what mask for plasma cutter??

Post by **pcman** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:37 pm

just brought myself a second hand plasma cutter and it didnt come with a mask

what type should i get?

im also looking at getting a auto helmet for mig welding so should i get an ajustabel one so i can select the darkness for mig and ajust it for plasma ??

Post by **antt** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:40 pm

i just wear oxy goggles

Post by **rainsey** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:51 pm

Pcman,

I just purchased an auto darkening helmet last week from all places Bunnings... $145.

Bloody fantastic, I should have bought one years ago for my welding.

It has a dial on the side and has settings for PAC - Plasma Arc Cutting.

The helmet does light to dark in 1/25000s and back again in .25 sec and is variable shade from DIN 9 to 13.

The mig settings are from DIN 10 to 14 and the Plasma cutting settings from 11 to 13. Never done Plasma cutting but from a MIG perspective, especially when your head is between a guard and front hub assemble... worth its weight in gold.

Cheers

Rainsey

Post by **4x4Monkey** » Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:39 pm

just pick up a cheap set of oxy goggles with the flip lense
also if u have never done plasma cutting befor
go out and by a shit load of tips cos for the first few goes u will melt many
aim to keep its about half a finger nail above the surface of the metal
make sure u have like a sand drop tray or molten metal drips and spays back up and into ya boots

Post by **OVERKILL ENG** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 7:39 am

I use an auto darkening helmet but don't turn it on.Allows you to see the mark or line easier. A lot of self darkening helmets don't have an on switch so don't use one of those.
Mine is a Miller elite series helmet.

Post by **Modified Toy** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 8:17 am

I was told to use a welding mask as oxy goggles are not good enough to protect your eyes for the long term.

Post by **bru21** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 9:02 am

i have used dark sunnies which are marginal for light duty where you are not looking at the arc but directly above it, but oxy goggles are ok but a little dark. they areshade 5 i want shade 3 but its is an order in thing. i would seriously reccomend goggles as you often get spray on your face from either starting thick plate and spraying up (should start at an angle but sometimes you are not alinged to the grooove you think you are) and cutting upside down under the truck, cutting fully around chassis tubes etc

cheer bru

Post by **pcman** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:04 am

cheers guys i recon ill grab a set of oxy goggles for now then when finances permit get myself a auto helmet

Post by **jeep97tj** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:59 am

If u have a auto darking helmet with no off switch just put a piece of gaff tape across the solar things

That bunnings helmet sounds cool though.

Post by **matthewK** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 11:45 am

christ when i worked at olivetti Engineering all i used was dark saftey glasses so did all the other boiler makers

but if you want to be super safe at home just use oxy googles

Post by **familybus** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 3:22 pm

who cares what you get just buy it in your locality!

Post by **sierrajim** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 3:30 pm

I've never used a mask or goggles with the plasma cutter

Post by **sudso** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 3:41 pm

Modified Toy wrote:I was told to use a welding mask as oxy goggles are not good enough to protect your eyes for the long term.

You're right. The UV intensity from a plasma cutter arc can be almost as much as a mig or arc welder. This is if you are looking directly at the arc though, most of the time the arc is shielded by the nozzle.
I use a shade 9 lens in my welding mask, the light emitted from the plasma arc is usually enough to see the guide line. If it's a straight cut I just clamp a guide on to the work.

If your eyes feel like they've got grit in them after you been plasma cutting, usually hours afterwards, you've "sunburnt" your eyes (welding flash)

Post by **pcman** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 4:38 pm

familybus wrote:who cares what you get just buy it in your locality!

i deserved that

Post by **rainsey** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:17 pm

Hey pcman...

while we are on the topic I have been interested in plasma cutters to cut up my new rear bumper / tow bar / wheel carrier....

Would it be rude to ask what type and how much to get a ball park figure as to what I am in for?

Cheers

Rainsey

Post by **4x4Monkey** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:29 pm

oh The pain of Fash Back

its hits u in the dark of night and feels like 2 bags of sand was dumped into ur eyes

and its lasts to a good 2 days and theres nothing you can do about it

Post by **pcman** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 7:04 pm

rainsey wrote:Hey pcman...

while we are on the topic I have been interested in plasma cutters to cut up my new rear bumper / tow bar / wheel carrier....

Would it be rude to ask what type and how much to get a ball park figure as to what I am in for?

Cheers

Rainsey

umm you are all gonna wanna kill me but i brought it from ebay for 250bux
its a thermal dynamics pakmaster 25

older i think its a early 90's but it still works fine max cut it says is 6.4mm but ive cut 10mm with it not pretty but it does it slowly

no idea about retail pricing but big bux like 1000+

Post by **rainsey** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:46 am

$250.. bloody bargin.. I am jelous.

Last one on ebay I saw was $600 and rising.

Cheers

Rainsey

Post by **bru21** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 8:37 am

mine was around 2k. uni plas 401. bulky but will last a lifetime

Post by **4sum4** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 8:53 am

I used to use a full face shaded mask but still got a spot flash and now a auto darkarning helment from ebay $79 and there got a cool skull helment now for $99

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what mask for plasma cutter??

what mask for plasma cutter??

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