Cutting/Chamfering Electrodes, did I waste my money?

[aczlan]

Picked up some Hobart "Cutting/Chamfering Electrodes" electrodes on sale at TSC this weekend (was $9, I paid $5)

Looking at the video by "ChuckE2009" on Youtube, he said that they aren't worth it.

Should I take them back, or do they have some redeeming qualities that he missed?

Thanks

Aaron Z

 

[aarolar]

I saw these too debated for a second and put them back down.

 

[Shield Arc]

I think you would have just as good of luck with a chainsaw!
If you're going to cut with a welder, this is the way to go.

Air Carbon Arc Gouging - YouTube

 

[aarolar]

I think you would have just as good of luck with a chainsaw!
If you're going to cut with a welder, this is the way to go.

Air Carbon Arc Gouging - YouTube

I haven't done it much but it's a ton of fun when I do get to.

 

[Shield Arc]

If you have a big enough welder, and enough air pressure. You can really move some metal! :thumbsup:

 

[vsteel]

The Hobart rods are very mild, even the cutting rods are pretty mild. If you want to cut with a stick get some Lincoln 6011, they are much better at cutting, they are a lot more aggressive. We just tried comparing the Hobart normal 6011, Hobart cutting rods and Lincoln 6011. Even normal welding I like the Lincoln 6011 much better. We will use up the Hobart rods since we have them but we won't be buying them again.

I always thought 6011 was 6011, oh that is so not true.

Using the 6011 to cut with is nice when you can't justify much else. I have done it for years and since I would average about 1 piece cut a year or I was just punching a few holes in steel posts to make an end for a barbed wire gate, it worked great. Just never had enough need to anything more. Yea it took a lot longer to clean up the cut but cutting as infrequently as I did it worked out just fine.

 

[Arc weld]

I've only tried the stick chamfering rods once and didn't like them but you don't use them like a welding rod. I think you're supposed to jab them into the steel blowing it away with each jab instead of trying to hold a steady arc length with them. Air arcing is different and a much better animal but you need a suitable machine and air compressor.

 

[CJONE]

Man I used to hate carbon arc gouging. Be sure to wear ear plugs! CJ

 

[Shield Arc]

Be sure to wear ear plugs! CJ

Why? It is so much fun when a spark goes in your ear!

 

[CJONE]

Why? It is so much fun when a spark goes in your ear!

Them's some dang big sparks! and they find every hole in your boots and even make a few. The worst job I ever had was cutting stainless steel barbecues apart. It was for Shell oil company, they already welded them solid, 24" pipe with no holes for the cutting jet air off of the plazma to escape. I was young and stupid, the first cut was on the top and everything went straight up in the air and it felt like half of it fell into my ear. I learned real quick to pull my hat brim across it after that. Dang it hurt for a long time! I cant imagine getting slag from a air arc in your ear, noisy too CJ