Question: Adjusting O/A flame for rosebud tip?

[evintho]

I need to heat the spring perches on my '38 wishbones to bend them back to parallel after splitting the 'bones. The metal is about 1" thick. What's the proper way/adjustment to achieve the hottest flame? BTW, I've got a cheap HF rosebud if that makes any difference.

 

[Alchymist]

I need to heat the spring perches on my '38 wishbones to bend them back to parallel after splitting the 'bones. The metal is about 1" thick. What's the proper way/adjustment to achieve the hottest flame? BTW, I've got a cheap HF rosebud if that makes any difference.

Light it up, and watch the "inner" blue cone. Add oxygen and watch the cone shorten. Keep adding oxygen until the cone reaches the shortest point. Should be a "neutral flame, ie, just enough oxygen to consume all the acteylene.

 

[lilredex]

Rosebuds consume a lot of fuel, your tank may not support one.

http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/cutting-torch-5.html

My acetylene tank is a "B" and not capable of supporting anything bigger than a cutting tip......which I use when heating things.

 

[sberry]

Agreed, too small bottles and it will starve this large tip for fuel.

 

[Brian_B_]

1 inch thick metal? WOW! What on a vehicle is that thick? Pics?

I cant even imagine trying to bend anything that thick in the industrial fab shop I used to work in. Cut yes, bend..no. 1/2" plate is the thickest I have ever formed in our press break.

The guys know their stuff as far as setting a rose bud and the amount of fuel needed.

 

[larry_g]

1 inch thick metal? WOW! What on a vehicle is that thick? Pics?

:

Think a 1" round rod. Connects the beam axle to the spring. Google Ford wishbone.

 

[Brian_B_]

Think a 1" round rod. Connects the beam axle to the spring. Google Ford wishbone.

Ohhhhhh. Sorry my 56 is a bit newer style.

 

[evintho]

First pic is the spring perch, it's about 1" thick. 2nd pic are my tanks. Yes, the metal is that thick and I think I have a big enough tank.

Light it up, and watch the "inner" blue cone. Add oxygen and watch the cone shorten. Keep adding oxygen until the cone reaches the shortest point. Should be a "neutral flame, ie, just enough oxygen to consume all the acteylene.

Do I want a neutral flame with a rosebud? Not questioning your expertise, it just sounds like that's more for welding.

 

[Alchymist]

F
Do I want a neutral flame with a rosebud? Not questioning your expertise, it just sounds like that's more for welding.

Adjusting to less oxygen (longer cone) makes a "carburizing" flame - one with excess un-burnt acetylene. This wastes acetylene without increasing the temperature of the flame. Conversely adding oxygen after the cone stops shortening just adds oxygen that will not burn- (not enough acetylene to combine with), and does nothing to increase the temperature, in fact will have a cooling effect if carried far enough.

Both a carburizing and an oxidyzing flame have their uses in welding, but in heating, neutral to very slightly oxidyzing is the hot spot.

 

[e-tek]

^^^ What he said.

The RB tip at neutral will heat it RED hot in a couple minutes. Just be sure to continue heating through the bending process, then allow to cool slowly to avoid it over-hardening and becoming brittle. As well, metal will tend to bend wide unless you keep the red spot small and bend it over/around a template.

In looking at you pic #1, what are you going to use to bend the wishbone end over and with?

 

[hermetic]

Light the acetylene as normal, turn up the acetylene untill the black smoke dissapears, then bring up the oxygen till the flame shows neutral cones as it would with a welding tip. that way you get max heat without burning or oxidising.

 

[kald]

Look up your regulator(s) specs and make sure you them adjusted properly as well.

 

[evintho]

Thanks guys, a lot of good info here! I'm wondering where to set my regulators. I usually set them @ 5 & 5 for welding and 5 acy & 35 oxg for cutting. Where to set 'em for heating?

In looking at you pic #1, what are you going to use to bend the wishbone end over and with?

Probably a big ol' pipe wrench. The rear of the bones aren't mounted in their brackets yet. When I do mount them it's gonna push the perch in towards the spring. Then I'm gonna put the pipe wrench on the tube portion where the shackle bolt goes through and twist that back out to parallel. I guess I'll have to heat it right above the tube portion. Any thoughts?

 

[gorilla]

According to the Victor catalog if it's a #6 tip 10/15 oxygen 8/12 acetylene. I'd put a long bar through where the shackle bolt goes. You probably need some help one guy heating and one guy bending. I have a #8 rosebud and live in Windsor if you need a hand.

 

[EvilWelder]

If your running acetylene, you need to make sure you do not exceed the maximum withdrawal of the cylinder, that being said you need lots of oxy and lots of fuel. Light the fuel and turn on the oxy till the outer cone diapers in to the inner and your good.

 

[larry_g]

http://www.eatonsprings.com/techquestions/1937fordwishbone.html
http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/techarticles/1002rc_1940_ford_front_wishbone/viewall.html

I did this years ago on a'48 and remember using a rod inside the 'eye' so that I could better judge when I had things at the right angle. The above two links have some information on the process. I searched 'Ford wishbone' and came up with a few more hits on the subject but did not look at all the links.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[evintho]

Thanks everyone! As always, all my questions were answered! Some great links were given also. Now I need to get to work splittin' my wishbones!

 

[Kevin54]

Anytime I run a rosebud, I set the gauges at 10 and 10. Open up both the A & O 1/4 to 1/3 on the rosebud. Light and adjust. By opening both, you don't have a bunch of soot flying around.