PT31 TORCH IDENTIFICATION VIDEO

Watch the quick video below to check if your torch is a PT31 before ordering consumables.

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Buy PT31 Consumables

  • Reversible electrode
  • Push-in tip & electrode
  • Ceramic cup screws over front
View PT31 Consumables →
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PT31 plasma torch consumables laid out in order showing electrode tip swirl ring and ceramic cup on workshop bench
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Not Sure This Is Your Torch?

PT31 and LG40 torches are very common, but they're not the only torch styles fitted to generic plasma cutters.

If your consumables don't look like the ones shown on this page, compare your torch against the four most common torch types before ordering parts.

Identify Your Plasma Torch →
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First plasma cutter I ever bought…

I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.

Walked into a shop… bought the cheapest machine they had… that was it.

Didn’t know torch names.

Didn’t know consumables. Didn’t know anything.

Turns out it had a PT31 / LG40 torch on it…

But I didn’t even know that until about a year later.

Same as everyone else… Consumables wore out.

So I went looking for replacements.

Only reason I got it right was pure luck — there was still a sticker on the torch.

Said PT31.

So I jumped online… searched PT31… bought a pack.

Easy.

 

incorrect plasma torch consumable assembly example showing mismatched PT31 parts causing cutting issues

Where It All Goes Wrong

When the new parts turned up… Straight away I knew something wasn’t right.

Electrode was way longer. Tip was way longer.

I’m looking at it thinking: “Hello Pete… this is not going to work.”

Didn’t even try it.

My first thought was:

👉 Wrong parts. Send them back.

This Is Where Most People Get It Wrong

And this is exactly where people get caught.

They assume:

● Wrong torch

● Wrong parts

● Cheap rubbish

And they send it all back.

What Was Actually Going On

Before I sent them back…

I emailed the guy.

Said:

“What the hell’s the story with these? They don’t fit my thing.”

He goes:

“What torch have you got?”

I said:

“PT31”

He goes:

“Yeah they fit — they’re just extended.”

That’s When It Clicks

That’s when I first heard it.

👉 Extended consumables.

Same torch.

Same fitting.

Just longer.

standard vs extended PT31 plasma cutter tips size difference comparison in hand

Quick ID

If you’ve got:

● Push-in parts

● Double-ended electrode

● Scratch start torch

👉 You’re in PT31 / LG40 territory.

And if your new parts look longer than your old ones…

👉 You’ve got extended instead of standard.

Simple Reality

You didn’t buy the wrong thing.

👉 You just bought the other version.

PT31 plasma consumables comparison showing compatible and incompatible parts side by side on metal surface

What You Can Mix (And What You Can’t)

You can use the same:

● Ceramic cup

● Swirl ring

Doesn’t matter if you’re running standard or extended.

That part stays the same.

What You Cannot Do (This Is the Big One)

Do NOT mix the actual cutting parts.

👉 Short tip + long electrode = no good 👉 Long tip + short electrode = no good

It won’t seat properly.

And even if you force it…

👉 The torch won’t start

👉 Or it’ll run like absolute rubbish

Simple Rule

Keep them in matched pairs.

● Extended goes with extended

● Standard goes with standard

That’s it.

What You Actually Get With Extended

When I first used them… I didn’t think it would matter.

But it does.

You’re only getting about:

👉 4–5mm extra length

Doesn’t sound like much…

But when you’re cutting — it is.

Where You Notice It

Extended is useful when you’re:

● Cutting into tight corners

● Working around edges

● Trying to reach into awkward spots

That extra bit of length lets you:

👉 Get where the torch normally can’t

Where Standard Is Fine

Standard tips are still perfectly good.

Best for:

● Flat plate

● Rough cutting

● General jobs

Most people run these and never have an issue.

nickel plated vs copper plasma electrodes PT31 LG40 comparison in hand NZ

The Real Difference

Standard = shorter, simple, does the job

Extended = gives you reach 👉 That’s it.

No extra power.

No better machine performance.

What Actually Matters More

Your cut quality depends more on:

● Air pressure

● Clean dry air

● Tip size vs amperage

● Your hand control

Not the length of the tip.

👉 If you’re running a scratch start setup like this, how you cut matters more than anything — especially on cheaper machines (see: pilot arc plasma cutters explained).

Where People Stuff It Up

This is the classic mistake.

They buy extended… Try to mix it with standard parts…

And suddenly:

● Nothing lines up

● Torch won’t fire ● Everything feels wrong 👉 It’s not the torch.

👉 It’s mismatched parts.

What I Run Now

Now I know what I’m doing… I use both.

● Standard for normal work

● Extended when I need reach

Simple.

Quick Torch Filter

● PT31 / LG40 → push-in parts, double-ended electrode

● AG60 → everything screws in

● SG51 → tip doesn’t screw in

● P80 → bigger torch

If yours is push-in…

👉 You’re PT31 / LG40.

PT31 plasma torch setup ready for cutting small handheld plasma cutter NZ workshop

FAQ

Do extended tips fit my PT31 / LG40?

Yes — if you use the matching extended electrode.

Can I mix standard and extended?

No. Won’t work properly.

Do I need different cups or swirl rings?

No — they stay the same.

Are extended tips better?

Not better — just more reach.

Should I switch?

If you need access, yes. Otherwise standard is fine.

Final Word

If your new parts look longer than your old ones…

👉 You didn’t buy the wrong thing.

You’ve just got extended consumables.

Keep them matched.

Use extended when you need reach.

Use standard for everything else.

Done 👍