How to Cut With a Welder

Position the sheet of metal into a sturdy vice so that the area for cutting is not blocked by the vise. Tighten it down so that the metal is firmly held in place but not so much that it damages or dents the metal.

Mark a line on the metal with a piece of chalk or a grease pencil. Use a straightedge to get the line as accurate as possible.

Place a cutting rod into the welder and twist it slightly to lock it into place in the color-coded accessory socket. This socket is positioned at the front of the welder and the rod will stick almost straight out from the front of the unit.

Turn the amperage to the highest setting the welder allows. This is usually a small dial located near the handle, but some models use a switch-based adjuster.

Raise the guard on the welder so it is in the "Safe" position. Place the visor helmet on your head and wear gloves and a long sleeve shirt.

Place the cutting rod so it is parallel with the chalk or grease line on the metal. Hold the end of the rod approximately 1-inch from the line and release the safety switch on the welder.

Touch the cutting rod against the metal and depress the welder trigger to create the cutting arc. Slowly move the tip back and forth along the drawn line while keeping full contact between the two. This essentially carves metal out of the area of the line. Continue the process of cutting grooves into the metal until fully cut through.

Lift up on the trigger, reset the safety switch and place the welder on a level surface. Remove the metal from the vise and place is somewhere to cool.