Thermal Dynamics 42 CUTMASTER - Page 32

CUTMASTER 42
OPERATION 4-8 Manual 0-5141
Dross
When dross is present on carbon steel, it is com-
monlyreferredtoaseither“highspeed,slowspeed,
ortopdross”.Drosspresentontopoftheplateis
normally caused by too great a torch to plate distance.
"Top dross" is normally very easy to remove and can
often be wiped off with a welding glove. "Slow speed
dross" is normally present on the bottom edge of the
plate. It can vary from a light to heavy bead, but does
not adhere tightly to the cut edge, and can be easily
scraped off. "High speed dross" usually forms a nar-
row bead along the bottom of the cut edge and is very
difficult to remove. When cutting a troublesome steel,
it is sometimes useful to reduce the cutting speed to
produce "slow speed dross". Any resultant cleanup
can be accomplished by scraping, not grinding.