[TheForge] 1 forge message coming in - propane/oxy torch questions

[Ben Barrett]

I finally got my first propane+oxygen torch setup hosed up and lit tonight,
I had some trouble finding the right pressure balance to not blow it out.
At one point, I had lit the propane on low pressure (mild flame),
eased in some oxy, and then eased up on both propane and oxygen until
I was getting a nice blue cone, albeit longer than what I'm used to
with oxy/acet.
Since welding with propane+oxy is the most controversial thing, I
tried briefly on some thin stock which had been forged/folded over on
itself... I burned through one side rather than puddling anything
useful, but I'm sure I've got to keep fiddling with my fuel mixture to
get the most heat.  That blue cone I feel good about, but with a
variety of settings the flame was creeping away from the torch and
going out.

So does anyone have any advice on maximizing the propane, even though
I've got a cheap torch?  I tried the welding tip but could not even
keep it lit... the cutting head seems to have more of a mixing chamber
and more flow (being 6+1 instead of 1, maybe just more
aeration/mixing?), and that is what I got going.
Also, I'd love to pick up a fuel saver... the good propane ones are
about $115 at enco, but I've seen cheaper ones for about $40... I'm
wondering if I can't just hook up a splitter, parallelizing a needle
valve (going to the pilot) and a ball valve (on a spring for the torch
hanger) myself for much more fun and the same effect.  FYI, I am just
DIY-oriented, not trying to meet any OSHA rules with my gear, etc, but
considering what a boon this setup is.  I'll know more about my oxygen
consumption after a few months...

Hey thanks all!  We had some nice heat lightning flashes tonight here
(rare), it was so hot & humid, now a little rain has settled things
down.

~ben




On Sat, Jun 28, 2008 at 11:47 PM, Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer
<artgawk at thegrid.net> wrote:
> Have we gone mute?
> Run out of opinions?
> Did i offend everyone?