Carbon cutting

[Darren Hall]

Hi all - wonder if you could help me out with a couple of queries - I want to use carbon rods to cut 3mm steel if possible - I have a very small welder and not the funds to be shelling out for expensive gear - I am wondering if a small carbon rod will be ok to use - - my questions are

What will happen (or not) if I run a 6.8 carbon rod at 75amps.

will it generate enough heat to melt/cut my material.

I have no real means of introducing compressed air but! when using cutting welding type rods air is not used in any vids I have seen so could I not cut the area and then knock out the section and clean with a grinder.

If you guys might have any other suggestions I would really appreciate them - allowing for limited funds of course.

Many thanks.

D Hall

 

[awemawson]

You would do better with an angle grinder!

'cutting rods' which generate lots of gasses and blow the weld pool away as you go are available. Also have you seen this thread:

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/cutting-rods.20523/

 

[ben8vgte]

What do you need to cut as they will be very very rough, I have some Oerlikon Citocut 2.5mm which are proper cutting rods for a arc set. They need 100-150A on the packet I find they run well at 130A ish on a DC set, they do make a hell of a mess but have got me out of trouble on site if I need to blow off a harden padlock for example if I cant get the petrol saw in.

 

[Darren Hall]

What do you need to cut as they will be very very rough, I have some Oerlikon Citocut 2.5mm which are proper cutting rods for a arc set. They need 100-150A on the packet I find they run well at 130A ish on a DC set, they do make a hell of a mess but have got me out of trouble on site if I need to blow off a harden padlock for example if I cant get the petrol saw in.

Hi - cheers for the come back - I have built a lowracer bike out of box section for the main structure, i would like to cut out sections to lighten the frame.

 

[Darren Hall]

You would do better with an angle grinder!

'cutting rods' which generate lots of gasses and blow the weld pool away as you go are available. Also have you seen this thread:

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/cutting-rods.20523/

Hi - cheers for the reply - I can use my grinder and a hole saw to get a good finish ( I am thinking of cutting out small panels from box section in a parallelogram shape) - what I am looking for is a good long lasting way to remove material and then clean up the area - it's not really that I cannot do the job but more that I am looking for ways that are flexible and have multiple applications and working on the bike is a good large test area as it is being developed as it is built (kinda)

 

[Welderpaul]

Hi - cheers for the come back - I have built a lowracer bike out of box section for the main structure, i would like to cut out sections to lighten the frame.

Not the right bit of kit for the job then. As said above, they make a hell of a mess, you might as well just stick a 5mm rod in, whack the amps as far up as they will go and cut with that.

 

[ben8vgte]

Hi - cheers for the come back - I have built a lowracer bike out of box section for the main structure, i would like to cut out sections to lighten the frame.

Yeah I'd drill the corners with a 5mm say, then use a grinder to cut most out and finish up with a air saw or hacksaw blade by hand. I suspect that's the quickest way for that, even if you had a plasma cutter. I do find my plasma handy for a lot though but tends to be for roughing out more than finish cuts, either way a good quality set of Bacho for example files would by my choice on a budget.

Just noticed your local, I can give you a couple of the rods to try if you want but don't expect much without more amps..

 

[Darren Hall]

Yeah I'd drill the corners with a 5mm say, then use a grinder to cut most out and finish up with a air saw or hacksaw blade by hand. I suspect that's the quickest way for that, even if you had a plasma cutter. I do find my plasma handy for a lot though but tends to be for roughing out more than finish cuts, either way a good quality set of Bacho for example files would by my choice on a budget.

Just noticed your local, I can give you a couple of the rods to try if you want but don't expect much without more amps..

Cheers for the offer - I have seen the cutting rods on youtube and they are rather choppy - the grinder and drill idea looks the best but it seemed a good idea to ask around some more experienced folks - - cheers to all that replied :-)