Plasma Cutting Basics: How to Get Clean, Straight Cuts

A warm welcome to the world of thermal cutting.

Plasma cutting is one of the best ways to cut material into a variety of shapes. Let's quickly go over a few aspects of safety, how machines work, consumables, settings, travel speed and technique to help you get the best possible results.

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[StephanE-icrh]

Great video. Short & sweet with no unnecessary chatter. I love it when someone just gets to the point!

[jackrichards]

Recently bought a cutter home with me and went in search of some know how. Though I have used one previously it was not a happy experience. I watched a few videos and read some instructions all helped not much, and then I got lucky finding this video. Some semi secret info you might figure out after a large pack of consumables? For me that is the information someone can easily tell you. Well for everybody that watches this here is some very useful information that will start you off in good steed with your new Plasma. A valuable instructional guide in video format. Thank you TimWelds !

[foxtrot]

I had no idea there was a clean cut side to the plasma torch, I'm running a Hypertherm 30xp as well so I'll keep an eye out for it, great video!

[davidfishferrell]

I’m a burning specialist at a shipyard, I have a hyper therm 105 and a 125. I use the 125 90° of the time. If you set your amp right and cut at the right speed it will look like a mirror without any slag. If you have a lot of slag you’re cutting to slow or to hot, but mostly to slow. I use a piece of 2” angle as a guide for straight cuts

[patrickfreeman]

God bless you, sir, for your editing. Your videos are to quick and to the point without a lot of ums and ahs that just make it drag on. Whomever is doing your editing deserves a raise

[kennethwhite]

Hi Tim, I have watched a number of your videos over the past 6 months or so. I am a hobbyist and fabricate and repair things here on our farm. My most ambitious projects are fabricating gates and a metal cage draped with sunscreen to sit under and enjoy looking out over the farm. Before started my projects I watched your videos on MIG welding, stick welding is not for me at all. Using your tips and recommendation you can see how I have improved as these projects moved along. Thank Tim, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[CameronE.]

Really helpful, I wasn't aware that guides could be used to straighten your hands. I've always had trouble with keeping my hands nice and steady, and I've had pretty poor cuts. This is a big help for sure.

[jeytex]

Your simple delivery of information is grand ! Thanks you !

[bonzita]

Crank it up and just adjust the speed - best advice ever

[zamzgluf]

I am doing a lot of freehand artsie type cutting. I found that using a roller guide wheel attachment allowed me to get far better and smoother cuts when I'm following a curved line mark. I have a Hypertherm XP30 and other than the circle guide, they do not seem to make a rollerguide for their machines. I bought a cheapo from Amazon and had to modify it to work with the XP30

[glennh]

I'm just off to buy a Plasma cutter and I thought I better check in and get all 'knowledged up'.. Thanks mate. 😁🍻

[robertboyd]

Thought it was a great exhibit of the simple things that matter very much. I may have missed it but I don't recall hearing anything about air dryers which I believe and have been taught are a crucial add-on to any plasma cutter to increase the lifespan of the unit

[maxw]

I didn't know about one side having a better cut. I'll have to test. Thanks!

[cleanmachine]

Got a plasma cutter a while ago. Learned most of the tips and tricks in the video the frustrating and expensive way lol

[browsebywire]

This video is great. I totally need to get one of these. I can't believe how cheap they have become. My only thing is, it was confusing that Tim said the machines cut better on the "right" side, while from the vantage point of the user it's simply the left side ofbthe cut, when dragging towards you. Eh, good to know though.

[guillermonieri]

Thank you very much. Your information will be very helpful, at least to me; I have tried cutting with my plasma cutter, very unsuccessfully, but I can see after paying attention to your video that I have been making a number of mistakes in my process.

[samuelkatherinediozarago]

Some other tips:
-DRAG tips usually have channels or slit cuts.

-IF you have a pilot hole you won't wreck consumables and tips due to blowback.

-DRY air is extremely important. Wet air ruins tips very fast.

-MAKE sure all fittings are tight else torch can get damaged or tips get worn prematurely.

-IF it is not a drag tip you'll have a guide which keeps specific distance from the tip and the cutting part, don't loose that and keep spares of it.

-Electrode and cutting tip quality matters.

-The more the tip is used the bigger the hole will get hence depending on machine may need more power.

- Make sure cut surface is as clean as possible as you don't want to inhale evaporated solvents which can instantly knock you out.

-Do make a plasma cut table with slit cuts to hold the work and prevent blowing sparks back. Preferably fill it with sand if possible.

-DO NOT cut when there a completely flush item behind what you are cutting, it will cause blow back and you will ruin tip and will have shower with molten Slag/metal

-DO NOT cut over the concrete. It will mark it and if you have epoxy coating you will burn it.if concrete is wet it may cause Spalding and can cause damage easily. Try soil or sand underneath.

-DRY COMPRESSOR AIR IS A must and many machines need 90psi minimum.
-Buy tones of scrap steel so you can practice a lot rather than fresh steel.

[ralphbarnes]

very good, it was great you had notes so you didn't miss anything. Again good job, I learned a lot. Thank you.

[justintasht]

Fantastic video and great information and tips. I’ve not long had a plasma cutter so this has been a great help 👍👍👍👍

[macsorro]

Love your videos Tim, I’m getting my own plasma cutter for sure now. Thank you.