Cutting with propane

Thanks

Jerry B (also In KY)

george

Depending on how big a fire you need , set pressure 5 to 12 pounds.

Much easier to light fire with some OX turned on.

george

Do a search on this BB for "propane" about a year ago there were great, long discussions about the pros and cons of propane vs. acetylene, a wealth of information from TBone and another knowledgeable welder; Mark somebody, I thing (don't see his name in a recent post, and others. Just read those threads; you'll probably have all the info you need.

good luck

Propane/Oxy(4600*f) burns cooler than Acet/Oxy (5600*f) and takes longer to preheat the weld/cut area. Most users will then use a larger amount of gas to raise the preheat temp as it takes too much time vs Oxy/Acet. This will cause most base metals to over heat creating a carbon slag on the surface or burn the base metal. Don't rush the cut.

Welding with LP/Oxy is very noticable slower and most times requires a larger flame tip size when comparred to Acet/Oxy to complete the same job. This creates a wider heatzone in the base matal causing warpage or effecting other objects. This really is critical when welding thin metal and is a major area where Acet/Oxy can't be beat.

Since propane is sold as liquid, you need a high pressure regulator to vaporize LP into to a gas then regulate that gas pressure. Over time LP will build up oils (looks just like vasiline) inside the supply line and can if the ambient temp is warm enough the oils will collect in one low spot plugging the line. This is not a problem in most areas but can and does happen in AZ where the summer ambient temps are very warm and is a problem to RV's in the summer time. What happens is the oils become heated to a liquid state over a long length of hose then runs to a low spot in the hose pooling then cools causing the vasiline plug.

T_Bone