propane torch set up

[CNC Dan]

Well, I'm no welder and don't play one on TV but I've been brazing or welding or whatever you want to call it using propane and oxy for over 30 years in my home shop.

In some countrys, they call all forms of joining metals 'welding'. As in solder welding, braze welding, fusion welding. In other countrys, welding means fusion welding. Brazing is brazing. Soldering is soldering.

I suspect what you have been doing is brazing, or 'braze welding' with some kind of non ferrous filler metal like brass or bronze.

Oxy-propane is a good process for that as well as well as oxygen cutting and general heating.

If you want to melt steel to join two pieces together with a flame, you need to use oxy-acetylene.

 

[bigdeano]

Oxy-acetylene burns a lot hotter than Oxy-propane and uses less oxygen. Part of the money you save by using propane you spend on more oxygen.

 

[Shield Arc]

Part of the money you save by using propane you spend on more oxygen.

I've always heard this. I never kept track of my oxygen usage when cutting with acetylene. About a year or so ago I had some cutting to do with propane, and I tracked the oxygen usage.
A 250-CF bottle of oxygen, gauge set at 40-PSI. I made 46 cuts 21-inches long in 1/2-inch thick steel. Using a #3 tip. That is 80 1/2 feet of cutting with a 250-CF bottle of oxygen. Now that is shutting the torch off, and re-starting it after each cut.
A 250-CF bottle of oxygen cost me just under $30.00.

 

[IslandTractor]

I've always heard this. I never kept track of my oxygen usage when cutting with acetylene. About a year or so ago I had some cutting to do with propane, and I tracked the oxygen usage. A 250-CF bottle of oxygen, gauge set at 40-PSI. I made 46 cuts 21-inches long in 1/2-inch thick steel. Using a #3 tip. That is 80 1/2 feet of cutting with a 250-CF bottle of oxygen. Now that is shutting the torch off, and re-starting it after each cut. A 250-CF bottle of oxygen cost me just under $30.00.

You can't leave us in suspense... What project required 46 identical cuts in 1/2" steel???

 

[yomax4]

I could be wrong but thinking back to old training, I was told that Propane uses more oxygen than acetylene only during preheat. Cutting is nearly the same. Something to do with the fluted tips requiring a little more oxygen that the standard acetylene tip to bring the flame to the desired setting. The cutting oxygen hole in the tip is sized nearly identical to the acetylene tip for the same cut thickness. Some manufactures make 1 piece propane or alternate fuel tips with the thought that they use a little less oxygen. I'm not sure if consumption on the 1 piece tips is less but I use them. I like the way the preheat and cut. In the end, The extra oxygen usage is negligible because of the fuel gas saving from acetylene to alt fuels. Just be careful lighting Alt. Fuels out in the wind. I'm a Plasma guy but I grab the Gas Axe quite often when hacking steel. Fun stuff.

 

[Shield Arc]

You can't leave us in suspense... What project required 46 identical cuts in 1/2" steel???

Cutting a 37 1/2 degree bevels on 6-inch schedule 80 pipe.
Those that are willing to come to my shop, I help them with their welding.

 

[LD1]

Good info

Andys Place, Propane vs Acetylene Cutting

 

[scons]

I think propane makes some really nice cuts. Just takes longer to preheat before starting the cut is all.

Very nice cuts you made there !!!

Did you use a device/guide to make that bevelled edge on that pipe ?

 

[Shield Arc]

Did you use a device/guide to make that bevelled edge on that pipe ?

I converted my machine torch from my tractor torch, to work with my weld positioner.

 

[scons]

Very nice, thanks for the extra info & pictures.