O/A Welding

[Robert F.]

Does anybody still weld with gas? If not, what are the reasons for not gas welding?
Thanks, Bob.

 

[MFRED]

Do you mean the old school "torch welding". I always figured it as a last resort for a field fix. I haven't done that in years since I got a welder/generator. It's getting to be a lost art I think. Closest I've done is brazing.

 

[20 20]

I did up until about 7-8yrs ago. Now I've got a stick welder, much easier to use and I can get a better weld.

 

[Reg]

I still use it because I still have it.
It is also often very useful for spot heating where I don't want any weld material deposited.
Propane would work in many cases, but to get a lot of heat in quickly and not have it conducted away Oxy/Acet is a lot better.

I guess if you are out at the end of the utility company's line a HEAVY stick or MIG welder might cause some voltage droop and surge recovery that could affect electronics.

 

[gwdixon]

Slow
Hot
Expensive
Difficult on vertical and overhead
Lack of penetration
Poor weld quality unless an expert
Alternatives far more effective and efficient

That's all for now.

 

[yomax4]

Only the Amish still Torch Weld in my area. ( No Electricity ) Most people have givin it up for all the reasons listed above. There are a Lot of Cool torch rods out there for Copper, Cast, Stainless, Moly etc. Its fun but Mig,Tig and Stick are affordable and easy. I still mess with it because I am a Victor Torch Rep.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

 

[Cami]

I have a bias towards acetylene welding, as I did a fair bit in my apprenticeship, but I usually use it when I don't feel like starting up the generator or have fine work to do(don't own a TIG!) but gwdixon is right on the money; especially with regard to the cost and heat input.

Reg has a good point about the degree of control: heat application and metal deposition are independently controlled.

I use the torches for pre/post heating if needed and also for brazing. I've heard that the saw filers in some local mills still use torches for welding up bandsaw blades, but that it has more to do with stubborn old men than the superiority of the process.

Funny thought: Here in British Columbia there is still a prequalified welding procedure on the books for acetylene welded pressure vessels(PWP 5, I think), but can't imagine it being done anywhere in industry today.... If I had more time and money, I might do it for a laugh and to have it in my log book for bragging rights.

I've heard guys claim that breathing oxygen is a good hangover remedy..is that reason enough to keep the torches around? For hangovers, I preach prevention

 

[PILOON]

I use it to free rusted bolts and to bend metals to desired shapes.
Have one of those porta-packs with small exchange-a-tanks.

Biggest problem is that the valves on the small OX tanks leak.
I think they shut them with an impact tool of some kind making them a b--ch to open and I can never re close them properly and consequently they leak out all the gas within a short time frame. Very frustrating.

99% of my welding is stick welding and I keep 3 sizes of rods on hand and have used cutting rods with good success as well.

 

[DanD78]

A/O is great for silver solder and brazing. For fusion welding I use a TIG torch. I do use a rose bud and cutting torch for heavy stuff and burn propane for those applications.

Dan

 

[IXLR8]

I do O/A welding as that is what I have. When my dads company folded in the early 70's, he gave me the setup. Twenty years ago I had the tanks tested and filled... still running on that fill. Don't use it much and they are large tanks. I haven't been able to justify the cost of getting a MIG or TIG setup for the amount of welding I do.