[TheForge] Recommendations on gas welding set

[Jerry Frost]

One last thing.

The conversion tips and multi-fuel torches suck big time running propane.
They're just not designed for it, they'll eat oxy at least twice as fast as
the same torch running acet and at least four times as fast as the All
States torch. I know, I've used them and paid the bills. $$$

The lowest you can reasonably set an acet regulator is around 2+/- lb. When
I'm piercing 4-5" the All States is running around 7 oz. of propane.

I only have an 0 cutting tip and just by changing the regulator setting (you
only set the oxy, the propane is metered from a sealed regulator) I can cut
20 gage without warping it or crank up the psi and pierce 4-5" of steel.

Another thing oxy prop lets you do acet won't is machining a torch cut.
Propane doesn't add carbon to the steel so I can pierce, let it cool and
chase it out with a HS drill bit or torch off a chunk of rnd, chuck it in my
lathe and face it off with a HS cutter. I'm speaking of mild steel of
course.

The slag is also low carbon, very low and almost always cleans off with a
quick scrape on a table edge, etc. I almost never have to grind slag off.

One of the techniques you use with the All States cutting torch is rolling
the tip. The oxy jet will cut cleanly up to 9" from the tip so for cuts
shorter than say 10-12" you hold the torch in one place and roll it in your
hands to direct the oxy jet across your cut.

After a little practice you'll find yourself cranking the pressure high and
going really fast. I can make a nice, straight clean cut in a piece of 1/2"
x 12" in maybe 2-3 seconds, tops.

There's no need for a fuel saver as it has a thumb valve on the body, set it
once for a job and light it when needed. You can get an auto-light (or
could) so you don't have to mess with a striker but I just clip my trickle
charger to the torch and ground it on the table. Flick the thumb valve and
brush the tip on the table . . .POW it's going, properly adjusted and ready
for action.

The "rosebud" or "Heater" (All States name for it) is smaller than the end
of my middle finger and will melt 1 cu/in of steel in under 11 seconds.

If you think you may want to use oxy acet, get a second rig. Don't
compromise with a conversion or multi-fuel, they don't cut it.

Frosty
------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks

Meadow Lakes, AK.