Carbon arc torch

R W · Jan 30, 2010

Where can the correct carbon rods be obtained for these torches.

hr3 · Jan 30, 2010

I get my rods at NAPA.. Love the thing for bending..

svcguy · Jan 30, 2010

Most welding supply places either have or can get carbons. Still widely available. Make sure to ask specifically for AC carbons if your welder is AC. I would suspect there are a number of sales personnel out there now that may not be aware of the difference.

Mighty Dodge · Jan 30, 2010

I don't have an actual torch but I have some carbon rods that I use in the stinger. Works great for heating/bending metal, loosening rusted bolts etc. I even tried brazing and got good results. Here's a link on single carbon arc welding. http://www.welding-technology-machi...-and-equipments/single-carbon-arc-welding.htm

M.D.

Kernopelli · Jan 30, 2010

Thanks for all the replies. Based upon what I had been told and seen on the net I could not think of any reason not to set myself up with one but wanted to get some more personal user impressions before doing so. Thanks for all the input.

R W · Jan 31, 2010

hr3 said:
I get my rods at NAPA.. Love the thing for bending..

Could you let us have the phone no & address of you supplier please.

Taylortractornut · Jan 31, 2010

My grandfather used one alot from his child hood to WW2 as a remote field mechanic. He had one in the 80's when I was a kid i remeber him using in his shop. A few years ago I made friends with a fellow that worked alot of sheetmetal. He did alot of welding on Galvanized dust piping at a mill. He used a single gouging carbon in the stinger with a silicon bronze rod to do a process called braze welding. It works great welding on the stuff. Its really great on freeing up bolts to and Ive seen him bend alot to. Ive done gouging and thats completely miseralbe work to me. Id like to build a twin carbon rig one day though.

Kernopelli · Feb 1, 2010

Taylortractornut said:
My grandfather used one alot from his child hood to WW2 as a remote field mechanic. He had one in the 80's when I was a kid i remeber him using in his shop. A few years ago I made friends with a fellow that worked alot of sheetmetal. He did alot of welding on Galvanized dust piping at a mill. He used a single gouging carbon in the stinger with a silicon bronze rod to do a process called braze welding. It works great welding on the stuff. Its really great on freeing up bolts to and Ive seen him bend alot to. Ive done gouging and thats completely miseralbe work to me. Id like to build a twin carbon rig one day though.

I asked a coworker who had previously worked all over as a welder and equipment operator about using one and he said they used to gouge also, which sounded much like what Kays Supply described in his reply....sounds "exciting"! My buddy who got me originally thinking about all this first mentioned it because he is rebuilding an old JD wagon and is using his to break loose all the old frozen nuts and that's what started the my interest in learning more about what can be done with a carbon arc torch. I can see why it has fallen out of fashion with the availability of O/A torches but I think the simplicity of the carbon arc will actually fit my simple needs better, which is mostly heating to free something up or to bend it.