If you’re thinking about using a plasma cutter it’s essential to understand some of the safety tips and features. One of the things you should know about when you’re going to use a plasma cutter is just how hot they can get. That’s because the heat is a major part of how they work, and you want to keep yourself, your project, and those around you safe.
The Temperature Variant
Now, a plasma cutter could operate at different heat levels depending on what you’re cutting or how long it’s been working. But in actuality, your plasma cutter could get up to 25,000 degrees Celsius. That’s incredibly hot when you figure that the sun is approximately 5,505 degrees Celsius.
Keep in mind that this is the absolute maximum temperature and there is very rarely a reason that you would need to get your cutter up that high. Just about everything that you need to do is going to mean operating at a much lower temperature, and definitely not for long.
In order to keep yourself and everyone around you safe, make sure that you’re using the cutter at the lowest possible temperature to get the job done right (and quickly) and then use it for the shortest amount of time you possibly can.
What This Means for You
So, what does that mean if you’re going to be using a plasma cutter? It means that you need to be extremely careful about how you use it and where you use it. You need to be aware at all times of what you are doing.
Setting the right temperature is the first part of the process. The second part is making sure that you use the right protective gear to keep yourself comfortable and safe while using the cutter. This means wearing some type of shield over your face that is specifically designed for using with plasma cutters. It also means gloves, respiratory gear, helmets, footwear, and possibly more.
You should always make sure that everyone is far away when you are using this type of cutter and that children are in another place entirely. This will keep everyone as safe as possible and make sure that you are able to pay attention to the job at hand rather than others in the area.
Getting Started
When you’re ready to start the project you want to make sure you start by doing your research to decide what temperature level your plasma cutter actually needs to be for the project you’re working on. Then, keep it at that setting rather than turning it up too high.
Also, make sure that you have the proper gear on at all times and that you never look directly at the cutter, especially without protective eye gear. All of this is going to protect you and your plasma cutter at the same time. As is using the cutter itself in small bursts rather than for extended periods of time all at once.
Walt moonlights as a handyman after getting off his busy job as a commodities trader. He enjoys writing about all things related to DIY, home improvement, etc.
