Anyone do this stuff anymore?
Or has plasma taken over?

I cant find supplies for this process for some reason, online.

I have a ARC welder.
I have compressed air.
All is need is the holder and the electrodes.
Would be a nice cheap way to cut heavy stuff for me if electrodes arent expensive.

Been searching the net and havent found anyting other than descriptions of the process and courses.
http://www.sweethaven.com/academic/lessons/021100/00/lessonmain.asp?lesNum=7&modNum=11

Any of you find anyting on this or where to get consumables, and hardware?

Thanks.

MJ

These guys sell carbon arc gouging stuff:

http://westgatesales.com/distrib/index.asp

people still do it, we got taught how in our welding class, it was pretty cool. dont know where to get the stuff though

I do it all the time. You can get the equipment at any decent welding shop.

yup our shop was running one all last week
guy that did my front dif used one to cut the welds out
can you post back with the prices you find and where?

Thanks for the replies...just couldnt find anything searching the net that was helpful.

That link OS put up has a lot of stuff...electrode holders from $128, and up depending on certain things.

Too many prices to list, and I dont know what the designations of the electrodes are.

Thanks for the help. :)
I'll check with the local welding places...I've never seen the hardware out front, doesnt mean they cant get it I guess...

On the same subject...what type of pressure, and CFM is needed to do ths stuff efficiently.
I suppose if I have to ask I may not have enough. :p


MJ

I looked into this a while back and most everything I read about it said you needed a BIG welder, much bigger than the avg. home 220V stick machine, to run a carbon arc torch on. Is this true ?

- jack

The bigger the electrode, the more current will be required to short it out effectively. Also, you'll need a good size compressor. Running 80psi out of a hose full bore and unrestricted takes some big lungs. You can MAKE your own gouge dude. Go to the welding store and pick up one of those old school welding rod holders (clamp style), pick up a bunch of the smallest gouging electrodes and modify an air chuck to work in conjuction with the stinger. Turn your welder up full juice, turn on the air flow (make sure you've got a regulator close by, so you can fine tune the airflow for the material), got your earplugs in, your shield on and every inch of you covered up and you should be good to go. Have a friend look at your electrical useage meter and make sure the bearings dont start heating up, cuz the ol disk'll be spinnin. Your average home welder will only have a 20% duty cycle in this form though, so let it cool down. Unless it's a friends unit.

I would say around 250 to 300 amps to run one.

Heh heh I guess my 235 max welder wouldnt be efficient.

I've cut 1/4 stuff up using regular rod, on full blast...but its real messy.

I've seen the short 6" or so carbon electrodes, and thats what got me thinking about this stuff.
I'll have to play around.

Lol electrical meter..yeah right...I have AC units, and fans running all day lately, and I've been welding and stuff...the power company loves me.

:D

MJ

First, what are you cutting that you "need" an air arc for, stainless or what? Second, there are rods that are specifically made for cutting like chamfer rod or cutting trode that you don't need the air for. They are messy, but not as bad as 6010 dipped in water. As far as amps, the more the better. I usually try to get between 300-400 depending on what I'm cutting, makes for a great light show.

And any welding store can get what your looking for, but you need the machine to do it, and you don't have it.

http://www.thermadyne.com/ta/index.asp?div=ta

Thanks for the info...this is why I was asking....I gathered i didnt have enough juice, or air...but was hoping to make something work.I was also interested in the process, as I've never done it, or seen it done.

I'm just cutting steel bar stock etc...in the future here, and am sick of abrasive wheels, and in no position to get an oxy set up (cost prohibitive around here gotta lease em, and a decent set up would cost 4 bills up front...cheaper for crappy regualtor, and smaller cylinders, but then whats th epoint) or a plasma outfit which I want to get eventiually. $$$$$ for what I would like though.

Just looking for a cheap method of cutting thick stuff that doesnt involve the chop saw, or the sawzall. :rolleyes:

Would even like a portaband saw...that may be something to look into.

Thanks for all the good info.

MJ

I bought an ArcAir K4000 "torch" off Ebay a year ago for about $70, IIRC.

Finally hooked it up last night (was building a new shop when I bought the torch) and tried it out.

Bought a box of 5/64 (I think) carbon rod from the welding store - had it on a shelf in the display area, $15.

Set my Century 230amp AC stick welder to about 150amps, set the compressor regulator to about 70psi, and tried it.

I suck! :flipoff2:

Re-reading the link above should help me do a better job the next time I try it - things like "stick out" and direction of travel.

I just tried this, that, and the other to see what I could make work.

Unfortunately, about the time I *think* I figured it out, my air compressor (admittedly, an old 1HP 2-stage unit that does well enough for most things, but hates my sandblast cabinet and air-grinder) fell flat on it's face and I didn't have enough air to blow the puddle away.

Originally posted by Maine Jeepah
Would even like a portaband saw...that may be something to look into.


I have a chop saw, porta-band saw, and buddy down the street has a plasma. I find that most straight line cutting is just as easy with the porta-band or chop...

I wouldn't give either one up :)

I used one once. It was very cool.

I worked at a job shop where we did a lot of farm equip. repair. I used one enough to be comfortable with it.

I asked our resident "god of welding" how high to crank the welder, he walked over spun it over in the middle flipped it to A setting (out of ABC) and said "'bout there'll do". Ran the air wide open, BIG compressor (has a bigger room than most executives) ,and let 'er rip!

Someone earlier said it's a good light show, understatement.

About hearing protection, absolutely essential (I prefer to destroy my hearing with music). Ear plugs also keep hot chunks of molten metal outta your ear, OUCH! Out of all of the burns I've had from machining, those hurt the worst!

MJ- I paid $75 and some work for a complete oxy/acet set up just last month :D

Originally posted by BrianR
...there are rods that are specifically made for cutting like chamfer rod or cutting 'trode that you don't need the air for. They are messy, but not as bad as 6010 dipped in water.
For grins, I tried some sixty-'leven with a water-dip.

Good Lord, whatta mess! I won't be doing that again without setting up a cinder-block backstop. It damn near vaporized the metal from the kerf, but the cleanup was substantial. :eek:

Anyone have a specific cut-rod they can recommend? I've seen stuff like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1767412915
Any good?

Randii

Why would you want to use carbon rods for cutting? There is a reason they call it "gouging". Very loud, dirty (lots of carbon dust and crap flying around) and not what you would call precision cutting. I have been doing it at various places and the shipyard I work at for 14 years. Used mostly for back cutting a seam/joint for a full pen weld. Plasma is neater. A torch is a far better method for cutting really heavy plate. We use oxy/acet for cutting up to 6" thick plate.

air arc does work good talk to your local welding supply shop they can get you going :beer:

we do it at the chemical plant to remove 3/4" x 6" duplex 2205 stainless studs that are frozen in place in sulfuric acid service. we use huge welders to do it though, not your garden variety home stuff.

Why? The torch is way across town at Mike's house... the mongo buzzbox resides at my house.

My neighbors hat me enough as is without running air through the arc. Seen that done from afar, and still wanted ear plugs.

Back to the question -- anyone have personal experience with cut-rods?

Randii

Originally posted by randii

Back to the question -- anyone have personal experience with cut-rods?

Randii

I used some cutting rod or "chamfer rod" before.

Worked better than cranking up the 6011 or 6013. Lasted a bit longer per cut, too.

QUIET compared to the grinder, circ saw, sawzall, or just about anything other than the band-saw.

Don't remember much about the type/mfg/whatever, though I still have the empty box out in the shop if you really need some info.

I just walked into the welding supply shop and asked for cutting rod that would work on my 230amp AC welder.