[TheForge] Re: Burning Metal

Mon Nov 3 10:12:00 2003

I think if the carbon content was the accelerating factor, cast iron should
cut easily.
The  best I can do on cast iron with an O/A torch is a very sloppy cut.
My plasma torch however cuts it easily.
chuck-
---- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Worsley" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 6:32 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Re: Burning Metal


> Interesting statement you give below.
> Perhaps you can tell me what I have been doing wrong all these years
> that DOES allow me to cut low carbon steel and wrought iron with an
> oxy/acet torch!  The same materials are also easily cut with oxy/propane
> which is what my local scrap yard uses.
> Nonferrous metals are not usually cut with oxy/fuel equipment.
>
> Chris
> Alex. VA
>
> Harland Johnson wrote:
>
> > 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.
> >
>
>
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