Newb checking in from Texas

[Jay Gadsby]

Hey all,

New guy checking in from Killeen Texas. About to pull the trigger on a small table for the ole garage. I have a small plasma cutter that I am sure will be upgraded soon, but should get me started:)

I am currently a welding student, have a degree in Computer Aided drafting and Design, and also a retired Army mechanic.

I am looking forward to learning more and doing some cutting. I have some experience with a table at the schoolhouse, which is what got me hooked on cnc plasma. Thanks for reading!

[robertspark]

welcome

[djreiswig]

Welcome to the board. And thank you for your service.

[acourtjester]

Welcome aboard, run the table choice by the member here to see what the feel about it. Many good tables out the and few bummers.

[Jay Gadsby]

Right now I have my eye set on the 2x2 Delusional Designs Freedom setup with watertable. I currently have a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 42 which should be a good starter. This is kind of a side gig type thing, I hope. I am on a limited budget thanks to being a disabled veteran with two small kids and a wife beating the pants off of cancer. After talking to George, it is nice that the table has the capability of being upsized should I get to that point. I am open to suggestions in the same price range and size (I am working in my home garage for the time being. )

[djreiswig]

I am on a limited budget thanks to being a disabled veteran with two small kids and a wife beating the pants off of cancer.

Thanks for your sacrifice, and prayers for your wife for the strength to keep up the fight.

[Jay Gadsby]

I am on a limited budget thanks to being a disabled veteran with two small kids and a wife beating the pants off of cancer.

Thanks for your sacrifice, and prayers for your wife for the strength to keep up the fight.

Thank you for the prayers and it was an honor to have served.

[ColtDurr]

Welcome and thanks for your service. I also run a Delusional Designs setup, I would gun for a 4x4 at the very least! Very limited with a 2x2, I just hate buying things and wishing I wouldve got the bigger option. I woulve went with 4x8 if I had the room! with a 2x2 your gonna either be paying extra steel price for shearing sheets or alot of hand cutting them down.

[robertspark]

the problem with small tables 2x2 for instance is sheet size.... I mean cutting a sheet in half is fine.... but quarters can be a bug bear in my opinion YMMV....

also if you want to do something bigger you end up welding it all back together .... grinding it etc... when you could have just done 1 cut

I always suggest think about sheet size.... plus if you are buying offcuts as I mainly do 2'x2' is quite a specific small offcut

[ColtDurr]

the problem with small tables 2x2 for instance is sheet size.... I mean cutting a sheet in half is fine.... but quarters can be a bug bear in my opinion YMMV....

also if you want to do something bigger you end up welding it all back together .... grinding it etc... when you could have just done 1 cut

I always suggest think about sheet size.... plus if you are buying offcuts as I mainly do 2'x2' is quite a specific small offcut

I 2nd this ^^^^^^

My supplier charges $10 a shear, if you had to cut a 4x8 in half to get 4x4, then the 2 4x4 to 2x2s, thats 50 extra bucks In my math book. PER SHEET. 500 extra per 10 sheets, that 4x4 or 4x8 pays for itself within 40 or so sheets!

[Jay Gadsby]

Haha, ok ok.... I gotcha gents. Looking into the 4x4 with THC setup now, dont tell my wife lol. Soooo... clearly my little CM42 will be grown out of quick like, hoping to be able to use it to at least pay for the table difference. Is there any possibility of using the THC with the SL40 torch? Or machine torch is necessitated at that point? I've been working on drawings and need to get them into reality to make that cheddar. Thanks for the welcome guys. I am super excited to get cutting and start making things!

[ColtDurr]

Im of no help in this realm, I just bought a new hypertherm I dont know about any other other than HTP

[Jay Gadsby]

Gotcha. I will do some reading and post up in the cutter area. Thank you though!

[djreiswig]

I would think you could get the thc to work with your hand torch, depending on which thc you will be using. This may help.
https://www.plasmaspider.com/viewtopic.php?t=25029

[Jay Gadsby]

Woo! Table ordered! Delusional Designs Freedom 4x4 with water table and THC. Super excited! Gonna be a long 6 weeks lol

[Piechow]

Hello from another newb down the street in Liberty Hill!

Out of curiosity, what made you choose them?

Each time I click on thread, I see another table option in my price range... I've watched their videos on YouTube, not really sure why I haven't gone to their website. I guess I've been so fixated on trying to find a table I can easily pickup.

The ability to order the 4x4 and upgrade to the 4x8 is a game changer. My concerns is I'll run into issues with wasted material if I try to cut what I make from half sheets, not having the nesting capabilities of a full sheet, pieces I need cut overhanging that "halfway" point if you will. I've got it pretty well figured out using most of a sheet hand cutting. I'd hate to go back a step. I'd be back to hand cutting large pieces and just using the table for the occasional artwork, vs. using the table for "production". I'll need to figure out InkScape, or get back on Fusion 360 for some guestimations.


I can currently afford the 4x4 which is dangerous, but I know I'll want a 4x8.

[Jay Gadsby]

One of the Facebook groups I am in has a lot of information regarding their new setup (as compared to their old weld together tables) and it all seems pretty positive. Right now I am working out of my home garage till we find a home that will be able to accommodate a shop and such. That was my primary reason for a 4x4, but having the option to upgrade directly through a manufacturer is nice. All of the cutting I do at school on the table has been up close and personal to the one end of the table, meaning the first few feet, so typically I just grab a piece of whatever is behind the sheer and get cutting. I am sure at some point I will just want to be able to slap a 4x8 sheet on and call it a day, but I feel this is a good way to start at least.

I actually bought my camper in Liberty Hill from Cripple Creek, super nice guy and easy to work with. I hope you get what you are looking for!

[ben de lappe]

Lots of vets here and in cnc plasma in general. Welcome to the ranks! Got my start in fab in '89. For some unknown reason enlisted and decided to go into aircraft metals technology. Looking back door gunner would likely have been a better fit , however here we are. It was a great foundation for future business as the training received from the combination of two previously separate career fields, welding and machining was top notch. Many years later and armed with a full CMC license much like you decided to explore the possibilities and get into cnc plasma. It was the best decision of my life. Doors opened for me that I didn't even know existed in ways I could never have imagined. It wasn't quick, fast nor easy and took a lot of hard work and determination as I had never even seen a cad program. Fast forward once more, like you life throws many obstacles. Way too many to get into here, but without a shop and on the disabled rolls myself soon found the skills I gained in cad to be of immeasurable value as I now help people around the world with their files. Never know where learning something new will take you.

[Jay Gadsby]

Very nice! I actually went the opposite way. I have been doing drafting and design work since the 90s. Started out on AutoCad 12 back after completing my old board training for blueprinting. In the Army I was put in charge of quite a few welding shops during my career, as that is what my specialty lined up with for the most part. I enjoyed making things and am in touch or friends with damn near all my welders from my career. After getting a degree in Drafting, still had plenty of GI Bill left and decided to do welding. Start Advanced SMAW this week Hoping to marry together both the drafting and the welding and start really creating. My passion is cars/trucks/boats and such and I have recently gotten into BBQ grills actually. We made this one for a welding competition in Burnet earlier this year. I designed it all in AutoCAD and used the table at school to burn all the parts.

It came out pretty cool imo and I am hoping to make some more things like it. Anyhow, thanks for the words of encouragement and thank you for your service!

[Piechow]

I definitely can get on board with all the information on their website and all their videos on YouTube. I think a flat deck table would suit me better, maybe it wouldn't.