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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

electric arc cutting

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MF294-4

08-06-2007 19:30:55




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Is there an attachment for my stick welder that I can cut with? Trying to find a cheap way to cut up a lot of metal.




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Dick L

08-08-2007 12:28:43




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to MF294-4, 08-06-2007 19:30:55  
Years ago when I was welding high pressure lines we used what was called a blow rod for removing old weld from the fittings. The instructer for Sohio that trained me said I could toss a hand full of welding rod in a bucket of water and it would work in a pinch. After that I have just placed a few rods when I wanted to quick cut something and didnt want to drag out a torch.



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Ryne

08-07-2007 19:11:38




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to MF294-4, 08-06-2007 19:30:55  
with the 6011 rod being more expensive nowadays a good torch set should work alright and maybe use propane for fuel as its cheaper i know some guys who use that and have no complaints about the propane and oxygen



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NEsota

08-07-2007 13:32:08




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to MF294-4, 08-06-2007 19:30:55  
In early to mid-fifties we had a P&H welder that showed a max of 180 Amperes but was hotter than Lincolns that showed +200. We were very happy with the way it cut in the farm shop but its' competition was a hand hake saw. My recollection is that $10 would by 50 pounds of 6011. Today the economics may have changed.



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Stan in Oly, WA

08-07-2007 14:17:44




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to NEsota, 08-07-2007 13:32:08  
Hi NEsota,

I read recently that today's dollar is worth 19% of a 1971 dollar. If that's actually the case, 50# of 6011 electrodes for $10 in the fifties might have been more expensive than the cost today. The dollar price of gasoline and houses now is easily 15 times what it was then but 50# of 6011 rods don't cost $150 today (unless you buy 50 1# packages.) So they're cheaper.

All the best, Stan

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souNdguy

08-07-2007 08:16:43




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to MF294-4, 08-06-2007 19:30:55  
Champher ( ?spelling) rods.. and turn the amps up.

I've cut with these.. as long as you don't mind a wide slag laden cut that looks like it was hit with a lightening bolt.. a big stick welder cuts just fine..

I've seent hem at TSC.. etc..

Soundguy



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dan hill

08-07-2007 01:41:40




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to MF294-4, 08-06-2007 19:30:55  
A 4x6 band saw with a good blade will work a lot better.Plasma cutter is good but expensive.Also depends on what you are using the cut metal for.



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Stan in Oly, WA

08-06-2007 22:26:34




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to MF294-4, 08-06-2007 19:30:55  
Hi MF294-4 (in the future all names will be like yours),

Once I bought a used stick welder and got all of the seller's weldng supplies with it. There was a package of assorted electrodes including some that were specifically for metal cutting. The description on the package said these were mild steel electrodes with chemicals in the flux to improve metal cutting qualities. Whoever made them, they were sold as Montgomery Ward electrodes so you aren't going to have any luck trying to find that particular brand. But because they once existed, maybe somebody still makes them.

I've cut steel with 6010 electrodes with the amps really cranked up. You'll quickly find how high you can turn up your welder w/o burning up the electrodes, and also whether you like it better with the rods wet or dry. It's slow and it's messy. The melted metal running together behind the cut is the main problem. I suspect that you'd have trouble cutting metal thicker than 1/4" unless you have 3/16" or larger rod and 250 amps or more. The duty cycle is likely to be a problem unless you have an extremely powerful welder.

Certainly there are faster, easier, cleaner, and probably cheaper ways to cut metal, but you already have a stick welder. If it works for you but it's slow, remember that you can probably get a lot of metal cut in the time you would be out shopping for different equipment; if it's relatively expensive, remember that it's a bargain until the cost exceeds what you would pay for different equipment plus whatever that equipment would cost to run.

Let us know how it works for you. I've never known anybody who used it except in last ditch circumstances. It's kind of like building furniture with an ax---it can be done, but it's hard to think of a situation where you'd choose to do it that way.

All the best, Stan

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135 Fan

08-06-2007 22:26:02




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to MF294-4, 08-06-2007 19:30:55  
Depending on what type of machine you have, you can buy gouging and/or cutting electrodes that don't need anything else. An arcair torch needs a DC machine as far as I know and a big air compressor and is also very hard on any power source. It's close to a direct short. Most shops that do a lot of gouging will have a couple old big generators, just for gouging, like a Lincoln SAE 400. A torch would be better or a cutting disc in an angle grinder. Make sure you have a good name brand grinder though. Dave

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jokers

08-06-2007 21:02:55




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to MF294-4, 08-06-2007 19:30:55  
Carbon arc torches can be handy but production is alot higher with an Arcair torch if you have compressed air available. You can also cut non-ferrous metal with them although cuts on any metal are more like gouges than a nice clean oxy/fuel gas cut.

6010 or 6011 rod held long can also cut metal but in the long run, oxy/fuel gas will be most productive and cheapest, especially if you can get your hands on a good oxy/propane set.

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CheeseHeadFred

08-06-2007 19:58:41




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to MF294-4, 08-06-2007 19:30:55  
Quite a few years ago, when we were too cheap to buy oxygen and acetyline, we just got a box of 7014, turned the heat all the way up, and turned the piece we were cutting so the hot metal could run off (usually vertical, cut from the bottom up) It leaves a pretty rough edge, but can get the job done if you've got nothing better. You can soak the 7014 rods in water for a few minutes before using them to make them last a little longer.

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2t2@ia

08-07-2007 21:29:19




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to CheeseHeadFred, 08-06-2007 19:58:41  
About 30 years ago, I made several cattle gates from well pipe with nothing but an old 140 amp welder and 7014 rod. Fortunately (at that time,I was not aware of the risks of cutting and welding galvanized material) I worked in an open corncrib driveway. Anyway, the gates and and a couple of bale carriers that I made are still holding together.



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kito169

08-06-2007 19:45:27




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to MF294-4, 08-06-2007 19:30:55  
They make a gouging handle that goes on your hot lead,not ground. It uses a carbon rod and you hook an air compressor to it. 20 yrs ago they were $400. I don't know if they still sell them or not. If you have lots of cutting to do, you might be better off using propane and oxygen.



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suptscottyb

08-10-2007 17:48:14




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 Re: electric arc cutting in reply to kito169, 08-06-2007 19:45:27  
After the electric bill comes... you may wish you found any other way to cut.



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