25103003 - Arcair Copperclad DC Half Round Gouging Electrodes, 5/8" x 12" (50-Pack)

Get the Job Done with Arcair Half-Round Carbons

When you are out on the shop floor or in the field needing to gouge out a bad weld or prep a heavy plate, you need consumables that run consistent and don't burn up halfway through the pass. The Arcair 5/8" x 12" Half Round Copperclad Electrodes are built for professional welders who demand reliability in their air carbon-arc gouging. Known simply as "carbons" by many in the trade, these rods are the bread and butter of metal removal. The half-round shape is a game-changer for specific tasks. Unlike a regular round rod that digs a deep U-shape, the half-round profile allows you to sweep off weld reinforcement caps flush with the surface or dig a groove with a flatter bottom. It gives you more control when you are trying to wash a weld away without digging too deep into the parent metal.

The "Copperclad" name isn't just branding; it's a functional feature that makes your life easier. That copper coating on the outside helps carry the current efficiently from the torch jaws to the tip. Without it, the carbon would get red hot all the way up to the handle, making it uncomfortable to hold and causing the rod to break down faster. With Arcair's coating, the rod runs cooler, burns evenly, and lasts longer, meaning you spend less time changing out stubs and more time working. These are designed for DC current on reverse polarity (DCEP), which is standard for most gouging setups. You get a stable, fierce arc that melts steel fast so the air jet can blow it away cleanly.

This pack comes with 50 electrodes, so you have plenty on hand for big jobs. Whether you are working in a foundry cleaning up castings, in a shipyard doing repair work, or in a structural steel shop, these 5/8-inch rods pack a punch. They are thick enough to move a lot of metal in a single pass but still versatile enough for controlled washing. The 12-inch length gives you good reach into corners or across wide plates. When you strike an arc with an Arcair carbon, you know you are using the original brand that defined the process. They don't sputter or explode like cheap imports; they just burn smooth and cut clean.

Using half-round carbons does require a bit of a different technique compared to round ones, mainly in how you orient the flat side depending on what you are trying to achieve. Usually, you keep the flat side down if you are trying to plane a surface flat. This versatility reduces the amount of grinding you have to do after gouging. If you are tired of fighting with inconsistent carbons that leave jagged edges or carbon deposits, switching to genuine Arcair Copperclad Professional electrodes is the upgrade your torch needs.