VICTOR ARCAIR - 358-4304-9009 Victor Arcair 43049009 SLICE Exothermic Cutting Rods Uncoated, 3/8 x 36-Inch (Pack of 25)

I have an excavator that had a frozen bucket main pin that could not be removed with a 60 ton press. I researched and found a method of getting the pin out with using a exothermic torch to remove the center of the pin to shrink the pin. I purchased the torch and started to remove the 70mm 18 !/2 in. pin with a 22 in. exothermic rod. With the shield in place and the fast burn of the rod I could not get all the way through the pin from either end of the pin. I purchased the 44 in. rod and was able to easily burn a hole through the entire pin. After completing the hole and cooling the pin it pushed out very easily with the press (hardly any pressure at all to remove the pin). The 44 in. rod worked very well for this issue. Please note that the shield is a must (along with protective clothing and mask) to prevent being burned by the molten metal blowing out of the pin as you use the torch.

worked well