Everlast PowerPlasma Complete Unbiased Review

[tctop911]

(Note: I had to re-create this thread due to the recent site crash. Hope you find it helpful.)

Greetings All,

Probably like so many of you, I decided to add a plasma cutter to my workshop and I've been doing a tremendous amount of research and comparisons. I will also preface this by saying that if money were no option, I likely would have invested in a Hypertherm or similar more recognizable brand. Realistically, they were just out of my affordability range so it was either go with a more reasonably priced option, or just do without.

Of the lesser expensive brands available, I continued to narrow my search down to either Longevity or Everlast. This was based on features, design, price, performance, and customer reviews. For my purposes, I further narrowed my required wishlist to a unit with IGBT technology and at least a 50 amp capability. I also liked the simplicity of the Tramifet style torch for local consumable replacement availability and design, as well as the ease of the european-style plug for quick attach/detach ability.

Ultimately, I decided to place an order with Everlast for the new PowerPlasma 50. I called them the Friday before last and placed an order with Alex. I found him to be very helpful and responsive, as well as Katya in their front office. By the end of the day, my unit was being shipped out via UPS and I had a tracking number in hand. After much anticipation, it arrived on my doorstep this past Friday.

Now, here is what I'm offering. After reading so many questionable exchanges and biased reviews on the internet, I will provide you with a complete written, pictorial, and video review of my experience with my Everlast unit, as well as Customer Service, etc. They did not know I was going to be doing this, so it will be a pleasant suprise (hopefully) for us all. Either way, I'm just a hard-working guy likely similar to you, who is trying to stretch his dollar a little further in today's economy, and yes, Tim the Tool Man is what most of our neighbors call us.

Here is the first video I will post in the series. If the link below doesn't automatically open, just cut and paste it in your browser window. You're seeing the machine for the very first time, just like me. I hope you find my thread helpful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HlWDymy-tE

[tctop911]

Customer Service Update:
As you can see from the video, my unit arrived with a cracked rear cover from shipping. On Saturday I sent an e-mail to customer service. Within a half hour (on Saturday mind you) I had a direct response from Oleg saying they would take care of it immediately and ship me a replacement panel on Monday. True to their word, I received an e-mail with the tracking number on Monday. This is great customer attention so far. I also want to point out this all took place before I started this post and evaluation.

[tctop911]

(I recieved some helpful and complimentary e-mails from Jimcolt, Brucer, and Powercat.)

Jim, thank you for the offer. I'd be willing to give it a shot, or provide any additional information I can. But really, PowerCat hit the nail right on the head. I'm most committed to the layman's perspective on this purchase and what they can expect from the machine and the company.

That being said, I'm still willing to learn and improve my skills along the way so your professional suggestions are always welcome. The kicker I've found is trying to hold the camera phone, flip down your helmet, and still try to cut a steady line along the way...

Please be patient. I have several more videos from that first night that I hope to upload later today. They'll show the interior of the unit, setup, initial power-up in real-time as I'm seeing it, and the torch in action with some test cuts, etc. Please feel free to offer suggestions or questions as I go.

Have a good night and be safe!

[tctop911]

(Here is the next video in the series.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAe6h..._order&list=UL

[tctop911]

While I had the cover off, and before I added power to the unit, I went ahead and did a thorough inspection of the unit and added air pressure to check for any internal leaks. I'm happy to report it was sealed tight and I found no air leaks at any of the fittings.

I would like to spend a few moments on the moisture separator. Though I have installed a separate, more industrial air dryer on my compressor, I did still want to install the original one on the back of the unit that came with it as an additional backup and for portability purposes.

I've seen other posts where people have discussed their frustrations with the holes of the bracket not lining up, etc. Though my holes matched, my plea to Everlast is to remedy this 10 cent bracket with one that's a little more substantial. The way it is currently designed (at least the one I received), you have to attach the bracket to the back of the unit first, so you will have screw clearance to attach the separator. Unfortunately, the plastic rear panel then binds against the separator, so you have to take it all apart again and try to add spacers, etc., to try and make it work. Even a slightly wider angle bracket would solve all these issues, but be careful with the screw lengths a the back of the video. I ground one down or it would have been contacting an internal transformer and present a possible hazard.

I'm sure I will redo this when my panel arrives, like others have, but you seem very interested in improving your product and this would be a simple replacement item to minimize frustration. (note: I did add the double hose clamps myself at the rear to insure a leak-free fit.)

Next video in series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty-4m...eature=related

[tctop911]

This next video will be the power-up phase. (Note: the manufacturer is still including a small 20amp plug in the zip-lock bag of parts. Throw it away! This should have a 50amp plug installed, which you can pick up at any Home Depot or Lowes for about $10 or so.)

One step closer to cutting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mJ2U...eature=related

[tctop911]

This next video shows some initial test cuts and performance of the unit. I hope to provide you with some better examples in the future. TC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg_Tywb7Lt0

[tctop911]

This is the last video in the series from the first night of trying it out. I'll figure out a way to free up my other hand from the camera and start doing some serious cuts. TC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8-76V08pn4

[tctop911]

This is the first time I've attempted a thread like this and my goal is that the effort ultimately assists someone with their decision-making process as they try to weed through all the confusing opinions and propaganda.

Forget all the fancy advertising and hype, we really just ask for our tools to perform when we need them to perform, and hopefully they save us time to commit to our leisure activities rather than creating additional stresses in our lives.

For the long haul, I am simply hoping I made the right decision and will be pleased with my purchase. Either way, I hold no allegience to any manufacturer and will certainly be honest with you on the good and the bad. No one should have to reinvent the wheel in this age of technology.

Overall, I'm pretty pleased so far and from most of what I'm seeing and hearing, Everlast seems willing to back their product and take care of their customers. Hopefully I won't have to contact them much, unless it's to place another order for a TIG.

For now, my new plasma cutter and my Hobart MIG are opening up all kinds of fun projects. I'm especially enjoying creating them with my son as we go. Maybe I'll get him to hold the !@#$ camera.

Take care and God bless.
TC

[tctop911]

________________________________________
Sorry for the delay, but I wanted to get a few more hours on the unit and give you an update. I've had the Pp50 for 2 weeks now and it seems to be working great. The potential issue with the post-flow timer not kicking off a couple of times has resolved itself. It hasn't missed a beat.

I'm truly blown away by the whole technology behind plasma cutting and the amazing accuracy and efficiency it provides. This truly is a precision device. I should also note the replacement rear panel arrived as promised. I swapped it out yesterday and made a new bracket for the moisture separator.

Here are a couple of pics of the cart I fabbed for my welder and cutter. Hope you like it.

TC
Attached Images

[eide]

TC,
Thanks for the opinions. I am in the market for a cutter, and because I can get by without one now, a cash outlay like this (albeit much less than a Thermodyne) is not to be taken lightly. Nice cart too. Great grinder, got the same one.

[Jason]

I feel even better and am more excited to get my unit after seeing all of this. I am surprised you cut that thick of metal when the 60A is rated at less than 1 inch. The cuts in your video do not look bad at all either. From spending time on the forum and such I can see that customer service should be fantastic if needed. Have you run into any other problems that you needed to contact someone about?

[tctop911]

Eide, I completely agree. I don't drop a lotta $$ without quite a bit of research any more. One nice thing about the web, among the other drawbacks, is the wealth of information (biased and unbiased) that you can gleen.

Jason, So far so good! I think you are gonna love your machine. Admittedly, I haven't had an opportunity to put as many hours on it recently as I would like, but for those I have, it seems to be running like a champ.

I find my skill and comfort level increasing by the minute. I have not had to contact Customer Service for any additional issues, but for the couple of times I did initially, they receive highest marks for responsiveness.

I will continue to post periodic posts on here for at least the first year or two, to give honest feedback to those in the middle of their research and decision process. For my machine, it seems to love that 30-35 amp range at 60 psi. Keep us posted on your experiences!

[Wrenchtamer]

Me too. I have the pp256 which has the 60 amp cutter with pilot arc. I keep it at sixty psi all the time and never had a problem. I have not actually had to use it that hot yet though. I think the thickest section I cut was half inch plate and it ccut that under forty amps.

[dgarnier]

what size compressors are you guys using?

[shawn]

you actually don't need a 50 amp plug for these units. my 60 amp cutter only pulls 31 amps at full load. i use my dryer plug to power my both my imig 200 and my power ultra 205 and i've only tripped it the 1 time i tried to cut 3/4" material and that was after cutting for about 3 minutes so i hit the duty cycle and popped the breaker

[performance]

Full load is not reached until you max out the cutting capacity with material. The unit will cut thicker material. What cutter do you have? Our powerplasma 60 pulls more than that.The fact you did trip the breaker tells me that it isn't sized properly. We don't recommend a dryer plug because 1) It does not meet code. If its a crow foot plug, it is usually only 30 amps. 2) It is confusing to wire if it is a 4 wire plug, and can cause damage if incorrectly wired.

[geezer]

you actually don't need a 50 amp plug for these units. my 60 amp cutter only pulls 31 amps at full load. i use my dryer plug to power my both my imig 200 and my power ultra 205 and i've only tripped it the 1 time i tried to cut 3/4" material and that was after cutting for about 3 minutes so i hit the duty cycle and popped the breaker

That is totally wrong thinking, you cannot create power out of nothing: As a rule of thumb the power required for a plasma regardless of make is 10 amps less than the power as advertised IE: a 60 amp plasma requires 50 amps input a 50 amp plasma requires 40 amp input. etc etc.

Why ...because the only way you can increase amps against input is to reduce voltage, the OCV voltage is 200+/- for plasma machines on a 240 volt circuit,,take that ratio and you get
240 divided by 200 = 1.2,,,,,,1.2 times the input of 50 amps gives you 60 amps of plasma power. Not an exact way of calculateing it but it works for me and the listed spec's confirm it. 70 amp plasma needs 60 amps and my 80 amps plasma needs 70 to hit max power.

[shawn]

i'm an electrician by trade and have the tools of the trade including an ammeter and i put the ammeter on my power ultra 205 when i turned it all the way up to try cutting the piece of 3/4" i had and all it registered was 31 amps. i'm pretty sure i can figure out how to wire a 3 wire or 4 wire dryer plug considering i've installed hundred of them.

now i don't have a powerplasma so i don't know what the nameplate says or what size cord is supplied but on my powerultra 205 i have a 12 gauge cord and my nameplates says 31.3 max amps

[geezer]

Well I cannot argue with your meter, however you stated that you a have 60 amp cutter on your machine and I was not aware the a powerultra was availble with a 60 amp cutter, the spec's state 50 amps. At a 31 amp draw I would expect the output to be near 40 amps. regardless of the capacity of the cutter. Measurements on both ends could help in solving this mystery. I still stick to my rule of thumb when somebody asks me what size of breaker do they need for a given amperage output on plasma. I tell them,,, plasma machine max amps less 10 amps give or take for the breaker.