[TheForge] Re: Burning Metal

[Harland Johnson]

A acetylene torch works on the basis of burning steel. While there may be 
molten iron/ steel that drops off as slag in the process, once up to 
temperature, it is the oxygen and the carbon content of the steel that make 
the cutting process work.  That is why a oxy-acetelene torch doesn't work 
for low carbon steels, wraught iron,  or things like pure iron.  Switching 
from cutting steel, trying to use an Acetelene torch on non-ferous metal is 
real learning experience, like trying  to "burn" a nice cut through a bar of 
copper.