Onthespotwelding
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- Kent - England
That’s a very clean cutThat little plasma has been chomping through quite a lot of 1mm sheet steel and it’s still on the original tips.

What settings did you use for it?
That’s a very clean cutThat little plasma has been chomping through quite a lot of 1mm sheet steel and it’s still on the original tips.
That’s a very clean cut
What settings did you use for it?
Cheers, does the pilot arc make a big difference, is it mainly when cutting through paint or rust, or is it just nicer and easier all round?I bought a pilot arc torch and a couple of DINSE male/female connectors, to allow the torch earth to connect to the plasma cutter, as well as the earth cable. The earth cable isn't strictly necessary on a pilot arc torch.
Cheers, does the pilot arc make a big difference, is it mainly when cutting through paint or rust, or is it just nicer and easier all round?
Regarding the earth I guess what you made up was a short dinze male to female cable with the pilot earth connected as a branch off it.
It would be neater to fit connector on the front panel, but I wouldn't want to mess up the warranty.
I have the 30A pilot arc variant (no onboard compressor).
I've only used it a couple of times, and frankly my cuts are dismal in comparison.
I'm not getting good clean cuts and it seems to not burn through thicker stuff, but just "eat into" it part way.
I've also eaten tips.
I think... it is better (less bad) dragging the tip, but I've seen it that you're supposed to have the tip just away from the material![]()
(I've always fired the pilot arc, & then gone to cut, not put the torch on the material & then fired).
Anyone got any thoughts on how I'm messing up?
if anything that auto pilot start is for starting on the metal with paint on it so not really supposed to be used away from the materialI have the 30A pilot arc variant (no onboard compressor).
I've only used it a couple of times, and frankly my cuts are dismal in comparison.
I'm not getting good clean cuts and it seems to not burn through thicker stuff, but just "eat into" it part way.
I've also eaten tips.
I think... it is better (less bad) dragging the tip, but I've seen it that you're supposed to have the tip just away from the material
(I've always fired the pilot arc, & then gone to cut, not put the torch on the material & then fired).
Anyone got any thoughts on how I'm messing up?
So would it be reasonable to say there's no special need for the pilot arc torch unless I'm finding difficult starts on the sort of stuff I'm cutting?
And another question if people don't mind, how is it likely to work on the end of an extension lead? Around 20m of 2.5sq.mm flex.