Weldability SIF Oxy-Acetylene Kit

[Austen]

I'm currently looking at getting the above as I’d like a oxy-acetylene torch to weld a little but mainly use to heat and cut metal.

Does anyone have experience with this brand as I can’t find many reviews on it. I believe they usually retail at over £300

Thanks!

 

[dcocks]

this looks ok for the money
https://www.weldequip.com/hd-gas-welding-set.htm

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I'm currently looking at getting the above as I’d like a oxy-acetylene torch to weld a little but mainly use to heat and cut metal.

I'm not au fait with them, but I believe that storage regs for acetylene can be quite strict, depending on cylinder size?

I'm sure someone on here will have chapter and verse on it though.

 

[RonA]

As above, used to have Oxy/Acetylene bottles years ago but got rid of them & went over to Mig purely on safety/insurance grounds
RonA

 

[zx9]

I would only use it for heating and keep hovering over this https://www.weldequip.com/oxy-propane-brazing.htm but have yet to hit the trigger which if you don't anticipate gas welding would get over the acetylene storage issues.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

as I’d like a oxy-acetylene torch to weld a little but mainly use to heat and cut metal.

I don't think that/d be hot enough to weld with, certainly not enough to cut.

 

[Shedendman]

If you want it just mainly for heating,cutting etc i'd go the oxy propane route,ok for brazing,no good for welding though
Have you seen the prices for acetylene?

 

[Austen]

Thanks for the replies! Found some prices at my local BOC shop and acetylene isn’t too pricey just noticeably more expensive than propane.

As I only need it for heating and cutting I’m going to use the oxy-propane as a few of you suggested as it’ll be safer and cheaper.

The different hose and regulator to replace the acetylene ones aren’t expensive which is a bonus!

Thanks everyone!

 

[backpurge]

As I only need it for heating and cutting I’m going to use the oxy-propane as a few of you suggested as it’ll be safer and cheaper.

Probably the best choice, just out of interest why is it people say propane is safer than acetylene

 

[brightspark]

Probably the best choice, just out of interest why is it people say propane is safer than acetylene

because they believe what people say about it who have never used it in their life but seem to know best ive never had a problem with it in over 40 years . just a bit of common sense make sure everything's in good order and store the bottles tied up away from anything flammable . I had a hose fly off with propane once and a nice fireball occurred a bit singed but got it turned off that was frightening and learnt me a good lesson

 

[backpurge]

Load of urban myths, a cylinder of compressed air will kill you if you don't use it correctly

 

[Dcal]

Probably the best choice, just out of interest why is it people say propane is safer than acetylene

Acetylene is great stuff, better than propane in most respects, (not cost though) hottest flame of all the fuel gases, lighter than air (so rises and doesn't pool in pits etc like propane) etc.

But it does have a few issues -

It has a very wide flammability range (2.2 to 99%) it can make explosive compounds with copper and a few other metals, it becomes unstable and may explode if the pressure in the cylinder is raised (in a fire for example) which is why there are pressure relief valves that will blow letting the acetylene vent freely (possibly into an already burning fire), needs to be used in the vertical position (or you might end up with a flame thrower) and then there is the matter of the bottle also being filled with acetone which has it's own problems.

Most of these things don't happen but you can see why the Fire Service treat fires where acetylene cylinders are present with a bit of caution.

 

[backpurge]

Acetylene is great stuff, better than propane in most respects, (not cost though) hottest flame of all the fuel gases, lighter than air (so rises and doesn't pool in pits etc like propane) etc.

But it does have a few issues -

It has a very wide flammability range (2.2 to 99%) it can make explosive compounds with copper and a few other metals, it becomes unstable and may explode if the pressure in the cylinder is raised (in a fire for example) which is why there are pressure relief valves that will blow letting the acetylene vent freely (possibly into an already burning fire), needs to be used in the vertical position (or you might end up with a flame thrower) and then there is the matter of the bottle also being filled with acetone which has it's own problems.

Most of these things don't happen but you can see why the Fire Service treat fires where acetylene cylinders are present with a bit of caution.

The latest FRS guidelines concerning dealing with cylinders in fires more or less states that acetylene cylinders are treated the same as all other gas cylinders in fires, as I said before most of the stuff around acetylene is nothing more than urban myths, all cylinders should be traced with care otherwise you'll come to grief regardless of the contents

 

[Austen]

Probably the best choice, just out of interest why is it people say propane is safer than acetylene

As everyone else said and from what I’ve found out it’s supposed to be a highly unstable gas, therefore sensitive to things such has excessive pressure or excessive temperature, also sensitive to static can cause explosions.

But as other people have said it’s never been as issue for them. And this looks like the usually behaviour for most flammable gases anyway.

 

[backpurge]

As everyone else said and from what I’ve found out it’s supposed to be a highly unstable gas, therefore sensitive to things such has excessive pressure or excessive temperature, also sensitive to static can cause explosions.

But as other people have said it’s never been as issue for them. And this looks like the usually behaviour for most flammable gases anyway.

If it was so dangerous do you really think the gas companies would be able to manufacture it and people would be able to use it with virtually no controls in place

 

[dcocks]

I had been using oxy- acetylene gear for over 40 years without a single issue, and some of it before anti flash backs were made then you had to turn it of properly. Tbh I don't think it is anymore dangerous than any other flammable gas

 

[Paul.]

I always thought of propane as scrapyard gas, in the fab shops I've worked in we only ever used propane on the profiler,
Acetylene is a much more versatile gas, a stepped nozzle will cut thin sheet, conventional cutting nozzles and gouging nozzles invaluable in general fabrication, and because the flame can be concentrated unlike propane can be used for precision heating and of course welding, I've never felt uncomfortable working with it at all, probably because I'm old school and was taught how to use it properly.

 

[backpurge]

As far as I'm aware there are far more seious incidents with oxygen, nitrogen and CO2 than with acetylene and you don't see people getting in a flap over those gases

 

[Dcal]

If it was so dangerous do you really think the gas companies would be able to manufacture it and people would be able to use it with virtually no controls in place

It's not dangerous if used and stored correctly (or even nearly) but people should know it's a bit different to the other fuel gases.
The risks are small but if enough people take risks the chance of a real problem (for someone) becomes probable.

I'm not advocating not using acetylene, just understand it and treat it with a bit of respect (as I'm sure we all do, no matter what fuel gas we use)

 

[backpurge]

It's not dangerous if used and stored correctly (or even nearly) but people should know it's a bit different to the other fuel gases.
The risks are small but if enough people take risks the chance of a real problem (for someone) becomes probable.

I'm not advocating not using acetylene, just understand it and treat it with a bit of respect (as I'm sure we all do, no matter what fuel gas we use)

Very true