question about arc gouging

[dredgewelder]

hi, im thinking about setting up my bobcat 250 to do some gouging.was wondering what i needed. how much air pressure and what kind of electrode holder. and what brand electrodes. the only portable air compresser i have right now is a craftsman 5hp dont know the cfm off the top of my head.

[MAC702]

Is that a 5HP engine-driven compressor, or a 5 "max developed HP" electric compressor? That will make a huge difference. What thicknesses do you plan on gouging?

You're probably looking at 3/16" carbons with that machine. 1/4" might be doable, but at maximum and maybe stressing the machine. The Trailblazer series seems to be able to do up to 5/16" even though they aren't rated that high. Yours is "rated" for up to 3/16", so eventually, you might try some 1/4" and let us know how they do in that machine.

Go over to one of the older, more complete message boards like the Weld Talk forum at www.hobartwelders.com or the Ask Andy forum at www.millermotorsports.com and do a search for "air arc" or similar. You will get tons of good info, from guys with lots of experience.

Oh yeah, get some ear plugs.

[swyman]

The brand I use is Arcair. Just use shop air pressure. Works very well.

[Steve]

With Arcair 1/4 rods you would turn your welder to max, pay attention to the duty cycle, and use 90 psi minimun. You might want to clear the area for quite a ways in the direction the air will be blowing as all the sparks go that way. I have set a trash can on fire at 30 feet.

[Blondie_486]

hi, im thinking about setting up my bobcat 250 to do some gouging.was wondering what i needed. how much air pressure and what kind of electrode holder. and what brand electrodes. the only portable air compresser i have right now is a craftsman 5hp dont know the cfm off the top of my head.

I recommend Arcair for both the holder and electodes, 3/16 should work fine with your equipment, HOWEVER you won't be able to gouge for too long before you have to stop and let the compressor catch up. Gouging eats up the air, I have an 8hp single stage 60 gallon tank compressor and have to wait for the compressor to catch up, but with what you have you'll be able to get by on a few jobs until you can afford to upgrade the compressor. When you do go looking for a compressor make sure you get a 2 stage and stay away from the ones with aluminum cylinders as they wear out quickly. You can probably find a good second hand compressor from a used equipment & machinery liquidator.

Good luck
Blondie

[paulrbrown]

I have a Bobcat 225 and have tried arc gouging with it, terrible results due to the low voltage of the machine. The 250 probably has the same lower voltage problem. You need over 30 volts or more for gouging. The Reps I have talked to only knew that my 225 was not recommended for gouging, but not why, I found out after investing for the Arcair and doing lots of obscure reading. Anyway, I hope your 250 has the volts, but don't be surprised if it does not. Hope this helps, Paul

[makeithot]

gauging

You can buy all the fancy gear you want arcair is one of the more popular, all you will succeed in doing though is burning out your machine the 250 bobcat does not have the power it takes to run the process without over heating. I know many that have tried and regreted it. turns an other wise good piece of gear into junk.