Oxy/Acetylene Torch Learning Curve?

[HomeTheaterMan]

What kind of learning curve is involved with an oxygen/acetylene torch? Are they difficult to use? I find myself working on vehicles about once a week (I have several) and I'm often dealing with rusted bolts, broken off bolts, etc. I'm thinking a torch would be very nice to have, but I'm not sure if it's worth the initial cost for me. It's going to cost me about $700 for the two tanks and a decent torch.

I've never used one, but I've watched my friend use one and it makes bolts that are stuck come out with little effort. I've also seen broken off bolts that he's just blown right out of the frame of a car like it was nothing. While I have spent hours drilling them out in similar situations. It would save me a massive amount of time if I could pick it up quickly. If it's something where it's going to take a lot of practice like welding, and something that I am very likely to cause a bigger mess than I started with unless I practice with it a lot, I'm thinking I may be better off without one. I spent a lot on a welder thinking I'd use it a lot. In reality I use it very little. Mostly because I have trouble getting welds that I'm really happy with. After lots of practice I'm decent, but it's taking a lot and I'm still not great. I just don't want to buy a torch only to realize it's the same way. However, if it's not, it would be well worth it for me to pick one up.

 

[Wamsutta]

I could show you how to use one in 5 minutes......but I'd have a heck of a time trying to explain it over the internet. The best I can do is tell you to set the acetylene pressure at 5psi and the oxygen about 20psi. Wear shade 5 lenses.

 

[sberry]

I would have trouble without one. There is really no substitute.

 

[fordcragar]

Find a vocational school or welding shop and get some instruction. After that it is practice. For me, after learning how to gas weld, TIG, MIG and stick were easy.

 

[fordnut85]

Watch some good you tube vids and find something to practice on. Not that hard at all but it is something you gotta get a "feel" for.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[American Locomotive]

Just getting stuff hot is easy. Cutting with a torch takes practice. IMO, for most tasks a Bernzomatic TS4000 with a MAPP bottle gets things plenty hot for me.

 

[WittHay]

The heating part is easy to learn, The cutting torch takes practice.

Then there is the common sense part. You have a open flame, so you have to be careful when working near gas lines, fuel tanks, rubber and plastic parts, oily or greasy parts

Sorry American Locomotive, for the similar comments. Posted at the same time.

 

[sberry]

Yes, cutting can take practice but it can be a precision tool.

 

[gearhead1]

I could show you how to use one in 5 minutes......but I'd have a heck of a time trying to explain it over the internet. The best I can do is tell you to set the acetylene pressure at 5psi and the oxygen about 20psi. Wear shade 5 lenses.

+1, give me 5 mins and you can start cutting and you'll fine tune with experience.

One thing to consider is using propane instead of acetylene. You'll need a different tip, but it allows you to get a tank filled on the weekend and holidays. The biggest thing I dislike with acetylene is that I have to swap tanks during lunch or take time off from work because welding supply stores typically are not open on weekends. I use gas grill tanks and can get filled ones about anywhere.

One exception I know of is GasPony, around here, Northern Tools and Tractor Supply use GasPony. If you have to have acetylene consider GasPony.

 

[Firebrick43]

+1, give me 5 mins and you can start cutting and you'll fine tune with experience.

One thing to consider is using propane instead of acetylene. You'll need a different tip, but it allows you to get a tank filled on the weekend and holidays. The biggest thing I dislike with acetylene is that I have to swap tanks during lunch or take time off from work because welding supply stores typically are not open on weekends. I use gas grill tanks and can get filled ones about anywhere.

One exception I know of is GasPony, around here, Northern Tools and Tractor Supply use GasPony. If you have to have acetylene consider GasPony.

Don't you have to fill oxygen tanks? If you match a #4 acetylene tank to a 250 oxy they will run out close to each other

 

[gdocktor3]

If you're only looking for heat, buy a B tank of acetylene and a turbo torch. I have an oxy acetylene setup, but hardly ever use it because it's just easier to use a small MAPP gas for heat and pneumatic or electric powered tools to cut. My garage isn't big enough to work on vehicles in, so I have to manually carry the tanks, torch, hose, etc to the front of the garage where I can use it vs grabbing the end of a hose reel or extension cord reel, pulling it out to same location and plugging tool in. It is nice to have, but even after making cuts I find myself grabbing the electric grinder and smoothing it all out, so why bother pulling the entire setup out in the first place. Thats just my scenario though.

 

[mbshop]

Get the basics down and then practice. Talk to oldtimers as they got the tricks. I have the smaller portable setup and it works just fine. Unless you do a lot and I mean a lot of work you just don't need the big setups. I basically learned from a few tips and then practice till I dropped. One of the biggest issues yet the simplest is how to setup the torch or flame. So I had no youtube so you have that advantage.

 

[ddawg16]

Gas is also a great way to teach kids how to weld.

My wife and I are going to be doing some wrought iron stuff soon....I'm going to show her how to bend and shape...then weld it......

I fear I may open up a can of worms......

 

[bobcatdan]

Once you get past lighting it, heating is simple. Cutting isn't hard either once you do it a few times. The real trick is cutting a bearing race or a sleeve off of a shaft without wrecking the shaft. A torch can be intimidating, but in reality, is simple to use.

 

[MikeF2316]

Heating rusty stuff up is easy to learn. Just use the cutting torch, but don't use the "extra oxygen lever". There are proper heating tips, but you don't really need them. Keep a spray bottle of water handy to save any rubber boots or bushings that may be overheating. (Plus a fire extinguisher in case things get out of hand.)

Before blowing broken bolts out of frames, you need lots of practice. Lots. Stick to your drill if you can't practice. The 2 hours you spend with the drill will be nothing compared to the time to fix a big torch hole in your frame...

 

[machine_punk]

You don't list your location, but if you are near me (North Bay region of California, US), I'd be happy to show you anything you need to know about an OA torch.

Kev

 

[sberry]

Saves a lot of grinding time.