CARBON ARC WELDING AND BRAZING

[Volp]

The main problem your going to have with a carbon arc set up is the non availability of the correct carbon rods.

Are the type or size of the carbon rod significant for a Twin Carbon arc torch as long as it has copper coating?

 

[Danno1]

Are the type or size of the carbon rod significant for a Twin Carbon arc torch as long as it has copper coating?

I'm working on the one described in the instructable link.


I bought the 1/4 inch version of these:

McMaster-Carr



Similar, only they come in a 50 pack:

Arc Welding Rods & Electrodes - Arc Welders | MSCDirect.com


.

 

[rankrank1]

Are the type or size of the carbon rod significant for a Twin Carbon arc torch as long as it has copper coating?

The common copper cladded carbons that you find at most LWS for like $8 - $11 or so for a box of 50 are not the ideal carbons to use in a Twin Carbon Arc torch. That said it is what I use because they are dirt cheap and readily available anywhere. These commonly available gouging carbons are hollow for use in an ArcAire type gouging cutting torch which makes them less than ideal for a Twin Carbon Arc torch. But again they will still work just expect much less than optimum performance.

If you want to try some of the best suited carbons for a twin carbon arc torch then keep your eye on ebay for when some "movie projector carbons" are auctioned. Early cinemas and even drive in theaters powered their projectors for years this way. Most WWII anti-aircraft lighting also used this principle. Another option is to even salvage carbon rods from the bigger box type alkaline batterys (NOTE: You are risking your health with alkaline poisoning if you go the salvaging route from batteries - I personally would not resort to salvaging from batteries and the carbons will be short).

If I was a frequent user of my torch I might opt to purchase some better carbons. Really the Twin Carbon Arc torch is the perfect tool for me because I need extreme heat very infrequently. Having the capability if I need it though has allowed me to return my oxy/acet lease bottles and mothball my old oxy/acetylene torch.

 

[the old grind]

I've been using a 40A carbon arc torch/mini-welder for 30 yrs to braze small stuff with. It's a Sears model that runs on 110v, and I can still buy the rods from Sears. Saw a similar 90A welder at a friends place last week & he didn't know what the salad-tong handle configuration was for, just like mine, chintzy-looking but easy to control the flame with. Gotta see if my rods work at the higher amperage before I get to wheelin' & dealin'.

It's the cats meow for, say bending threaded rod into quick & dirty squared u-bolts. Little to no fixturing/tweaking is needed, as such a small portion of the workpiece gets red-hot (right away) and it keeps the bend radius near to nothing. Great for straightening/bending tool handles when a lot of heat is needed in a small area too, but I'd like to snatch Joe's 90A for bigger jobs.

btw: An arc flame needs an arc hood/lens lest your eyes get UV burned like anything exposed would. Heh, you should have seen me that one time I brazed up a job that took an hour or so. I was still learning with it & working shirtless on a hot afternoon. By dinner time I was beet red from the waist up with a totally white face. :laughing: Just when I'm old enough to know better I find myself getting senile. It could happen again. :confused2:

 

[Volp]

This thread has certainly produced a lot of information on the use of the Twin Carbon Arc torch.:thumbsup:
I think that it is vital to document this type of information before it is lost in the mist of time.:reading:
Thank you all for sharing your experience. This forum have been a gold mine to me for more than a decade.:miner:

 

[Willl]

It could happen again. :confused2:

That's funny.

Had an old friend that used a carbon lamp to burn an image into silk screen for printing T-shirts.

Sounds like that movie lamp rankrank was talking about. Boy that sucker would light up the room.