Let’s clear something up straight away. There is no such thing as “CUT50 tips.”
CUT50 is not a consumable type.
It’s not a torch style.
It’s just an amperage class.
Different brands slap CUT50 on completely different plasma cutters.
Different torches.
Different consumables.
So when someone searches “CUT50 plasma cutter tips”, what they’re really asking is:
“What torch does my CUT50 actually use?”
That’s the only thing that matters.
Why People Keep Buying the Wrong “CUT50 Tips”
Someone buys a CUT50.
Machine works great.
Tips wear out.
They jump online and search:
CUT50 tips
CUT50 electrodes
CUT50 consumables
They order whatever looks close.
Parts arrive.
Don’t fit.
Arc behaves weird. Burn out fast.
The machine isn’t faulty.
They just bought parts for the wrong torch.
Because again — CUT50 doesn’t tell you what torch is fitted.
You don’t buy consumables by model name.
You buy them by torch style.
Look At The Torch — Not The Sticker
Most CUT50 machines in NZ use one of two common torch styles:
● PT31 / LG40 (scratch-start)
● AG60 (pilot-arc)
Not all.
But most 40A–50A class machines floating around Kiwi sheds fall into those two families.
So forget the badge.
Look at the front end of the torch.
If The Tip Pushes In → PT31 / LG40
Remove the front cap.
If the cutting tip:
● Pushes in
● Does not screw in And the electrode:
● Is double-ended
● Can be flipped around
You’re running a PT31 / LG40 scratch-start torch.
This is by far the most common torch fitted to CUT50 machines in NZ.
Budget machines.
Rebranded machines. Chinese-built units.
Doesn’t matter what logo’s on the case.
PT31 is everywhere.
Standard vs Extended (Match Them Properly)
PT31 / LG40 consumables come in:
● Standard length
● Extended length Both fit the same torch body.
But you must match them correctly.
Standard electrode → standard tips Extended electrode → extended tips
Do not mix them.
When I first started cutting, I didn’t even know consumables came in different lengths.
I mixed them without realising.
Hard starts.
Ugly arc.
Tips wearing out way too fast.
Nothing was broken.
Wrong combo.
What “Scratch-Start” Means
Scratch-start means the torch must touch the metal to begin.
Pull trigger.
Tip touches steel.
Lift slightly. Arc starts.
There’s no pilot arc firing inside the torch before contact.
Simple system.
Cheap to manufacture.
Very common on CUT50 machines.
If The Electrode Screws In → AG60
Now check the other possibility.
If the electrode:
● Screws into the torch
● Is not double-ended
And the tip:
● Also screws in
You’ve likely got an AG60 pilot-arc torch.
These are larger and clearly different once you’ve actually held both types.
Put them side-by-side on the bench and you won’t confuse them.
The confusion only happens when people shop using the word “CUT50.”
What “Pilot-Arc” Means
Pilot-arc means the torch fires a small arc inside itself first.
You pull the trigger.
Arc starts in the torch.
Then transfers to the metal.
You do not need to touch the workpiece.
Better for:
● Rusty steel
● Painted steel
● Mesh
● Dirty material
Different ignition system.
Different consumables.
AG60 parts will not fit a PT31 torch.
PT31 parts will not fit an AG60 torch.
Quick Reality Check – Burning Through Tips?
If your tips are disappearing quickly, it’s not always the consumable’s fault.
Common causes:
● Wrong electrode length
● Wrong tip pairing
● Air pressure too high or low
● Not enough post-flow
● Dragging the tip hard
I broke this down properly here:
Why Are My Plasma Cutter Tips Burning Out So Bloody Fast?
Worth reading before blaming the parts.
What Consumables Do Most CUT50 Machines Need?
Push-in tip + double-ended electrode → PT31 / LG40 consumables
Screw-in electrode
→ AG60 consumables
That covers the majority of CUT50 machines in NZ.
Identify your torch first.
Then buy parts.
Not the other way around.
Final Word
CUT50 tells you the power class.
Your torch tells you the consumables.
Ignore the sticker.
Check the front end.
Once you know the torch family, everything gets simple.