An assembly for a contact start plasma arc torch, the assembly comprising: - an electrode having an electrode body; - a hollow body defining a longitudinal axis and comprising: an interior surface; an exterior surface; a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion including one or more holes configured to allow the passage of a gas from the exterior surface to the interior surface for imparting a swirling motion to the gas; and a shoulder on the interior surface of the hollow body, the shoulder defining a first portion and a second portion, these portions cooperate to form a contoured opening through which a portion of the electrode can move; and - a resilient element retained by the shoulder, the resilient element including a supplemental contact component, the supplemental contact component comprising an annular, washer-like plate secured to the resilient element for physical contact and electrical communication with the electrode, the resilient element is configured to pass a pilot arc current to the electrode and - a power contact configured to be in electrical communication with a power supply; the power contact configured to pass the pilot arc current from the power supply to the electrode through the resilient element, the electrode configured to move into physical contact and electrical communication with the power contact for transferred arc operation. - an electrode having an electrode body; - a hollow body defining a longitudinal axis and comprising: an interior surface; an exterior surface; a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion including one or more holes configured to allow the passage of a gas from the exterior surface to the interior surface for imparting a swirling motion to the gas; and a shoulder on the interior surface of the hollow body, the shoulder defining a first portion and a second portion, these portions cooperate to form a contoured opening through which a portion of the electrode can move; and an interior surface; an exterior surface; a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion including one or more holes configured to allow the passage of a gas from the exterior surface to the interior surface for imparting a swirling motion to the gas; and a shoulder on the interior surface of the hollow body, the shoulder defining a first portion and a second portion, these portions cooperate to form a contoured opening through which a portion of the electrode can move; and - a resilient element retained by the shoulder, the resilient element including a supplemental contact component, the supplemental contact component comprising an annular, washer-like plate secured to the resilient element for physical contact and electrical communication with the electrode, the resilient element is configured to pass a pilot arc current to the electrode and - a power contact configured to be in electrical communication with a power supply; the power contact configured to pass the pilot arc current from the power supply to the electrode through the resilient element, the electrode configured to move into physical contact and electrical communication with the power contact for transferred arc operation. the power contact configured to pass the pilot arc current from the power supply to the electrode through the resilient element, the electrode configured to move into physical contact and electrical communication with the power contact for transferred arc operation.