Gouging with a Stick Welder

admin

I have a 5/8" plate of AR400 that I need to punch a 1/2" +/- hole through. Is there a way to use a stick welder to burn one through it? Not airarc, just a "normal" rod.Just wondering. Thx

Yeswelder MIG-205DS(3) Angle Grinders at the ReadyJust a hobbyist trying to improve
Reply:Biggest stick of 6010 you've got, turn up the dig to eleven and let 'er eat!




Reply:You need a robust welder that won't overheat. Biggest 6010/6011 you can find. Soak it in water.Do you not have access to oxy/acetylene?An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:I have "gouged" 1/4" plate with 1/8, 6011, about 140-160 amps.  Kinda messy but it "gouged"!
Reply:If you do this, i will be interested in the results. I have done cutting in 1/8 mild steel with 6011.   Why are you considering this?  I punch holes with mig in 14 g. Perfectly round.   I think 5/8" will test your machines capacity.  Good luck.
Reply:yrs ago i think got some rods from someone, that were supposed to be for cutting.     no air involved.    i never tried them, and might still have them.    i dont think it was thought to be a nice cut, but  it was if u dont have a torch/etc.     i dont think this was a dream, i think i remeber this.     i dont know if they had numbers on them or what, but this is what they were inteded for.   they were brown and 5/32 i think.     i'm gonna try to look for them.     anyway, if i had to do it w/ 6010, id start off overhead, so stuff fall down/off, instead of piling up/around.     and i might just keep the arc going and bust through (or almost)  in overhead, if things looked to being ok .     then once u got a hole, flip it over to flat, and use ur hole u created to blow ur material out, while u shape/carve it to diesiredLast edited by 123weld; 6 Days Ago at 09:20 PM.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Willie B

You need a robust welder that won't overheat.
Reply:Bummer... I've done that with the buzz boxes before I got the O/A, but they were 225 and 230 amps. I guess I didn't realize how hard I was pushing them, but I know I had the amps cranked a waaay up there...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:I am curious sometimes,,,, what does a hobby type use AR400 for?www.urkafarms.com
Reply:

Originally Posted by Sberry

I am curious sometimes,,,, what does a hobby type use AR400 for?
Reply:

Originally Posted by rexcormack

Targets?
Reply:Those rods 123weld was talking about are called chamfer rods. They work, but not as well as an arc gouging set up with air.https://weldingrods.com/blog/chamfer...ing-electrode/
Reply:

Originally Posted by whtbaron

Bummer... I've done that with the buzz boxes before I got the O/A, but they were 225 and 230 amps. I guess I didn't realize how hard I was pushing them, but I know I had the amps cranked a waaay up there...
Reply:Got this exothermic lance now but I've never had to use it.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk:
Reply:

Originally Posted by Lis2323

Got this exothermic lance now but I've never had to use it.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:

Originally Posted by farmersammm

Get a bigger one, and you're in business......................  About 10 minutes in, is the SCENE.


Reply:

Originally Posted by farmersammm

Get a bigger one, and you're in business......................  About 10 minutes in, is the SCENE.


Reply:There's an Army pub (don't have it handy) showing a simple conversion of a conventional stick electrode holder and some steel brake line clamped to it as an expedient gouger. Nothing to it, just a 9-degree bend and a valve. I scored a gouger cheap so I've not made one but the examples in pubs are tested to work. An exo torch is basically an expensive collet with a handle and valve. Adapters exist to fit cutting torches. https://www.flametechnologies.com/in...utting-adaptorI have a box of cutting rods but rarely use them except when I want to reach where I can't fit a torch. They're not a substitute for a cutting torch but they do work. I bought them to try them and wouldn't bother again.
Reply:I've done quite a bit of arc gouging, although none of it was on purpose!



Reply:Where is the Forney welder made, Italy? I think I would have heated the AR400 orange and then tried to drill a hole in it after it cooled. I did that on the cutting edge of my skid steer bucket after reading about it on here.