Arc Gouging in Detail 

Issac I’m a 24 year old welder and I love working on heavy equipment and your videos are amazing, I work in a do it all welding shop but all the heavy equipment calls or jobs that come in I take! Just repaired forwarder logging grapple pin boss yesterday🤞🏽 by myself. I’m learning everyday and especially from your videos, I hope I’m at your level one day

I'm not even a welder Isaac, but that was some beautiful work sir. All young welders need to know of your teachings.

I’ve been welding for over 30 years and every time I watch your videos I learn a little more. Thanks.

Again, many thanks for these videos. They are filled with master level knowledge and the way you explain things is easily understood. Much appreciated. 🤝

Are we all going to have too start a fund for helmet replacement band now. Lol thanks for your time invested in teaching people your trade and experience in welding.

I like to run a 3/4" carbon rod at about 15,000 amps! Yep right, 200 amps seems to work just fine . Issac, the down to earth welding professional, no frills, just talent and a really nice rig. Absolutely love your videos!

I just got out of school and started my new job at a construction company and get to make repairs like you do. You don’t know what it means to me to be able to watch your videos and truly learn something that I can take with me to work. The day isn’t here yet but I know it’ll come and I still have so much to learn but one day I’ll be able to a true master of my trade just like you’ve taught me to be. Thanks for showing us how it’s done

Nicely done on your explaination of arc gouging. I could easily follow along without getting lost on what you were doing.

The good ol Unwelder. When i was learning, i got introduced to it by some folks that said just turn your amperage and air all the way up regardless of machine size, rod size, or job size. That never made sense to me and i pretty quickly figured out i was faster and more efficient when i backed off. I like to keep some 1/8 carbons and you can recover some pretty dang small parts with them.

I am a maintenance mechanic and I love the way you pass on the knowledge learned from years of experience to the next generation! Bless you Issac you are a professional and humble man! I constantly learn and try my best to be more of a tradesman such as you! You are truly a inspiration for anyone!

Great video. I'm retired now but we had an arc gouge in one of the shops I worked. I really liked running that thing. We called it " The widow maker ". Someone commented on the use of PPE, yes yes and yes!

It's all done by hand, and straight lines come out. Respect. (It was amusing to see the headband catching fire, but it's just how you make your videos -- you always share your experience as is!)

Isaac I have to say thank you, I am a mechanic that does some sticking metals together from time to time and had almost no formal training welding. Back a few months ago you showed to turn down the amperage when gouging, all I knew was turn the amps to max and giver, but I have used 200 on quarter round and flat and what a difference, half the noise and a much much better result, far less parent metal intrusion, never be as good you you but love the tips so this video will add many tips to the ole mental tool box. Thanks again.

I always heard of "air arc" from guys but never seen it until watching this channel. Isaac seems to be expert with it.

Thanks. I used to be the Manufacturing Engineer on the frame side of a traction motor shop. Arc gouging was my friend. I want a welder. Love the channel.

Arc gouging just looks like so much fun. I have no need for one, but I would love to get one just to screw around.

As far as learning off hand techniques I had a mentor when I was a young man coming up in the trades he told me to learn to eat left handed and learn to write left handed it can be done its not easy but u can develop those motor skills with practice and when you do it will make your life easier today at 43yrs old I can write nicer with my left hand but faster with my right

Not being a welder I find this way of cutting through a weld fascinating, the final finish was so clean and took so little effort to grind/prep for the next process. such a time saver.

Thank you Sir . I always learn from your presentations.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge on the subject of welding and metal working. I always get excited when a new video shows up, always informative.

I'm a fabricator, never did air arc, but saw a boilermaker using one and I thought it was pretty impressive how neat a groove you can make with it. It seems a lot less messy than oxy/acet gouging.

Thank you Issac. That torch looks hotter then the sun.

I watched some arc gouging and done some of it. But with no instructions. This will help me a bunch. Much less gringing and prep if i get this rite.thanks a bunch

Thanks for the lesson Professor Isaac!

This video is a great tutorial. I feel confident now that I could arc gouge with a bit of confidence. Your method of using auto dark is awesome. I was always afraid of gouging to much or not enough. Great video, my man!

Thanks for all the additional info on the setup!!

Great welder and great teacher your explanation is top quality just like welds thanks for the video

Thank you for the amperage adjustment instruction and the heating of the carbon prior to starting the gouge.

Thanks for the instructional video. I love to watch and learn from you

It is amazing what can be done with an air arc. Video was fantastic brought back a lot of memories. I remember the noise of the air the control of the burn and how clean of job you could end up with. i do not know of a welder that hasn't melted or burned his head band at sometime. it made me laugh . Isaac you are a master. Love your videos

Nothing wrong with an electric blue metal glue removal video. That’s part of the job too. Love the breakdowns too.

Now I know what arc gouging is and how it is done! Ty! Nice job!

Arc gouging is a great process once you get a hang of it, may take a little longer in some instances, but it helps you from buthering up your steel like you would with a torch

I want one! I've been using my plasma to do the job but it takes alot of passes😒 been looking for decent arc gouging videos but only find short segments you've nailed it with this one thanks for sharing

Thank you for the demonstration. been watching you do this for while but you have answered a few questions. Good luck.

I have no need or even practical use for the knowledge gained and still : thanks for the explanation Isaac!

I haven't air gouged in 40 years but still have the equipment. Next week my buddy and I are going to modify a set of fork lift forks to fit on his loader tractor. It will require some air gouging. I wasn't even searching for anything but somehow this video just showed up on my RU-vid feed. Thanks for the pointers. You are good this and this was a good video. Wish me luck next week.

What a brilliant video. I've just recently looked at buying the gear to do this, and I found you. The best instructional video possible.

A GREAT LESSON "Professor"!!!! You make it look so easy and smooth. My results are "less"!!!!! I have improved a bit after watching your technique in previous "lessons". You are a natural at "instructing". And yes, I could see the separation line just fine. Again, your weld penetrations would be deeper than many. I've seen welds where the only bonding was the on the two adjoining surfaces. The "Vee" movement works better for me. Well Done Mattie

It's an interesting process and leaves a very good clean surface. Especially good that joins can be seen after clearing weld out. It's still way beyond something I'd consider for my own small (shed) workshop.

I learned to weld back in the early 80's and while I didn't make welding my profession, (I wish I had!!!), I do still dabble with it and enjoy learning. Thank you for the detailed explaination!!! I was VERY curious how gouging worked!! Necessity is the mother of invention :-)

I have been Arc gouging for 40 years now! Have always ran 300 plus amps on 1/4" rod and enough protection to withstand a nuclear blast. I'm here to learn something new and I have. Tomorrow, I turn the amperage down. Remember just because it is the way you were taught doesn't mean it is the only way. Thank you, I enjoy the videos.

Use a stick out of 4”-6” as the nozzles focus the compressed air on that point & should be under the electrode. Use electrode positive The copper cover gives the soft brittle carbon rod added strength & improved electrical contact. Inserting a new electrode point the copper free end to the work pieces. MUST USE EAR PROTECTION. For operator & assistants. In shared workshop use an acoustic inclosure & local fume extraction & then there’s the dust the compressed air kicks up from the workshop floor Earring permanently damaged in 3 mins use.!! Also, FYI. plastic melts at welding & cutting temperatures.

Simply the best and fastest welder ever. I wish I could roll back the years to work with the new tool variants available today in shop tools. All of the tools were around, in some form when I left the shop, but no where near as good as today. Between you and Cutting Edge Eng. from Australia it makes an old man think again of the good times so thanks for the videos.

Great demonstration my friend. I never knew about arc gouging till I watched you quite a while ago. Always enjoy seeing you work your magic with the machines. Thank you for sharing.

You're always the "best." Thanks for all your videos.

Started a new heavy equipment welding job little over a year ago. Went threw welding school, but never did a lot of welding for 5 years. First couple days on the job, had to do a repair and the other maintenance guy said use the air arc... I said oh I've never used that, so he kinda showed me. He's not a welder and he had only been at the company for a week (previous maintenance guy left the day he started so it was a pretty rough transition. So basically self taught myself the air arc, it was pretty rough at the beginning but its slowly coming around. Still a long way to go. The talk about to sputtering and to high of amperage is really gonna help me out, always struggles with that, but again never had any guidelines to follow. New different welder, new process never used before it was pretty rough for a couple weeks.

As with your torch skill you show us how easy it looks! Your hand is super steady on point location removing the metal filler. Thanks for the great overview with the basics.

Finally found out how arc gouging works. After watching you and Kurtis gouging, its fun to find out how its done. Like your welding table to.

Excellent video as always, grounding the electrode and getting it red-hot is one hell of a pro tip. That combined with the lower amperage approach is golden information. Happy Father's Day to you sir💯👍

I’m a huge fan of your videos, it’s always nice to see someone on RU-vid that knows what he’s talking about. Keep up the good work!

I bought an arc gouging setup today because I had watched this video a couple of days ago. I’ve known of gouging before but have been able to get by with a torch but had a project that just needs the weld removed and later put back together. Thanks for posting Super Helpful 👍

Honest God this is the cleanest gouging I ever seen I'm a welder helper and need to see this video thanks 🙏 God bless

Brilliant explanation and demonstration of arc air gouging Isaac. I have watched you doing it for years, now you have answered my questions. Thanks

I really enjoy your videos. Great job as always. Thanks and take care. From Michigan.

Always love watching your videos even when fighting of sleep.

I’m so glad you put this video together. I have been seeing folks using air arc gouging before but couldn’t understand where/how the air was traveling though the hand piece. Also I’m appreciative of the tips and tricks to be more proficient at air arc gouging. The “V” technique looks to be the most efficient👍 Thanks again…much love and respect🙏🙂

Just got my first arc gouging set up. Hooked it all up and practiced with it today. I love it. Can’t wait to actually use it on a job.

Brother you have been God sent to use welders never got the chance to go to a welding school I'm Self-taught welder been hard at it for 5 years now thanks for your inspiration in welding hopefully we'll meet up in heaven one day and tag team some 12in pipe thanks brother love you video's

This is so weird, when I watched you’re John Deere video yesterday I said to myself that I wish Isaac would explain arc gouging!

Great demo. I really want to try this. A long time ago I did something make shift using a TIG torch and a blow gun, because it was all I had and needed to cut something apart. While it worked, it was pretty crude. I hadn't even heard of arc gouging back then. I see arc gouging works good on plastics, too. ;)

Was sent to a stamping plant to work. One of the jobs was to remove/replace an oil channel, all around a stamping die table. Lots of angles and tight spots. The channel was a lightweight angle iron. The foreman wanted to use a torch, I told him I'd use the arc gouge. I had to remove it 30' of oil channel. Once set up I was able to scarf the entire channel off in less than a half hour. Using the right position and angle there was little to no slag, and no gouging into the table. Also I noticed you fluctuating back and forth. I use a steady motion so there is no ripple in the metal.

Inspired by your videos, I bought the cheapest $65 gouging torch on Amazon as a Christmas present. I've since gouged apart 4 or 5 old machines using my 200A Alpha Tig. I use the 3/16 and 5/32 rods but mostly the 3/16 and I find both run real sweet about 145 amp. I have a cheap air compressor but find it works fine. I probably can't gouge with a 10" stick-out but it works fantastic at 3-5". I cannot believe how fun this is to do. In confined space you will get showered with sparks. A welding hat is a must. I wish I had tried this way earlier. It works at any angle. I like almost sitting it perpendicular and just sliding it along with no movement. The speed it removes metal blows my mind. I can do 30 minutes of practice welding and then blow it away in 2 minutes. Thanks for all your great videos.

I've seen a lot of gouging in my time but yours is the NEATEST of them all but you're just taking care of yourself, knowing you'll be burning metal back inside it later. And it's o.k. you set your hood on fire. BLESSINGS 2 yall!

Thanks again for your extraordinary explanation of how this works, mig, tig, and stick, myself, always wondered exactly how it worked.

Great example of why this has become my favorite metal working channel...... I was raised stick/MIG welding, & using an O/A torch. Didn't know about arc gouging until I saw Isaac using it. A very valuable tool to have in the arsenal. Isaac, do you exclusively gouge with your Airpak, or also with your Dynasty? Any word on the repair of the Dynasty? Thanks for another great video!

Super helpful, brother. I really appreciate this video. I was actually just researching air arc videos, and you happened to release this one right on time for me. I feel really blessed to have such luck. I will be working on my AWS d 1.8 pretty soon, and this help is critical. Thanks again!

Just awesome overview of arc gouging, thanks it will get me started. Very thankful for your experiences and pointers shared

Amazing video again Isaac,you make a great teacher !

Great timing! Literally the last video I was watching of yours you did some arc gouging and I thought to myself "I need to research that more" and next thing I know you post a new video called Arc Gouging in Detail! Thank you

Great video as always, I thing I used one of these 30 years ago. I do recall melting a few headgear in more recent memory. :) Scott

Those are welded with .052 metal core on a pulse program. I worked for TAG for a short time.

First 👍's up IC WELD thanks for sharing

That never gets old......

As I'm about to buy a holder to start Carbon arc gouging you come out with a video talking about it! Thanks sir for the great videos! Love all your welding and "anti welding" content. Haha

Thanks for sharing. Much appreciated. I have learnt so much.

Isaac you would be a great vo-ag teacher. You explain everything so well and you're not afraid to show the hiccups that are bound to happen. 👍🏻😊

had to do this overhead carbon arc today. hit were ugly. came here for tips and techniques. i thank you sir.

Thought it was neat how it just fell apart once you got the welds all gouged. You make it looked easy Isaac.

lol, Thanks for sharing the head band deal. I always say, behold those who make no mistakes, as they are doing nothing!!!! Great job.

Nice work! 👍👍

I have used air-arc at a couple jobs...heavy equipment repair, and some restaurant/meat-cutting machinery. You won't be cutting that stainless steel with an Oxy-Acetylene torch.. Maybe plasma, but that's hard on the consumables. I like the air-arc...you can really control your cut/gouge... Always a thumbs up for you, even before I see the video...!! NICE music too....!

very nice and clean . thank you for the detailed explanation . you did good . now another new halo for your helmet

Gotta get your son up to speed so you can sit back and watch him with the projects while sippin' Pina Coladas under the umbrella.

Brilliant man love watching 💓👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀😎👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

I sure wish I had gear that could handle gouging. Thanks for an awesome video!

Ah finally it’s there! Thanks so much for sharing

Little bit of plastic welding a fix as Hood write-up better than before.

Great explanation of the carbon arc torch Isaac, and use of it , it’s definitely a must have in the tool arsenal! Happy Father’s Day! And if the headband got ruined,, no worries I’ll send some more💯

Thank you, from someone who has problems using a normal glue gun let alone a hot metal one. I doubt you will find a better explanation and video than this.

Excellent Job, Well Done!!!!👍💯

I’m glad you did this video, I’ve always wondered what that hissing was when you arc gouged was, now I know 😆

You mentioned left or right handed. My dad was one of those old school welders that could stick weld with either hand any position and the weld quality would be the same A number one quality. Dad worked at a ski area for many years. I had seen him hang from a safety belt 70 plus feet up on a lift tower reaching out with either hand and do a better weld than the average welder could do flat standing on the ground. As for that weld eraser air ark is a great tool. I have seen guys over the years way over gouge. Like any proses experience is key to doing a clean job

I remember the first time I used one of these. It was on a tunnel boring machine down in the tunnel. I was standing up, doing mostly vertical. The gear and rods were new, but far from the machine. It was there it is, go to it. It worked pretty fair, but it was tunnel air, so once in a while the air line would spray water like a garden hose. By the end of the shift, the zipper on my brand new Carhartt coveralls (not FR) was ruined.

Sir I never used that type of rod the ones that I used were hollow and air or oxygen went down through the middle of it but I used all my stuff underwater I was a diver also use what they call a thermite rods it was magnesium filled rods that were hollow and you use the welding machine in oxygen again the thermite rods used 150 amps the carbon rods used 300 to 400 amps depending on how thick the material was love your videos be safe have a great day Sam love to hear your input about it

Isaac, Very good demonstration of how to arc gouge a welded assembly/part like in the real world. Thank you for sharing this process. Next would be scarfing tip methods.

Another great video. Many great tips. Thank you for these videos. Much appreciated

I like watching the boileys using the wide flat carbons for smooth finish. horses for courses...

You do nice work sir. You make it look easy! I enjoy your videos. Boe

I never knew anything about gouging until I found some of these fat rods in a box. Put one in the holder and the sparks flew. I knew I was on to something, but I didn't quite know what.................