Where is John located?
they are both spoken for, unless the viewing does not go well.
I'd need something that would at least cut 1/2" steel plate, preferably 1", and ideally 2". Farm stuff is BIG.
Chinese 50 amp will have no issues with 1/2. It struggles with 3/4. There is no chance it will cut 1".
If you need 2" you need acetylene setup or propane + oxygen.
Just price out a Lincoln Tombstone 225AC....... Like everything else, they've gone up in price.
I've been watching auctions for a while. You can get one every now and then for less, but typically off farms where they have been 'utilized-heavily'. I think the price(s) are fair.
Well, as I said the minimum is 1/2" so if 50 will do that then it sounds like a plan to me.
I have an acetylene torch now and I have used it all the way up to cutting railway track into chunks. But it seems my OxyA cutting is almost as bad as my welding. I'd like something cleaner.
Edit - btw, oxy map is WAY better than Oxy Propane.
Yes it will do 1/2. It really excels at 1/4 and under where cut is nice and clean. For 1/2 you have to go slow and cut no longer is "perfect". For 3/4 you basically are at "it will eventually cut it" with tons of spatter and garbage cut.
I think Chinese put the limit on it at 10mm and 15mm sever. But they advertise 20mm cut and 25mm sever (!)
For a little more $$$ you can get bigger versions that are 60amps or maybe more. I expect 60 amp version to be cleaner at 1/2" but I would be shocked if it severed 1" plate over say 10" cut - at least on 1 pass.
I have the same Thunderbolt welder for 30 years still runs like a charm. $250 is a fair price