[TheForge] oxy-propylene, propane tips and air-arc

[Ben Barrett]

Thanks Mikey -- I'm just not convinved from what I read here that propylene
will make things any easier for me.  The idea with propane and compressed
air is based on the amount of BTU's I observe being cranked out of either of
the venturi forge burners I have now, as well as my buddy's forced-air propane
forge... I am also consider just making a mini-forge, since that could
cover many
of type situations where I want a more focused heat (more cheaply).
Definately not made of money here, but prolly better-off than many folks...
I've almost wiped out my tool budget now, and the biggest items I've come
to acquire are the anvil ($200) and oxy/acet setup ($300), and I can't afford
any bigger-ticket items until I get some nice commissions :)

I figure a $500+ job would enable me to upgrade my torch setup
in some way, so I'm trying to figure out if I should save up for the All-States
or some other propane-specific torch... I need a bigger oxy tank if I'm going
to use any substantial oxy, so that is an additional cost for me.
I'm more inclined to rig up some kind of [mostly-] fixed burner, with
an insulative
baffle maybe, to do point heating with.  I still need all the
experience I can get
with the oxy/acet, I learn a lot each time, but it is not worth
burning up unless
I'm progressing on some project, it seems.

BTW, can you expound on any reasons *against* using non-enriched compressed
air with propane?  Again, no cutting needed/expected for that setup.
Does it just
not get rich enough of a mixture, before it blows out the flame?
Then, what about
using something like the classic hair-dryer blower with a small
home-made burner,
maybe on some sort of swing-arm frame (since I'd prolly over-build it
too much to
be handheld :)  -- sound feasible?

One thing I'm still trying to understand, is how I might creatively
deal with all the wasted
heat, from both forge and torch.  Would working a torch within say a
3-sides insulative barrier
help, or would that just be too unbearable, kicking back all the heat?

Sorry for all the questions.  TheForge is so helpful, thanks everyone!

ben


On 6/22/07, Kathy <keporter at comcast.net> wrote:
> Ben,
> I'd make that propylene and compressed air if you're going to delete oxygen use,
> or  try oxygen enrichment of the compressed air. You can get venturi mixers for
> enrichment from Carlisle Machine Works (you might just want to check out the
> Unicon Hand Torch while visiting their site, unless you're made of money that is
> :)
> Mikey
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On Behalf Of Ben Barrett
> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 11:32 AM
> To: Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] oxy-propylene, propane tips and air-arc
>
> So, propane has gotten a little more expensive since that
> All-S...whatever FAQ price comparison was written up, but clearly it
> could still be a big gain.  Right now I only have a couple small Oxy
> tanks, so I wouldn't want to over-use that.  For basic spot-heating,
> like fine-tuning twists and bends, can propane and compressed air be
> used?  That sounds like the right price!!
> I have a spare compressor tank (no motor or compressor) that I was
> thinking of setting up just for that purpose... I don't care if I use
> up a lot of compressed air, it is cheap :)
>
> So, if no cutting is done, does compressed air work well enough with
> propane through an oxy/acet torch?  Should I still use tips made for
> propane?
> If this works, it would be an incredible boon, using mostly what I
> already have, which we can all appreciate.  Seems unreal.
>
> ben
>
>
>
> On 6/22/07, Ron Childers <munlaw2 at hcsmail.com> wrote:
> > A #2 Propane tip works pretty well on my big ol Smith torch that was made
> > for oxy-ace. It cost about 12-15 $$ and cuts rr rail ok. Once the metal is
> > hot it's the oxygen that does the cutting. The Allsnakes torch may be better
> > but I would have to be convinced to spend the extra $635 when my torches
> > work pretty well..
> >
> > I've had no problem switching from acetylene to propane and back again- not
> > enough mixing of gasses to matter by the time the regulator is swapped and
> > the torch is lit anyway.
> >
> > If you want to get nasty, quick & dirty, use an air-arc torch. Truly a
> > matter of function over esthetics. It isn't pretty but does the job.
> >
> > Ron C
> >
> >
...