Month: July 2016

In an activity such as welding it is of the upmost importance that you have the equipment necessary to keep you safe. Do you work in a scenario that requires maximized optical protection? If so, A portable welding screen is a great piece of equipment to have on hand. They are extremely popular among both hobby and professional welders for their ability to provide protection in a high-temperature environment, and also their ability to protect against weld sparks and splatter.
Welding curtains and screens function differently depending on what kind you purchase, some are hung over surfaces or other pieces of equipment that need to be protected, while others are just hung from the ceiling to frame in a working space.
Any person who considers themselves a welder will likely have multiple of these on hand. After all, protection is key in a strenuous job such as this.
Below are the welding blankets, sheets, and curtains that will be reviewed.

How do you assemble a welding screen?

Best Portable Welding Blankets, Curtains, and Screens Reviews

Steiner 316-8×10 Velvet Shield

The Steiner Velvet Shield is a very tough welding blanket designed to withstand high temperatures and the daily welding environment. It’s a cheap option that is only a pound,  and measures 8 feet by 10 feet long. And the most important part? It can withstand an environment and direct weld splatter of up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit! Our recommended option is the 8 by 10 due to size and ability to provide coverage, however, they do produce smaller sizes for other welding environments. It’s CFM approved and has been professionally stress-tested in order to make sure it is reliable.

Tillman 6042066 2 Panel Blue Vinyl

We absolutely love that this curtain comes with a built-in standing frame. It sets it apart from competitors and makes it extremely useful. Let’s say you are in a situation where you are welding a boat in a boatyard, you don’t want to get any splatter on neighboring boats. What do you do? Use this! The curtain is quite durable and provides a solid welding protection as you can see. Built to help disperse light, it will reduce shadows and other things that can make a welding job difficult. Flame retardant and CFM approved, this is a must-have in any welders toolkit.

Tillman 599B Leather Welding Blanket

Another Tillman welding product that we recommend, it’s leather and much tougher than a cloth blanket will be. Just like the cloth blankets, it protects sparks and spatters. It’s a great solution for situations ranging from heavy-duty work to automotive to any kind of job where thin sheet metal may be required.
A downside to this welding blank is that it doesn’t fold up as nicely as a cloth one does, so it takes up some space. It also does not have the built-in grommets for hanging, however, you could punch holes and add them yourself.

Unlike a lot of other types of welding, TIG welding does have a bit more of a degree of difficulty. The first thing when looking to begin welding is to make sure you have yourself in a steady position. The reason that the steady position is so important is due to the fact that you will have to be within 1mm of the item you are welding. Make sure that your muscles are relaxed. It is often not advised that you weld after doing any type of physical activity. If possible, make sure that the workshop is at as comfortable of a temperature as possible. Often a person will make the discovery that they need glasses to see where they need to weld when they first begin to weld. The reason for this is due to having to be so close to the area. You will need to make sure that you choose the right angle as well as the right size rod for what you are looking to weld.
Below are the TIG welders to be reviewed:

Product Name	Customer Reviews	Editor Rating
2018 AHP AlphaTIG 200X 200 Amp IGBT AC DC Tig/Stick Welder with PULSE 110v 200v	Read Customer Reviews	4.6 /5 Stars
2018 EVERLAST PowerARC 161 HF TIG Stick IGBT Welder 110/220 Dual Voltage	Read Customer Reviews	5.0 / 5 Stars
Lincoln Electric Square Wave TIG 200 TIG Welder, K5126-1	Read Customer Reviews	4.0 /5 Stars
Hobart 500551 EZ-TIG 165i AC/DC TIG Welder 230V	Read Customer Reviews	4.1 / 5 Stars

TIG welder reviews

2018 AHP AlphaTIG 200X 200 Amp IGBT AC DC Tig/Stick Welder with PULSE 110v 200v

This well-put-together machine has a design that is meant to provide value and functionality to its users. The item features a neatly organized inside as well as solid brass units that will do a great job of prolonging the life of the machine itself. When it comes to functionality the item will provide users with what they need due to the fact that it has highly functional features that are meant to do so. While the AHP Alpha may cost a bit more than the average item, it does have features which justify the price.

2018 EVERLAST PowerARC 161 HF TIG Stick IGBT Welder 110/220 Dual Voltage

This rather versatile welder is another great choice for those individuals who require a bit more in the way of functionality from their welding machine. This welder features a dual voltage design which allows the welder to be used for a wide range of environments. The design of this welder also features a design that allows it to give users a bit more leeway in what they can do with their weld. It can be used for both TIG welding and MIG welding which is another plus for the tool.

Lincoln Electric Square Wave TIG 200 TIG Welder, K5126-1

This TIG welder comes right out of the box with all of the materials that one would need in order to effectively use it. It sells for a bit higher of a price than the many other welders mentioned but it does provide an adequate level of functionality to make up for it’s higher than average pricing point. The weight of this welder -73.2 lbs – is slightly below average as well. It also functions as both a stick welder and gives users a bit more of an option in terms of they can use the Lincoln Electric for.

Hobart 500551 EZ-TIG 165i AC/DC TIG Welder 230V

This beast of a TIG welder known as the Hobart AC/DC Tig welder is a 220 Volt AC/DC dedicated welder. It comes with all of the standard torches and gauges necessary to begin welding right out of the box. With that being said, it has a 110% duty cycle that allows the machine to stay hard at work and provide both novice and experienced welders with a lifetime worth of use. Another thing to note is that the welder features a materials selection (AC/DC); this means that the user can choose what setting they would like to weld against with their tool.

What is TIG/ GTAW Welding?

Gas Tungsten arc welding which is known as GTAW can also be called by its other common name of tungsten inert gas welding. This is a process that employs the use of a non-consumable tungsten electrode that produces the weld. Unlike other types of welding, TIG welding protects the welding surface with a gas such as argon or helium that is inert from contamination from the atmosphere. While not all the time, a filler metal may be used as well. Certain types of welds known as autogenous welds will not require a filler metal. The process uses a constant electrical power supply that creates an electrical energy that is then conducted through the formed arc across the gasses and vapors of metal which produces what is called plasma.

What do you look for in TIG welders?

When looking for a TIG welder, there are certain things that you will need and want to look for to make sure that you are getting the best value for your money. This is not like buying a number of the other types of welders. Things like amperage range, low amperage welding abilities, AC/DC Welding are a few of the things that you need to look for when buying your first TIG welder. One last thing that you will want to look at is the types of controls that the welder has, make sure that it has the controls that you need to control the various types of functions.

Plasma cutting technology has had significant improvement in recent years. Previously plasma cutters were known as huge clunky welding machines, but nowadays there is a category known as portable plasma cutters (which is what we will be covering today). The modern-day portable plasma cutter is perfect for professionals who need to be able to transport their tools as well as hobbyists who like to be able to use their tools, and then once the project is complete get the tools out sight and out of mind. This post will outline for you what to look for when purchasing a plasma cutter as well as review the machines known as the best plasma cutters on the market today.
Our comparisons below will be covering details and just about everything you need to know for quality plasma cutter reviews to help in your buying decisions.
These are the plasma cutters that will be reviewed. 

Plasma Cutter	Customer Reviews	Editor Rating	Recommended Usage
Lotos LTP5000D Pilot Arc	Read Customer Reviews	4.8 / 5 Stars	DIYer, Light business jobs
Lotos LTP5000D	Read Customer Reviews	4.7 / 5 Stars	DIYer, Light business jobs
Ramsond CUT	Read Customer Reviews	4.6 / 5 Stars	DIYer, Light business jobs
Hypotherm Powermax 45	Read Customer Reviews	4.39 / 5 Stars	DIYer, Light jobs, industrial jobs
Miller Spectrum 375	Read Customer Reviews	5 / 5 Stars	DIYer, Light business jobs

What criteria do you use to judge a plasma cutter?

Amperage

The amperage of the machine is the features that dictates the thickness of the material that it can cut. Something to keep in mind when we say this is that the amperage dictates the thickness in the upper limit that the welder can cut. Another thing to keep in mind when deciding on the amperage of the welder is the level of neatness that you would like your cut to have. If you want a cleaner cut, it’s probably best that you choose a cutter that has a lower amperage and vice versa for those with a higher amperage.

Price

The price of the item is an extremely important indicator to the overall quality of the plasma cutter as well. While it may not be true for all Plasma Cutters (or any item for that matter) the price will indicate to you how high quality the item is.

Cutting ability and performance

As with any machine, not all welders are created equally. Some have a higher cutting ability than others. In addition to this, not all Plasma Cutters are made with the ability to cut all material types. A vast majority of the cutting performance of a plasma cutter depends on the machines amperage, a quality that will be discussed in more depth below.

Duty cycle

The duty cycle of the Plasma Cutter is the amount of time the welder can operate without overheating. While the duty cycle may not be a major part of our review, it is definitely a necessary piece to know to make an informed decision on which machine is the best for your needs.

What are the types of Plasma Cutters? 

Semi-Portable Plasma Cutter

A plasma cutter that weighs below 100 lbs is one that is likely to be highly portable. These machines are best if you have sheets of metal that are below an inch thick and that can be cut in both the out and indoors.

Heavy Duty Plasma Cutter

Heavy Duty Plasma cutters are good if you have metal that’s between 1 and 1.5 inches thick. If you don’t see yourself cutting incredibly thick metals then it is probably best that you get a semi-portable plasma cutter.

Inverter-type Plasma Cutter

The longevity of this model is it’s saving grace. Inverter type plasma cutters are great because they don’t require their consumables to be replaced as often as other plasma cutters. The flow of plasma in inverter plasma cutters allow them to be a bit more consistent and make them a great choice for anyone seeking to lower their costs in the long run.

Plasma Cutter Reviews

Lotos LTP5000D Pilot Arc & Lotos LT5000D

Catching us off guard as the best portable plasma cutter is the Lotos LTP5000D, it’s one of the cheapest if not the cheapest portable plasma cutter on the marketing, and it’s know to be extremely easy to use while producing top of the quality plasma cuts. This feedback tells us not to necessarily equate price to value in this case.

It’s a perfect low-cost option for hobbyists and do-it-yourselfers, and it even is well suited for light professional usage, however, this is probably not the option you want to use on heavy industrial cuts. It has a severance thickness of 3 /4 inch or 19mm and works best with an ideal material cut thickness of half-inch (this helps put it into perspective as to why we don’t recommend it for heavy duty usage). It has the option to come with or without a pilot arc depending on what you need, a cool and unique feature.

Featuring an input of 110/220 volts with up to 50amp it packs quite a punch in its 22.5 lbs frame. A one-year satisfaction warranty keeps your purchase safe and assures you that if anything fails or goes wrong, Lotos is there to cover their project. In terms of portability options, it’s a lightweight machine that you can carry with two hands or you can also use the attached folding handle for one-handed carry.

Downsides to this unit are it does not come with a trigger guard for the torch and it also does not come with a 110v pigtail (which needs to be purchased separately). Other than that it’s a solid pick for your need.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Designed for DIYers and professionals

Cons

• Only a 1-year satisfaction warranty
• Does not come with a trigger guard

Ramsond CUT 50DX 50  Portable Air Plasma Cutter 

A budget-conscious option plasma cutter, it is capable of cutting stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum plate, carbon steel, and even alloy steel. It’s an all-around well-suited product. Perfect for your at home projects or dads side gigs, it’s also a solid option for the plasma cutting business owner and can fulfill it’s job on heavy duty and industrial jobs just as well as it can the DIYer projects.

A built-in air pressure gauge with built-in digital display makes it very easy to see the Ramsond CUT 50DY doing its job successfully or not. It’s capable of cutting objects up to three-quarters inch thick with a severance of up to 1 inch thick.

It’s an advanced unit with a very fair price and power that is incomparable to within its price range for a portable option. It’s a safe buy and something you’re bound to be happy with.

Pros

• Dual voltage
• 60% duty cycle

Cons

• Hard plastic line to connect air regulator
• Iffy customer support

Hypertherm Powermax 45

This incredibly lightweight Plasma Cutter us one of the best cutters that you will likely see in a long time. The Hypertherm Powermax 45 weighs in at around 37 lbs making it a good choice for those who would need something that they could carry around – it’s highly portable. The straightforward design of this cutter means that it isn’t very difficult to understand the controls, making it a perfect machine for those who are a bit newer to these machines. The Hypertherm powermax features 3 different modes; Continuous pilot arc, Non-continuous pilot arc, gouging. Again, it’s a very simple thing to switch between each of these three modes because of their blatant markings.

Video credits to Miller Welders. It explains what gouging is in relation to plasma cutting.
In addition to the different switch modes on the machine, there is also an amperage control feature that you can adjust based on the thickness of the material that you would like to cut. This Plasma Cutter is built for performance and has a relatively simple design. This makes it the perfect machine for those who would like to get a bang for their buck.
Pros

• Lightweight
• Simple Controls

Cons

• N/A

Miller Spectrum 375

The Miller Spectrum is great for those who are seeking to cut midrange (3/8 inch) steel. It has the capacity for 30 amps and can cut through a variety of different types of steel.  The spectrum features a multi-voltage plug that allows it to easily switch between 120 and 240V. The cut rating associated with this machine is about 3/8 inch at 18 IPM meaning that you will always have a smooth cut at 18 inches per minute. This makes the Miller spectrum ideal for use during fabrication, HVAC and maintenance applications.
The Miller Spectrum also features Auto-Line technology that allows it to easily adapt to a wide range of different voltages. Lastly, the ergonomic handle featured with this torch reduces the chances of you dropping the torch while also enhancing the overall feel of it during its use.
Pros

• Portable design
• Built to last
• Versatile

Cons

• Relatively expensive
• Challenge to master
• Doesn’t come with an air source

Lotos LTP5000D

The Lotos LTP5000D features a Pilot-Arc function that makes it a go to machine for those who are going to work with rusted deformed material. The Miller Spectrum 375 features an inverter power source that allows it to provide an incredibly high level of output while also maintaining a lightweight design. This machine is best for those who need something that maintains a lightweight design while maintaining a high level of functionality. Another feature that works incredibly well for most individuals is its inherently compact torch design.
Also, the Lotos LTP5000D is rated to cut up to 3/4” material which and can even give a decent cut for materials with a 5/8” thickness.
Pros

• Inexpensive
• 110V or 220V amp
• HAs inverter technology included

Cons

• Short ground cable
• Flimsy torch trigger

How do Plasma Cutters work?

Plasma Cutters send electric arc through a gas that passes through constricted openings. The type of gas used for plasma cutting varies with the type of metal you’re trying to cut but typically you’ll find the following gas mixes being used:

• Air / Air
• O2 / Air
• Nitrogen / Air
• Nitrogen / H2O
• Argon Hydrogen / N2

The temperature of the gas then begins to turn into the 4th state of matter (aka plasma). As the metal that’s being cut is part of the circuit the electrical conductivity of the plasma causes the arc to transfer to the pieces being worked on.
The nozzle through which the gas passes through causes it to squeeze by at high speeds like air that passes through a venturi in a carburetor. The high speed of the gas allows it to cut through the molten metal and the gas is directed around the opening of the cutting area and shield the cut.

Video credits to WeldingProjects. It actually goes over how a plasma cutter works.

What specifications and qualities should I look for in a plasma cutter?

Below are a few questions one should ask themselves before they get a plasma cutter.

Does an inverter exist for plasma cutter?

What are the plasma cutters power specifications?

What is the plasma cutter amperage?

How many volts is the plasma cutter compatible with?

What metal thickness can the plasma cutter cut?

How quick can it cut through certain grades of metal? 

What kind of control capabilities does the plasma cutter come with?

What are the plasma cutters duty cycle specs? 

What materials are the plasma cutter made of? Will the materials require replacement over time?

How is the cut quality of the plasma cutter?

Does the plasma cutter come with an air compressor or do you need to purchase it separately?