Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Crawlers, Dozers, Loaders & Backhoes Discussion Forum

Acetylene generator

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Utes

02-05-2007 11:29:48




Report to Moderator

Obtained an acet. gen a few years ago with about 500 lbs. of calcium carbide. Thought I might try it out if I can get some instructions. Anybody have any experience with these units. Dangerous? Thanks, Utes>




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
kouvakis

02-06-2007 19:57:51




Report to Moderator
 Re: Acetylene generator in reply to Utes, 02-05-2007 11:29:48  
buy lots of life insurance payable to your favorite person..... .why the hell do you think nobody else wanted it.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Charlie

02-06-2007 05:45:30




Report to Moderator
 Re: Acetylene generator in reply to Utes, 02-05-2007 11:29:48  
Be careful with the calcium carbide and don't let it get wet, because that's the reaction that generates acetylene. Welding tanks store acetylene not as a pressurized gas, but dissolved in acetone that permeates a porous core material in the tanks. The pressure is the resulting vapor pressure. AT least you can tell by the smell if its being generated from your stored material, and I would make sure that is well ventilated.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Haley

02-05-2007 16:50:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: Acetylene generator in reply to Utes, 02-05-2007 11:29:48  
DONT take the risk!Acetylene is extremely dangerous.Two men here in Eastman Georgia where I live were blown up in a welding shop back in the late seventies from trying to transfer acetylene from one tank to another.It blew everything on the block down and was reportedly felt 5 miles away.I was told by our welding gas supplier that they fill acetylene bottles at a VERY slow rate.Please dont mess around with it.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
135 Fan

02-05-2007 16:42:13




Report to Moderator
 Re: Acetylene generator in reply to Utes, 02-05-2007 11:29:48  
There's a reason they don't make them anymore. Very dangerous and acetylene is unstable above 15 psi. Dave



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
seann

02-05-2007 13:21:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: Acetylene generator in reply to Utes, 02-05-2007 11:29:48  
Wow, 500lbs of calcium carbide? (CaC) That's enough to braze some metal for sure. My friend is a sperlunking cave explorer and he has one of those old miner torches that goes on his hard hat. It uses a water reservoir and CaC tablets that drop into it and produce the acetylene that's used to light the torch. Works pretty good, and no batteries to go dead. They used to use torches just like that on very early automobiles and horse drawn carriages too.

My neighbor used to fill a big balloon up with acetylene and oxygen every new years eve and set it off. My god that was loud, and I mean LOUD, and frankly dangerous. They also used to have these little noise maker cannons that also ran on CaC and water. I doubt they make them anymore in today's politically correct climate. I was always surprised as a kid how loud they were and yet the explosion was never forceful enough to fracture the cheap and relatively thin cast metal the "cannons" were made of.

Anyway, I don't have the slightest idea how to safely use your new acetylene rig. But I'd be real careful with any appreciable amount of acetylene produced by it, especially while under significant pressure.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Greg_Ky

02-06-2007 03:32:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: Acetylene generator in reply to seann, 02-05-2007 13:21:48  
I use 55 gal. garbage bags. Now that makes a pretty good bang. DO NOT try this at home as there is a possibility of static electricity setting it off. Do not ask me how I know this.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Grampa Leon

02-05-2007 12:18:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: Acetylene generator in reply to Utes, 02-05-2007 11:29:48  
Dangerous,yes there are many stories of blown
up blacksmith shops from gone by days,also houses
which used this gas for heating and and cooking, am told it was difficult to control or contain gas as pressure built up,while in process of generating,[All that can be remembered is water was mixed with calcium carbide.]



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy