Thinking of propylene

[buickanddeere]

Where is the chart that shows flow for the various cutting and welding tips?
For bulk heating I use a small or large LP Tiger torch.

 

[deereman75]

To answer a few questions here.
I am fully aware of the difference between propylene and propane. I had initially asked about propylene, but have figured that if I'm going to lose the ability to weld anyways, I might as well save a bit more. Plus I have 3 tanks for the BBQ, and no propylene tanks......

Yes, all fuel gasses have different tips. I have a concoa rig (best in the industry.....), and the torch, and regulators are rated for all fuel gasses. It even has the stainless steel regulator diaphragms.

The hose you need for other fuels is a grade T. It is actually better for acetylene as well. You can run propane in a normal hose, but it isn't a good idea for too long.
Air liquide has 25 foot grade T hose cheaper than most places have the crap hose.....

Finally, propylene is like propane in that it is stored as a liquid in the tank, and the only limit to how much you can draw is when the tank freezes.

 

[BukitCase]

Deereman, I was pretty sure you were knowledgable in this stuff from reading your previous posts - that was part of my confusion when you didn't correct the propane comments.

Thanks for clearing up the propylene bottle specs for me, hadn't found anything that spelled it out (yet)

I did find some vids on fires/explosions caused by poorly configured overpressure valves on propylene tanks, but nothing since about 2005 or so - hopefully that issue is ancient history.

I'm with you on the changes - I think when my acetylene bottle is finally empty I'll put the money into propane change-over stuff, since I also have 4 25 gallon and numerous smaller tanks.

Where I used to work (til this month, now retired and working twice as hard) our main weld shop went from acetylene to mapp gas to propylene and finally settled on propane - welders bitched and moaned, some actually researched the differences and got used to the longer preheat time -

Personally, those "extra 48 years" I spoke of earlier make the tradeoff in favor of extra safety, lower operating costs AND less hassle well worth it to me... Steve

 

[yomax4]

They say that you need grade T hose for alternate fuels..We did use regular hose for ions prior. As for O2 consumption..Not much different between Propane and Propylene and only a little more than Acetylene only on the preheat..other than that all are similar. Alternate fuels are liquids in hollow cyllinders that work off of head pressure..This makes a Rosebud useable even with small Alt fuel cyllinders. Propylene costs similar to Acetylene but lasts 4x longer. That value makes a little more O2 consumption a lesser issue. Other plus notes with alt fuels: Much less cost overall, Not much chance of flashback, Can light both gases at the same time in windy conditions, No Acetone to ruin regs and torches, Can be used laying on it's side, Tips require much less cleaning and are easier to clean, Able to run rosebud with a small tank. Minuses: Wild when lighting in the wind unless you light both gasses at the same time, Grade T hose suggested, Uses slightly more O2 during preheat. If you don't actually Weld with your Oxy fuel setup, You can enjoy all of the plus with limited downside using Alternate fuels.

 

[deereman75]

I have found that for me, there isn't much of any need for gas welding.
I find brazing to be a lot easier, and it can be used on things such as cast iron as well.
Between stick welding, and brazing, I almost never would have a need for gas welding. Add in tig, and mig, and I'm not sure there is ever a need for gas welding.

 

[BukitCase]

Yomax, thanks for the extra info - I'm just waiting for my last acetylene bottle to run dry, then I'll do what I need to be able to heat and cut (thick stuff) with propane.

Got 250 amp ac/dc transformer stick welder, miller 252 mig with 30A spool gun and dual bottle running gear, 200 amp dc tig with 160 amp stick, and Powermax 45 plaz.

All I'd need gas for now is heating/bending stuff, and cutting steel thicker than 1" so I should only need a new reg for propane, and hopefully I can find a propane compatible "bud" and cutting head for my Victor handle. Last I looked, it was an older model that may not be compatible with newer stuff. We'll see... Steve

 

[yomax4]

Your Acetylene reg will work fine it just has no numbers after 15 psi. Usually you wont need much over 15 psi anyway..The fittings are the same. The older Victor handles still take the new tips and they also have a cool short rose bud that screws on to your cutting attachment. It replaces the cutting tip.

 

[BukitCase]

Good to know - I see another "seek and acquire" mission in my future :=) Steve

 

[deereman75]

One nice thing about concoa regulators is that they have numbers all the way up to 50psi on the acetylene gauge. The background changes to red after 15. It's a really nice system, they really thought of everything.
They set up every aspect of their rigs for all fuel gasses.

My understanding is that in tip mixers such as smith and airco are better for alternate fuel gasses, because the mixer can be optimized for a specific fuel gas. I know that my torch with its airco tips cuts nicer than the victor my neighbor has, and as good or better than the purox at the museum.
I bet there would be even more of a difference if they were ran on propane.

Of course I could be totally wrong on all this..... LOL

 

[GoatDriver]

For safety reasons, some things need to be stated clearly within this discussion... :thumbsup:

"Only use Grade R hose for use with acetylene gas. Use Grade T hose with propane gas and all fuel gasses."

"Never go over 15 PSI on the acetylene regulator as the gas can become highly explosive at high pressure"- pg 7 from Hobart Gas Apparatus Medium Duty Torch kit

This Hobart manual says nothing about changing torch bodies on this medium duty kit, just the tips...(could be different with other brands/models)

Propane Cutting Tips

Hobart# 770162 ~~ Tip Size - 2 ~~ Material Cut Thickness 1" ~~ Fuel Gas PSIG -8 ~~ Oxygen PSIG- 35 ~~(Victor Tip Part# 3GPN)
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Hobart# 770172 ~~ Tip Size - 3 ~~ Material Cut Thickness 1.5" ~~ Fuel Gas PSIG -9 ~~ Oxygen PSIG- 45 ~~(Victor Tip Part# 3GPN)