Haven't used one of those in years.
You can braze copper, weld aluminum, and do some interesting stuff with one.
Lincoln still offers it as an option on some of their stick welders...
http://content.lincolnelectric.com/pdfs/products/literature/e260.pdf
(Scroll down to the bottom of the page)
Betcha if you look around the Lincolns (or Miller, or Esab) site you will
find some instructions on using it.
Jeff

"StuartDBaker"  wrote...

carbon arc torch was popular in europe for bodywork.

i have used one before . it was on one of those old cheap battery
charger type welders that you varied the arc by what size rod you used.
the two handles hooked together so you could pivot the carbon rods
together so they would almost touch. then you adjust them closer or
farther apart so you get an arc. and carbon arc rods with the copper
covering  will work cause thats what i used as thats what i could
get.you will need a welding helmet. use the arc as a very hot flame. i
mostly used it as a heavy brazing torch, and as a hot flame for
bending. if you can adjust the amperage of your welder it will be trial
and error to get the amperage right. closer to the work for more heat
and farther away for less heat. i was told that its hot enough to use
steel rod like gas welding, but i never tried it. get some old steel
and mess with it. thats how i figured it out. here is a site that i
just googled to see what turned up. maybe its enough to get you started
as it is a brief overview.

http://www.aussieweld.com.au/arcwelding/page17/page17.htm

good luck
homer