Tool Reviews

What plasma cutting gloves need to do Plasma cutting gloves have to handle more than heat. A cut leaves sharp burrs and hot slag, and moving a plate can expose…

Why low-amperage TIG is hard to see Low-amp TIG can be harder to follow through a helmet than a bright, steady arc. Thin sheet, small tubing and tack welds may…

Choosing Plasma Torch Leads for Large Fabrication Projects Large fabrication work exposes the weak points in a plasma cutter’s torch lead. A short factory lead may be perfectly adequate for…

A plasma cutter’s nozzle is a wear part, but short life is often a sign of a setup problem rather than a bad consumable. The nozzle’s orifice shapes the arc;…

Beveling steel plate with a plasma cutter is faster than grinding or oxy-fuel cutting, but the cutter must have enough power to maintain a clean arc while the torch is…

What built-in air actually means A plasma cutter with an onboard compressor can save space and setup time when you work away from a shop air line. Plug in the…

What to Look For in a Budget Plasma Cutter For home metal fabrication, a plasma cutter should make clean, repeatable cuts without requiring a commercial air system or a 240-volt…

What a cutter needs to do Cutting 1/4-inch aluminum plate is within reach of many 40-amp plasma cutters, but the amperage printed on the case does not tell the whole…

What matters for CNC torch height control A plasma cutter can cut by hand and still be a poor match for a CNC table. For torch height control (THC), the…

Choose for the steel you actually dismantle A plasma cutter can separate scrap faster and with less heat spread than an oxy-fuel torch, but the right machine depends on the…