Practical Welding Today - July/August 2010

you’re making sure the air feeding into the machine is free of water and oil, you will maximize your consumables’ life.

• Be sure to match the consumables to the application. Never use low-amperage consumables for high-amperage cutting, or vice versa.

• When using unshielded consumables, always keep the torch at the proper distance from the workpiece when performing a cut.

• Remember to cut at the appropriate
speed. Cutting too fast will result in an
incomplete cut. Cutting too slow will put
unnecessary strain on the consumables,
causing them to burn out quickly. ■ Tips to Remember

Associate Editor Amanda Carlson can be reached at amandac@thefabricator.com.

Keeping a close eye on plasma consumables is important, but so is performing regular maintenance on the torch itself. For example, replace torch leads and ensure the lines stay free of oil and water.