circuitry and methods for reducing nozzle wear during starting of a plasma arc torch , even with a large standoff distance from a workpiece is described . the invention features a method of starting a plasma arc torch for cutting a workpiece using a pilot voltage to ionize a plasma gas and generate a pilot arc between an electrode and a nozzle . the method expedites the transfer of the arc from the nozzle to the workpiece by passing a generally smooth signal through the electrode before , during and after the arc transfers to the workpiece . a high frequency high voltage starting circuit is constructed with a pilot arc circuit isolated from a transfer arc circuit . a signal is generated which has a magnitude sufficient to ionizes a plasma gas to generate a pilot arc between the electrode and the nozzle and has a magnitude which generally increases after the pilot arc has been generated in order to expedite the transfer of the arc . the signal magnitude is , however , low enough to minimize transfer of the arc back to the nozzle .