alternative fuel gas

[deereman75]

Post clear pics of your torch tip REMOVED FROM THE TORCH, side view, of your torch handle, and of the cutting attachment.

I like straight torches for cutting, but you should solve your tip problem first by knowing what your torch takes so if you get a straight torch later you can have matching tips.

Post your exact torch model number if you will have a delay posting pics and I'll attempt to look it up.

We'll figure something out. The Blueshield website is horrid but tip pics will tell the tale. The very few pics I see look like Airco tips. Tip designs go back many decades (I'll spare the welding history and patent war lecture) but here's an Airco-style (made by Uniweld) tip:

I am actually on vacation right now, so I wont be able to get pics of it for about 2 weeks. It is the DUO-2 light industrial kit, if that helps at all. The pic of the tip you posted looked a lot like it.

 

[deereman75]

Well after looking around a bit, I think ou are right on the tip style, I am 99% sure it is airco. When I get back, I will take one of my blueshield tips in, and compair it to an airco tip. One other annyoing thing I found is air liquide uses a differnt style acet tank valve, so I think I will have to get a differnt reg for propane. I think I will also get a bigger o2 tank, mine is a 55cf, I am going to trade it off for a 110cf. I think for the straight torch, (provided my torch is airco style) I will get the uniweld 18 inch airco style straight torch, either that or try and find a used one.

 

[monckywrench]

One other annyoing thing I found is air liquide uses a differnt style acet tank valve, so I think I will have to get a differnt reg for propane.

Nope. Adapters are available cheaply to connect (any) acetylene regulator fitting to the CGA-510 LP tanks.

Click on the Acrobat catalog page for excellent drawings:

Stoody Industrial and Welding Supply-specializing in industrial gases and welding supplies

 

[deereman75]

Nope. Adapters are available cheaply to connect (any) acetylene regulator fitting to the CGA-510 LP tanks.

Click on the Acrobat catalog page for excellent drawings:

Stoody Industrial and Welding Supply-specializing in industrial gases and welding supplies

Oh thats great, that just saved me $90.

 

[deereman75]

Ok I have done a lot of digging around, and I think I have determined the tip style of my torch. From what I can tell, air liquide torches are made by concoa, which bought out the airco torch line. Also, I have compared pictures of air liquie tips, and airco tips, and they are the same. I have also compared pictures or the torches and regs, from concoa and air liquide, and they are the same. So I am 99% sure my torch uses airco style tips.
Here is a picture of the air liquide tip.

Edit: the air liquide tips even come in the exact same package as the airco tips from concoa.

 

[yomax4]

Koike tips look very similar to Airco too.

 

[monckywrench]

Airco, Koike, Concoa, and clones interchange as they are based on the same Airco patents. I've swapped plenty of Koike and Aircos and generics. I haven't bought any Concoas since Airco are so plentiful.

Grab some tips off Ebay etc and have at it!

Also, LOOK at the distinctive Airco tip base, because many Ebay sellers have no torch experience and YOU knowing what they are selling is an advantage.

If you look for a straight torch, the classic Airco corncob style (steel head preferred) are well regarded. Concoas sometimes turn up used too.

 

[rhett]

here is a nice comparison writeup
Propane versus Acetylene

 

[Shield Arc]

rhett thanks for posting that article!:thumbsup: I read every word of it. Last time I used propane to cut with was on a joint venture construction site in the 1980s, I remember it cutting fine, but taking a little too long to preheat. After reading that article, now I know I was doing it wrong. I have seen 3 and 4 inch plate cut with propane, but it was with a tractor torch.

 

[deereman75]

If you look for a straight torch, the classic Airco corncob style (steel head preferred) are well regarded. Concoas sometimes turn up used too.

I was looking at one of the new uniweld 18 inch straight torches, but I always prefer old stuff, so I think I will try and find one of those old aircos.