Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:09 pm Post subject: Carbon Arc Rods |
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Hi
I have recently got a little arc welder, to play with, and was told about carbon rods by rusty reks, that you can heat things with them, and also braze etc with them.
Anyone had any experience?
I have looked at them on the net, and seem a good idea, and cheap too, would be a saving over gas, for someone like me that at the moment, would hardly use gas.
Be interesting to hear some views? |
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4105 Location: South Cheshire
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
I bought some years ago, a simple affair you just have to strike the arc and keep the 2 rods close enough together so that the arc is maintained. Its not too difficult to master, but the arc is a bit on or off, so nothing like the fine control you have with gas welders.
dave |
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magic9r
Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Posts: 33
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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Arc is bright so you need to use propper eye & skin protection, the carbon electrodes erode & the carbon ends up on the job, other than that they're quite handy when a gas torch isn't enough to provide the required temperature.
So far I've only used mine for melting a small amount of brass in a crucible to sand cast a badge, I'm sure I'll find another use for it some day,
Regards,
Nick |
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HMK
Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Posts: 42
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:54 am Post subject: |
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An old post now, but worth mentioning how useful these are to the home mechanic
Agree with all that's been said so far & yes, you can get BAD sun burn on hands & face unless you use gloves & a full mask.
I've had a carbon arc torch for many years & have used it for brazing metal expansion tanks etc.
The MOST useful thing though, is for freeing off such things as those totally seized track rod adjustments that tracking places either refuse to do or take the gas torch to & charge you double the price for the trouble
You can pick them up for 50p (or less) at sales & jumbles & the old stick welders to run them for not a lot either, as no one wants them these days - or knows what these carbon arc attachments are for ........they'll all be going up in price now after folk have read this |
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Ghost
Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 75
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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This will sound like a chorus of doomsayers but -
“Arc is bright” - magic9r
and - “BAD sun burn on hands & face” - HMK
And now me!
Before the advent of the ubiquitous single phase Mig this way of working was popular with DIY's (early 1980's). The arc is very bright and you should consider a high value lens in the face mask. The skin burn can occur in less than an hour and you will suffer a lot of pain. 'Conventional' sunburn is not anything like it, you will go a deep maroon, neck burn is common. Also unlike arc welding with an earth clamp to the work the two cables from the terminals on the welder go to the torch, so if it goes live? I'd wear a rubber glove under a leather one. It's very hot too, if the arc welder does not have a low setting then it's so hot the additions in the brazing rod will be 'boiled off'. For example some rods have a small percentage of nickel added to the bronze for extra strength, this makes them very expensive and too sophisticated for this process.
But don't be put off! I modified a luggage rack for a motorcycle with this system, ugly it was but it got me to Finland and back. |
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buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Under the welding benches we have sand, this takes the heat away from the bench and also deadens the sound a little when chipping post arc welding.
Burnt eye lids is a favourite! hehe
Anyone gets arc eye, don't put water in them, put a splash of milk in them.
Cheers
Dave |
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