Tidying up my workshop a few days ago I came across my old carbon arc brazing / welding torch which had sat forgotten in a box for the last couple of decades. A bit of searching online showed that the carbon pencils are available on EBay and were duly ordered. They turned up today so, of course, I had to go and have a little play!
For those who don't remember these things, they're a holder for 2 carbon rods that you attach to an arc welder (preferably a cheap AC output one) to produce an electric "flame". You then use it like oxy, but without the hire costs or exploding bottle risk. Welding thin sheet is possible, although it does tend to carburize the surface of the weld so needs cleaning up a little after. This is the torch, the carbons, and my cheapo Clarke buzz-box:
and this is the torch with a pair of carbons fitted:
This is how easy it is to strike and maintain the arc. Bear in mind this is literally the first time I've used it since about 1990 when Halfrauds stopped selling the carbons. No skill required!
That was with the welder dialed right down to its 40 amp minimum btw. And this is the weld that it produced. Didn't have any proper filler rods so used an arc rod with the flux knocked off. As I say, it needs cleaning up but, for no practice in 2 decades (I literally picked it up, fired it up, and started melting the metal together), on 1mm sheet, using a 50 quid arc welder.....
I challenge anyone to do similar with a Mig ;D
I also challenge anyone to do the following with a Mig regardless of their skill or experience.
Underseal / rubber coating removal:
Filler removal (heated from the back of the panel):
And Uri Geller impressions (using a massive 50 amp setting on the buzz-box):
Doing all that used about 1.5cm of the carbons so it's economical too
For those who don't remember these things, they're a holder for 2 carbon rods that you attach to an arc welder (preferably a cheap AC output one) to produce an electric "flame". You then use it like oxy, but without the hire costs or exploding bottle risk. Welding thin sheet is possible, although it does tend to carburize the surface of the weld so needs cleaning up a little after. This is the torch, the carbons, and my cheapo Clarke buzz-box:
and this is the torch with a pair of carbons fitted:
This is how easy it is to strike and maintain the arc. Bear in mind this is literally the first time I've used it since about 1990 when Halfrauds stopped selling the carbons. No skill required!
That was with the welder dialed right down to its 40 amp minimum btw. And this is the weld that it produced. Didn't have any proper filler rods so used an arc rod with the flux knocked off. As I say, it needs cleaning up but, for no practice in 2 decades (I literally picked it up, fired it up, and started melting the metal together), on 1mm sheet, using a 50 quid arc welder.....
I challenge anyone to do similar with a Mig ;D
I also challenge anyone to do the following with a Mig regardless of their skill or experience.
Underseal / rubber coating removal:
Filler removal (heated from the back of the panel):
And Uri Geller impressions (using a massive 50 amp setting on the buzz-box):
Doing all that used about 1.5cm of the carbons so it's economical too
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