Carbon arc gouging

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I was playing around with various size carbon electrodes. I used the old cutting edge off of that combinations front bucket, that I replaced. Yeah, I don't scrap, scrap too easily. Man, I am really going to start using this process more. I can just describe it like using a plasma cutter, with the ability to control the depth. Just AWESOME!!! I used 5/32", 1/4" and 5/16" carbons."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Then I figured, what the hay, might as well use that Lincoln goodness to fill 'em back up again. McKay 7018XLM, 5/32". Awesome welder, awesome rod!!! But I still love my Shopmaster too!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Air Arc is a WONDERFUL tool once you learn how to use it.  The fellow that trained me was like a Surgeon with a Scalpel.  He could clean off a weld with a 3/8" Flat Carbon so smooth that you didn't need a grinder - Your glove didn't even snag.I guess watching him, I have a different appreciation of how this tool can be used once you get the hang of it - I use it regularly on the gage metal walls on our Generator and Pre-Mix Tank buildings... The last Shop Foreman (also a Journeyman Welder) would have KITTENS  when I told him what I was going to do, but he came up in a different segment of the industry than me and we have vastly different backgrounds.Air  Arc is the most efficient thing out there I have found to remove a bunch of gobby welds on an inside corner of a door frame that some clueless wanna-be from another branch tossed on there and covered with paint.  Just a few seconds with a die grinder and a Carbide Burr and it is ready for some TLC (Tender LINCOLN Care) I can't see clear details on the welds, but the lifting slag pretty much tells the story for me.Have a Good NightLast edited by Black Wolf; 12-07-2011 at 10:57 PM.Later,Jason
Reply:One of my main tools wait till ya get ahold of a 1/2 at 600 amps pushin 150 psi threw 1/2 line the bigger the buckets the bigger the tools then you will Want a LN 35 with some .120 Ns 3m to fill the canyons back up the 3/8 and 5/8 flats are the cats as as stated above.PaulAnother day in paradise You only have to be smarter than the metal".   WeldiniMaking an honest living is nothing more than stealing from someone who can afford it and everyone feels good when it's over .      Weldini
Reply:I love to see the flux peeling up like that. It was always my favorite part of long welds with dualshield wire.  2 foot long tails lifting up are the best to look at.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Originally Posted by Heavy Metal ServiceOne of my main tools wait till ya get ahold of a 1/2 at 600 amps pushin 150 psi threw 1/2 line the bigger the buckets the bigger the tools then you will Want a LN 35 with some .120 Ns 3m to fill the canyons back up the 3/8 and 5/8 flats are the cats as as stated above.Paul
Reply:Never had the chance to use 1/2" Carbons yet, but used to run the 3/8" Flat Carbons off an Invertec V-350 Pro wound wide open @ 425 amps.Where I am at now, we only have PowerMig 300s and PowerMig 350 MPs... I have been meaning to contact Lincoln and see if I can hook up two of the same machines in parallel.Later,Jason
Reply:Back when I was building tanks they would have newbs build the shells. Another guy and I would finish them, then air test. After grinding an overhead roof seam out on a 12 ft. dia. tank, we gouged them after that. Worked way faster.Leo
Reply:Could I use my Lincoln IdealArc 250 for CAG??Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-man1/2"??? I thought 3/8" uses 450 - 600a according to the Arcair manual. I was going to pick up a box of 3/8" to try and have around, but I didn't think the Commander 500 would handle the 1/2".
Reply:Originally Posted by DemonSpeederCould I use my Lincoln IdealArc 250 for CAG??
Reply:Originally Posted by DemonSpeederCould I use my Lincoln IdealArc 250 for CAG??
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manYou can, probably 1/8" and 5/32". I will guess 3/16" will be too much.That's an electric model.
Reply:SM did ya get my PM?Another day in paradise You only have to be smarter than the metal".   WeldiniMaking an honest living is nothing more than stealing from someone who can afford it and everyone feels good when it's over .      Weldini
Reply:Originally Posted by DemonSpeederCould I use my Lincoln IdealArc 250 for CAG??
Reply:Definatly enjoy using carbon arc it has its place for sure. We use high amperage plasma gougers alot at our generating stations for cavitation welding of the turbine blades (308 stainless). Some of the cavitated areas are upto 1/2 to 1" deep with areas as large as 5 or 6' square. Depending on the unit schedule and how long shes run for we could throw 20 to 30 rolls of .035 309 into her. The plasma gouger basically vapourizes the material its so hot. Our gouging tips produce a 1/2" arc/flame, quick, clean, and zero slag removal or grinding out carbon deposits. I laugh at our apprentices who come in to do cavitation for their first time and hold their head close to the arc ( 1 foot away or so ) and their helmet ends up completely distorted due to the heat. I will say that carbon arc is definatly more versitile though.
Reply:Originally Posted by Heavy Metal ServiceSM did ya get my PM?
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manNo HMS, I did not get a PM from you.If you remember David, you're the reason I even own this toy, thanks! Could you post some info/pics of your demand meter. I am trying to find a way to meter my welders settings so I know what amps I'm at.What size plasma? Maybe I can try that with mine.
Reply:When I back gouge for a full penetration weld I have always done it differently than everyone else I see doing it. I didn't like the way the rod changes shape as you progress along the joint and also how the molten metal "slag" that remains on the edge of the gouge can be hard to remove. The way I have solved the issue is to weave the rod back and forth for flat joints, or up and down for horizontal. What this does for me is to keep the joint uniform and keeps the rod about the same shape all the way. It also seems to make the slag come off with just blowing the air on it or a light scraping with the slag hammer. It makes a nice U shaped groove. If you want to add a bevel to the sides, a light skim takes it down quickly then a quick run up the center will V it out. Quicker and a lot cleaner in my book.CERTIFICATIONS:7018M- H.V.O10718M- H.V.O11018M- H.V.O9N10- H.V.O71T-1-HYM- H.O.V100S1 PULSE ARC 0,035- H.O.V100S1 PULSE ARC 0.045- H.O.VER70S-3 PULSE ARC 0.035 H.O.VER70S-3 PULSE ARC 0.045 H.O.VER5554- H.O.V
Reply:the old air arc makes my life a lot better. I couldn't perform the repairs on 95% of my jobs with out. Just last month I used 25 boxes of 3/8. It beats the **** out of grinding on stuff and with practice can be very controllable. I have used it in the field to cut and bevel stainless pipe works great. Glad other people appreciate it some people have it in their heads its a crude at best process.
Reply:"Un Weld it"  How else would I do a bucket edge?    I can't control the depth of my plasma.  I tried a gouging tip, all it wanted to do is trash the cutting head.  No thank you.Stick Man, My electric service has a peak demand meter.  If I need 80 amps  (single phase 220 volts)  at once, the meter sees it and records it.   They then charge me about $8.00 per KW of peak demand.  5 KW adds about $40 to my bill every month.  If I ran 2 machines at once, it would add $80.00 to my bill.I have never turned my V350 all the way  up.   When my son is there we still run only one machine.   He will set up the plasma, I will stop welding while he cuts.Last edited by David R; 12-10-2011 at 01:57 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:David, check to see if your demand meter doesn't need to see a steady demand for a defined period of time. They took mine out some years back because I didn't use enough to justify the meter after de-regulation. Anyway with my provider the needle only stuck with steady demand lasting for 10 minutes or more.Air conditioning was the worst, none of my machines running by them-self would make it go above 10K.Stick-Man, they make watt meters you can  buy.... NEVER MIND it's not worth it.Matt
Reply:Ok, I thought he had a multi-meter which clamped around the lead to measure welding amperage. I would like to find an inexpensive one, but it has to go up to 600A. Anybody know of one?How does that peak demand meter compare to mine? I have the one that records my actual usage. I would think a peak demand would be screwing you."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manSNIP!   I would think a peak demand would be screwing you.
Reply:Originally Posted by David R"Un Weld it"  How else would I do a bucket edge?    I can't control the depth of my plasma.  I tried a gouging tip, all it wanted to do is trash the cutting head.  No thank you.Stick Man, My electric service has a peak demand meter.  If I need 80 amps  (single phase 220 volts)  at once, the meter sees it and records it.   They then charge me about $8.00 per KW of peak demand.  5 KW adds about $40 to my bill every month.  If I ran 2 machines at once, it would add $80.00 to my bill.I have never turned my V350 all the way  up.   When my son is there we still run only one machine.   He will set up the plasma, I will stop welding while he cuts.I agree with expat, we gouge on stainless turbine blades with a two plasma gouging setups. Its an extremely hot process, the material flows off like water is the best way to describe. But controling the depth is very simple. We gouge out the cavitated material, ZERO grinding of carbon deposits just a quick wire brush, fill with 309 and then well go back with the same gouging tip and scarf off as much of the weld as we can to make life easier for the grinders, were talkin at times upto 4 or 5 square feet of cavitated area, what would take our plasma gougers 15 minutes to gouge out, would take carbon arc an hour and box's of rods, we definatly used to do it back in the day, but the scroll case was seriously a black cloud down there with two guys gouging.
Reply:I have done carbon arc gouging on heavy equipment for years but you start going above 400 amps and i have no idea of what your doing and when i seen plasma gouging being done i thought i would like that and after getting my 625 xtreme plasma cutter and trying it i would never carbon arc againit's so much nicer less noise less spray of hot globs flying everywhere but that's just my opinion for what i doBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Originally Posted by David RIf you use a multimeter, it almost takes 2 people.  One to weld and one to watch.  If you hook up to the input side of the welder, only hook to ONE power wire.My V350 will kick off a 40 amp breaker when gouging at 300 amps.  My Powermax 600 plasma will kick off the same breaker if I am cutting thick stuff like 3/4"  Arcmaster 185 will never kick that breaker.  The other circuits in my shop are 50 amp and I have never overloaded them.David
Reply:Man from Hellinois, I have done that with a clamp on meter and a recording volt meter.  See the 110 volt Mig thread or my evaluation of the V155S.It can be done, but just learn your machine.  # don't mean as much as know your machine.  When you are making small adjustments then you got it.three of my machines read out last welding amps and volts for 5 seconds after you stop welding. A DC inductive or shunt meter is harder to find and costs more than an AC amp meter.  I use them for work, so I have a couple.My digital read out machines are right on, so are the knobs on my V155 and Ranger 250.  DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.