carbon arc questions

[SE18]

I guess I've got a lot to learn now. Gouging torches too! All this time I never knew there were accessories for a stick welder. What a versitile machine!

Now I'll have to google gouging attachments to see what the heck they do; this stuff is addictive

If I did it for a liviing, however, I think the fun might dissappear so that's why I'm on "Hobby"-Machinist forum

 

[epanzella]

I had a carbon arc torch for many years. Very hot and very awkward. It has limited use as you can't direct the heat to heat a specific spot without overheating everything around it. It won't replace an oxy-acetylene outfit. And, like other's have said, you need a full welding helmet and long sleeves or you'll peel like a lizard from the most intense sunburn you've ever gotten.

 

[leadunderpressure]

With carbon arc gouging, can you cut thin sheet with that? Say 1/4 inch mild steel? Just how sloppy is the cut?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[shovel80]

We just used the carbon arc torch for scarfing cast iron away....it's sort of like using a Oxy-Acetelene torch, but I don't think it was as accurate....It uses compressed air instead of the Oxygen to blow away the molten metal...the oxy torch won't cut cast iron............Maybe a Plasma cutter would be the best today?

Terry

 

[SE18]

I just got outbid on the fleabay carbon arc so looks like I'll put making one on my list

got my oxyacy tanks refilled, nothing beats that!

 

[sniggler]

I use a carbon arc gouging rig at work all the time for removing welds, beveling, scarfing ect... It is much faster than an oxy/acetylene torch for those things. It also doesn't have as much heat input to the base metal so it is preferred on structural steel. It is not used for welding or cutting although you could make a rough cut with it, it needs about 450 amps and constant use will pound a lighter duty cycle welding machine pretty fast.

I have not used the other type of carbon torch which looks like it would be fun to fool around with.

Bob

 

[Dunc1]

Popular Science Oct 1941 has instructions to build a torch (I have seen others on the internet) and a handy chart for amps vs rod diameter. I have not personally tried using the arc torch but I did use it a few times many years ago with the carbons in direct contact with metal to heat it up. Worked well. I no longer have the torch or any rods.

The Pop Sci chart recommends:
1/4" dia rod = 5-30 amps
5/16" = 20-50
3/8" = 40-80
1/2" = 75-125

 

[SE18]

I posted this elsewhere in forum but I did end up building one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i85PCW-M8fc

I use 1/4" carbon rods at 85A with my marquette stick welder. The reason I used it to weld is that I ran out of O/A fuel so I just grabbed with carbon arc torch and kept going, not as good but it worked

I so far used it to remove welds, braze, remove paint and interestingly, I even used it to weld this spider together

 

[SE18]

Merry Christmas to everyone. I was out playing with my welding equipment and decide to experiment some more with CAW and CAG welding.

I managed to fusion weld two steel rods together (3/8" dia) in just a few seconds, quicker than my oxyacy

I also produced a bolt from allthread and a nut using CAW fusion (no filler)

Then I tried CAG welding, although it probably isn't really "gouging" per se. What I did was connect my Marquette stick welder common directly to the roof of this steam derrick you see and then the other common connected to just one lead of the carbon arc welder. Using this method, I was able to punch this hole in sheet metal. I also did some sheet metal cutting using this technique.

OxyAcy seems to work better for me in doing these functions, but I'm thinking that with some practice, I can improve in carbon arc welding

 

[Metalbender]

For those interested in the carbon arc torch, search Forney carbon arc. I bought a new one many years ago, since I don't have an OA set. Works great for it's intended purpose, heating and brazing. Now having a plasma and the carbon, I haven't run across the need for a torch set.