Acetylene Gas Consumption

[Antique Engine]

I converted from acetylene to propane about ten years ago. The cost saving are giant. A normal BBQ propane tank will last through about 2-3 oxygen tanks, and I have 350 cu/ft oxy tanks ! Read what I just said again. One normal homeowner size propane tank lasts as long as 2-3 very large oxygen tanks.

I pay 18 odd dollars here locally to get my propane tank refilled when needed.

To convert from acetylene, I took my Victor torch rig to the welding supply where I buy all my equipment. They looked at the hoses and determined my stuff was new enough that the hoses were suitable for acetylene or propane and the regulators too. All I had to buy was a 30 dollar tip to screw onto my torch head. That's it. The acetylene regulator screws right into the normal propane bottle. Same hoses, same regulator.

Apparently some years ago Victor started supplying propane compatible components in their kits as a running change so buyers had the choice of acetylene or propane right out of the box with just a tip change. I bought my rig in 2001 so its fairly new in the scheme of torch equipment.

The only functional difference between the two gasses when cutting is that it takes an extra 1-3 seconds of heating to form the puddle. Once the puddle is made and you squeeze the cut lever, propane actually cuts as fast as acetylene. Its just that first couple of seconds per cut that's different.

 

[Professur]

But you can't weld with propane like you can A/O

 

[Antique Engine]

But you can't weld with propane like you can A/O

Indeed you cannot. Just cutting and heating.

 

[kraneman]

But you can't weld with propane like you can A/O

It cant be used to weld, but it sure does work nicely for brazing , especially for brass or aluminium, with the correct flux of course.

 

[brownbagg]

you don't need to tie your tank unless you are a bull in a china shop. if the tanks are not in the cart, they going have their caps on, if you don't have caps on unused tanks, you are just fricken stupid . you can but extra caps at farmers supply. if a tank falls with a cap it just going make a noise, but if its up against the wall and you aint fricken with it, its totally safe. I got about twenty tanks in my shop. none has never fell over, they are up in a corner away from everything and i treat everything in my shop with respect

 

[sberry]

Before we had plasma I had tanks central, 100 ft on a cutting head with LP and another combo with 100 on it for acetylene. It worked well. Had 100# bottle on and cant recall but a time or 2 filling it and I used them a lot.

I changed shops and have plasma with 50 ft on it so only occasionally use torches to cut and went back to a cart. I roll it to the hoist on occasion and never have hoses on the floor which was a constant.