Oxy-Acetylene

[oliwb]

So, I'm in the market for some equipment and I'm not sure what to go for in terms of oxyacetylene / oxypropane / blown gas etc.

I will never, every use this for welding... But i do need something that is capable of heat treating bits and pieces of mild steel, getting the same up to temperature for forming bends etc (up to about 6mm thick), cutting thicker material that my plasma cutter cannot do (including rusty old bolts etc), heating rusty old bolts to get them undone. It's occasional usage and I'd be using hobbyweld gas bottles. The obvious thing is to go for oxyacetylene but I'm not sure if this is flexible enough for heating larger pieces? Any suggestions on a do everything option?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Welcome aboard, oli

Not sure if oxy-propane would up to cutting thick stuff? And acetylene storage might bring it's own problems these days?

 

[8ob]

If propane will do the job I would go for it, acetylene @ £140 a fill + £17 for the paperwork + the yearly rental works out a bit expensive for an occasional bit of cutting/heating.

Bob

 

[davidjohnperry]

you can cut any thickness with oxygen and propane thickest I've seen cut is 75 mm but I've have heard of thicker being cut this pic was before clean up but its 35 mm thick the other side was two inch. It will cut most things with two things in mind
pre heat the thicker the met the more pre heat it needs
secondly having the right nozzle for the job.
I'm still learning still learning tho so i might be a bit out on some information

 

[davidjohnperry]

just took some photos of.information that will hopefully help

 

[Mr shiney]

I love my Oxy Acetylene kit. I have the flame pack 50 setup from BOC. Use it all the time for heating, brazing, cutting etc. Its probably an expensive toy in terms of home workshop but priceless anyway.

No issues with use at home for either fire brigade or insurance.

 

[davidjohnperry]

id like to have a go at acetylene got a few bottles but just don't have the right gear id like to gas weld stuff kinda show off a few lead welding skills I've long forgotten and try gas welding steel xyz

 

[outofthefire]

So, I'm in the market for some equipment and I'm not sure what to go for in terms of oxyacetylene / oxypropane / blown gas etc.

I will never, every use this for welding... But i do need something that is capable of heat treating bits and pieces of mild steel, getting the same up to temperature for forming bends etc (up to about 6mm thick), cutting thicker material that my plasma cutter cannot do (including rusty old bolts etc), heating rusty old bolts to get them undone. It's occasional usage and I'd be using hobbyweld gas bottles. The obvious thing is to go for oxyacetylene but I'm not sure if this is flexible enough for heating larger pieces? Any suggestions on a do everything option?

If your not welding just get oxy/propane the acetylene isn't worth the expense, you might also want to price up full size oxygen bottles because once you get hooked using them hobby ones won't last two minutes

 

[anto44]

I have oxy/propane that I use for working on cars, heating seized bolts and that kind of thing and I find it perfect. I've used oxy/acetylene aswell and to be honest it's not really worth the extra cost over propane for that kind of work. unless you plan on welding with it the propane is fine in my experience

 

[taxi ray]

Oxy propane is fine for cutting, and heating up small areas, it is very controllable and cheap to use, acetylene is more suited to a very fine cut, although propane can give very good results.

 

[Parm]

I've got oxy propane for hobby use at home. You can't weld with it but it's pretty much good for everything else

 

[WorkshopChris]

So, I'm in the market for some equipment and I'm not sure what to go for in terms of oxyacetylene / oxypropane / blown gas etc.

It's occasional usage and I'd be using hobbyweld gas bottles.

I would go with oxy propane if your going down the hobbyweld road.
Personally i would not consider the Acetylene cylinder they offer, when you dig deeper and look at the safe draw of rates this cylinder needs to serious warning labels attached before some one gets themselves into trouble.

 

[dannyp]

i'm useing propelyne, hotter and better than propane, its fair bit more expensive than propane but cheeper than acetaline and less hasstel

 

[outofthefire]

i'm useing propelyne, hotter and better than propane, its fair bit more expensive than propane but cheeper than acetaline and less hasstel

Whats it like for welding with?

 

[dannyp]

apparently you can weld with it, you can braze with it ok. gas welding isnt something i do, id like to have a play with tho when you can never find the torch and the mig tig and stick sets are setup waiting to go ......

 

[davidjohnperry]

I've used propane and oxey mix in the scrap trade and the structure steel fabrication industry its fine for purpose except you can't weld with it. Hobby use and industry use its worth it as the propane can be used to fire a heater in winter if needed

 

[outofthefire]

apparently you can weld with it,

I've heard that just not been able to talk to anyone that's tried it though.

 

[Arclikeharrypotter]

Oxy propane is what's used now to burn rail, so you've definitely got seem serious cutting capacity with it.

 

[dannyp]

Oxy propane is what's used now to burn rail, so you've definitely got seem serious cutting capacity with it.

that must anoy them, propane isnt short of cutting power if anything i'm told its prefered on the extra thick material for some reason, we have an old profiler at work that dose a really tidy job with propane, but you do miss the flame hand cutting

 

[oliwb]

So next question... If I'm going down the oxypropane route, does anyone have any recommendations of what kit to go for? I've seen a fair few kits on eBay for not a huge amount of money but I'm hesitant as research suggests the cheaper stuff can be hard to use with propane (ie. difficult to light and get a neutral flame etc).

Thanks