Carbon arc torch

[jimgerken]

I looked at that site Dodge, no carbon arc stuff there. They do have the Carbon-air cutting stuff though. I am still looking for the carbon-arc sticks and holder for heating and brazing.

 

[slowzuki]

Carbon air cutting is a loud and messy affair. I worked with fellows who used it in hydro dam repairs to cut giant roads. Huge power requirments and lots of air needed.

Neat to learn about carbon arc.

 

[J_J]

WeldingDepot -- Gouging Carbon Round 1/8" - 3/8" x 12" DC Copper Clad Pointed 100 pcs

 

[J_J]

Question. I have a lot of deck screws that are rusted to the trailer frame, and I have twisted my TORX bit beyond use. Has anyone used a single carbon rod using about 60 amps DC to heat up the screw so the rusty screw will glow red and break the rust barrier. I have seen someone remove a large nut from a rusty farm machinery , by grabbing the nut with the two rods until it glowed cherry red, and when cooled, the nut came right off. I am hoping that in doing this, the screw will back out with a new bit in an 18 v Dewalt impactor. Which way should should the current run, through the rod, to the screw head, or from the metal deck through the screw to the holder?

 

[Taylortractornut]

Arc gouging is indeed loud hot nasty work. I gouged about 300 feet of weld on a scraper one time underneath and looked like I had chicken pocs when i got done.
They used to make a hollow one taht you could oxy arc gouge with to.
You can use a single carbon rod to arc wtih and heat with it. I used one taking apart a chip trailer a friend was scraping the aluminum on it and saving the frame. It worked great for taking out the stainless rivets holding it on. I remeber seeing an old man on a dirt job using a carbon arc torch to heat up soup in a can.

 

[Willl]

I don't even want to admit how much carbon scarffing I've done.

 

[R W]

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.

The availability of the correct carbon rods were checked out on another forum a while back and a supplier could not be found, no one on this forum so far has come up with a the name and address.

 

[J_J]

Welding Depot has them in stock according the the web site above.

 

[Kernopelli]

I've been doing some searching on welding forums this morning and it appears like common opinion is that you can use the gouging rods for torch work with good results. "Apparently" (loosely gathered forum opinions) carbon arc torch work does not demand as precise rod specs as carbon arc gouging does.

Edit: the subject of where to find a torch has come up and I found that after making a trip to a couple of local welding shops and asking the employees if any one had one they wanted to sell or knew where to get one yeilded a "Yeah, I got one you can buy". $15 bucks for the torch, box of 50- 1/4" copper coated rods @ $17.00. Assortment of rods available from Air gas Inc. 1406 N. Cornell Ave. Marion Illinois 62959 618-988-0340

 

[MikeD74T]

Here's a source of solid carbon arc rods. Not cheap, but 50 rods is nearly a lifetime supply. I have a twin carbon torch that I bought in 1968 & I haven't used 50 rods. Hollow goughing rods will work also but get consumed a little faster. MRC Carbon Electrode Rods For All Graphic Arts / Printing Lamps / Exposure Lamps

 

[alltoys]

Question. I have a lot of deck screws that are rusted to the trailer frame, and I have twisted my TORX bit beyond use. Has anyone used a single carbon rod using about 60 amps DC to heat up the screw so the rusty screw will glow red and break the rust barrier. I have seen someone remove a large nut from a rusty farm machinery , by grabbing the nut with the two rods until it glowed cherry red, and when cooled, the nut came right off. I am hoping that in doing this, the screw will back out with a new bit in an 18 v Dewalt impactor. Which way should should the current run, through the rod, to the screw head, or from the metal deck through the screw to the holder?

J J it works great to remove deck screws. I have used this method to remove screws from the deck of Semi Trailers when the floor has been damaged. Just make sure the screw cools down enough you can touch it with a bare finger without burning. Oh you may have to rough up the top of the screw to get a good contact. I have used this method with the wood still in place it does smoke a little but the floor was to be removed anyway.

 

[J_J]

I thank you for your answer. I am glad that someone has done this before and it worked. I didn't want to screw up and weld the screw to the trailer frame. I have broken them off before, and had to get under the trailer and use a vise-grip to unscrew the broken screw. I will be using DC current. Did you make the rod positive or neg?

 

[alltoys]

Rod positive just like regular welding with DC, negative ground. I do have an Air Arc holder to hold the rod as sometimes the screw type holder will put to much pressure on the carbon rod breaking it. Try to direct the arc near the outside edge of the screw head if possible also you can sharpen the carbon rod in a pencil sharpener to get that smaller point to direct a finer arc works great. Plus you can use the carbon rod as a pencil if need be.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Here's a source of solid carbon arc rods. Not cheap, but 50 rods is nearly a lifetime supply. I have a twin carbon torch that I bought in 1968 & I haven't used 50 rods. Hollow goughing rods will work also but get consumed a little faster. MRC Carbon Electrode Rods For All Graphic Arts / Printing Lamps / Exposure Lamps

What is the difference between solid carbon arc rod for welding and for lighting. The one site I found them on had a big warning NOT FOR WELDING.
Bill

 

[Bill_C]

I thank you for your answer. I am glad that someone has done this before and it worked. I didn't want to screw up and weld the screw to the trailer frame. I have broken them off before, and had to get under the trailer and use a vise-grip to unscrew the broken screw. I will be using DC current. Did you make the rod positive or neg?

I need to replace my trailer boards too, and I'm not looking forwards to getting the screws out either!

So are we talking about using the two-rod "torch" or just using one carbon rod in the stinger?

 

[svcguy]

Difference in carbons and their use is density. Best to use carbon arc carbons:

Carbon Arc Equipment

Guys, these are common to almost any welding supply place. They are still used.

 

[svcguy]

Another source, boxes of 50.

Welding Supplies, Miller Welders, Thermal Dynamics Plasma Cutters

 

[svcguy]

Nice carbon arc torch available as we speak on Ebay:

Craftsman Arc Torch Carbon Arc Cut with your Welder NR - eBay (item 170438931102 end time Feb-04-10 15:00:12 PST)

Good looking torch, slide type, which work well.

 

[J_J]

I need to replace my trailer boards too, and I'm not looking forwards to getting the screws out either!

So are we talking about using the two-rod "torch" or just using one carbon rod in the stinger?

I am going to try and touch the head of the screw with a single carbon rod for as long as it takes to heat it up , and see what happens.

 

[MikeD74T]

Nice carbon arc torch available as we speak on Ebay:

Craftsman Arc Torch Carbon Arc Cut with your Welder NR - eBay (item 170438931102 end time Feb-04-10 15:00:12 PST)

Good looking torch, slide type, which work well.

That's exactly the torch I have, definitely not for cutting! MikeD74T