What is gouging in welding?

Asked by: Kevin Carlton

Thermal gouging is an essential part of welding fabrication. Used for rapid removal of unwanted metal, the material is locally heated and molten metal ejected – usually by blowing it away. Normal oxyfuel gas or arc processes can be used to produce rapid melting and metal removal.

What is the purpose of gouging?

A: Gouging is necessary for many tasks related to welding when the operator is trying to remove material to get to clean metal. The most obvious use of gouging is to remove large amounts of metal or welds that need to be repaired.

What is arc Gouging in welding?

Air carbon arc gouging is a process of removing metal by means of heat generated from a carbon arc. The process uses a carbon/graphite electrode, compressed air and a standard power source. The intense electric arc used between the tip of a carbon electrode and a metal work piece cuts and melts the work piece.

What is gouging cutting?

Air carbon arc cutting, also referred to as metal arc gouging, and previously as air arc cutting, is an arc cutting process where metal is cut and melted by the heat of a carbon arc. Molten metal is then removed by a blast of air.

What is mechanical gouging?

Mechanical gouging methods—grinding, hand milling, routing, and chipping—are widely used. These methods are suitable for metalworking shops, but typically they are slow and often loud. Oxyfuel Gouging. Oxyfuel gouging is a common thermal or chemical method and a variation of oxyfuel welding and cutting.

What is a gouging electrode?

Gouging electrodes are made of carbon and have a copper coating. Gouging carbon rods are used for metal removal at fast rates with low power consumption. It is generally used to remove welding defects, excess welds and foundry risers from cast products.

How is gouging done?

Unlike MMA welding where a stable weld pool must be maintained, this process forces the molten metal away from the arc zone to leave a clean cut surface. The gouging process is characterised by the large amount of gas which is generated to eject the molten metal.

Can you gouge without air?

ZENA NO-Gas arc cutting/gouging rods let you gouge, bevel, and cut metal without needing a 300+ Amp air-arc gouging/cutting rig or an acetylene cutting torch and bulky gas bottles.

How does a arc gouge work?

Air carbon arc gouging works as follows. An electric arc is generated between the tip of a carbon electrode and the workpiece. The metal becomes molten and a high velocity air jet streams down the electrode to blow it away, thus leaving a clean groove.

What do you need for arc gouging?

It requires an air source it requires carbon arc electrodes. And the air is shot out of some holes down here at the bottom we strike an arc with an electrode. And the air displaces.

What is gouging in fabrication?

Thermal gouging is an essential part of welding fabrication. Used for rapid removal of unwanted metal, the material is locally heated and molten metal ejected – usually by blowing it away. Normal oxyfuel gas or arc processes can be used to produce rapid melting and metal removal.

What is plasma cutting and gouging?

The plasma gouging process removes any amount of material from a workpiece regardless of shape or rate, without actually severing or piercing the material. Just as in plasma cutting, a plasma arc is formed between a negatively charged electrode inside the torch and a positively charged workpiece.

What is gouging in gas cutting?

Gouging is carried out using a torch through which oxygen and a fuel gas (acetylene, propane or mains gas) are passed. The surface of the steel is preheated by an outer ring of jets, and oxygen is directed from a central jet to the area to be gouged.

What is oxygen gouging?

Flame gouging is a variant of conventional oxyfuel gas welding. Oxygen and a fuel gas are used to produce a high temperature flame for melting the steel. When gouging, the steel is locally heated to a temperature above the ‘ignition’ temperature (typically 900deg.

How do you gouge with a torch?

This angle to about 7 degrees as you raise the nozzle slightly above the plate surface. Turn on the cutting oxygen. And lower the nozzle gradually to start the groove.