Quote Originally Posted by redbeard View Post
Would the pilot arc really have the balls to do that to the cup and standoff?

First thought I had was piercing or technique as well. I know when I first got mine, I just wanted to see what 60A would do to a 1" piece of metal, to hell with practicing on thin stuff first.
Sure it would. The pilot arc is still 20+ amps and around 10,000 degrees. I've known guys to cut 1/8" metal or more with it. If it's moving too fast or the work clamp isn't making good connection the flame would spread out instead of down, on thick metal, blowing molten metal everywhere.