What size cutting tip would you have in the torch for an automotive shop? Heating and cutting stubborn bolts and nuts. Exhaust, flanges and anything else that gets in the way. Was looking at a Smith's website and found their charts for oxy/propane tips. Which tip would you have in your torch based on this chart? I personally was thinking zero but not sure if that would be enough to cut through or heat anything substantial. Thank you.
Oxy - propane
- Thread starter Turbo1002
- Start date
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I've never heard of oxy-propane and had no idea you could cut steel with it. I've only used oxy-acetylene to cut steel. Thanks for the info and chart. 
sweetk30
Well-known member
i used both cutting head and brazing tip .
lots of times for just pin point heat on bolts or nuts i use the brazing tip for more control and better fit in tight areas .
few times over the last 20 years or so have i wished i had a rose bud head . but they DRINK fuel and oxy so be prepared for empty bottles .
lots of times for just pin point heat on bolts or nuts i use the brazing tip for more control and better fit in tight areas .
few times over the last 20 years or so have i wished i had a rose bud head . but they DRINK fuel and oxy so be prepared for empty bottles .
driz
Well-known member
I've never heard of oxy-propane and had no idea you could cut steel with it. I've only used oxy-acetylene to cut steel. Thanks for the info and chart.
Oh yea. Uses more O2 but cuts very well. It’s just colder do you need to take more time to begin cutting . Otherwise it’s much the same.
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sberry
Banned
I can tolerate a size larger tip for auto since much of it involves crude cutting and heating.
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
This should be something that you should be discussing with your local welding shop. It really depends on how much penetration you want, how big your propane torch is, and what you are heating up and cutting. Since your application is automotive with small fasteners and thin sheet metal, it should be on the lower end of the scale.
Last edited:
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I have been running oxy/propane in my shop for about 40 years now. Just pick up the two smaller tips from the chart. The thickness rating seems to fit your needs.
driz
Well-known member
It’s bern so long since I looked at it I forgot what I had. I went out and checked. Mines a 000 size tip. For almost all of my car needs I prefer a 4.5” cutoff disk or whiz wheel . Mine isn’t so massive that it destroys heavy sheet where I still prefer the disks. It’s plenty for heating and chopping anything you’ll find on a car tractor, truck ect. It cherries a typical suspension nut in 6-8 seconds and usually chops them in double that. Last year I chopped off that masssive nut that holds the stump jumper on a brush hog with it, 1 5/8” wrench size. I’ve even welded on a few hanger brackets and light stuff similar using just the cutting torch. Wrong sure but for light stuff it works well enough. I used the rosebud a few times to preheat so I could stick weld some heavy cast iron.
Right or wrong this cutting tip is about all I use since everything else I do is either stick or mig. It sure comes in handy living in the rust belt.
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Right or wrong this cutting tip is about all I use since everything else I do is either stick or mig. It sure comes in handy living in the rust belt.
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