0 items in your basket
Total £ 0.00 EX VAT
Multi Process Welders
MIG Torches
TIG Torches
Welding Helmets
Welding Gloves & Clothing
MMA Electrodes
MIG Wire
Shop 55,000 Products
SERVICEDEPT.
RAPID BLOG
FEEDBACK
HIRE
Plasma gouging consumables remove metal from the surface of a workpiece instead of cutting through it; these answers help you choose, fit and look after them.
Hold the torch tilted back against the direction of travel at the angle and working height your torch manual gives. A shallower angle makes the jet skate along the surface for a wider, shallower groove, while a steeper angle drives it in for a deeper, narrower one. Treat any figure you read as a starting point, as the best settings depend on the system, the current and the job.Do not hold the torch too close to the work, because molten metal then builds up on the nozzle, and if it is held too far away the arc loses penetration. Check your torch maker's manual for the consumables and current you are using, and practise on scrap first.
Yes. Plasma maker guidance says moisture, oil and other contamination in the air supply can significantly reduce consumable life and cut quality, and can even harm the torch. Poor gas quality also reduces cutting and gouging performance.Use a clean, dry supply. Built-in filters remove some moisture and dirt, but where air passes through long lines, tools that add oil, or humid conditions, makers recommend extra filtration close to the machine. Check the filter element and bowl regularly and replace the element as your manual says. Keep the pressure within the range in your manual. If consumable life suddenly drops, check the air supply first.
No. Switching off at the machine alone may not remove the shock hazard if it is still connected to the supply. Plasma makers say the power supply contains dangerous voltages and that electric power should be disconnected before maintenance, with any line disconnect kept off until the work is finished.Isolate the supply, then let the torch cool, as parts stay hot after gouging and can cause burns. Where the machine has a torch lock or disable switch, use it as an extra step, but do not rely on it or on any interlock instead of isolating the supply. Refit parts in the right order and tighten them as the manual describes, and follow the maker's instructions for your torch.
Gouging consumables are a separate family from cutting ones. Plasma makers publish distinct gouging parts, and the tip shape and shield are designed to remove metal from the surface rather than cut through it.Gouging parts also come in different styles. Some are aimed at controlled, shallow removal and light washing, some at heavy removal and deep profiles, and some at very small removals at low current. Gouging shields are intended to protect the tip from molten metal, so use the tip and shield combination your torch manual lists. Check your manual for the parts your torch is designed for, and keep gouging and cutting parts clearly separated.