Tip for cutting steel with an arc welder

I heard that you can cut steel with an arc welder by first dipping the electrode into water and making it wet. Is that true?

Cant wait to try it. Not sure if it has to be done with direct current though.

Also heard that you can cut steel with a carbon rod.

Cant wait to try.

I made an arc welder out of 2 micro wave oven transformers. It works great.

Anyways this is not much of a tip ha ha but i totally agree with you about stick welding being the best. I have tried a lot of different types of welding and this one is the most simple.

Best
curt

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Tip for cutting steel with an arc welder

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Apr 05, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Burning or Cutting thru via a rod NEW
by: Gario

I burned holes thru steel pipe already set in cement to run bolts through.
Mar 11, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		be-ware of welding re-bar NEW
by: jw

you may want to think twice about welding re-bar. the finished weld looks sound but from bitter experience i learned a sudden shock or load could cause it to fail so beware.
Feb 26, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		welding re-bar at your own risk NEW
by: Anonymous

in my experience welding re-bar is an iffy proposition. i find if the joint is loaded suddenly it tends to crack. most inspectors here in nyc prefer a mechanical joint to welding for just that reason
Feb 23, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Lincoln Buzzbox cutting steel NEW
by: Hot ridding

I just tried using Lincoln 6011 1/8" rod and set my BuzzBox on 225 amps AC. I cut through 3/4" thick rebar like it was melted butter. Next, I welded two 1/2" pieces of rebar together making it 1" thick. Using the same 6011 electrodes as well as the same above settings, I cut through no problem. The process was quick, down-n-dirty "easy." It saved me from pulling out the plasma cutter or chop saw. So I'd say, YES IT WORKS! AC performed without a hitch.
Mar 31, 2011
Rating
starstar 		Not exactly...
by: Josh Allen

You do not need to soak your electrodes. All you are doing there is ruining the flux.

If you want to make a cut with an electrode, you simply need to turn the amps way up on the machine. It doesn't actually cut. It just melts the metal away and requires a lot of grinding afterwards.

It is, however, a good way to cut a hole in thin stainless steel if you don't have a plasma cutter handy.

Now carbon rods are used only with a carbon arc torch or exothermic lance. These both work similar to a standard electrode holder but use air to shoot out the molten puddle formed by the carbon rod. To use these, you need to set your machine over 400 amps and also have an air supply for the carbon arc stinger.
Mar 23, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		no time for games or haters
by: Anonymous

hey butchy, when welding is your livelihood it's no longer "fun". i don't know how it is in overall patch, nowheresville but here it's serious business. we have no time to play because we're too busy erecting buildings and bridges. good day to you sir.
Mar 23, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Cutting with arc welder.
by: liljohn

AIR ARC or CARBON ARC , look it up.
Dec 31, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		in a pinch
by: Anonymous

in a pinch we've been known to use a 6010 as a gouging rod to cut through misc. scrap. if you have to walk to a tool truck or tool room that is quite a while away, and you have the 6010's handy you can jump your welder up to about 400 amps and stick it on straight polarity and it'll slice right through 3/8. it's not a pretty cut and it's awfully smoky but it gets it done in a hurry.
Nov 20, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Stick cutting
by: Butch Shultz

Mc Master Carr sells rods for Cutting/Chamfer. Part no. 7973A821 I have used stick welding rods for cutting but I would only recommend it if you have no other way and you don't mind that the cut will look awful. Of course you can grind back from the cut to make things pretty.

Who is this person making idiotic comments on here? You are not helping. You are not cute and you need a life. I just love dilrods like you. "Oh I've been welding for ever and you know nothing compared to me" What a load of crap!

Microwave welder guy you are just fine. That other guy can't make his own welder from old oven parts! He even told us welding is soooo hard. Hard on him. Fun for people with the right attitude.
Sep 01, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		ARC WELDING IS SIMPLE...
by: Anonymous

instead of soaking the welding rods why don't you soak your nuts then put them into that microwave oven!
Sep 01, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		You can cut steel with a arc Welder
by: Anonymous

CUtting steel with a arc welder can be done by a process called "hoT rodding". turn welder all the way up. Start the rod and hold as far back from the piece your cutting as you can and still have an arc and work rod like a torch
Aug 24, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		stick is easy?
by: Anonymous

i would say next to TIG stick is hardest , and u can cut steel with any arc if u push and hold it there long enough
Aug 09, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		simple minded maybe
by: Anonymous

so you say stick welding is simple? after almost 40 years of welding everything from high pressure steam lines to splicing 6" thick "H" beams i still find it a challenge. why don't you re-assemble those microwaves and stick your head in it!

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