Plasma for heating?

[Balerguy2]

Acetylene is closing in on a 100 dollars a fill........................... My gauges/ torch setup is Harris EP* so converting to Propane is not advised. A new 220v Plasma Cutter costs something over a 1000 dollars but how is it for heating... steel 1/4, 5/16, 3/8" plate? Jobs? Fixing broken farm equipment and DIY fabrication.

*Harris 85 torch handle, D-85 mixer, 72 cutting attachment, Single Stage Gauges.

Looking for any advice on this?! TIA

Carl

 

[deereman75]

Can't heat at all with a plasma... Not sure why your torch can't be set up with propane?

 

[Scooby074]

Why not go propane?

You should be fine with a mere change of your torch's tip. They try to sell you special gauges and hoses etc. but a standard acetylene regulator and hose (although technically you should change the hose) will work just fine. I just went Oxy/Propane and have no regrets at all!

 

[yomax4]

Why not go propane?

You should be fine with a mere change of your torch's tip. They try to sell you special gauges and hoses etc. but a standard acetylene regulator and hose (although technically you should change the hose) will work just fine. I just went Oxy/Propane and have no regrets at all!

Ditto !

 

[mrmikey]

From Harris' site Model 85 | The Harris Products Group :
The Model 85 is designed for welding, heating and cutting with oxy-acetylene but can be adapted to alternate fuels with the proper accessories.
Oxy-acetylene/Hydrogen--Oxy-natural Gas/Methane--Oxy-propane/Butane--Oxy-propylene

As was said, propane is the way to go, I've never heard of a torch not being able to use propane other than using the proper two piece tip.
No bottle contract which around here runs $160 for three years per bottle. You'll still need ox obviously but it's a far sight cheaper than acetylene at $40 for 3.2 cu. meters......Mike

 

[Balerguy2]

deereman75
scooby074
yomax4
mrmikey

All of you have "hit it out of the park"! Thanks a million. After going through the pdf(s) I'm looking for a photo or anything that details the "brass fittings" needed to mount my acetylene regulator to a propane cylinder. Those fittings must be available.................. LWS or Menards or Ebay?

Carl

 

[jwmorris]

You can heat with a plasma but just locally and always instantly to melting temperature.

 

[mrmikey]

The spigot that goes into the 20 lb, as well as other sizes, propane tank is a POL fitting, Propane POL . If you can get hold of an old barbecue, take the fitting off the BBQ regulator, it's a standard 1/4" NPT thread, take the acetylene fitting out of your regulator and replace it with the POL fitting. The only thing you'll have to do is drill out the propane fitting with a 3/16" drill bit to remove the flow valve, it's there so that if you bust a hose on you BBQ the fuel will shut off due to excessive flow, it won't allow enough gas thru for a torch.
If you don't want to do that there is no doubt an adaptor made that will convert from acetylene to propane.....Mike

**EDIT**
1/4" NPT providing you have a brand name regulator, I don't know what the knock offs are. The guy at the local welding supply showed me a Victor knockoff regulator the other day, what a piece of crap. The gauges are not a standard pipe thread and seal at the bottom with some kind of nipple protrusion. The bottle stem is threaded into the regulator and the regulator is so small that after it's threaded in, the top of the regulator is drilled and tapped for the gauge which drills a half hole into the stem. Turn the stem accidentally and you shear off the gauge nipple. The gauge lens is not replaceable neither.....Mike

 

[Scooby074]

deereman75
scooby074
yomax4
mrmikey

All of you have "hit it out of the park"! Thanks a million. After going through the pdf(s) I'm looking for a photo or anything that details the "brass fittings" needed to mount my acetylene regulator to a propane cylinder. Those fittings must be available.................. LWS or Menards or Ebay?

Carl

Your regulator should thread right in. Try it. If not post back.

 

[Arc weld]

Most acetylene uses a standard fuel gas fitting the same as propane. The only ones that's different is Air Liquide that uses an acetylene only fitting. You can get an adaptor to convert them though.