Washington Alloy Copper-Coated Arc Gouging Carbons have a special balance of carbon and graphite covered with a thin high-purity copper coating. High density, uniform properties, and dimensions produce excellent arc stability and slag-free gouges. Copper-Coated Arc Gouging Carbons are designed for cutting and gouging metals such as carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and some high temperature alloys. The process is one in which an air-carbon arc torch is used to create an electric arc which melts away the metal, then used compressed air to “blow” the molten metal out of the groove.