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Keeping a torch or plasma cut straight can become difficult when your guide shifts as you work. The Jackson Safety #28 Magnetic Burning Guide solves that problem with a 24-inch raised straight edge and three cast-in magnets, each rated for 30 pounds of pull. It is designed for structural thermal cutting and layout where you have a magnetic steel surface for attachment. Its strong hold and heat-resistant design are useful, but buyers should understand that magnetic attachment limits where the guide can work.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 8.6/10, Recommended with caveats
Best For: Welders, fabricators, and metalworkers who need a stable straight edge for thermal cutting on magnetic steel.
Bottom Line: The three 30-pound pull magnets and raised 24-inch blade make this guide particularly useful for keeping straight cuts aligned. Its main limitation is compatibility because the magnetic base needs a suitable ferromagnetic steel surface.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Jackson Safety |
| Product | #28 Magnetic Burning Guide |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 14791 |
| Product Type | Magnetic burning guide and straight edge |
| Blade Length | 24 inches |
| Guide Width | 2 inches |
| Magnet Count | Three cast-in magnets |
| Magnet Pull | 30 lb pull per magnet |
| Blade Design | Raised plane |
| Construction | Cast construction designed to withstand heat and spatter |
| Compatible Cutting Methods | Burning torch and plasma cutting applications |
| Primary Use | Straight cutting, structural thermal cutting, and layout on magnetic steel |
| Extension Options | Jackson Safety #29, #30, and #31 attachments are designed for longer overall guide lengths |
Key Takeaways
- The 24-inch blade provides a long straight reference for thermal cutting and layout work.
- Three cast-in magnets, each rated for 30 pounds of pull, help keep the guide positioned on suitable steel surfaces.
- The raised-plane blade design keeps the working edge positioned for use as a cutting straight edge.
- The guide is built to handle the heat and spatter associated with burning-torch and plasma-cutting work.
- It is most useful on magnetic steel. It should not be purchased as a universal guide for every metal surface.
What Is the Jackson Safety #28 Magnetic Burning Guide?
The Jackson Safety #28 Magnetic Burning Guide is a specialty layout and cutting tool designed to give you a stable straight reference on steel. Instead of clamping a separate straight edge at both ends, you position the magnetic base directly against an appropriate steel workpiece.
Its main feature is the combination of a 24-inch raised blade and three 30-pound pull cast-in magnets. The magnets help resist movement while the raised edge provides the reference line used to guide a burning torch or plasma cutter.
This design is aimed mainly at structural fabrication, welding shops, metal layout work, and other situations where straight thermal cuts must be repeated with less time spent arranging clamps.
Before You Buy: The magnetic base needs a surface that the magnets can grip securely. Do not assume it will hold properly to aluminum, nonmagnetic stainless steel, dirty steel, heavily scaled material, or every coated surface.
Who Should Buy It?
Best For
- Fabricators making straight thermal cuts on magnetic steel.
- Welders who want faster straight-edge positioning without separate end clamps.
- Shops that regularly use burning torches or plasma cutters for layout and cutting.
Skip If
- Your work is mainly aluminum or other nonmagnetic material.
- You primarily need an adjustable angle guide rather than a fixed straight edge.
- Your projects rarely involve torch or plasma straight-line cutting.
Design and Build Quality
The guide is built around a simple job: stay attached to the workpiece and provide a dependable edge for straight cutting. Its cast construction is specifically designed to handle the heat and spatter found around thermal cutting work.
The 24-inch blade sits on a raised plane. This matters because the straight edge is positioned above the main base rather than sitting completely flat against the steel. That design makes the edge practical for guiding a torch while helping keep the main body positioned away from the immediate cut line.
At approximately 2 inches wide, the guide also gives the magnetic base enough area to sit firmly against a suitable work surface without becoming an oversized layout tool.
Magnetic Strength and Versatility
The standout feature is the set of three cast-in magnets rated at 30 pounds of pull each. Multiple magnets distribute holding force along the guide instead of relying on a single attachment point.
Jackson Safety designed the magnetic arrangement so the tool can be positioned in different orientations on suitable steel. This can be particularly useful when a cut or layout line is not on a convenient horizontal workbench.
Actual holding performance still depends on the work surface. Rust, scale, paint, debris, uneven steel, or limited contact between the magnet faces and workpiece can reduce grip.
Pro Tip: Before starting a cut, clean the contact area and press the entire magnetic base against the steel. Give the guide a firm manual check before lighting the torch or starting the plasma cutter.
Performance in Precision Cutting
A straight edge is useful only if it stays where you set it. The #28 addresses that problem by combining its magnetic base with a long 24-inch working edge.
For straight structural cuts, you can align the guide with your marked cut line and use its raised edge as the torch or plasma reference. The design removes some of the setup involved with arranging separate clamps around a conventional straight edge.
The guide does not make an accurate cut automatically. Your results still depend on proper layout, torch angle, travel speed, consumable condition, and maintaining consistent contact or spacing relative to the guide.
How It Performs in Real Use
For Straight Cuts on Plate
On a flat magnetic-steel plate, the guide’s three magnets can provide multiple holding points across the 24-inch length. That gives you a fixed edge to follow after you align the tool with your layout marks.
For Structural Fabrication
The tool is designed for structural thermal cutting and layout. Its magnetic attachment can reduce the need to find convenient clamping points when you are working directly on steel members.
For Vertical or Awkward Steel Surfaces
Because the magnets are intended to support positioning in different orientations, the guide can be more convenient than an ordinary loose straight edge. You should still test the grip before cutting, especially on painted, dirty, curved, or uneven steel.
For Repeated Shop Work
If your work regularly involves straight torch or plasma cuts, magnetic placement can shorten setup compared with positioning and removing clamps for every cut. The benefit is smaller if you only perform thermal cutting occasionally.
Setup Tips for Better Results
- Confirm the surface is magnetic. Test the guide on the actual workpiece before relying on it.
- Clean the contact area. Remove loose scale, grinding dust, chips, and heavy debris where the magnets will sit.
- Mark your cut first. Use your normal measuring and layout method, then position the guide from those marks.
- Check full contact. Make sure the magnetic base is sitting firmly rather than rocking on weld beads or uneven material.
- Test the hold by hand. The guide should not slide easily before you start a hot-work operation.
- Keep the torch under control. The guide is a straight reference, not a substitute for correct cutting technique.
Compatibility and Safety
The Jackson Safety #28 is intended for use as a straight edge with thermal cutting equipment, including burning-torch and plasma-cutting applications. The key compatibility requirement is the workpiece because the built-in magnets need suitable ferromagnetic material to develop useful holding force.
Do not treat the stated magnet pull as a guarantee that the guide cannot move. Surface condition, coating, material thickness, contact area, orientation, vibration, and heat can affect how securely a magnetic tool stays in place.
Follow the instructions for your torch or plasma cutter, wear appropriate welding and cutting PPE, control sparks and hot metal, and keep combustible materials away from the hot-work area. Allow the guide to cool before handling or cleaning it after heavy cutting work.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Maintenance is simple because the guide has no powered components. After the tool has cooled, remove loose metal particles, dust, and spatter from the body and magnet contact areas.
Pay particular attention to the magnetic base. Steel grinding particles can collect around magnets and create an uneven contact surface. Keeping the base clean helps the guide sit flatter against your next workpiece.
Inspect the guide before use for obvious damage, distortion, excessive spatter buildup, or damage around the magnet areas. If it no longer sits securely or straight, do not rely on it for precision layout.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Three 30-pound pull cast-in magnets provide multiple holding points.
- 24-inch raised blade provides a useful straight cutting reference.
- Designed to withstand heat and spatter from thermal cutting work.
- Useful with burning-torch and plasma-cutting applications.
- Magnetic positioning can reduce dependence on separate straight-edge clamps.
Cons
- The magnetic base limits usefulness on nonmagnetic materials.
- Dirty, scaled, coated, or uneven steel can reduce magnetic contact.
- The #28 is primarily a straight guide, so buyers needing adjustable angle layout may want a different tool.
Is It Worth the Price?
The Jackson Safety #28 is a specialty fabrication tool rather than a general-purpose measuring accessory. Its value comes from combining a long cutting edge with magnetic positioning in one tool, which can be useful if straight thermal cuts are part of your regular workflow.
You are likely to get the most value from it when you repeatedly work with magnetic structural steel and want to reduce straight-edge setup time. For occasional home projects, or if most of your work uses aluminum and other nonmagnetic material, a simpler clamped straight edge may make more sense.
How It Compares to Alternatives
Within Jackson Safety’s own layout-tool range, the #22 Pro-Mag Burning Square is better suited to work that needs angle adjustment. It uses an adjustable ruler blade and protractor-style layout system, while the #28 focuses on providing a straightforward magnetic straight edge.
If the #28’s standard 24-inch blade is too short for your work, Jackson Safety also lists #29, #30, and #31 attachments for its #22 and #28 tools. Those accessories are intended to provide longer overall lengths of approximately 34, 48, and 72 inches. Check compatibility and the exact accessory configuration before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jackson Safety #28 Magnetic Burning Guide used for?
It is designed to provide a magnetic straight edge for structural thermal cutting and layout. The raised 24-inch blade can be used as a guide with burning-torch and plasma-cutting applications.
How strong are the magnets?
The base contains three cast-in magnets rated at 30 pounds of pull each. Actual grip can vary with the steel thickness, surface condition, contact area, coating, and orientation.
Can the guide be used with a plasma cutter?
Yes. Product information for the #28 describes it as a straight-edge guide for burning-torch or plasma-cutting work. You still need to follow the cutting-equipment manufacturer’s operating and safety instructions.
Will it stick to aluminum or stainless steel?
Do not assume it will. Aluminum is nonmagnetic, and many stainless-steel grades provide little or no useful magnetic attraction. Test the guide on your actual material before planning a cut around its magnetic hold.
Can it be used on vertical steel?
The three-magnet design is intended to support positioning in different orientations on suitable steel. Always test the hold before cutting because surface condition and available magnetic contact can change how securely the guide stays in place.
How should you clean the magnetic burning guide?
Let the tool cool completely, then remove loose dirt, metal particles, and spatter. Keep the magnet contact surfaces clean so accumulated steel debris does not prevent the base from sitting flat.
Does the Jackson Safety #28 include a warranty?
A specific warranty term was not confirmed for this review. Check the current seller listing and Jackson Safety warranty information before purchasing if warranty coverage is important to you.
The Bottom Line
The Jackson Safety #28 Magnetic Burning Guide is a strong fit for welders and fabricators who regularly make straight thermal cuts on magnetic steel. Its main strengths are the 24-inch raised blade and three 30-pound pull magnets, while its main limitation is that magnetic attachment is not suitable for every material or surface.
If that matches your fabrication work, the #28 is worth considering. If you need adjustable-angle layout or mostly work with nonmagnetic metals, another guide will likely be more useful.
