I am putting my cutting torch back into use. It is a one piece torch that is only made for cutting. Do they make a smaller tip that I could use to produce a smaller flame that I could still cut with, but more important, heat stuff up? As it is now, my torch gets small stuff really hot fast and starts to cut without applying oxygen. I had a 2 piece torch but gave it away years ago.
Torch question
- Thread starter johninct
- Start date
more info needed. .
make, model and probably can search online to see what's available for tips
make, model and probably can search online to see what's available for tips
rlitman
Well-known member
If your torch is actually a cutting torch, it will have an arrangement of usually 6 flames around a center oxygen jet. Just don't hit the oxygen lever and those 6 flames are a fantastic tiny heating rosebud. If you need smaller than that, you probably want a welding/brazing torch with a single flame.
That is what I have, 6 flames around a center oxygen. My father bought it for cutting. I was hoping to just change the tip for use as a small item heating torch.
rlitman
Well-known member
How small do you want? You'll be unlikely to find a smaller "heating" torch than a cutting torch, but I think maybe you're confused as to what a "heating torch" is. When it comes to oxy-acetylene torches, you have cutting torches with multiple flames around an oxygen jet (and which can accept weird things like scarfing tips that are more made to sculpt and gouge metal than actually cut), brazing/welding torches with single point flames (which cannot be put on a cutting torch head), and heating torches better known as rosebuds that have multiple flames. The smallest rosebud I'm familiar with (the Smith Little Torch 13-662) is still about as big a flame as a cutting torch's pre-heat flame (that comes from the 6 holes).
So, as I said above, are you REALLY sure you want a "heating torch", because that's what you've got (if you don't use the lever).
What are you trying to heat that you're getting too hot? Oxy-acetylene will not "cut" steel when you have a neutral flame, but it certainly does melt it. No matter what tip you put on an oxy-acetylene torch, it will be too hot to soft solder for example (even assuming you're using acetylene; you really haven't disclosed much useful information here - hint, hint).
Are you sure you wouldn't be better off with an air-acetylene torch?
toplessHO
Well-known member
sounds like want a soft rosebud
post a pic of yours
post a pic of yours
KomatsuTech
Well-known member
Depends on the tip size. How thick of metal?
The torch that I have is made for pure cutting only. I do heat with it but was wondering if I could just change the tip to get a smaller flame, like if I need to heat up a brake line nut. This would be something that would not be used often or I just need to buy a small brazing torch to swap out? Last week, I had to heat up a section of 3/16" steel for like 6", even though I did not hit the oxygen lever, it did spit here and there .
I can respond more. This is what I know/ remember about my torch. My father bought a 2 piece torch in 1978. It had the cutting head and also brazing tips. My father was against brazing so the cutting part was left on all of the time. For some reason in the mid 1980's, my father did not like the 2 piece torch and purchased the one piece cutting torch which I still have.
Years later my friend helped me with a brake job and used a Blue-point oxi- acetelene two hose torch to heat my brake line nuts. That torch could not be used for cutting. I am guessing it is like the 2 piece torch that I had that we gave away with the brazing tips installed. If I were to use my cutting torch for those brake line nuts, it would be overkill and probably melt my brake lines.
I have not used my cutting torch since 2010 because of caring for a sick person and the torch getting buried in the garage . My father bought the biggest aceletene tank he could and rented the biggest oxygen tank. In 2010, I got tired of paying rent on the oxygen tank and bought one, but the biggest one they would sell me is smaller than the acetelene I already owned.
Now, I am able to start bigger projects once again and the torch would come in handy. I have a torch for cutting/ heating but also see the value of a smaller flame for heating small stuff like a brake line nut or small bolt which the cutting torch is overkill for.
My question is, do they make a smaller size tip for my cutting torch for small stuff or should I just buy a small oxi-acetelene brazing torch? I have a B- tank torch for plumbing which I have tried to use to heat small stuff, but it was not hot enough. I do have a propane torch which I know is not hot enough and my Snap-On man would not sell me one of those other hand held torches because he felt were not that useful for me. Maybe I need a torch like radiator repair guys used? Sorry it is long....thanks!
Firebrick43
Well-known member
There are different tips available for a cutting torch. But as asked earlier WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT BRAND AND MODEL
"The torch is made for pure cutting only" is not sufficient to help you. There are 4 major brands of torches that had different proprietary tips, probably a few smaller ones as well. Some brands had 3 different models as well.
Jacko264
Well-known member
I think the answer to your question is no to the one piece gun but you can get a attachment for the two piece type gun with a range of small welding nozzles that you can use for heating small things
Graham
Graham
Firebrick43
Well-known member
No, they do make different tips for cutting only torches for different thickness, gouging, and even sheet metal tips.
Jacko264
Well-known member
Yes but he wants it to heat brake pipe nuts and the bits you are talking about are still quite big for that
Graham
Graham
Firebrick43
Well-known member
No, they make 000 size tips for even large cutting torches that are only rated for 1/8" metal. They are uncommon and therefore you may not of seen it, but small tips for large torches do exist. Just need to know what brand and model it its to give the appropriate chart/part numbers
I have three torches, two are smith aircraft torches that are used mainly for brazing and steel welding of thin sheet. I also have a mid size victor FC100C that normally has a cutting head on it. I rarely if ever use a rose but, just a 0 or 00 tip for heating salt corroded fasteners. I do this because many times it just as easy to peel a nut off the bolt if your careful and you can not do that with a rosebud.
Jacko264
Well-known member
Well I must apologise to you sir I’ve been welding for about 50+ years and I can’t remember seeing small tips that small for cutting torches but I am in the uk
Graham
Graham
Joemctag
Well-known member
Yes, they make tips with smaller or larger holes. The six flames will be smaller or larger and so will the center oxygen hole.
A lot of brands have to use their own brand tip, because others won’t fit and it’ll be obvious,not just a slight difference. Also, there might be 2 or even 3 different “size” ranges of tips. There are small torches that use little tips. Then there is a medium size that most trades will use, and then there are large ones like they might use to cut apart ships or use in a foundry.
Your tip is going to have the brand, like Victor or Harris or Smith and some numbers denoting the size of the openings.
Welding supply or online. They have tips just for heating, called rosebuds, but I don’t think you need one for what you’re doing. They heat a much larger area than a cutting tip does.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
AFN style “nozzles” appear to be common on your side of the ponds “cutting blowpipes”
They make a 1/32 nozzle for the BOC and ESAB blowpipes that is rated to cut just a 1/4” thick steel.
ESAB tips
They also have “sheet cutting nozzles” of the same style we call drag tips.
Sheet cutting nozzle
I will put my tea and pinky down and returned to my still hot black coffee.
After reading a bit further into the OP’s replies, I just think it’s user error. You should not be melting anything while heating it up. It should not “spit here and there”…your tip is dirty or you’re holding the tip way too close to the workpiece.
The only thing a smaller tip will help with is focusing the heat to a smaller area…useful if there is rubber or plastic in close proximity. But I feel the OP will still melt things unless he learns the tool.
The only thing a smaller tip will help with is focusing the heat to a smaller area…useful if there is rubber or plastic in close proximity. But I feel the OP will still melt things unless he learns the tool.
Also does OP understand how to configure it with a neutral flame? That also sounds like part of the problem. It definitely shouldn't cut on its own.
This is hands down the best cutting torch video. OP should watch this and see if there is anything they can learn and adjust before buying anything new.
I've also not heard of a cutting only torch? Maybe a picture would help us too.
This is hands down the best cutting torch video. OP should watch this and see if there is anything they can learn and adjust before buying anything new.
I've also not heard of a cutting only torch? Maybe a picture would help us too.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Good for heating, not cutting.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Cutting only torches are very common. Must live a sheltered life. Most are 24" long but I have seen a few that are 4' and one that was some what longer than that. When your cutting big steel, you want the cutting action to be as far away from you as possible.
As far as popping. If you have an over sized tip, welding or cutting, and you try to turn it down low and heat, the gas going out the tip cant cool it due to low flow and it will explode inside the tip. Also the velocity of the gas exiting the holes keeps the flame from going back but when you turn a large tip way down there is no velocity any more. A smaller tip keeps the velocity up without putting to much gas for the heat load needed. That is why they make different size tips guys!
Joemctag
Well-known member
I think that almost everyone who buys an oxy -acetylene torch is going to use it for cutting and heating and will never use the brazing tips they give you. So, you would think that “straight , cutting” torches would be what most people had.
Cutting only torches are very common. Must live a sheltered life. Most are 24" long but I have seen a few that are 4' and one that was some what longer than that. When your cutting big steel, you want the cutting action to be as far away from you as possible.
As far as popping. If you have an over sized tip, welding or cutting, and you try to turn it down low and heat, the gas going out the tip cant cool it due to low flow and it will explode inside the tip. Also the velocity of the gas exiting the holes keeps the flame from going back but when you turn a large tip way down there is no velocity any more. A smaller tip keeps the velocity up without putting to much gas for the heat load needed. That is why they make different size tips guys!
But, the cheapest, “standard” torches you can buy are the two-part kind that can accept brazing tips, so that when I , working in my trade as an ironworker/fabricator, have an old torch, with, say, a bad regulator, when I go down to the welding supply, I buy a brand new, two-part set with the torch, regulators, brazing tips that I’ll never use, because that’s cheaper than a “straight” cutting torch.