Welding Tips and Tricks

Here is an eye opening picture that shows exactly what plasma can do. This is a 2x4 (wood) that I had metal on I was cutting. The plasma cut about 1/2" deep into the board. Just a reminder anything under the flow of gas is susceptible to being cut. Keep all hands feet and other objects out from under the work area.

Matt,

I had a buddy put himself in the hospital by using his leg as a "stand" while plasma cutting.
Dumbass...

Steve S

I'm not that stupid but this surprised me! 1/2" deep cuts in would after cutting through 1/8" of steel at 20 amps!

Bro if you're not cutting eighth inch at 60A you're not moving nearly fast enough

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The arc that exits from an air plasma torch nozzle is roughly 25,000 degrees F, the flame from an oxy-fuel torch is usually around 3,200 degrees F. The difference in temp really doesn't matter.....they are both hot enough to quickly burn flesh, wood, pretty much anything they come in contact with!

The thing to remember with the plasma is that it starts instantly, and stops instantly with the trigger switch. If you lay the torch down, the arc is extinguished......lay down an oxy-fuel torch and it is still running....unless you turned the valves and extinguished the flame.

Another safety precaution with plasma.....and oxy-fuel: don't cut with either real close to concrete......the moisture in the concrete has a tendency to turn to steam and expand rapidly....which ejects chunks of concrete! I was cutting on the floor of my shop with a 1/4" plate propped up off the floor with 2 x 4's......definitely too close. Keep the material at least 10" away from concrete....the heat is then dissipated much better!

Jim Colt

jimcolt wrote:
Another safety precaution with plasma.....and oxy-fuel: don't cut with either real close to concrete......the moisture in the concrete has a tendency to turn to steam and expand rapidly....which ejects chunks of concrete! I was cutting on the floor of my shop with a 1/4" plate propped up off the floor with 2 x 4's......definitely too close. Keep the material at least 10" away from concrete....the heat is then dissipated much better!

Jim Colt

That is a very good point! This one place I worked a guy laid a part on a concrete block one time to heat it and had the block explode with him. Could have been worse.

Interesting about the concrete I always thought I was safe being 4" off the ground. I routinely cut 1/4" plate off of a 4 x 4 or 6 x 6 on the floor at times, just so I do not have to move the massive sheet. Guess Ill tweak my methods....

I've thought about building a down draft style table but what I don't quite get is the surface of the table "the bars", are they just chocked up as a consumable?

Rick_H wrote:Interesting about the concrete I always thought I was safe being 4" off the ground. I routinely cut 1/4" plate off of a 4 x 4 or 6 x 6 on the floor at times, just so I do not have to move the massive sheet. Guess Ill tweak my methods....

I've thought about building a down draft style table but what I don't quite get is the surface of the table "the bars", are they just chocked up as a consumable?

In my experience yes Rick, you just replace them when you cut the whole way through one lol. We replaced them constantly at the school after kids would use oxy/acetylene torches and have them set waaaayyy too high to cut the relatively thin stuff we were cutting.

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MMMMM.
Now I read this.
Guess what I did to the plate I use for a welding table on Saturday?
Its got a nice full width groove 3/4 of the way through.

ex framie wrote:MMMMM.
Now I read this.
Guess what I did to the plate I use for a welding table on Saturday?
Its got a nice full width groove 3/4 of the way through.

Ooops...

Steve S

Good thing you own a welder!

Ah yes I do.
However I have a cunning plan which entails buying a real welding table as the current plate is more warped than a Canberra politician and has a groove

Aquisation through justification!

Poland308 wrote:Aquisation through justification!

Also known as the "I don't have one, so therefore I need one" school of thought.

I'm that obvious eh?
Works well eh guys.