I was at a demonstration today of the Multiplaz. This is a plasma cutter/welder that is portable, single phase and does not use gas. For welding it uses 50/50 methylated spirits and water and for plasma cutting, water only. No bottles. No gas. They welded a patch in the bottom of an ali beer can, joined 2 heavy sections of galv pipe with perfect penetration, repaired holes cut into an ali turbo charger, welded up a broken cast iron grate and welded some steel strapping on to RHS. Perfect welding on all grades of tubing.Perfect welds on rusty angle. It was developed for the Russian space projects where getting argon from aliens is always a mission. The plasma cutting works like a laser and only emits oxygen. Google it. We were all totally blown away. When you have bought one go to www.thekneeslider.com for motorbike tools you can make.
http://www.aptechnology.co.nz/ Have wondered how well a welder can do many jobs, sounds like these do it
That's a strange thing....looks like a cordless drill - someone who doesn't weld designed it I think, you have to hold it funny ways. Like the Henrob demos, perhaps some of it is in the operator. So how much?...?
More like a cordless drill than a Henrob to hold. It won't do stainless and would be slower than a MIG for long runs. But for a portable welder that combines oxy- acetelyene with arc welding and plasma cutting capabilities it is brilliant. It is super easy to use and very controllable so skills would be quick to learn however we all were qualified welders at the demo. I couldn't justify another welder in the workshop. It costs $3k + GST. The absence of bottle hire and gas savings would pay for it.
3 grand is the price of a MIG a TIG and a gas set....but then it covers all of them. You can even use it to solder joints. They were welding stainless in the video....but it almost seamed like soldering, same with the alloy welding. I like it, but still think it looks stupid.
The price of bottles and gas for all the above ain't cheap. I will still use TIG for any stainless as I would rather have it properly welded than soldered. The ali welding is kosher and is better than TIG. Best thing is portability and lack of on-going costs. Once it is bought, all you need is a selection of rods and an occasional bottle of meths. Doing a perfect weld on 10mm steel with single phase in one pass is pretty neat.
