Propane, Propane

[LD1]

If the BTUs are more, why does it take so much more Oxy?

Dave

I may be wrong with this answer, I read it somewhere along time ago and trying to remember...

But its alot like air/fuel ratio in your car.

Ace wants 2.5:1 ratio.
Propane wants 5:1 ratio. Thus twice the o2 per given fuel just to burn hot enough to do the work.

Weather those numbers are right or weather the reasoning is right...I dont know. But I do know in practice, propane uses o2 about twice as fast as Ace.

 

[Scooby074]

So can you use a standard ace regulator, with that adapter? I have an extra regulator, do you have a part number for the adapter? My supplier wanted to sell me a complete new propane torch set when I asked about converting over. Thanks

Dave

Yup, standard regulator. You may have to change the nut and stem but that isnt likely unless you are with somebody who uses proprietary fittings.

 

[Renze]

I bought propane oxygen because most of what i do is heating stuck machine parts, or heating for bending. the occasional cutting (things the band saw doesnt take) will do fine too: in new steel it gives a wee bit more slag than O/A but i clean with the disk grinder before welding anyways.

Propane just doesnt weld, the gas mixture isnt inert so it will bubble the melting bath of the weld.


I just want to experiment with compressed air (from the shop compressor) instead of bottled oxygen for heating: if that works i'd try cutting too. Has anyone tried that ?

 

[Scooby074]

I may be wrong with this answer, I read it somewhere along time ago and trying to remember...

But its alot like air/fuel ratio in your car.

Ace wants 2.5:1 ratio.
Propane wants 5:1 ratio. Thus twice the o2 per given fuel just to burn hot enough to do the work.

Weather those numbers are right or weather the reasoning is right...I dont know. But I do know in practice, propane uses o2 about twice as fast as Ace.

I cant find the exact chart at the moment, but here is one comparing Acetylene and Flamal (propylene) and oxygen consumption. www.blueshield.ca/en/docs/pdf/marketingInfo/brochures/Oxy-fuel_PocketGuide_E.pdf


For 3/8" plate for example, #1 tip, Acetylene is 13.5 cfh @4psi and oxygen is 75cfh @30psi. Travel speed of 14.5-16.5ipm

Using Flamal29
#65 tip, Flamal is 4cfh @5psi and oxygen is 65cfh @45psi. Travel at 21-27 ipm

So that looks like Flamal burns less gas than Ace and cuts faster. I dont know where propane compares to Mapp (Flamal) regarding consumption, but I know that Im hardly burning any propane.

The only issue ive had so far relates to piercing on the edge of an internal cut on cold metal. Because of the time it takes to heat, and the large diameter of the heat zone on the metal, when doing a pierce it blows out oversize when the O2 is activated. When in the cut however the kerf is just about the same size as you get with ace. It could be a case of operator error though. Im still feeling my way through using propane. Its very close to ace, but has a few differences.

On tips, Ive been finding that the propane stays cleaner. The fact that the fuel holes are recessed helps alot. You can touch down on to metal without plugging the holes with crap.

Funny that some are having issues outside with propane because its all the scrap dealers and dismantlers use here. They cut outside in all weather, all year round.

 

[Stimw]

When cutting with a torch once you start the cut you can actually turn off the fuel and the O2 will keep cutting!!
A guy came by a shop that I used to work at with a deal that used a car battery and an O2 tank. You struck an arc with the battery at the torch and the O2 started cutting. It did work but for some reason we never bought it. That was about 30 years ago and I don't remember much else about it.
I have tried Propane at another shop that I worked. It sucked! When you are doing production you can't waste time on slow heating!

 

[Scooby074]

When cutting with a torch once you start the cut you can actually turn off the fuel and the O2 will keep cutting!!
A guy came by a shop that I used to work at with a deal that used a car battery and an O2 tank. You struck an arc with the battery at the torch and the O2 started cutting. It did work but for some reason we never bought it. That was about 30 years ago and I don't remember much else about it.
I have tried Propane at another shop that I worked. It sucked! When you are doing production you can't waste time on slow heating!

Oxygen lance. Exothermic cutting.
Absolutely awesome piece of equipment. One heck of a spark show. We used them to blow out pins on equipment (track links, excavator buckets etc.) that were stuck in the bore. Nothing like it.

Slow is relative I guess. Most burn tables run oxy fuel. In practice, hand cutting its really no slower once you get the pre-heat in there. Pre-heat time might be 20-30% slower for a properly adjusted torch?

 

[deereman75]

Its odd your acet cost so much. I just got mine filled today (B size, also air liquide) and it was $43. Maybe your dealer is using that plant as an excuse to jack up prices? Mine stayed the same?

 

[Scooby074]

Thats weird..

Prax is the same here. $85. Used to be $55. So its not just AL.

Everybody is complaining the price has gone through the roof (not just me). Wonder how come yours hasnt risen?

$45 is what I payed today for a Size9 of oxygen. $36.50 for gas + $2 Regulatory Compliance (BS) + $5.78 HST = $44.28 Right off the invoice.

 

[cqaigy2]

Back in the day, we used propane oxy in the shop but usually had acetylene out in the field. I liked the precision of acetylene but the propane wasn't too bad to use either. If i remember correctly, it seemed the propane took just a little longer to start the cut, but seemed to cut the same speed, im assuming because the oxy is really doing the cutting once your starting. We ran into similar issue with the initial cut being wider but seemed that if you concentrated on very bottem edge of the metal with a good angle toward your cut, it started faster so less of a pool of heated metal.

 

[deerseeker001]

I HAVE USED PROPANE FOR MANY YEARS ALL I DID WAS CHANGE MY TIP,LOVE IT.WORKS FOR ME.