Underwater oxy-arc cutting system using a non-thermic cutting rod

An improved system for underwater oxy-arc cutting of a work piece, and a unique cutting rod used in such cutting work. This rod has an outer ferrous metal tube which contains a metal liner, which liner may in turn be comprised of a plurality of metal wires spaced in a circular pattern along the inner circumference of the tube. Oxygen is passed through a central passageway within the tube near but less than at sonic flows to avoid arc bounce. DC current (200-400 amperes) flows between the rod and work piece to form an arc consuming the rod at a rate between about 0.09-0.20 inches per second. The cross-sectional areas of the tube and the wires are about equal and the central passageway is less than one-half of either the tube or wires in cross-sectional areas. The rod is made (non-thermic) by sealing the tube about the wires or by use of aluminum or copper wires. Optimized parameters in underwater cutting of the work piece is applied, i.e. cutting rate, oxygen consumption, current magnitude and rod consumption. To minimize the consumption of the cutting rod, a non-thermic rod is used so that, upon arc interruption either no burning or slow burning ensues, even with continued oxygen flow.