Tool Reviews

A straight plasma cut depends as much on how you guide the torch as on the cutter itself. A suitable guide keeps the torch at a steady distance from the…

A plasma cutter that still makes an arc but cuts slowly, leaves heavy dross, or fails to get through material may have a worn consumable, restricted air, a poor work…

What plasma consumables do A plasma torch cuts by forcing an electric arc through a small opening in the nozzle while gas carries the hot plasma to the work. The…

Cutting thick steel with a plasma cutter is less about forcing the torch through and more about matching the machine, consumables, air supply, and travel speed to the job. A…

What a Handheld Plasma Cutter Can Do A handheld plasma cutter can follow curves in sheet and plate far more easily than a chop saw, but the cut is only…

A foot pedal gives you live control over welding current while you work. Press it farther to add amperage, ease off to reduce heat, and release it to stop the…

What plasma torch standoff means Standoff is the distance between the torch’s cutting tip and the metal. Set it too high and the arc spreads, leaving a wider kerf and…

Why Air Pressure Matters on a Plasma Cutter Plasma cutters need clean, steady compressed air to create the plasma arc and cool the torch. Pressure that is too low produces…

TIG welding a butt joint in thin aluminum is mostly a heat-control problem. The arc needs enough energy to fuse both edges, but the sheet can soften, buckle, or melt…

AC balance is the welder’s main control for shaping the cleaning action and penetration when TIG welding aluminum. Many machines also offer AC frequency, measured in hertz (Hz). Frequency changes…