diff --git a/code/modules/projectiles/guns/energy/special.dm b/code/modules/projectiles/guns/energy/special.dm
index 2f9221e9869..b2c558ab58a 100644
--- a/code/modules/projectiles/guns/energy/special.dm
+++ b/code/modules/projectiles/guns/energy/special.dm
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@
 	ammo_type = list(/obj/item/ammo_casing/energy/bolt/large)
 	pin = null
 
+
 /obj/item/gun/energy/plasmacutter
 	name = "plasma cutter"
 	desc = "A mining tool capable of expelling concentrated plasma bursts. You could use it to cut limbs off xenos! Or, you know, mine stuff."
@@ -129,6 +130,9 @@
 	usesound = list('sound/items/welder.ogg', 'sound/items/welder2.ogg')
 	tool_behaviour = TOOL_WELDER
 	toolspeed = 0.7 //plasmacutters can be used as welders, and are faster than standard welders
+	var/progress_flash_divisor = 10  //copypasta is best pasta
+	var/light_intensity = 1
+	var/charge_weld = 25 //amount of charge used up to start action (multiplied by amount) and per progress_flash_divisor ticks of welding
 
 /obj/item/gun/energy/plasmacutter/Initialize()
 	. = ..()
@@ -152,15 +156,47 @@
 		..()
 
 // Tool procs, in case plasma cutter is used as welder
-/obj/item/gun/energy/plasmacutter/tool_use_check(mob/living/user, amount)
-	if(!QDELETED(cell) && (cell.charge >= amount * 100))
-		return TRUE
+// Can we start welding?
+/obj/item/gun/energy/plasmacutter/tool_start_check(mob/living/user, amount)
+	. = tool_use_check(user, amount)
+	if(. && user)
+		user.flash_act(light_intensity)
 
-	to_chat(user, "<span class='warning'>You need more charge to complete this task!</span>")
-	return FALSE
+// Can we weld? Plasma cutter does not use charge continuously.
+// Amount cannot be defaulted to 1: most of the code specifies 0 in the call.
+/obj/item/gun/energy/plasmacutter/tool_use_check(mob/living/user, amount)
+	if(QDELETED(cell))
+		to_chat(user, "<span class='warning'>[src] does not have a cell, and cannot be used!</span>")
+		return FALSE
+	// Amount cannot be used if drain is made continuous, e.g. amount = 5, charge_weld = 25
+	// Then it'll drain 125 at first and 25 periodically, but fail if charge dips below 125 even though it still can finish action
+	// Alternately it'll need to drain amount*charge_weld every period, which is either obscene or makes it free for other uses
+	if(amount ? cell.charge < charge_weld * amount : cell.charge < charge_weld)
+		to_chat(user, "<span class='warning'>You need more charge to complete this task!</span>")
+		return FALSE
+
+	return TRUE
 
 /obj/item/gun/energy/plasmacutter/use(amount)
-	return cell.use(amount * 100)
+	return (!QDELETED(cell) && cell.use(amount ? amount * charge_weld : charge_weld))
+
+// This only gets called by use_tool(delay > 0)
+// It's also supposed to not get overridden in the first place.
+/obj/item/gun/energy/plasmacutter/tool_check_callback(mob/living/user, amount, datum/callback/extra_checks)
+	. = ..() //return tool_use_check(user, amount) && (!extra_checks || extra_checks.Invoke())
+	if(. && user)
+		if (progress_flash_divisor == 0)
+			user.flash_act(min(light_intensity,1))
+			progress_flash_divisor = initial(progress_flash_divisor)
+		else
+			progress_flash_divisor--
+
+/obj/item/gun/energy/plasmacutter/use_tool(atom/target, mob/living/user, delay, amount=1, volume=0, datum/callback/extra_checks)
+	if(amount)
+		. = ..()
+	else
+		. = ..(amount=1)
+
 
 /obj/item/gun/energy/plasmacutter/update_icon()
 	return