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DIY Plasma Cutter Standoff

Cut safely and precisely with your plasma cutter by using a standoff. A plasma cutter standoff keeps a small distance between the plasma cutting tip and the metal that you are cutting. This gap allows the electricity used in the cutter to punch through the steel. When there is direct contact between the cutting tip and the metal, the plasma cutter will not work. Most plasma cutters include a standoff when purchased new; however, these pieces can be easily lost in a metal shop.

Things You'll Need

Plasma cutter owners manual
Caliper
Measuring stick
Stainless steel wire, 8-gauge, 10 inches
Wire bender
Wire cutter

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the circumference of the plasma-cutting nozzle holder. This is the portion that any pre-fabricated standoff would mount to. Reference the owners manual if necessary.
- 2
  Bend the steel wire at its 5-inch center so you have a circle that is 1/16-inch smaller in diameter than the circumference you found in the first step. The wires cross over each other for this. Bend the wires at a 90-degree angle so they are parallel with each other and at a right angle to the circle that you just bent. This portion of the standoff will attach to the nozzle holder.
- 3
  Measure the distance from the nozzle holder to the tip of the cutter. This is the part that does the cutting. Add 1/16-inch to the measurement and bend each wire at a 90-degree away from each other.
- 4
  Bend the wires again so they make a circle using the same measurement you found in the first step. Cut off any excess wire with the wire cutters. This portion of the standoff will separate the cutting tip from the material. Fit the other portion over the nozzle holder to use.

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