Some plasma cutting help please

**Arcamm** · 12-18-2010, 05:09 PM

I finaly got some time to play with my cutter today. I drew some soap lines on a piece of metal and when I hit the trigger, the hement darkened and I could not see the lines. I guess its set too dark. I've only cut with gas before and didn't need anything but dark googles. My question is, how dark of a lens do I need for plasma cutting? Is it like OA cutting or arc welding? I hate getting flashed and I'm finding my recovery times (from just about everything) are getting longer with age. Thanks

**Gadget** · 12-18-2010, 05:21 PM

Your helmet can be set to the lowest setting safely, the UV protection is there even when the lens is open.

**KHK** · 12-19-2010, 11:27 AM

If the helmet is set to light or to dark the plasma guide lines is hard to see. I normaly use about 9 1/2 but the lines need to be large.
I have found that the knob on the auto darking helmet was always moving from normal use. If I set it at 11 and weld then remove the helmet, then put it back on then weld, after a few uses the dial would change to 10 or 12. Any one have a cure for this??

**Charley Davidson** · 12-19-2010, 11:37 AM

Good ole Ductape

**Gadget** · 12-19-2010, 03:03 PM

Pull the knob off, cut a hole in a piece of 1/8 thick foam making a washer slightly larger than the knob. Put the washer on and press the knob in enough to compress the foam somewhat. The foam should hold the knob in place.

**KHK** · 12-19-2010, 03:33 PM

I have tried an O ring and a piece of rubber, neither worked. The knob is not a tight fit to the pot's shaft. I think that I will put a Set screw in the knob.

**Arcamm** · 12-19-2010, 08:06 PM

Thanks, I'll try playing with the settings. I figured it was better to ask that to risk getting fried. I learned to weld in college and my instructor never missed a chance to tell us how much it sucked to get flashed. It was drummed into my head so much that to this day, when I watch a video of somebody striking an arc, I have to fight the reflex to turn away.

**SICFabrications** · 12-19-2010, 09:54 PM

the experts say that a shade 8 lens for plasma, shade 5 for oxy-fuel, shade 10 for smaller stick rods and .035 mig, shade 11 for aluminum or 3/16 stick rods or 1/16 fcaw shade 13 for carbon arc gouging, shade 14 for 1/4 stick rods.... try to find a silver streak pencil... i'll look up a link for you for them. its a colored pencil, silver, that will practically glow when plasma cutting...

---------- Post added at 10:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 PM ----------

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