Hey I'm new around here and find it very helpful. I was wandering what size welder you recommend for arc gouging
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arc gouging/air arc
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Minimum 250 amp stick non inverter. These will handle 3/16" carbons which is about as small as you want to go. Not for heavy duty use though.MM250
Trailblazer 250g
22a feeder
Lincoln ac/dc 225
Victor O/A
MM200 black face
Whitney 30 ton hydraulic punch
Lown 1/8x 36" power roller
Arco roto-phase model M
Vectrax 7x12 band saw
Miller spectrum 875
30a spoolgun w/wc-24
Syncrowave 250
RCCS-14
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When gouging do not set the machine at 100% (wide open). Set it like 85% so it has some room to fluctuate while not going over max.MM250
Trailblazer 250g
22a feeder
Lincoln ac/dc 225
Victor O/A
MM200 black face
Whitney 30 ton hydraulic punch
Lown 1/8x 36" power roller
Arco roto-phase model M
Vectrax 7x12 band saw
Miller spectrum 875
30a spoolgun w/wc-24
Syncrowave 250
RCCS-14
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air arcing does not heart the machine!
Would people stop pushing the idea that air arcing hurts machines, i have air arced off every machine i have owned, and i air arc a lot. Also as for bad for invertors, my maxtron 450 i had for 10 years, i ran about 150 boxes of 1/4 carbons through it, never had a probelm. Simply use the machine within its duty cycle and gouge away, what is the difference between 250 amps running large wire or an air arc electrode, other than cv vs cc current.
KevinLincoln ranger 305g x2
Ln25
Miller spectrum 625
Miller 30a spoolgun
Wc115a
Lincoln 210mp
F550 imt service truck
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air arcing does not hurt the machine!
Would people stop pushing the idea that air arcing hurts machines, i have air arced off every machine i have owned, and i air arc a lot. Also as for bad for invertors, my maxtron 450 i had for 10 years, i ran about 150 boxes of 1/4 carbons through it, never had a probelm. Simply use the machine within its duty cycle and gouge away, what is the difference between 250 amps running large wire or an air arc electrode, other than cv vs cc current.
KevinLincoln ranger 305g x2
Ln25
Miller spectrum 625
Miller 30a spoolgun
Wc115a
Lincoln 210mp
F550 imt service truck
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Tryagn5, I totally agree with you, I'm trying to figure out why I'm not suppose to air arc off my 2001 Pipe Pro 304 or my Approximately 2003 XMT 304.
I run 1/4" carbons at 350 amps on a regular basis, ( A couple times a month )
without a problem.
Just like Tryagn5 said keep it within your duty cycle.
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Tryagn5 -- I don't see anyone here that is saying air arcing is harmful to machines in general. Just giving advice. I was told by the service tech not to use inverters for cac. He even told me not to use a Syncrowave. As far as maxing it out that is something else that has been said a lot on this site as well as in the field.
I'm glad you are able to use yours as you do without any issues.Last edited by MMW; 03-25-2014, 06:00 PM.MM250
Trailblazer 250g
22a feeder
Lincoln ac/dc 225
Victor O/A
MM200 black face
Whitney 30 ton hydraulic punch
Lown 1/8x 36" power roller
Arco roto-phase model M
Vectrax 7x12 band saw
Miller spectrum 875
30a spoolgun w/wc-24
Syncrowave 250
RCCS-14
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I've arc aired with a few inverter power supplies. XMT 304, XMT 350, Invertec V350. No issues with any of them. Crank them wide open just don't exceed the duty cycle and you will have no problems.Lincoln Idealarc 250
Miller Bobcat 250
Thermal Arc Hefty 2 feeder
Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52
Torchmate CNC table
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air arc and duty cycles
All good info here as others have posted, I would add that depending on how much gouging you are doing will dictate what you need machine wise. If your gouging using the small carbons, most machines will fit the bill without damage. A person has to be realistic though. a 300 to 400 amp machine will run 1/4 inch carbons without issue, if you are going bigger match power accordingly. If you still need more try paralleling two or more power sources. Usually the big guns like dimensions or goldstars 650 amp classwork good, but the big diesel engine drives work nice as well. Run minimum 4/0 cables and have good air (high CFM). Match your air arc stinger as well. Arc air k4000 will take a lot of power up to 1000 amps. if you still need more arcair has the tri-arc foundry torch that is rated for 1600 amps when you get to those carbons. I have run the 3/4 inch segmented carbons that lock together at around 1200 to 1400 amps. When you run that much juice its good to run tandem 4/0 cables or bigger MCM cables. Kind of neat to have got the experience doing this, you can plow through a lot of metal and the slag that comes off is like a volcano erupting!I have a welding addiction
...the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask
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CAC = crap (HOT crap) flying everywhere and making a BUNCH of noise while doing it. Personally, I never liked CAC, but I guess it DOES have its uses. But me...given ANY kind of a choice, I will do about any kind of cutting in order to avoid CAC!!Don J
Reno, NV
Never pick a fight with an old guy. Old guys are too smart to fight and get hurt. They'll just kill you and get it over with.
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