Tool Reviews

What makes a clean cut on square tubing A plasma cutter can make a clean, square-tube cut quickly, but the machine alone won’t guarantee a square, burr-free end. Results depend…

Why use a plasma cutter on rusted fasteners? A plasma cutter can remove a seized nut or bolt faster than drilling it out, especially when the fastener is large, the…

Choosing a plasma cutter for thin galvanized steel Thin galvanized sheet is easy to distort, and its zinc coating creates hazardous fumes when heated. A plasma cutter can make quick…

Hand-cut metal art puts different demands on a plasma cutter than production cutting does. You need a steady arc at low speed, a torch that is easy to steer around…

Why Stainless Grating Is Hard on Plasma Cutters Stainless steel grating looks like mild steel grating, but it cuts very differently. You are not making one long straight cut on…

Why a 30-Amp Circuit Limits Your Choices A 30-amp circuit is the most common 240V circuit in a home shop. It's what most dryers, large compressors, and welders run on,…

What matters in the field Repairing a cracked implement bracket or cutting a seized bolt in a farmyard is different from cutting clean sheet in a shop. You need a…

What a cutter needs to do Cutting 3/8-inch steel plate is within reach of many 40- to 50-amp plasma cutters, but the rating on the box does not tell the…

Match the cutter to the generator A plasma cutter’s advertised cutting thickness is only part of the buying decision for mobile work. The machine also has to start and run…

Choosing a plasma cutter for small parts For small CNC-cut steel parts, a plasma cutter needs to do more than pierce thick plate. It must hold a steady arc at…