Tool Reviews

A plasma cutter’s consumables are the small parts that shape the arc and protect the torch: the electrode, nozzle, swirl ring, retaining cap, and sometimes a shield cap. They wear…

Small holes are harder to cut cleanly than they look. A handheld plasma cutter can pierce and cut them quickly, but the torch’s arc, nozzle size and your hand movement…

Aluminum is easy to cut with a plasma torch, but clean edges depend on more than turning up the amperage. Too much dross usually points to a mismatch between cutting…

Choosing an air compressor for a plasma cutter is mostly a question of whether it can supply enough air continuously at the pressure the cutter requires. Tank size matters, but…

Before You Cut Expanded metal cuts easily with a plasma torch, but its open pattern creates a different problem from cutting solid plate: the arc repeatedly crosses from metal to…

Kerf taper is the angle between the top and bottom edges of a plasma-cut part. A cut with little taper has nearly parallel walls. A cut with excessive taper produces…

Why plasma consumables wear out A plasma torch’s electrode and nozzle (often called the tip) work as a pair. The electrode carries the arc; its hafnium insert gradually erodes. The…

Why rust disrupts the arc Plasma cutters need a clean electrical path to start and maintain an arc. Rust, mill scale, paint, oil, and flaky corrosion can interfere with the…

How to Prevent Excessive Dross When Plasma Cutting Some dross is normal when plasma cutting, especially on mild steel. The goal is not always a perfectly clean edge; it is…

Aluminum oxide is the thin, hard film that makes aluminum TIG welding more difficult than steel. Aluminum itself melts at about 1,220°F (660°C), while aluminum oxide melts at roughly 3,700°F…