Arc Gouging Basics (Part 1): Machine Setup

[@tornadokat]

"I always try to do stuff without the ground clamp, it never works out for me but I keep trying it" Gotta love his dry sense of humor. He's one of those instructors that is serious 98 percent of the time so when he tells a student they need arc starter spray they'll spend half a day looking for it.

[@Qusin111]

oh thank god he was kidding, I was just going to find a different video when he said that but then hesitated thinking was he kidding?

[@Qusin111]

oh and just so you know plasma cutters can have a burn through ability which is a self-ground feature.

[@scotthenry3401]

Or a weld pool encryption nozzel, for doing coded welds, of course ;-)

[@HulberkArmor]

I love this guys take on education and his humour. The guy is a good teacher

[@Mikey-ym6ok]

Hulberk Renalda I wish I had him as my instructor. Mine hates teaching us and is always out of the shop

[@mitchelllies6071]

I go to Lincoln Tech currently I have no background with welding and I have to say you help me out quite a bit with getting a bit more details than my instructors glaze over because most people in my class have some sort of background. So thank you for your videos

[@melaniew77msn]

This is perfect people need first to understand what type of support equipment and a little of how it works before starting to use it. This is good safe work practice and saves on the equipment and consumables.

[@rvalcourtpersonaca]

tdej80 I

[@Carmelldansen4eva2]

My welding teacher covered carbon arc gouging and showed us how to hook it up. We got to try it and I loved it.

[@traveling_lands]

These safe setup videos are the shit for us welders who cant afford to go to school👍

[@mightypoo0]

Love your videos!! I’m not a welder, by trade, but been playing with it a long time and meet some great welders in the last 30 years. Were I work they use this process a lot to repair cracks, remove bushings and just take thing apart for repairs. It’s very noise, it will scare the hell out of you the first few time you do it till you get the hang of it, but way better than using a torch. I hope you stress the safety side of this. We use duel protection for hearing and ventilated hood on most applications. Thanks for your video!! I watch them religiously.

[@champtree]

That's the cleanest welding room I've seen.

[@jamesedwards8146]

I just have to agree on that one lol

[@johnerway7255]

Great overview for we who need lots of basic information on how air gouge process works, thanks for show and tell.

[@haroldwatkins7059]

Very Interesting again Mr. Moffatt. I will stay glued to the follow-up video on this subject. I have many questions about this process but I feel the next instructional video will answer them all as normal. Thank you for a Friday release.

[@JT-tz5hp]

So good to watch a video from when this channel was worth watching. Miss Bob and his camera man.

[@jamie9327]

Man Bob is some teacher ❤️ I could listen till this man talk about welding

[@billybeck7334]

Another great video from the one and only!

[@dmytrokalashnikov5484]

Thank You so much! Gouging usually is staying in the dark but it’s a important part of welding process. Looking forward for the next part!

[@billybabc]

This is some seriously engaging content lol. Love this dude

[@mitchellharris4040]

I've used a truck seat blower and a stinger for gouging. I've used a gouging stinger to weld with. I've stuck a rod into a connection and burned a rod. A stinger holds the rod to keep your glove cool. Alot of fun on the job. Just make sure the safety guys are in a meeting or something. Have fun.

[@TheJose77451]

Miss you Mr.Bob, great video

[@GeekInJeep]

I watch almost all the videos from this channel. I'm a current welding student (an old one though... 49 years old). I know that OA cutting doesn't work on stainless steel because stainless doesn't oxidize and acetylene cutting is an oxidizing process. I would love to see a demo on what happens when someone tries to, though.

[@NSW]

ViolentLotus stainless cant be cut with oa beacose it's not hot enough... but if u add iron powder it's possible to cut stainless with oa.

[@melgross]

500k subscribers! Congratulations guys.

[@shaneburns6443]

Good variety! - thanks Bob. You sure did savage that banana, too.

[@KennyInVegas]

Banana eatin fool!!!!!!!!!!! I'll never forget the day I started as an apprentice and a big dude nicknamed Fist came up to me and in front of everybody he said " You got some real pretty lips on that banana"...... he was about 250 lbs. and I was a massive 172lbs and 18 years old!!!! Thank God those days are gone............ 36 years ago but I'm still learning from your show and others. That carbon arc gouging really requires a lot of ventilation and the welder needs to know if the metal is impregnated with toxic chemicals or human waste. It can really be a Hazmat situation inhaling the fumes from cutting with that process.

[@TourettesOrc]

Ken A - LoL “Fist” Also human waste? That is peculiar 🤔

[@RicardoGarcia-ef5gb]

Thanks guys for showing us this process it's one of the things my school didn't teach I look forward for the next videos :)

[@gilbertb8078]

Like your Rosie the Weldor pin up.Your K4000 is brand new style.I work heavy equipment field service mechanic.I run older K4000 and fill with 7018 off of a Miller 500 amp diesel powered machine.On top of that I have lap top with Cat,John Deere and Volvo to troubleshoot issues.Going on 30 years in yellow iron.You have a good vid.going.

[@MegaBoilermaker]

If you strike an arc with that Arcair torch with no air flowing it is possible to burn out the cable inside the air/power sheath as it relies to some extent on air flow for cooling.

[@jackdawg4579]

gee that is some heavy duty looking gear. Cant wait to see it in action.

[@dooivko-metal5945]

Great video again! Keep up the great work and educational videos. I only have one suggestion, bring back unit conversion from imperial to metric, in the top left corner. Best regards from Eastern Europe, Serbia.

[@genemerrell9698]

Bob don't forget to tell everyone how loud it is when gouging. Also I use the arc gouger smaller handle for opening the clamp as a reference as to where the molten metal is blown. The side it is on is the direction it will send the molten metal.

[@amalababu91]

Nice Learning ✅✨👍💯

[@dziggy3004]

Show me the moneyyyy! Dang! Was expecting to see an ARC! :D

[@13juangarcia]

Great video, Mr moffet.

[@emmanuelmulenga4553]

Great teachings

[@Music.cigars.2024]

Our instructor just showed us the awesomeness of arc gouging with this method and also with using a regular S.M.A.W stinger and a 1/8 inch 6010 rod, turn the power up to 225 and its a basic tool to use incase you dont have a torche or arc gouging

[@flir67man84]

Thank you for explaining " what if scenerios"..

[@beachboardfan9544]

How does carbon arc compare to the gouge setting on a plasma cutter? Is there any reason to use one over the other?

[@donstephenson9474]

REALLY looking forward to the videos to follow.

[@MsJohnniecool]

Thank you , I am off to learning something new . What an excellent and professional video - Thanks . Johnnie C . Nova Scotia

[@jamessonger3]

Haha the end made me laugh to hard lol. Love the videos!!

[@tivnator]

Can you cut stainless steel with an electrode? Which model and brand will be?

[@iseeisaid7820]

Great content very informative.

[@victoryfirst2878]

Very well explained fella. Now I know.

[@allanholiday1617]

Always exceptional!

[@rossbryan6102]

WHERE I USED CARBON ARC GOUGING THE MOST WAS LOCOMOTIVE TRUCK FRAMES! THEY HAVE SEVERAL MAGANESE STEEL WEAR PLATES WELDED TO THE FRAME RUBBING POINTS! MOST OF THE GUYS IN THE SHOP USED STEEL WIRE CUTTING ELECTRODES, BUT I WOULD ALWAYS USE CARBON ARC GOUGING !! MUCH CLEANER CUTTING AND JUST A SMALL BIT OF GRINDING, AND YOU ARE READY WELD THE NEW WEAR PLATES DOWN!!!

[@jimzivny1554]

Looks like a good series. I've done very little with this process and I'm sure I've got lots to learn

[@woofdoogy]

I work in a shipyard and when they arc gouge it makes soooo much noise and was always curious how it was done. Now I know

[@James-fs4rn]

👍🏽 awesome. Thanks

[@emeltea33]

Show some action! I mean this in the kindest way, and am excited to see this in use. That's huge box, is that typical for this? Can one of the Everylasts, for example, be used? Thanks.

[@jerrysgardentractorsengine2243]

Doug Owens as far as I’m aware, inverter based units like the ones made by Everlast are not compatible with carbon arc gouging. Most transformer based machines and engine drives from Lincoln or Miller will do CAC all day long. In regards to the huge power supply, it’s not uncommon to see them that large, but the last time I did carbon arc, it was on a Lincoln power wave

[@daskiier]

Carbon arc gouging is more effective in 500+ amps thus needing a large power supply.

[@Welddotcom]

Doug Owens There is lots of live gouging in the next few vids. This was the Intro video.

[@patrickramsey8501]

Weld.com I am so happy to see y'all finally touching base on air arc. I sincerely hope y'all show how it plays into CJP welding in structural applications! These green horns that come on the job dunno shit about gouging because schools just don't teach it anymore and I think your content is super informative and gives a good base for a young guy or even someone who just hasn't done many moment welds or tank seams etc. Fuckin awesome. Keep at it Bob

[@Chakram82]

Fantastic video, thank you!

[@denniz122]

Nice, looking forward to that! Finally some heavy industrial stuff :D, i tried it once its pretty fun and surprisingly clean. Keep it up!

[@LawtonDigital]

Is the air to keep the rod cool?

[@CarlosGonzalez-Montoya]

I really like this video chat

[@mrmidnight32]

I’m assuming you can also do this with a basic AC/DC machine with an air source and the proper lead attachments?

[@CraneGuru]

I am NOT a welder.... That being said - - - Just Curious... Could a person be able to use carbon arc electrodes on a regular welder and use an air gun to get similar results ? Enjoyed the video - Thanks

[@Crushup1]

That is a regular welder. Just a different lead that has air hookup and lines running to the end of it. Wouldn't be so fun trying to hold an air gun and stinger at the same time

[@CraneGuru]

@@Crushup1 Thankx for the reply As I said - I do not consider myself a welder by any means I can get 2 pieces of metal to bond - but I'm pretty sure, the results would be ugly ! When I need welding done at work - - We call in the pro's ( work with cranes - - Kinda critical welds on them things ) - LOL

[@humongousdingus7382]

This seemed to be a go to devices in the navy.

[@hubifornia]

Laid under a D8 dozer for two days cutting the welded roller skirts off with an air arc once...... still have nightmares about it once in while.

[@jamesedwards8146]

Good info man. u always have good videos

[@bobmoffatt4133]

James Edwards Thanks James

[@thomastacy9165]

About to get loud up in here! Have ya ever seen them use an arc rig with big truck batteries in series in a pinch! It's interesting!

[@Comm0ut]

Long established industry custom is to use the most powerful power source because gouging is hard on hardware. BTW you can gouge using AC which is preferred for cast iron, nickel alloys and copper. Almost no one mentions that but if you have a monster AC transformer machine you can gouge with that to save your more valuable lighter welding machine.

[@TheMetalButcher]

I can anticipate the answer, but could you use a conventional stinger and stick an air gun next to the electrode?

[@rtkville]

With an air source I do see a much more efficient cutting process, thanks for the education! Nice video....

[@ypaulbrown]

rtkville ...you can gouge or cut anything that conducts electric...unlike oxy fuel....

[@timmytimmy1152]

Great video Bob, maybe you can back gouge a x-ray joint show em the heat line

[@douglasthompson2740]

So what is the minimum sized machine that a home DIYer needs to do some light Arc Gouging.

[@timsmith7874]

Thank you Thank you Thank You Bob for making these videos! I hope you are properly compensated for your work because you are one damn good teacher and it shows you love what you do . You have helped me more than you will ever know Thank you sir

[@skyscraper37]

Man I can’t wait

[@leonarddario3155]

what type of air should i use ?

[@DvS2171]

if my apprenticeship is teaching me anything, it's to never eat a banana in a break trailer full of fitters.

[@rickramirez8664]

DvS That's pretty much any welding shop. It's the same for hot dogs, corndogs, popsicles etc.

[@christopherortega800]

I eat my bananas with a spoon.

[@shitbox7413]

DvS, Last welding job I had I went to break with the old timers, they liked to BS on break and not act like 15 year olds...

[@TheGloomygus]

The trick is to pick the biggest guy in the shop, and stare him dead in the eyes while chowing down.

[@jerrysgardentractorsengine2243]

DvS go up to one of your fitters and ask if they want to watch you eat a banana

[@Hellsong89]

Alright, now my question is how you can jerry rig this with average diy stick welder and normal setup with out any fancy stuff like that? Air pistol duct taped on the side of electrode handle and just need those fancy rods...but does it need to be copper coated, what common material can be used as replacement? I'm talking about those annoying inner corners you cant get with grinder to remove weld bead, having this possibility in the arsenal would be extremely useful when all you have is stick and maybe air compressor around, no fancy plasma cutters or time to diegrind weld out.

[@MegaBoilermaker]

It is possible to burn out the inner cable on the set at high amperages if you strike an arc without first pressing the air flow button so it is inadvisable to use the torch as a conventional electrode holder for any length of time as the cable is in effect "air cooled".

[@barry7608]

Just a quick demo at the end would have been nice still gave you a thumbs up. Have you ever welded pipeline or major projects in Oz ?

[@scooter1391]

Can it be used with a AC machine?

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks Bob

[@hunterhawkins2005]

very good explantion

[@patrickfarley8036]

That carbon rod looks alot like what I used on Super Trooper spotlights back when I was a stage hand! Well I suppose if you can use a ground clamp as a stinger, you could use that gouging rod in a carbon arc spotlight!

[@bobmoffatt4133]

patrick farley It is exactly the same.

[@patrickfarley8036]

Bob Moffatt I thought so, but was 100% sure as I have never done or seen gouging done. Just the results! Thanks for letting me know though! Can't wait to see the next video! Peace to you and the crew!

[@bobmoffatt4133]

patrick farley Thanks. You too.

[@EthanSmith-kn7lf]

What's the lowest amo you can gouge with?

[@nealk6387]

Hi Bob, any way you could do a video on setting up a wire feeder to a engine drive?

[@jeremydoblinger3609]

Ya can always tell when someone runs out of shielding gas or makes a bad weld at work when you hear someone fire up the air arc rig!!!Or if we have to gotta full pen something...its a great process and should be tought more

[@DukeReynolds]

pretty cool. something your not exposed to everyday. we use this process a lot in the railroad with maganese castings like frogs and such. any update in a possible Tig boot camp this year?

[@LuizFernando-pj4rp]

Hi Bob! Nice and pretty educational video as always, thanks for it. I’ve been doing lots of arc gauging over past years but not too much currently. I’ve never tried with different metals other than steel, such as aluminum. Does it work as well?

[@boodrow24m]

Haven't tried it but how would an inverter type machine like an ESAB or AHP work with gouging? Y'all have a lot more funding to try crazy ideas. Just a thought for a video.

[@DSCKy]

Not a crazy idea... proven technology I think. very handy for removing welds where you can't easily get a grinder, etc.

[@boodrow24m]

DSCKy I've run gouging rigs in the shipyard. Never tried it on a inverter machine.

[@DSCKy]

I don't know about that either. I would ASSUME that if it has enough power... might work?

[@rdaugherty52]

Loved the air arc cutting shanks off very large loader buckets nothing better about 380 amps a 5/16 rod shoot flames 40 ft get 1 shank off and 1 new one and a tooth on in about 6 hrs oh those were the days.

[@TheZzziggy]

Dear uncle Bob, there is a poster with a lady there behind you on a wall above the air bottle and air hose spool. Where did you get it from? I've been under impression that it was born in our lovely Mordor somewhere between 30's and 50's, though I'm not 100% sure on this. Today it's mostly used for funny picture internet posts and memes.

[@bobmoffatt4133]

I do believe that is an American Welding Society poster.

[@drumtwo4seven]

Good stuff. All the thumbs down bunch of haters!

[@spadelugs]

You can create a big electro magnet with your cabels we always laid them out seen them jump off of hangers plenty of times. Seen some guys figure eight them

[@artstudio9673]

I was watching a 3rd world fix on a CAT, looks he used a gouge rod with no air to v out a crack before welding it, I know it is not ideal but can you use gouge rod like that?

[@MegaBoilermaker]

If you operate the Torch without an air flow through the delivery tube/sheath you run the risk of burning out the inner power cable as it relies to some extent on the cooling effect of airflow through the delivery tube/sheath.

[@williamhowell7602]

that banana didnt stand a chance lm*o. keep up the humor bob, it is awsome.

[@job38four10]

Wonder why no quick dis-connect on the gouger power block or just clamp the electrode tongs on it......

[@johnlemmey7698]

moor information please. Air pressure volume required. Amps etc. And best teckneak for clean cut.

[@krazziee2000]

interesting , thank you for the lesson,,

[@stovolbelinche3178]

could you use an 300 psi per five second air compresser ith on out ronge from 1 psi to 250 psi

[@KowboyUSA]

Nice, I have zero experience arc gouging.

[@jerrysgardentractorsengine2243]

John Ratko arc gouging is a fun process. Just remember to bring a pair of ear plugs

[@jakeoboy67]

loudest thing in the shop

[@Ratkill9000]

It's fun trying to listen on a shop tour when you have someone arc gouging.

[@chadeisert8282]

What's the minimum cfm for that size rod

[@satamanschmidt3428]

Can this process do anything I can't do with a plasma cutter? Just wondering.

[@ZILAwelds]

SATAMAN Schmidt dennis - yes - it is shaving not cutting like a blow torch or plasma ... you have FULL depth control .... you can remove a weld without destroying the parts .... Picture it like reverse stick welding - sort of .... I have a video on that coming too - chasing a crack on an excavator bucket

[@414RadioTech]

Hey Bob can you do a video on carbon arc welding as well I think that would be a pretty interesting video if you could ever do that for us

[@ypaulbrown]

Great video...one thing I missed is how much voltage your machine needs to put out to carry the arc. I am under the assumption you need 32 or more volts to be successful. This is why machines like a Miller Bobcat are not good gougers. Please set me straight on this Mr Moffatt...thank you... PB

[@Big_Bous]

This is a genuine question. I teach at a CTE and to be quite frank I don't spend a whole heck of a lot of time teaching carbon arc cutting because we don't have the equipment to do it, but it is necessary in the curriculum. That said, I have a difficult time explaining to my students why something like this is important. Is it not a bit of an archaic form of cutting in 2024? I can see it's use for gouging, but how often is this honestly done, and is this really something I should get hung up on teaching high schoolers? Thanks!

[@lesschattermoresplatter5769]

How about a demonstration for people that DONT have a million dollars worth of equipment.

[@micbanand]

Hate/love it. but do prefer the old stile with oxy/ace :)

[@abyssmanur3965]

You can braze with a carbon arc too.

[@ifell3]

No way, never heard off this before!!!!

[@CharlesFosterMalloy]

"Strike an Arc" ? Imma total welding nubi, so what did that mean ?