Is carbon plate something I should know about?

They work extremely well. I have a few and they saved my butt in many situations.

Consider the material. Forget welding for a minute.

If you oxidize carbon - you get CO or CO2. The carbon is consumed but (now welding) a shielding gas is produced.

It is also a semi-conductor - it has resistance and can be altered. It doesn't conduct heat like a copper plate does - and therefore has a different function and purpose.

Mart> Anyone ever use carbon plate? Used as a backer material. I did the

So the plate is actually consumed? I thought you could reuse it. Forget that. That's expensive stuff!

It is little by little.

If you are using firebrick thinking - use that.

Mart> >> Consider the material. Forget welding for a minute.

Martin Eastburn wrote: ...

Are you saying that you can use firebrick as a backing material for welding? I.e., direct contact with molten steel?

Bob