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Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

If things are really tight and you are in a bind, you can use propane cooking regulators (red tops) on BBQ tanks. These things are fixed at about 30 psi, which is safe for those little torches. Full propane tank pressure shouldn't be run to the hoses. If they are Smith little torches, you should be able to run a few off a single regulator. Don't risk back flow, though, since one of the torches can back feed higher pressure oxygen into another student's line, causing a potentially hazardous situation. This sounds like a jewelry program. Be safe.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Hi Guys: I am a craftperson trying to set up a workshop with what the instructor likes...O/P. My problem is 2-fold. I have a lot of Little Torches for the participants to use. But I do not have a lot of regulators. I have 8 splitters so figure I could run 8 torches which seems fine for 14 students.

We are in a college visual arts building. What do I use...disposables? But what regulators can I use? I have access to a few Os tanks and regulators. Can a little torch run off a propane camp tank (1 lb)??? Without a regulator??? Could a 1lb propane tank on a regulator run 2 torches??? Is there enough pressure? Probably using size 5 and 7 tips.

Thanks for any great ideas that I need yesterday! I only have this week to figure it out!!!

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Acetylene is for welding and cutting. Propane is for cooking hot dogs and hambergers.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

I had a benzomatic oxy/mapp setup. The instructions recommended that if you wanted to cut steel. Get the metal to temp the shut off the mapp gas. The metal had to be thin since the tanks only last 5 minute.

I use oxy-propane. For heating and brazing, often. Propane fires my forge also. Acetylene is used for welding...sitting in the corner for years at a time.

So many ways to cut things...rarely is oxy/fuel used. If I cut with propane more often, then excess consumption might becomes more noticeable.

Guess it depends on what and how much you do.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Originally Posted by Virgil5

You're not supposed to reveal that technique. It's only for professionals, and half of them don't know why it works.

OK, can you tell us more?!

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

It's on the sticky forum under topics propane forge burner design and tuning warning it's a ramble !

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Originally Posted by Mike Westbrook

I sure can I use my coal forge outside in the summer and I built the two gas forges for indoor winter work I don't want to hijack this thread so maybe we should start a new topic in the sticky section where we can discuss making one tuning it forge design the proper regulator and supply needed ........any thoughts

Don't mean to derail the thread, and I don't mean to ask you to do a bunch of work, but if you're interested, maybe put a post in the Blacksmithing and Forging Thread at

https://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.ph...forging/page16

on "How I Made and Tuned My Propane Forge" or something like that...?

Or, alternately, PM me...? Anyway, thanks for your reply...

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Originally Posted by Kelvin

Mike, do you have any drawings or plans on how to make one of those propane rigs? I currently use a coal forge, but for quickie jobs it sure would be nice to be able to fire up a propane forge ... I could be done with the propane before I even got a coke fire roaring...

I sure can I use my coal forge outside in the summer and I built the two gas forges for indoor winter work I don't want to hijack this thread so maybe we should start a new topic in the sticky section where we can discuss making one tuning it forge design the proper regulator and supply needed ........any thoughts

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Originally Posted by Mike Westbrook

You can always build a venturi forge burner about 20 dollars worth of pipe and it gets real hot

Mike, do you have any drawings or plans on how to make one of those propane rigs? I currently use a coal forge, but for quickie jobs it sure would be nice to be able to fire up a propane forge ... I could be done with the propane before I even got a coke fire roaring...

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

All shipyards go bust or get bought up, it's the nature of the business. There is a good book by a Scott who started as an apprentice in Scotland and worked his way up to executive level after coming to the US revealing much about the world of ship building.

Since MAAP is pretty much NLA, I can't help wondering if you've tried one of those torches on Propelyne? It appears to be not much more than a rebranding of MAAP.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

One of the shipyards I worked at back in the '80s used MECO torches set up for mapp gas and whenever guys would change their torch tip they would just leave the tip they took out laying somewhere or toss it on the deck and many of those tips were new. I started collecting them tips and somewhere along the way I even managed to acquire one of the torches to use them on and in the few years I worked there I probably picked up a couple of coffee cans full of different size and styles of tips. Anyway that yard was poorly run and went bankrupt a few years after I left, and I eventually purchased a few more of those MECO torches over the years but I still have a handful of those free tips I'm trying to use up.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Originally Posted by bcguide

do any of you use a hammer and chisel to raise a sliver of steel to start your cut on when cutting thick steel.

You're not supposed to reveal that technique. It's only for professionals, and half of them don't know why it works.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Originally Posted by MinnesotaDave

Very nice

As I recall, some people with mechanized cutting tables have turned off the fuel gas after the cut has started just to show it's the oxygen that does the cutting.

Never done it myself though - I doubt I could duplicate it by hand.

I've turned off the fuel (acetylene) when using a small welding tip to blow out stove bolts out of thin material. The # 8, 10 and 12 sizes. Works good. Takes a steady hand and a good place for a arm/hand rest.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Originally Posted by djd775

Oops...this is the picture I meant to include earlier



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Very nice

As I recall, some people with mechanized cutting tables have turned off the fuel gas after the cut has started just to show it's the oxygen that does the cutting.

Never done it myself though - I doubt I could duplicate it by hand.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

do any of you use a hammer and chisel to raise a sliver of steel to start your cut on when cutting thick steel.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Oops...this is the picture I meant to include earlier



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Back in the day, we had a sales rep that came in the plant trying to sell gasoline fueled cutting rigs, I guess they gained a little foothold in the scrap industry but were so limited that they never gained a market elsewhere.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Originally Posted by Mike Westbrook

Thanks it's more like 25 years of hoarding yard sale and flea market finds

My Granddad was a blacksmith in Missouri, he had a nice shop, he did a lot of work for the farmers in the area. It's nice to see that some people are trying to keep a lost/dieing craft alive. It's definitely something I wish I'd have gotten into when I was younger.

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

You have to make your own decision, but I’ll say again that ‘lack of cut quality’ is not a reason to stay away from propane. It takes a little getting used to the different techniques for lighting and cutting with propane but it can do a fantastic job.

If you’re preheating for a cut and it seems to be taking too long, try varying the mixture slightly with the fuel knob while heating....you may find there’s a much sweeter spot within the neutral flame window that can only be obtained by observing the flame’s interaction with your metal.

The picture below is from last week. 1.5” steel plate cut at about 15ipm. No cleanup, just how they were cut. If I had more than 7-8 seconds of preheat on an edge start, I’d be surprised. For cutting, you can debate fuel/oxy ratios all day, but once you nail the cut lever you’re using plenty of oxygen with either fuel gas...I doubt the preheat oxygen use is very significant in the big picture if you’re mainly cutting.


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Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

I switched to propane in the 90's when cutting scrap iron for money.
There is a reason all the scrap guys were using it - it was cheaper per ton of cut iron than running acetylene.

I've run the actual fuel usage math a few times too and propane won each time.

Welding with propane is a no-go.

But I heat and cut with it solely and have used it up to railroad track thickness.

Last weekend my 20lb tank was up in the garage, so I just hooked on a full 5 lb tank
Tank got a little frosty, but not bad. I was bending 1/4" flat bar and the heating was measured in seconds, not minutes.

I do use the correct hoses. Bonus, the hoses are propane and acetylene rated.

After initial lighting and adjustment, I relight with both knobs on. It makes a good pop, but is ready instantly with no fussing around

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Originally Posted by Mike Westbrook

Thanks it's more like 25 years of hoarding yard sale and flea market finds

I built a forge for the guy I used to work for in 2011, I really need to build one for myself

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Thanks it's more like 25 years of hoarding yard sale and flea market finds

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

Nice shop!

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

You can always build a venturi forge burner about 20 dollars worth of pipe and it gets real hot

Re: Oxy/fuel,choices for fuel

I have a weed burner somewhere but had no idea it would get that hot.