Demonstration of The Carbon Arc Torch

[mts0628]

I just got done watching your Honda auger gear box repair and I had never heard of a carbon arc torch. My uncle was a boilermaker and taught me all welding as a kid, but he never showed me this (probably bc he had oxy acetylene). So, I googled carbon arc torch and this video came up! I have a Lincoln SMAW rig but I always wanted a gas setup for heating. NO MORE! I am looking for a carbon arc torch now! You ROCK!

[donyboy73]

@mts0628 lol, actually carbon arc is old technology. i'd like to get a plasma

[20920474]

@mts0628 why not build one. not exactly rocket science.

[mts0628]

@20920474 Funny you should mention it, I looked it up on Instructables, and you're right, far from rocket science! Even though it's old technology, it beats shelling out for a plasma torch/ cutter. I think I'm gonna tackle it this summer.

[halfmumi]

One question : With the similar princible, can you make a spot welder?? What happens if i make a switch and use steel bolts with it?

[donyboy73]

@halfmumi never tried that

[halfmumi]

@donyboy73 Do you think it might work?

[donyboy73]

@halfmumi probably not

[halfmumi]

@donyboy73 Hmmm...from ebay australia, check item id 190622609030. That is what i am trying to do.It says that it works with anytype of arc welder,that was my idea.. =)

[donyboy73]

@halfmumi that's neat

[donyboy73]

@halfmumi that should work, i was thinking of something else. did u ever think of getting a mig welder?

[halfmumi]

@donyboy73 As my budget is tight, i am following the "poor man style" most of the time. I have to spot-weld 2 sheets or metal stuff together..Aluminum, steel etc...All types.As i see, that ebay item can do the job.(Not aluminum i think).Gasless mig welders are really expensive,i have only an arc welder.Still noob on it also.If i can find a cheap microwave i will make a Spot welder as well..

[oobuc5]

here in the uk we are on 250v @50cycles your on 110 @60cycles dont know what the end product infuence would be there but here when i was useing one we had what they called chemicaly cooled carbon arc rods i used to buy the 8mm ones although they did sell 6mm ones,i found that the higher the amps the shorter they lasted 20amp,s was fine for me .

I did try solid carbon once but they did not hold a steady flame [ark ] corred ones did a nice steady flame for brazing .

good luck:

[oobuc5]

allo,i used one of these in the 70,s for brazing sills and innersills on cars ,but i only used 20amps ,i have not seen that type of torch before ,i still have have 2 of my torches ,one is a sissor type and the other is a slider type ,the sissor type is best.

allways use a head mask and never gogles as i once did ,i ended up looking like beetroot .the rods that i used were were corred and produced a steady flame or arc if your picky.

oobuc5:

[oobuc5]

allo,i used one of these in the 70,s for brazing sills and innersills on cars ,but i only used 20amps ,i have not seen that type of torch before ,i still have have 2 of my torches ,one is a sissor type and the other is a slider type ,the sissor type is best.

allways use a head mask and never gogles as i once did ,i ended up looking like beetroot .

oobuc5:

[AaronDittmer]

Can you cut 1/2" steel with a Torch like this??

[donyboy73]

@AaronDittmer yes but it's not a clean cut

[AaronDittmer]

@donyboy73 Ok thanks!

[Rhyginpb]

No this wont work with a mig welder, and to the guy who asked about the high pressure airstream its called an air arc they are painfully loud and work the same way only you have one rod thats attached to a modified clamp with an air nozzle hooked to the electrode holder and an air compressor and the other side of it is just your normal ground cable, then you touch the rod to it and it quite precisely removes metal slowy though, works good for dismantling or cleaning out bad welds.

[pivotboy63]

would this work with a 90 amp mig welder?

[donyboy73]

@pivotboy63 not sure

[oobuc5]

@pivotboy63 yes i only used them on 20amps .

[xarlock667]

Have you tried taking a high pressure air stream and blowing it across the arc? Sounds like the basis of a plasma torch.

[ShotsloppyD]

@xarlock667 You're close... but that process is called Carbon Arc Cutting. There's a special torch manufactured for that as well.

Donyboy73, you're welcome... How's the progress?

[ShotsloppyD]

You want it to be more accurate? Try sharpening them like a pencil- only slightly longer tip, same type cone point... (sharpen lengthwise so you'll have striations rather than rings...) and turn the amps down slightly. Those of you with dials are in luck for fine tuning. For 1/8" metal you only need about 40-60 amps. Higher for bronze and copper. Superb video.

p.s. That's an arc not a flame. :-D

[donyboy73]

@ShotsloppyD thanks for the tips

[NOBOX7]

@ShotsloppyD actualy it is a flame, the carbon burns in this process

[robviolin1]

That is very good information. Thank you very much.

[Pierre8907]

thumbs up if you love lincoln electric gear

[mdivinc]

Thats a pretty good arc using only 105 amps. Great job!

[clockbuilderhg]

My dad has one of those. He bought it back in the 70s. Very cool.

[donyboy73]

i wish they were more accurate though

[giuliocolombo]

That's what I wanted to see. Thank for the inspiration you gave to me.....

[MihiLibertas]

Those are great..i use to melt gold with that

[donyboy73]

interesting

[6013welder]

@donyboy73 would this work with an 70 amp arc welder

[donyboy73]

@6013welder it might but may be very weak

[6013welder]

@donyboy73 i wish i had 220 volts in my garage