New to me Oxy Acetylene Setup

[OverkillYJ]

So I picked this up today for $250 off craigslist. I did not argue with the person at all. I drove about an hour and a half each way to get it.

I got a 130 cu ft Acetylene Cylinder, and a 122 cu ft Oxy Cylinder. I got 45 ft of hose, a Victor 19 torch with a few tips, I only recognise the cutting ones. I also got goggles, faceshield, and old school heavy duty leather welding jacket, welding sleeves, and for an extra $30 I bought a milk crate with a bunch of clamps in it.

I already mig weld, and I have reviewed hours of safety stuff and everything for using torches, but what should I really worry about. I have been reading about the backdraft and purging the lines and all that. I lit it once, and then turned it off and figured I would do research on mix ratios and things before going to town with it.

If anyone could point me in the right direction on this that would be great. I want to bend some rebar, and some different types of rods and tubing. Probably some glass bottles too. Basically when I get new stuff like this I just play with it a bunch all stupid until I feel I can accomplish what I need to. The immediate goal I have is to get good at fairly precise cutting of up to 1/4" plate and tube, and straiten a pair of bent leaf springs I have.

I am going to make a nice cart for this whole setup. The tanks wont be free standing like that after tomorrow.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

 

[zkling]

First and foremost, STRAP THOSE CYLINDERS TO SOMETHING SOLID when ever the caps are off!!!!!

 

[slip knot]

Buy a tip cleaner. learn how to use it. Most of the tips in the vice are crapped out they may clean up ok or not. The bottles are a bit mismatched, you'll go thru 4x the oxygen compared with the acetyline bottle you have. but they will work.

Get all the safety devices in place, chain up the bottles, check hoses for leaks and get after it. go online for some guidance but this is one of those experience is the best teacher things. Enjoy.

 

[Steevo]

What kind of clamps did you get a box of?

 

[Rock knocker]

First and foremost, STRAP THOSE CYLINDERS TO SOMETHING SOLID when ever the caps are off!!!!!

Ditto

 

[OverkillYJ]

Yeah Guys I know, free standing tanks are dangerous. Fortunatly I have a detached garage they are locked up in. I will be welding a saftey cage against the wall next to the lift controls. I figured I would use some 1/8"x1" angle iron and expanded steel I have. I will use hinges and a lock so no dumbasses I know can touch the nozzle without me unlocking it.

The tips started cleaning up nice. I actually have a dremel 3000, and that thing details small parts like this great.

So if I could sell this 130 acetylene and turn a profit while downgrading to like a 60 or a 40 cu ft tank they will run out at roughly the same time? I ask because I dont like having thing bigger than needed in this particular application. I cant run it without o2 anyways so I figure I might as well downsize the acetylene so I would take both tanks at the same time.

How much is the 130 cu ft worth? Its actually is the size of over a 200 cu ft, but because of all the acetone and fire brick they put in there it only fits 130. This is 3ft tall x10".

 

[Mike007]

I'll just add, you don't want to heat leaf springs when you straighten them. Unless you plan to re-harden them.

Mike.

 

[creativecars]

There are hundreds of videos on youtube about oxyacetylene safety. Watch several of them, look for the ones put out by welding suppliers like victor, miller etc... They will explain flow rates, purge, settings and care, all these things will be helpful to a new user.

Pay much attention to all the info. Not doing so can be a disaster...

The Victor videos are a bit dated but the info is right on.

 

[PBCampbell]

I think I'd keep the acetylene and get a larger oxygen tank to compliment it.