valuable, maybe not to me. But I guess value of anything is relative. Like the old saying goes..."one mans junk is another mans treasure".

I dont think leadership in the military and leadership in civilian life are the same at all. You learn decision making skills in the army but you are supposed to be able to lead simply by the rank you wear on your sleve or shoulder. Of course they have the various leadership schools in the military, but the skills needed and used in the military are in many ways far different than those skills and abilities needed in civilian life. I was totally unprepared for the difficulties I faced when I took that first job.

That engine on the link looks fascinating. Something like that would be a trip to rebuild. I do envy you being able to get out on the ocean out there. The one thing I miss. My wife and I lived out in Isla Vista just outside Santa Barbara for a short time. It was just before I took that factory job. My cousin had talked me into going out there when I first got out of the army. He was an engineer out there. We loved the weather and being on the coast. Did alot of fishing and some boating. My cousin now runs a charter boat out of Santa Barbara. Typical californian boatnic I guess you could say. Its a different lifestyle out there. Everything seems to be alot more laid back out there.

Dennis

Post Extras:      

In reply to:

---

That is where the radical students burned down the Bank of America.

---

I do believe you are right. But at UC there, they were/are the majority. Downtown Isla Vista...3 or 4 Tofu palaces.. a cafe and a healthfood style mexican cafe........and dont even ask. (spew)

Post Extras: