[TheForge] Re: Burning Metal

Fri Nov 7 02:59:00 2003

        Dann,  The Carbon Arc Gouging torches of today aren't like the old
two rod carbon torches used to develop heat in the past for large braze
sections.   The Arc Gouging torches have an air supply coming out of the
electrode holder that delivers an air stream that carries away anything that
the carbon arc has melted.   It's a very nasty process that requires
leathers and the only nice part about it is you can aim the rod and air
stream in a particular direction.  That is about as good as it gets for
control of molten metal with that process.  When you come close to another
section of steel or a corner it is very similar to taking a molten steel
shower...........and soap don't help.

        There is more of a heat transfer to the material than a plasma arc,
so this method of cutting cast would be less desireable than plasma.  I have
no idea what happens to cast when your using a sacrificial iron to continue
the cut as far as heat transfer(like Pete mentioned), but I would imagine it
would be equal to or greater than the carbon arc gouging.

        The amount of heat transfered to a piece of steel while cutting with
the:
Torch - is greatest
Carbon gouging - second
Plasma - third, to the point you can almost handle the part with bare hands
or light gloves directly after the cut.

When it comes to stripping weldments apart for repair, or correction the
same list applies.  You do need a plasma cutter with a good "stand
off"(meaning distance from nozzle to material) to be able to strip welds
with it.

Ralph

----- Original Message -----
From: "Harland Johnson" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 12:20 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Re: Burning Metal

>
> I have a carbon arc attachment for my arc welder that I always  used   as
an
> alternative to a rose bud to heat  metal.   They way that I used it was to
> set the welder to something like 290 amps,  adjust the carbon holder until
> the two carbons almost touched and made an arc .. and then thumb the
carbon
> arc gap wider for heat.  I thought that it was my best way of getting
> something hot that won't fit in a forge.  My carbon arc attachment is
"old"
> in that , I first  remember my father using it in the 1950s
>
> Reading  and learning from the "burning metal" thread, it appears that a
> carbon arc is also a way of cutting steel.  Anyone care to enlighten me?
>
> Thanks
>
> Dann Johnson
> _______________________________________________
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> theforge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login:  [email protected]
> password:  anvil
> ___________
>
>
>