Plasma Cutter Safety

If you are anything like me then you are as excited asyou are doing work on logging machinery on-site. If you
a 6 year-old on Christmas day when you get a newfind yourself in a situation where surroundings are
tool to work with. When I got my first plasma cutter Idamp, take extreme precaution.
was pumped and ready to whip it out and start cutting,- While cutting, never touch the torch body or the work
but I put it off. I wanted to learn a bit about plasmapiece and do not pick up at cut pieces that have fallen.
cutter safety; that is the smart thing to do. TheKeep your hands to yourself.
following safety ideas are written for light duty plasma- The output voltages of a plasma cutter (100-200
cutters that use compressed air, not large scaleVolts) are much great the output voltages of welding
industrial plasma cutters that use gas mixtures.torches.
- Plasma cutters work on a different principle than- When you are clamping the work cable to the work
welders. Essentially, when you are plasma cutting, all ofpiece make sure that they are touching metal to metal.
the materials become part of an electrical circuit thatDO NOT attach the work cable to the piece that is
you can open and close with the plasma cutting torch.going to fall away after you finish your cut. Also,
That being said, electrocution is not much fun! Makewhere you attach your work cable should be free of
sure that you do not stand, lay down or kneel in water.dirt, paint, rust, etc.
Make sure that your clothes are dry. Wear wellThis is list is obviously not all-encompassing, so make
insulated gloves and boots and ideally you would besure that you do more research on plasma cutter
standing on dry insulated rubber mats. Sometimessafety ideas.
working in damp areas cannot be avoid; for example, if