Oxy-propane ??

J.Marsillo

J.Marsillo

Joined
Nov 8, 2000
Messages
1,255
I found an oxygen tank at a garage sale among other things(I'm a lucky bastid:D )
Does anyone reccomend or use oxy propane,and can i just use my acetylene regulator with the proper adaptor? The tank is a tall skinny one from the medical world.
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check out the 80$ yard sale score:) post vice,box O files,tongs and hammers and a flour sifter for that lumpy flux and boric acid! the anvil will probably go to the NY renaiscance fair in memory of Pat the blacksmith who passed away In '04
 
Cool find! I'm too cheap to pay rental on acetalyn, I use oxypropane for cutting and while it isn't as nice a cut as acetalyne, it's a lot cheaper. I also use it for brazing and heating, and heat treating smaller knives.
 
I use oxy/propane for all my soldering/welding/brazing/etc. It is clean and cheap.The medical tank will have to be re-valved to use with a welding regulator. Your local welding gas supplier can do it (it will probably need recertifying,too).
 
Will that's my problem too with a 400 $ deposit is hardly worth getting full size tanks.An OA setup is one of the major things i need in my shop,looks like propane is it!
Stacey i'm going to the welding supply house tomorrow thanks, I hope they dont condemn it.
 
I've heard you need a special tip if you use propane for cutting. I've also heard propane will eat the rubber hose in time. I could very well be wrong but might be worth checking into.
 
I wouldn't worry about the hoses.Jewelers and several other industries have been using propane (mostly because of government requirements against acetylene) for many years.I have never heard of any problems.You might have to use a different size tip for cutting than you would for acetylene,but that should be only because of the BTU difference.I use the same gear as I did with acetylene and MAPP.
I would be interested to hear if anyone has info on hose deterioration?
 
i switched from Acetylene to propane a couple years ago. The initial cost it a bit more but the long term savings is great. Yes there are special tips, heating and cutting. When I did not know better, I tried to use a propane cutting tip with acetylene. Lit up the torch and tried to cut. It made a big BANG and then it would not light again. I was lucky, could have been much worse. They also make hoses in 2 types, one for acetylene and one for "all other gases. I did buy the all others for my forge but I just used the same hoses for my torch. The regulator supply connection is the same for propane as it is for acetylene, the regulators they sell specifcally for propane have a higher pressure rating, since acetylene is dangerous over 15 psi. I use an acetylene regulator for my forges. When i was investigating the whole Idea my welding supply called Victor, they did not recommend using propane for gas welding. It does not have as much carbon in it as acetylene so the welds will be weaker. But if I decide I need to stick 2 pieces of metal together I will use my other welders. I use my oxypropane for heating, silver brazing, and heat treating. i love it.

Chuck
 
Chuck, One of the things I tried welding with the propane are the rings I use in the nuts for my knives. Almost everyone of the welds broke with the propane and not with the acd. I had two set ups before the fire. Used the ox/propane when I just needed heat.
 
One reason you need different tips for oxy/propane has to do with flame front velocity. Acetylene burns a lot faster, thus, propane tends to blow itself out if you don't have the special tips.
 
Ray, that's what heard also. If I had to weld with gas then acetylene would be the way to go. I have stick mig and tig welders so the gas welding is not required. I really like Tig welding for precision and Mig for speed.
If you look at the mixing ports on the bottom of the welding/heating tips the propane is larger. So using acetylene with these can be dangerous.
Just keep it safe, it's not worth cutting corners to save a couple hundred bucks and lose it all. If your not sure get your rig checked out at the local welding supply. They will give you pointers as well.

Chuck
 
Hi Joe,

I have to echo what everyone else said, oxy-propane is the way to go. I converted and won't ever go back...all I have to rent is the oxygen tank...sure wish I could find a good deal on a full size one to buy, but the rent isn't bad. Having said that, I just got a plasma cutter recently, and I cannot believe the difference! If you're doing a lot of cutting, man, that is the way to go, it's amazing how much time it saves!

Here's a great resource for all things welding related, whether gas, TIG, MIG or stick, and consummables:

http://tinyurl.com/ks6rk

It's an ebay store for a brick and mortar store called Mississippi Welders Supply. They don't seem to have too much listed on ebay currently, but usually do. They have had the best prices I have found on things anywhere and the person who runs it (Brad) seems to be a top notch person.

Mississippi Welders Supply
5150 West 6ht Street
Winona, MN 55987
minorityone@mwsco.com

I got my torch kit from them as well as the tips and such for propane use. Give them a try.

Now that I've typed all of that, it just occurred to me that I think Kelly Cupples may run a welding supply store...I'm not sure? If so, check with him first, may as well support one of our own!

:)

-Darren
 
Raymond Richard said:
Darren, Its better to have a friend with a plasma cutter than to own one. :D
Click to expand...


LOL, how true that is! My closest friend with one was two hours away! With the current price of gas, it would pay for itself in gas cost alone in just 55 trips. :D

-Darren
 
Raymond Richard said:
Darren, Its better to have a friend with a plasma cutter than to own one. :D
Click to expand...
My fater inlaw owns one new in the box! I'm gonna have to revv that thing up an show him how to use it:D I grabbed a 3' sawblade at the garage sale too.
Thanks for the links Darren.I wanted to get to the welding supply store today but they surprised me on the new job with 4 -10 hr days :grumpy:
 
Man you are Lucky...Wish I could find cool stuff like that at Yard Sales around here:D ...

I have also been using oxy/propane but I had two regulators blow out on me had the gas company telly me it was the propane doing it ? they were cheap regulators anyway.Definately need propane tips as for hoses I have been using acetaline hoses for years and havent noticed any problems.Of course I used a old air hose for propane on my forge for years with no problems ( dumb Idea I know know):D

As for the bottle,I used to trade a few of the different bottles to the company that delivered the oxy/actealene to the scrap yard for regular big bottles with no rent,we owned them then,just a idea.Scrap yards cant scrap the bottles anyway,but if they were good bottles I would take them to trade with.

Bruce
 
Hey Bruce, You starting to feel any better? Like your new aviater with the bowie. I'm sure thats the wrong word but I know it starts with A.
 
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