Re: Using Propane for Cutting Torch

Posted by txblu on March 30, 2005 at 04:56:26 from (209.151.115.198):

In Reply to: Using Propane for Cutting Torch posted by 37 chief on March 30, 2005 at 01:04:56:

When I first came to the country the nearest town of 300 had a jack of all trades guy. I was in his shop one day and he was cutting a 55 gallon drum in half to make a couple of watering troughs.

Since I had a gas rig and dabbled in welding and all, I naturally looked over his setup. Was I surprised. Instead of the black thin Acetylene cylinder, I saw instead a white, short fat LPG cylinder.

Obviously a dialogue erupted.

In short I essentially did nothing really. I still used my existing equipment but for most of my cutting (up to 1/2" as big as I need) 3 to 5 psig of Propane and 30 psig of ox does a really nice job. The high volume of ox is to blow the crud away from your work. You could work with 20 if you wanted on thin stuff.

It's been so long but I think I ran my Acetylene at around 10 psig.
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Starting the torch is a bit harder as is getting the initial melt. I use a zapper (like starts an LP stove) as the flint type doesn't start well. Course an open flame like a cig lighter would work, but I quit smoking and don't have one. Zappers are at welding equip shops.

I adjust the torch for about 1/4" of fingers and the ox volume knob, on the torch, so that when I hit it the fingers do not change length......works best for me. This could be a more or less thing depending on how thick the material is. Longer fingers put more heat on the work but too long and you can't control the ox.

I have 2 tips; one for everything I do but I bought one with big holes if I ever want to cut 1" stuff; but I can cut a 1" rusted bolt off old iron with the smaller tip; which is slightly bigger (holes) than the one I used for Acetylene.

To start the cut, you have to get the tips of the fingers right at the surface of the steel. I rock the flame slightly up and down right at the point where the flame inverts (on the steel)and out from that point slightly. Idea is to put the very tip of the finger at the metal.

When it looks like I am getting little wet spots at the contact point I goose ox on and off till it breaks. Soon as it does it's full blast with the ox.

Once cutting has started, no difference to me from Acetylene. If you loose bead, just move over to a hot spot and go back to cutting.

The good part is, I don't have to go 25 miles to town to get Ace as I seemed to run out at the worst times, and I have one 7 # cannister of Propane that I have had for years. I have 2 ox cylinders, next to the large size which I don't remember the cylinder number. When I get one empty, I throw it in the truck on my next trip to town and get if refilled. Ox is cheap compared to Ace as is Propane.

Good luck.

Mark

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