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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    mackay
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    17

    Default 175i air arc gouging

    Hi all
    I have a Cigweld 175i, wondering if it could do some light duty air arc gouging, ie removing bushes on 5 tonne diggers etc. I have a 35 cfm compressor so that’s not an issue. Thanks!


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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    In the trade, we used old dunger welders for air-arc work.

    Arc air is really tough on the transformer windings. Heat buildup is rapid and intense. Air arc operation heat,can melt the insulation between the transformer shim plates. The welder is not the same machine after, displaying something like arc blow when trying to weld with it later on.

    Also, consider the machine you are intending to use. It is not built in the same robust manner of those industrial welders used for arc air.

    It is essentially has a lightweight transformer (with an inverter) and not designed to dissipate heat at the rate needed for air -arcing.

    Be very, very cautious.

    Grahame

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    Don't even bother trying. 175A is nowhere near potent rough for arcair. 300 would be a minimum for a 6.3mm carbon doing meaningful work and you will be lucky to strike an arc with only 175A.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    mackay
    Posts
    17

    Default

    Thanks Guys I might stick with the gas axe for gouging


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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
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    Default

    Not too sure if it will provide much advantage, but you could try some cutting and gouging electrodes. You can buy them in a small handyman pack to trial. You will need a stick welder with 150 odd amps from memory.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    I always thought you needed a lot of amps for gouging.

    I have a dodgy 400AS that I used for gouging. I ran it flat out and to get an acceptable gouge I needed all it's output.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
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    Default

    A 400AA should gouge with ease, my AS400 (not a misprint, but an older Diesel powered Lincoln) runs a 6.3mm carbon when set on 300 odd amps. I reckon I could run 8mm carbons if I had to, my DC 400 certainly will. If i am in a really destructive mood, then my SA600 Lincoln with its 750 amps gets let loose.
    Poor connections and dodgy leads will cause you some issues thoughon another note. Who has tried the flat carbons? I love them for removing weld back to a nice flat surface.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    I see some high end plasma cutters offer arc gouging built in. Even a 45 amp single phase model although it is AU$2500

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjpUADInn80
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
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    I've done a little bit of plasma gouging and while it works quite well, it does suffer from the handicap of a much bulkier torch that won't fit where a gouging carbon will.
    Gouging consumables are available for the larger plasma machines, although I wouldn't say they are common. The first time I tried plasma gouging, I simply drilled a 1.7mm tip out to 3mm (that's the size of the correct gouging tip for my torch) and let loose. All worked well, except the fact that the large torch head is a bit limiting. For exanple, you probably couldn't gouge out pins and bushes, but removing most welds should be easy enough.

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