I just acquired a capable plasma cutter. With it I can pretty easily bevel cut or gouge a groove. I have never been happy needing to grind a bevel into edgework prior to welding so my question is whether I can gouge into the two pieces held in their final configuration, and then weld over that trough. Gouging does little heat treatment hardening of the materials, but a bevel cut will definitely have a zone of heat hardening. Is that a problem for subsequent welding (primarily MIG). Material: soft steel typically. Thickness: ½" most of the time. New to plasma cutters, but it sure is fun !
Plasma cutting the bevel is fine, it’s the dross that’s going to potentially contaminate the weld if it’s not removed.
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You probably already know this, but in case you didn’t… when plasma cutting, the edge will get some mill scale on it and should be removed for welding