Too cold to weld?

[BFBOB]

I went out to the garage today to do a little welding on one of the first not-too-cold days in some time. By that, I mean almost up to freezing. It's been down to zero at night fairly regularly.
So I opened the oxygen tank, hisssss. Opened the acetylene tank, silence. Gauges zero. Could it be that it's too cold? I know the acetylene is dissolved in acetone, not just compressed in the tank. Is there some temperature at which it just won't bubble out of solution?

And what's the best way to warm up the tank? I'm guessing standing it in a drain pan of burning gasoline wouldn't be at the top of the list.

Hopefully someone can speak from experience; I can theorize just fine.

(Yes, I had considered the tank might be empty, but in 30 years I have never run out of acetylene before oxygen; very little use on this pair of tanks anyway.)

 

[srmofo]

The valve could be frozen, Try pouring hot water over it first

acetylene pressure is very dependent on temperature. Im not sure at what point it would not come out, but Ill say you have found it if the valve isnt frozen.

Set the bottle in a cooler of hot water and watch the pressure on the gauge.

 

[Thumper68]

If you do need to warm it up try a heating pad set on low taped to the tank covered by a blanket or a hot water heater cover, I have used that on LP tanks in really cold weather.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have used a battery blanket on LP tanks and compressor heads.

Richard

 

[gorilla]

You may want to weigh your tank to see if it's empty, your local welding supply should be able to tell you what a full tank should weigh. I've never seen a acetylene tank freeze but I live in California.

 

[Buckgnarly]

My regs were not working right the other day, think it was about 5F in my garage! They worked, but the high pressure side was way low. Hoping it was the cold acetylene is $$ up here now...

 

[BFBOB]

Hey, kids, what day is it??
That's right, it's Welding Suppliers Closed Day! And so is tomorrow!

I like the idea of hot water, tried some on the valve, and no dice. So I set it in a trash can nearly as tall as the cylinder (it's a small one, a WQ) and filled it with hot water. Starting out at about 120* there's no way the tank will exceed the temperatures it encounters every summer out in the garage. I'll let it sit another hour or so and see what happens.

Heat blanket wrap is a good idea, also not too hot. But the thing about hot water is I actually have some.

 

[2mJps]

I have never had a problem or heard of one. We were out cuting up scrap with a -13 wind chil. I had to dig snow out around tanks to turn them on. Your gas reg has a fillter screen in the part that screws on the tank valve that may be the problem.

 

[steel 35]

Take the regulator off and crack the valve? I am guessing the regulator.

 

[kazlx]

Acetone freezes at -139 F, so you may have an issue with the valve or something else, but the contents should still be viable. It may just be empty...

 

[trackwelder]

This cold weather makes a huge difference in how much gas pressure the tank produces. We use to manifold 300 cu ft acetylene tanks together to get the required volume to gas weld in the winter.

Now we use 100# propane tanks for cutting and burning . I have changed tanks out that are 1/3 full just to get the required pressure to operate our rosebud torches.

 

[BFBOB]

It's empty. M-T. Bereft of contents. Ain't got no.
The hot water bath got it right up to room temp in an hour. I left it in another hour to let the warmth soak in. Water and tank ended up barely tepid. No dice.

2mJps, are you supposed to check the filter every decade or century--I get confused. Never knew it had one. I found it all carboned up - on mine (Purox) it's sintered bronze like some gasoline filters in the center of an Allen screw. I got the carbon out, free enough I could blow through it, and nothing.

Opened the cylinder valve with the regulator off, and nothing. I weighed it, 47 lbs, but I don't knowfor sure how much it's supposed to weigh. According to one source it's a size 3 (not a WQ- that's what I used to have, but now it's the same style and size as the oxy tank) and holds 70 cu'. The tank is stamped 75 cu', but who's counting? So, the acetylene therein should weigh 2.5 kg,(5.5 lbs) certainly a measurable difference. Fastenal says their #3 tank weighs 49.5 lbs, but that probably includes the valve cap, which I left off mine.
No go on my weekend project, and Monday it'll be really cold again.

kinda doubt my wife will let me weld in the house...

 

[A_Pmech]

And what's the best way to warm up the tank? I'm guessing standing it in a drain pan of burning gasoline wouldn't be at the top of the list.

Perhaps not, but I'd pay admission to that show.

 

[Ruger_556]

I'd suspect the valve... I've done a lot of torch work in sub zero conditions without any trouble.

 

[BFBOB]

Perhaps not, but I'd pay admission to that show.

No need. Wait long enough, you're sure to be able to see it free on MythBusters

 

[DenisG]

Google "acetylene engine starters". They were once available on old cars (along with acetylene lamps). The ads boasted that they made the engines easier to start in cold weather.

 

[ckadams00]

Technically, I don't have a clue - but here in Chicago it's 5 degrees. Yes, it's too cold to weld.

 

[Daddyoneleg]

Minus 35c in northern BC and never had a problem.Had a bad bottle of acet a couple of months ago that let acetone into my torch right from the get go.Try a known good regulator. -Cheers

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I got a bicycle LED flasher taillight that has bendable fingers for mounting and put that on the valve handle for my tanks. Any time I do any welding, I flip the switch so it's flashing to remind me the valve is open. When I shut down for the day, even if I turn off the garage lights, it is very visible blinking away to remind me to shut off the valve.

 

[BFBOB]

The final resolution: I took the cylinder in to exchange, told the dealer I thought it had a leaky valve, couldn't prove it, but I always run out of oxygen first, and the oxy tank still has 1800 psi even at 10*. He thanked me for the headsup, said he'd have the tank checked and if it's leaky, I get a free refill next time.
I expect they test them at every fill anyway, but this time they'll track this tank and credit me if it fails. Can't ask for a better deal than that.

 

[A_Pmech]

That's the way it should be!



Leaky valves are not all that uncommon. That's why it's always a good idea to keep a regulator on the acetylene bottles in the shop. The rest I store outside.

 

[srmofo]

The final resolution: I took the cylinder in to exchange, told the dealer I thought it had a leaky valve, couldn't prove it, but I always run out of oxygen first, and the oxy tank still has 1800 psi even at 10*. He thanked me for the headsup, said he'd have the tank checked and if it's leaky, I get a free refill next time.
I expect they test them at every fill anyway, but this time they'll track this tank and credit me if it fails. Can't ask for a better deal than that.

That's awesome. I'll keep that in mind

 

[Joe69]

I have torches in my service truck, and have never had a problem with them due to cold temps.

Joe

 

[ckadams00]

I know I'm gonna get lip from all the ******** guys on here but it's been about 6-degrees in Chicago since Christmas and it is just too freakin cold to be outside . . .my brother got me a Hobart welder for Christmas (my first) and every single day I :frownyface