Thinking of propylene

[deereman75]

In using my latest B tank of acetylene, I have decided to get something else when it's empty....
I can close the tank valve, and bleed the whole system, and within a day or two, the inlet gauge reads 150psi..... The tank valve is bad. I think the main issue is the darn square shank on those B tanks....
Anyways, this is my last B tank. I am trying to decide between getting the next size up acetylene tank, or switch to propylene.
I have done a tiny bit of gas welding, but the tig will end that. My understanding is that you can braze with any gas. Any thoughts on this from those of you who are torch experts? (Or at least know more than me... (easy to do...))

I guess the next size acetylene tank is still too small for a rosebud..... That would be really useful.

Anyways, is propylene the way to go? I am looking at the 25# tank from air liquide.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I use a rosebud with a B tank, but it eats acet fast. I have switched to propane for heating, cutting, and brazing. Works good. Takes a little longer to get up to working heat as propane has less BTU content per CF. Keep the acet around as I do gas welding of steel often. Actually I am a better gas welder than arc welder.

Ron

 

[Arc weld]

A B tank is too small for a rosebud and you'll draw acetone out of the cylinder. This creates a very dangerous situation. I wouldn't be surprised if your rosebud is all black at the end from acetone being drawn out. In my opinion a B tank is too small for a standard torch set. B tanks are what plumbers use with air/acetylene torches. Go to a 75 cu. ft. cylinder and it will have the same valve as the larger cylinders. Air Liquide uses a different acetylene fitting but you can get an adapter. If you're not using it a whole lot, I'd just get the 75 acet. cylinder.

 

[deereman75]

B tank is way too small for a rosebud....
I think I have found my answer. I will get the 75cf acetylene tank, and I think I will get a propane rosebud, and just borrow a tank from the bbq when I need to do heating. Tiger torch is another option..... LOL
Air liquide has the good cast iron tiger torches for $70..... Might also be good for my lead casting.

 

[flyerdan]

If you're not going to be using it for a lot of applications where you need the fast pinpoint heat of acetylene, going to propane makes a lot of sense. They make cutting tips and rosebuds, and of course the cost of the gas is significantly less.

 

[dstig1]

Propane is very convenient, but be aware it sucks the O2 like crazy. I believe it is worse than acetylene in that regard, but I haven't had to ever deal with swapping tanks when using acetylene, as the only place I used it was in class with a massive manifold system. I will kill probably 4-5 (or more..never got that far...) O2 tanks (125cf) to one 20 lb grill tank of propane. You need different tips and hoses too.

 

[BukitCase]

This thread is getting confusing - Deereman originally asked about PROPYLENE, not PROPANE - no one has mentioned PROPYLENE again, not even the OP. I'm trying to figure out if everyone is answering a question that hasn't been asked, or if it's generally thought that PROPYLENE is just another name for PROPANE (it's NOT), or if I'm finally going even MORE "bat guano" than I already was :confused2:

Some alternative gas info

Alternative Fuels | Welding & Gases Today

http://www.advancedweldingsupply.com/gas guide.html

Whatever - in regards to using a rosebud, I have the smallest acetylene rosebud Victor offered at the time, and the LARGEST single acetylene cylinder that's still portable (referred to in some areas as a "size 5", which is typically 360 cubic feet - this is because under the OLD acetylene safety standards, you weren't supposed to draw more than 1/7 of the tank volume per hour, or you would (as previously mentioned) pull acetone out of the tank and into the hoses - eventually, the hoses would rebel and you'd get more flames in more places than you'd bargained for

My chosen combo of small rosebud and largest tank BARELY met the OLD standards, if I didn't push it too hard. The only other SAFE alternative is multiple tanks and a manifold, which obviously isn't very portable or affordable :thumbdown:

Anyway, a small rosebud and a VERY large tank STILL don't come up to the NEW safety standards

Fuel your safety knowledge - Safety Tech Cell - TheFabricator.com

Which now recommend no more than 1/10 per hour intermittent, or 1/15 per hour continuous.

I've yet to find info on whether PROPYLENE tanks have the same quirks as Acetylene (wierd concrete filler, x amount of acetone by weight BEFORE filling, so the tank won't explode at tank pressure, etc) or not - but considering the possible consequences of ignorance I would want to know MORE about PROPYLENE before recommending it or changing to it.

Especially since each type of flammable gas needs its OWN combo of orifice sizes, etc; it's not like you can just hook up your O/A rig to a PROPANE or PROPYLENE or Natural Gas tank and run with it

Sorry if I come off a bit strong on this - I've lived 48 years LONGER than I would have if the T handle of an oxygen regulator had come about 1 inch closer to my head than it did, when an "expert" hooked up a new bottle and cranked the valve open without first backing off the regulator setting.

As it was, that T handle went through two double sided plywood sheathed walls and dented a parked car about half a block away

I've had a lot of fun in that "extra" 48 years, so I figure it's worth knowing what you're messing with... Steve

 

[buickanddeere]

I use the WQ acetylene tank which seems to be the largest that can be owned from TSC. Although there appears to be a WS tank for ownership in some jurisdictions that would be much better ?

 

[BukitCase]

Better, but still not big enough to use even the smallest rosebud - here's a comparison chart, I have the size 5 and have listed the two letter size you mentioned - you now have a size 3, the WS is a size 4. HTH... Steve

 

[allen6634]

B tank is way too small for a rosebud....
I think I have found my answer. I will get the 75cf acetylene tank, and I think I will get a propane rosebud, and just borrow a tank from the bbq when I need to do heating. Tiger torch is another option..... LOL
Air liquide has the good cast iron tiger torches for $70..... Might also be good for my lead casting.

you miht want to make sure you have the proper hose for you gas, i think it takes a special hose to use both gasses safely.