Sharing my plasma gouging video from today.

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I'm no expert on this subject and today was my first time using it, that being said....Before I bought the consumables and gave this a whirl, I tried to find a video of someone using a plasma to gouge. I've never physically done it or witnessed it, so I figured I would help others, and make a video. I tried an under the hood shot, so you can see the arc, but my camera was not focusing through my fixed lens helmet and it was a pain messing with it. I've carbon arced before, and this is similar. The arc is much more focused, so I moved it around to remove material. My gouging experience is with larger rod (3/16"+) and 400-600 amps, so material removal does not compare to that. I played around after the video and cut down some welds that I was going to grind flush and it's really easy to control your depth/material removal. Slag falls right off, easier than when I've gouged. Post grinding was easy, due to the control I had during gouging. The arc curves while you cut, which is what allows you to control your depth. You have control on the curve, depending on how it strikes the material you are cutting (think of it like spraying a water hose at a pile of dirt and blowing away the part you want to move).
Reply:The Miller 625 should not be compared to carbon arc gouging at 400 to 600 amps. For a fair plasma to carbon arc comparison you would need to step up to a system such as the Hypertherm Powermax85 or 105. These machines are designed with a higher arc voltage capability that allows for a long, more controllable arc and metal removal rates that rival the 600 amp carbon arc process.......with much lower power consumption, less noise, smoke and ultraviolet glare.Nice video....very well done!Jim Colt Originally Posted by yeller_twinI'm no expert on this subject and today was my first time using it, that being said....Before I bought the consumables and gave this a whirl, I tried to find a video of someone using a plasma to gouge. I've never physically done it or witnessed it, so I figured I would help others, and make a video. I tried an under the hood shot, so you can see the arc, but my camera was not focusing through my fixed lens helmet and it was a pain messing with it. I've carbon arced before, and this is similar. The arc is much more focused, so I moved it around to remove material. My gouging experience is with larger rod (3/16"+) and 400-600 amps, so material removal does not compare to that. I played around after the video and cut down some welds that I was going to grind flush and it's really easy to control your depth/material removal. Slag falls right off, easier than when I've gouged. Post grinding was easy, due to the control I had during gouging. The arc curves while you cut, which is what allows you to control your depth. You have control on the curve, depending on how it strikes the material you are cutting (think of it like spraying a water hose at a pile of dirt and blowing away the part you want to move).