Everlast PowerARC 300 for arc gouging

[stuckmotor]

Has anyone had any experience arc gouging with an Everlast PowerARC 300? If so, how did you like it and does Everlast sell a stinger with air jets for gouging?

 

[Shield Arc]

Hopefully you don't plan on giving it a steady diet of gouging. Boy that's an easy way to F__K up an nice welding machine!

 

[stuckmotor]

Shield Arc,
Can you explain further how arc gouging can harm the welder? I don't plan to dedicate it to gouging but, sometimes have the need to wash of old welds. An example would be when I recently ground the tabs from a loader bucket to convet to skid steer quick attach. The advertisement for the welder says, " Suitable for Carbon arc gouging".

 

[Shield Arc]

You know there is so much controversy on this subject! I don't know if it effects inverter machines or not. My Lincoln V350-Pro has a carbon arc mode. But I won't use it for that! Years ago there was a discussion about this on the Miller site, one of the Miller reps jumped in and said there was no proof carbon arcing damaged a machine. I've personally seen it, and other very experienced weldors disagreed too! When I worked in a fab shop in the 1970s we had a dedicated electric Lincoln machine for carbon arcing. I had run 3/8 and 1/2-inch carbon arc rods with it. Also welded with it, it welded like crap! But I had used others machines of this type before and they welded beautifully. I have seen engine drives both Miller and Lincoln who had steady diets of carbon arcing, and they welded like crap too. I've never seen it, but have heard from other weldors where they seen the cranks in engine drives broke from carbon arcing.
Before you do it, I'd PM Mark with Everlast and ask his opinion. Mark is a very knowledgeable weldor!

 

[stuckmotor]

Thankyou, Shield Arc. At this pont, I'm still considering my options. Maybe, someone who's gouged with a 300 will turn up.

 

[Shield Arc]

You know it might be just fine with an inverter machine, I really don't know. :confused3:
For what little I need to gouge now a days I like to use my plasma. Even use it for most of my cutting needs. My last project I bought a grapple for a skid steer. Had to scarf off the mounting brackets, and the wear pads on the bottom. Then lighten it up for my tractor. The plasma reminds me of watching the surgery channel when they do laser surgery.:laughing:

 

[Shield Arc]

Another thought, maybe ask this question on Everlast's forum. I wouldn't ask on Welding Web those guys get bent out of shape when anybody mentions an off shore machine!

Welding Forums - Everlast Power Equipments Inc

 

[stuckmotor]

I'm glad you mentioned a plasma cutter, that's one of the options I'm considering. My limited knowledge on gouging with them is that some have a gouge setting. Somewhere else, I read that a plasma cutter would gouge if the air flow was turned down. Is it necssary to have a gouge setting or could I purchase a plasma cutter without the gouge setting and gouge saisfactorily by turning down the air flow?
In case you're wondering, I've been getting by for years cutting with a variety of grinders, a chop saw and a 4x6 horizontal bandsaw. I weld with an AC tombstone.

 

[Shield Arc]

My understanding of plasma cutters is they won't all gouge. My Hypertherm 1250 has a cut mode, expanded metal mode, and scarfing mode. Nice thing about plasmas for scarfing, is they don't take that much air to work. Not many home homers have a compressor big enough to really work a carbon arc torch. I know I don't! To me there is nothing more aggravating than having to wait for the compressor to build air! If I was back on the job where everything is perfect, I'd take a carbon arc torch over a plasma any day. But maybe that's because I'm more use to a carbon arc torch, and I'd be abusing their equipment.

 

[stuckmotor]

Another good idea. I just joined the forum and am waiting for my membership to be approved so I can post.