Anyone using Oxy-propane in their torch setup?

A couple of us locally are thinking of going this route. Sure it is a little cooler temp but we have our reasons........I happen to keep a full 100# propane tank full for power outage reasons here in the land of winter. Would just be one less thing I have to buy (Acetylene tank from scratch is 250+)

It will mostly be used to heat bolts and bend schtuff.

Any experience?

 

works great i use both , its nice and easy to drag around a small propane tank. I use it on job sites and theres not much difference

 

We use it at the wrecking yard. it seems to last longer than acetylene and is a hell of alot cheaper. It cuts just fine.

 

You guys use different tips than with ac? One welding shop guy said i would need something different..........didnt really believe him

 

propane cutting tips are different. they have a lot more much smaller holes for the preheat.

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114626&highlight=propane+torch

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112502&highlight=propane+torch


LOL.... search wins again....

I'm funny, but looks ain't everything...

different tip...

fun times...

San Dimas High football rules...

 

I worked in a weld shop that had both and I preferred the propane. I thought it cut a little cleaner( could have been the tip though) and lasted for a long time. It definitely used a different tip and regulator. It burned plenty hot enough for cutting and bending.

 

Thanks my fuzzy freind...............I ran a search but didnt go that many pages back............something about actually getting some shipping out here at work

 

you just need a different tip. I think the last one I bought was maybe $20.

 

Some decent points in those old threads.........and what seema like lots of conjecture. I also will be doing a fair amount of brazing with this (bicycle stuff) and many framebuilders prefer the propane for those thinwall tubes.

 

cool thread. glad to see you're looking into it man.

i got a henrob rig, and i'm wondering if anyone else has used them with propane?

 

No but I have used a Henrob and liked it. I got my torch from a good pal that was switching to the Meco.....that thing is 1/4 the size of a Henrob!

 

Just giving you a hard time, I knew those threads were there, I remebered them....

A henrob seems to be much better on gas in the first place...

 

yea, i dig my henrob... little bit of a learning curve for cutting, but not bad.

 

been using it for years! cheaper and easier to get on sunday. i have 2 sets of hoses for the reason a friend of mine in the shipyard told me the hoses are made different for the different gases and the welding shop confirmed this. but for years we used the same set of hoses with great results. those 7# propane bottles are much more portable.

 

If you are meaning MAP gas , yes I've had it for years. I was told it ruins acetalene diaphragms, but I've not had any problems.

 

no, not MAPP... propane, liquified petroleum gas

 

Im thinking of going this route..for the ease of obtaining the propane. I can run to my local party store or gas station around here and grab a small tank if and when i run out..but with the acetalene (sp) I have to go to a certified filling station and at 12 midnight and on the weekends they are closed , and we all know that we will always run out when we cant get it. Conversion shouldnt be too bad , alot of s****pers are using it around here so It sounds like a plan.

 

At work we use it on our pantograph torch, along with liquid oxy, to burn up to 4+ inch plate. Much cheaper, and we fill up right out of our bulk propane tank. And yes, you will need propane tips.

 

may be a dumb question but does it weld the same as acetalene too

 

1 ) propane requires special tips for cutting...they are 2 piece...inner section and outer sleeve..the outer sleeve projects beyond the inner section by around 3/32 inch.....cutting w/propane works well but the pre-heat time is much longer as the flame is not nearly as hot as with acet.

On the PLUS side.....the cut edge is not hardened out as with acetylene because no CARBON is introduced into the melted metal.....

and ditto for bending stuff.....far safer than acet. due to no carbon absorption that can embrittle the metal.....

2) welding w/propane is very difficult as you dont have control over the btu output as with acetylene and propane does not work well w/welding tips designed for acetylene' ditto for rosebud heating tips...and w/propane the flame balance is tuff to set and it is hard to avoid an oxidizing flame and obtain a smooth puddle w/out bubbling...no contollability and lots of porosity in the weld due to oxidization...

try it and you will find out for yourself...

and I know of no tips designed for welding using oxy/propane w/standard eqpt.....just for cutting....

3) you cannot silver braze (silver solder) steel with propane....you must have a reducing flame for this (acetylene rich) to protect the steel from oxidizing and scaling when exposed to atmospheric oxygen at red heat....

ditto for bronze brazing....the steel will scale and pit....

I am not saying it cannot be done....what I am saying is you will get a ****py result.

summary: propane is exc. for cutting.....lousy for welding/brazing.....and heating heavy, thick steel for bending is frustrating because the btu of the flame is too low. only useful for heating thinner stock for bending....

 

I worked with one of the best Blacksmiths in the country wh o luckily was my neighbor Richard Schraeder . He used the propane exclusively for cutting since it has less energy per given m*** making it unsuitable for many welding jobs . On small stock you may not see a difference however

 

i kinda figured it wouldnt work figuring that if it did people would use it instead of acetylene due to it being cheaper

 

Here is some info I found. More about brazing than anything.

http://frameforum.org/forum3/index.php?topic=50.0

 

What about the tank end of the acetalene hose? Does it hook right up to a propane tank?

 

Yes

 

you talkin regulator or just a hose?

 

regulator screws right INTO propane tank. It does not use the modern quick connect. Most tanks have the internal threads as well as the new type external.

 

i'll be damned... gonna have to try it as i've got about 5 20#ers sitting around for winter backup heating

 

Yup, same here, only I keep 2-3 20# tanks a couple 30# tanks and the 100# big boy..........damn I got a lot of gas!