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

[Jerry Frost]

Like Jim said, get the propane conversion tip, at least 
it will . . . work.

There are some serious differences between acetylene 
and propane where combustion is concerned. Acet and air 
or oxy mix reasonably easily, a little swirl and it's 
good to go. Propane on the other hand does not mix 
easily and requires a deliberate mixing system, 
perforated swirl strips in long chambers and such.

Also, an acet regulator won't turn down low enough for 
proper combustion. For instance if I set my oxy propane 
rig to torch cut 2" steel the propane meter is drawing 
about 1 1/2 oz. this is why the All States propane 
regulator actually meters gas rather than set the flow 
by psi. Cutting steel that thick I'd have the oxy 
regulator set at around 120-130 psi. A standard oxy 
acet rig's oxy regulator doesn't go high enough either.

A conversion tip will let you "use" propane but you 
have to pump so much oxy through at WAY too low a 
pressure for the amount of propane being supplied you 
simply can not get the efficiency, neither in 
performance nor economy of a purpose designed and built 
oxy prop torch.

On the other hand at $650 a pop an All States oxy 
propane torch is a big up front bite. However it will 
have paid for itself 2 maybe 3 x in consumable savings 
before you go through your first 20lb. tank of propane.

Another plus is transportability. You can NOT take acet 
on passenger transportation other than a ferry, maybe, 
oxy sure but not acet. You can buy propane virtually 
anywhere though and if you want to you can use a camp 
stove propane tank and it'll out last a full sized oxy 
bottle.

That one gets you funny looks though. <Grin>

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

Meadow Lakes, AK.


From: "Ben Barrett" <stircrazyben at gmail.com>



> That advice is solid, I think, but... until I save up 
> for it, any tips
> on adjusting what I have now?
> What is a conversion tip?  The only thing I changed 
> was the hoses, for
> the propane...
> Should I *not* be using a standard (acet cutting) 
> tip?
>
> ~ben
>
>