Welding Digest

Cover Story

Plasma Gouging Proves a Modern Alternative to Carbon Arc

Gouging is a critical opera-tion in welding, fabrication, and maintenance. Often associated with weld repair, gouging also serves a broader purpose. It is a precise and controllable metal removal process used to prepare joints, remove defects, shape contours, and restore components. Originally developed in the 1940s, the industry has long relied on air carbon-arc gouging (CAG) because of its familiarity, speed, and simplicity. However, plasma technology has gained traction as a cleaner, more controllable alternative.