Everlast Power Plasma 70 quick review. December 2010.
The unit arrived two business days after ordered. The box and contents were immaculate. Nothing out of place, no damage.
It is a fairly heavy. I'd guess around 60 - 70 pounds. No shoulder carry strap on this machine. It makes the PowerArc 200 look miniature.
Included was a box of spare consumables, fuses, compressed air water trap/filter, power plug, and a pleasant surprise - a roller guide.
The power plug didn't fit any of my shop's outlets so a "dryer-type" plug was picked up at the hardware store. Wasn't expecting a plug anyway so that was a bonus of sorts. The 6.5HP air compressor is on a separate circuit 220V breaker so all is fine.
The water trap was appreciated but the mounting bracket for it was useless. A screw that screws into the case completely conflicts with a screw that screws into the water trap. It was easy enough to fab a mount out of some aluminum angle and then it went on perfectly. One would think that a workable mount would be a given. Maybe I missed something.
A brass close nipple and 90 degree elbow were put on the "in" side of the water trap to hold the included quick attach air hose fitting so it couples from the bottom. Less stress on the trap and mount than a horizontal hook-up. If an inline desiccant filter is used it will be put right there.
So the only extras needed for my application were a 220V clothes dryer plug, 3 inch piece of aluminum angle, and a couple of brass fittings. Total cost around $20.
The clear plastic air tubing from the trap to the input on the machine is attached by push connect fittings rather than the hose clamps pictured on the website. I would have replaced them with compression fittings and sleeves but the machine would have had to have been taken apart to change the input fitting on the case. Maybe it will be done later when, or if, the push fittings spring a leak. (Had enough of leaky push air fittings with Firestone RideRite air springs on my truck. They were all replaced with compression fittings.)
Finally got to test the cutting function out late in the day. What a beast! As common in plasma cutter reviews, it sliced through metal like butter - 5/8 inch bar stock was the largest that was handy and it made quick work of repeated test slices. Ran it at 70 amps and 70 psi as a max stress test. 1/8 inch plate was like writing with a ball point pen with 50 amps and 50 psi.
My O/A cutting skills were never very crisp and much time was spent grinding. That will be greatly reduced with the sharp edges and smoothness of the plasma cuts. Straight lines are much more accurate and chalk is much easier to follow.
The included Chinglish instructions were completely worthless. The *.pdf download from the Everlast site was old and approximate at best. Fortunately, the operation is rather intuitive. The photo and features on the Everlast website were accurate - except for the air supply connections as noted above.
Wire guides are listed as available for the PP 60 but none are listed for the PP 70. As a beginner to plasma cutting, a wire guide would be nice to have been included. Slightly canting the torch was too easily done without noticing. However, it was not that difficult keeping the correct distance from the work - similar to long-arching with 60xx.
The stinger is rather bulky and heavy so, even when holding it with the off hand, it is restrictive. It slipped out of my hand once and jerked the torch, ruining the perfection of the cut. Practice is needed.
With a five year warranty this plasma cutter should outlast me at my age.
OK, so it didn't turn out to be a quick review. Posted on Welding Web, Tractor by Net, and Everlast Forum for those considering an Everlast unit.
