Acetelyne Generator Question

[nadogail]

I have read many posts about Acetelyne tank sizes, disolved acetelyne, the dangers of drawing the acetone out of the take, etc.

In my youth in Alaska, I recall seeing acetelyne generators being used in some shops by what I considered "old timers" , and then again when I lived in Spain during the '60s. I was told at the time the generators were used because of the lower cost of the generated acetelyne gas when compared to the delivered product.

A Google search leads me to belive the generators are still available. Why are they apparently not popular?

[Sandy]

If you're talking about the ones suitable for use with cutting and welding they were big bulky affairs. You generally had to plan ahead to get the generator started. You had to watch the pressure/volume, carbide and water all the time. I suppose now days the cans of carbide might be quite a bit tougher to get. You can't just run up to the hardware store and get a can of carbide anymore.

[GBM]

I ran across one in a little town about 30 miles north of Austin.... an old welding shop they were closing down... I thought that was a great idea to be able to make one's own cutting gas..
But everyone I talked to said it was way too dangerous... so I gave up that idea.....

[Lanse]

Originally Posted by GBM

But everyone I talked to said it was way too dangerous... so I gave up that idea.....

Thatd be my main concern. A trip to the nearest welding supply place is an hour and a half affair, and they're hardly ever open. Anything in this area is hard to come by. A cheap generator would be great, but I dont think thats a risk I'd be willing to take.

[farmall]

They were routinely used in the tens if not hundreds of thousands for lighting as well as welding gas generation. Rexarc still make them and apparently export quite a few.

The suggestions from "back in the day" to isolate them in a separate, dry, protected structure weren't a joke, and while you could certainly run one safely, carbide is in short supply.

You only need acetylene for gas welding. Alternate fuels cut fine, and Victor LP tips aren't expensive. Rosebuds are easy to convert to LP:

http://www.chaski.com/homemachinist/...a7818b45577047

[metalmagpie]

Originally Posted by farmall

Rosebuds are easy to convert to LP.

In fact, most large acetylene rosebuds work fine on propane -- all the ones I've tried, anyway.

[Dualie]

well they had a nasty habit of being unstable, unsafe, and deadly when not treated with great respect.

[ExpatWelder]

I actually own an acetylene generator, it hasn't been used for quite a few years, but used to work just fine. I will be home in a couple of weeks and will drag it out and snap a few pics to post.

[lotechman]

If you are using an acetylene generator the pressures require the use of a different style torch. most torches today are equal pressure style where for the low pressure acetylene you require an injector style. I have never seen an injector style torch.... It is the internals that are different.

[StevefromOhio]

Cut with a plasma cutter and weld with Acetylene. Cutting with Acetylene is a waste of Acetylene on most metal except when dealing with 2 inch thick steel or more. I got pretty good cutting steel with gas but with the plasma cutter, there is no contest. Way better and smoother cuts. For all of my cutting, I went to the plasma cutter and have not regretted it at all. My acetylene tank has been staying fuller and used for what I wanted it for....welding.

Some people think that Acetylene generators are a way around the Acetylene shortages except that you need calcium carbide which is affected by the explosion a few months ago at the plant in Kentucky. So having your own generator will not help in getting around the shortage of calcium carbide.

[Oldiron2]

Originally Posted by StevefromOhio

Cut with a plasma cutter and weld with Acetylene. Cutting with Acetylene is a waste of Acetylene on most metal except when dealing with 2 inch thick steel or more. I got pretty good cutting steel with gas but with the plasma cutter, there is no contest. Way better and smoother cuts. For all of my cutting, I went to the plasma cutter and have not regretted it at all. My acetylene tank has been staying fuller and used for what I wanted it for....welding.

Some people think that Acetylene generators are a way around the Acetylene shortages except that you need calcium carbide which is affected by the explosion a few months ago at the plant in Kentucky. So having your own generator will not help in getting around the shortage of calcium carbide.

That suggestion really works well for the person who needs to make an occasional cut or weld out in the field and only needs to drag a 12KW generator around to power the plasma and compressor; I think I've even seen a few cycle riders with such a setup mounted in their sidecar!

[nadogail]

Thank You, everybody,for adding to my education.

I was in highschool before I learned that coathangers were not an acceptable wellding rod. I have been slow to accustom myself to the advances in welding technology. My area of employment was Marine Electrician, Electronics Technician (USN), and Industrial Facility Maintenance Tech.

I have a Hobart AC/DC Stickmate, and do some hobby welding in a garage. I had considered adding a torch to my arsenal of tools, but did not want to take on the bother and responsibility of gas storage.

I have used 6011 at high current to heat steel so I could bend it; but that was a poor substitute for a rosebud. I will now consider another older technology, a carbon arc torch, as a heating method.

I am not committed enough, to the little bit of welding I do, to make an investment in a plasma cutter. The Sawzall and Harbor Freight abrasive chopsaw serve me well.

Thank Again

Gail
Oh well; as they say; back to the drawing board.

[ironmangq]

I would suggest using propane, Its cheap and you can get cylinders just about anywhere.

[StevefromOhio]

Originally Posted by Oldiron2

That suggestion really works well for the person who needs to make an occasional cut or weld out in the field and only needs to drag a 12KW generator around to power the plasma and compressor; I think I've even seen a few cycle riders with such a setup mounted in their sidecar!

You are right that gas cutting is more portable but most people are cutting steel at home or at work have access to 220 volts and for them, plasma is by far a better choice. Way hotter, better cuts and cheaper in the long run. The only thing about plasma is making the original investment in the plasma cutter and the compressor. Then it is a no brainer. I now wonder why I went all those years cutting with a torch or an angle grinder or chop saw. I no longer get metal slivers in my eyes or in my fingers. The best money for metal working I've ever spent was buying a plasma cutter and a good compressor.

Yeah, I've cut steel out in the field and gas is the only way for that situation. The vast majority of cutting for me is done where power is not an issue. I may be wrong but I would guess that most are doing the same thing.

I had to laugh about the side car. A while ago I saw a guy with a Honda Gold Wing and was dragging a Hobart Champion Elite on a trailer with a couple of welding tanks behind him. I was amazed that the Gold wing could drag that around so well. I sure hope he has electric brakes on his trailer.

[StevefromOhio]

Originally Posted by nadogail

Thank You, everybody,for adding to my education.

I was in highschool before I learned that coathangers were not an acceptable wellding rod. I have been slow to accustom myself to the advances in welding technology. My area of employment was Marine Electrician, Electronics Technician (USN), and Industrial Facility Maintenance Tech.

I have a Hobart AC/DC Stickmate, and do some hobby welding in a garage. I had considered adding a torch to my arsenal of tools, but did not want to take on the bother and responsibility of gas storage.

I have used 6011 at high current to heat steel so I could bend it; but that was a poor substitute for a rosebud. I will now consider another older technology, a carbon arc torch, as a heating method.

I am not committed enough, to the little bit of welding I do, to make an investment in a plasma cutter. The Sawzall and Harbor Freight abrasive chopsaw serve me well.

Thank Again

Gail
Oh well; as they say; back to the drawing board.

Those sawzall blades and abrasive blades add up in cost pretty quickly. I hate those sparks and flying metal!

When you get a plasma cutter, you will weld more. It happens every time. Get a new machine and then you just have to use it. A plasma cutter makes such great cuts easily that you will be looking for things to make just to use it. You'll find yourself cutting any metal you can find. You'll be looking at your car wondering if you can cut it in half. You'll never look at metal the same way ever again. Guaranteed.

And when the word gets out that you have a plasma cutter, all your friends will be calling with projects for you.



Just make sure that you charge them !

[nadogail]

Steve from Ohio wrote:

"And when the word gets out that you have a plasma cutter, all your friends will be calling with projects for you. "



I dont think I could handle the popularity.

[Oldiron2]

Originally Posted by StevefromOhio

You are right that gas cutting is more portable but most people are cutting steel at home or at work have access to 220 volts and for them, plasma is by far a better choice. Way hotter, better cuts and cheaper in the long run. The only thing about plasma is making the original investment in the plasma cutter and the compressor. Then it is a no brainer. I now wonder why I went all those years cutting with a torch or an angle grinder or chop saw. I no longer get metal slivers in my eyes or in my fingers. The best money for metal working I've ever spent was buying a plasma cutter and a good compressor.

Yeah, I've cut steel out in the field and gas is the only way for that situation. The vast majority of cutting for me is done where power is not an issue. I may be wrong but I would guess that most are doing the same thing.

I had to laugh about the side car. A while ago I saw a guy with a Honda Gold Wing and was dragging a Hobart Champion Elite on a trailer with a couple of welding tanks behind him. I was amazed that the Gold wing could drag that around so well. I sure hope he has electric brakes on his trailer.

I know an awful lot of people who need the portability and a lot more who have neither the money nor the power for a plasma big enough to do the work they want. Not everyone has a good shop or a garage set up for such work.

I picked up an old Victor regulator today from a scrap bin; that means "free". Once I got a Harris torch handle with a cutting attachment and tip for $15 at the flea market, and some years ago I got two regulators, a welding handle, both cutting and welding heads and a bunch of tips for each, all unused (I think the hoses were missing but am not sure anymore) and all for ~$25 at a thrift shop. Such deals are not uncommon for gas gear, nor likely for Plasma.

Yes, plasma has its place but for many, it can't displace OA. BTW, I've had a plasma for a few decades. Also had my OA in my dorm closet in College, for a good while!

[Oldiron2]

Originally Posted by StevefromOhio

Those sawzall blades and abrasive blades add up in cost pretty quickly. I hate those sparks and flying metal!

When you get a plasma cutter, you will weld more. It happens every time. Get a new machine and then you just have to use it. A plasma cutter makes such great cuts easily that you will be looking for things to make just to use it. You'll find yourself cutting any metal you can find. You'll be looking at your car wondering if you can cut it in half. You'll never look at metal the same way ever again. Guaranteed.

And when the word gets out that you have a plasma cutter, all your friends will be calling with projects for you.



Just make sure that you charge them !

My neighbor's car doesn't have a large enough trunk to write a good slogan in.

[Stick-man]

Originally Posted by lotechman

If you are using an acetylene generator the pressures require the use of a different style torch. most torches today are equal pressure style where for the low pressure acetylene you require an injector style. I have never seen an injector style torch.... It is the internals that are different.

I thought Esab makes an injector style torch under their Oxweld or Purox lines. I just picked up an Oxweld C66. I have not recieved it yet, but it WILL NOT work with ANY acetylene.

[farmall]

I thought Esab makes an injector style torch under their Oxweld or Purox lines. I just picked up an Oxweld C66. I have not recieved it yet, but it WILL NOT work with ANY acetylene.

It's not to be USED with acetylene for flashback reasons. It would "work" (that's just valve adjustment) but the injector is different and LP-specific for that torch.

The Oxweld torch line is quite old and you can find the same torches in The Oxy-Acetylene Handbook from the 1930s. That's a GOOD thing.

The difference in the LP-only torches is the injector. Acetylene injectors will work with propane, but at less max cut depth. The LP injectors are not considered safe with acetylene per factory literature.

You can use an LP or other alt fuel tip in the acetylene torches too.