Tool Reviews

Uneven wear in a plasma cutter’s consumables can show up as a crooked cut, a wider kerf, extra dross, or an arc that wanders. Replacing parts at random may get…

Thin sheet warps because plasma cutting puts a lot of heat into a narrow area. The cut edge expands, then contracts as it cools; if the sheet cannot move freely…

A plasma cutter that powers up but will not start an arc often has a simple cause: poor work-clamp contact, a worn consumable, low air pressure, or a setup that…

What torch height control does CNC torch height control (THC) adjusts the torch-to-work distance while a cut is underway. It reads arc voltage as a rough measure of that distance:…

Drag cutting means keeping the plasma torch’s tip in contact with the metal as you move it. It is useful for hand cutting thin sheet and for following a line…

Dross is the rough, fused metal left along the bottom edge of a plasma-cut part. A small amount is normal, especially on thicker mild steel, but heavy dross wastes time…

Cutting thick steel with a plasma cutter in one pass is not always practical. A machine may be rated to sever 1 inch, for example, but that rating usually assumes…

A plasma cutter needs a solid electrical return path just as much as a stick or MIG welder. The ground clamp connects the workpiece back to the cutter, completing the…

Correct air pressure is one of the simplest ways to extend plasma-cutter consumable life. Too little pressure can produce a weak, unstable arc and excessive dross. Too much pressure can…

Choosing a plasma cutter by its maximum amperage alone is a common way to buy the wrong machine. Amperage affects how quickly and cleanly a cutter can sever metal, but…