Abstract: In the method of initiating the scarfing process for removing the surface defects of a steel material as the material to be scarfed is moving relative to the movement of the scarfing machine having a scarfing nozzle, the improvement, which comprises the use of a consumable electrode having a steel sheath filled with an oxygen source material and a combustible material being fed to a scarfing position on said material to be scarfed until the tip of the consumable electrode contacts said position, thereby rapidly heating contact point of the steel material with electrical energy and the heat of oxidation up to the scarfing initiation temperature, and instantaneously starting the scarfing operation with oxygen jetted from said scarfing nozzle at the position of the steel material heated to such temperature.

Abstract: In the method of scarfing surface defects of to-be-scarfed metal material as said material is moving relative to the scarfing machine with scarfing nozzle, the improvement, which comprises a step of supplying oxygen into the consumable electrode pipe so provided as to be directed to a scarfing point on the surface of said to-be-scarfed metal material, for jetting the oxygen from the tip of said electrode pipe, a step of feeding said electrode pipe until its tip contacts said metal material, a step of heating rapidly the contacting portion respectively of said electrode pipe and of said metal material with electrical energy and heat of oxidation so that the temperature of such portion may rise to scarfing start temperature, and a step of initiating the scarfing process instantaneously from such temperature rising portion with the oxygen jetted to said scarfing nozzle.