Gouging with plasma cutter

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I've searched all over on here and haven't found anything about this. I haven't had the opportunity to use a plasma cutter very much but am looking at one right now. As I was reading through the specs for the machine it covered gouging with the plasma. My question is if anyone here has done any gouging with their plasma cutter? How well does it work? Is it similar to carbon arc gouging except without the carbons? What kind of control do you have with it?The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:JR, I may not be as experienced as many, but I have use a plasma rated for 7/8" to gouge and found it to be extremely controllable . Unlike oxy the plasma will not blow through anything in front of it, it is limited in depth/penetration, so gouging is easy to control. I liked it alot. I was able to carve/whittle with it, without cutting deeper than I want to. I will be using the same machine in the near future to gouge/remove cutter holders from my road milling machine and will probably be able to provide pics for everyone to see.
Reply:I agree, I have gouged with mine as well, and it does a nice job.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I used mine to gouge, but still have better control with the carbon arc.  It could be just because I have used the carbon arc for so long.  I bought the gouging tips for a hypertherm 600.  It gouges just fine with the cutting tip.  Probably not used to it yet.If its critical, I use the carbon arc. DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Have had a lot of experience with the Linde (EASB) PCM 150.  It has a different Volt-Amp curve than most.  As you increase arc length, you do not loose Amps, allowing you to hold up to a 4" arc for gougging.  I have put this machine on a lot of automatic machines that gouge hardbanding off drill pipe and works very good.  JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:It will not replace the metal removal quantity of  Carbon Air Arc and the consumiables are more expensive but you sure can do some detailed removal by playing with the air pressure. As always the right tool for each job. Track hoe= Arcair. Detail/thin/ nice things=Spectrum plasma cutter. Really nice and versital piece of equipment.
Reply:I've used a plasma to "wash" welds and such off and used the regular cutting tip.If your careful it's kinda like scarfing with A/O.It was the closest equipment around so I tryed it and was pretty cool.If it's too . get an office jobLincoln wp225g7 Lincoln 250 idealarcFrankenstein O/A set-up Weld-tech  tig set-upLincoln sp 175 plus profax  arc gouger
Reply:Originally Posted by daddyJR, I may not be as experienced as many, but I have use a plasma rated for 7/8" to gouge and found it to be extremely controllable . Unlike oxy the plasma will not blow through anything in front of it, it is limited in depth/penetration, so gouging is easy to control. I liked it alot. I was able to carve/whittle with it, without cutting deeper than I want to. I will be using the same machine in the near future to gouge/remove cutter holders from my road milling machine and will probably be able to provide pics for everyone to see.
Reply:I use the one at work and it is aussum you can use it like a paint brush and just wash away the old welds ,very controalable once you get used to it, I do alot of backhoe buckets and it speeds the repairs up considerably.Life is tuff,so be sharp  lincoln sp 100  cutmaster101  miller bobcat  miller 250 mig  $thousands in snapon
Reply:Thanks guys. I wasn't aware of it being done until I started reading the specs on the machine. Now I know they weren't blowing smoke. Now if they will just let me know when the machine will be in.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Originally Posted by lars66This seems like an expensive way to cut holders off a milling machine. Thousands of them have been cut off in my shop and in the field with air arc fast, neat, and very little grinding.
Reply:I just saw the other thread specifically about air arc.I think my questions are mostly answered, but if anyone has more for me I will look for it on the other thread. (try to keep things on topic)