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Using natural gas for torch with 2lb?

_strickland

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Joined
Nov 26, 2021
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Ordinarily natural gas pressure for residential purposes isn't high enough to be useful for any sort of torch applications, however I do have 2psi service in my home. I'm very good with plumbing but I'm wondering if it is possible to purchase appropriate tools, piping and anything else to make this work - I need some recommendations. I can easily plumb in a line before the pressure regulator in my garage to get the full 2psi output, would this be enough to act in a similar manner as a propane torch for soldering purposes?
 
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liliysdad

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Jul 18, 2008
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A little research says you are going to need a lot more than 2psi. What little info is there seems to indicate that when used for cutting purposes, a booster is used to increase the pressure to somewhere around 25psi at 45ft3/hr.
 

marinusdees

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Oct 30, 2012
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Location
Edgewood, Washington
Ordinarily natural gas pressure for residential purposes isn't high enough to be useful for any sort of torch applications, however I do have 2psi service in my home. I'm very good with plumbing but I'm wondering if it is possible to purchase appropriate tools, piping and anything else to make this work - I need some recommendations. I can easily plumb in a line before the pressure regulator in my garage to get the full 2psi output, would this be enough to act in a similar manner as a propane torch for soldering purposes?
In the dark ages, when I was in dental school, we routinely cast gold restorations with residential (school) gas pressure. I have done this subsequently at home. I think it will work, depending on your torch, and material to be soldered. Doesn't take high pressure to generate a hot torch. I doubt it's legal to tap into the gas supply ahead of the pressure reducing regulator.
 

gmcgeo

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Mar 11, 2019
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3,701
Ordinarily natural gas pressure for residential purposes isn't high enough to be useful for any sort of torch applications, however I do have 2psi service in my home. I'm very good with plumbing but I'm wondering if it is possible to purchase appropriate tools, piping and anything else to make this work - I need some recommendations. I can easily plumb in a line before the pressure regulator in my garage to get the full 2psi output, would this be enough to act in a similar manner as a propane torch for soldering purposes?
It would be cheaper to buy a map gas torch
 

mike93lx

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Dec 9, 2013
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Richmond, VA
Ordinarily natural gas pressure for residential purposes isn't high enough to be useful for any sort of torch applications, however I do have 2psi service in my home. I'm very good with plumbing but I'm wondering if it is possible to purchase appropriate tools, piping and anything else to make this work - I need some recommendations. I can easily plumb in a line before the pressure regulator in my garage to get the full 2psi output, would this be enough to act in a similar manner as a propane torch for soldering purposes?
Curious, do you do a ton of soldering in your garage? Having a portable rig is what most people want, but I guess if you are doing stuff like jewelry it could make sense.

Do you consume enough gas that all this is worth the work over a 20lb cylinder?
 
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gmcgeo

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Mar 11, 2019
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Mapp doesn't exist anymore. Mappro is barely hotter than propane and a lot more expensive
yeah, i meant mappro sorry. and for soldering it should be find for his needs.... thats what it seams he needs. to pipe this in natural gas i do not believe it would work. you would have to design set up with the correct orfice and air ratio
 

liliysdad

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I completely missed the soldering part....when someone mentions a torch, I immediately assume a high temp setup for cutting and metalwork, like Oxy/Acetylene.
 

HoosierBuddy

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Good luck.
 

jagboy69

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Dec 16, 2008
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Texas!
I'll be your huckleberry! Watch this very short video of me running my 7" wc natural gas burner! That's less the 1/2 of a psi! I would kill for 2psi natural gas pressure! This burner makes use of half an old microwave blower motor. I use it in my forge and it also does double duty in a glory hole for glass work. The secret is diameter times 9 = inches of mixed airspace before igniting it. I inject gas into a 2inch pipe and that pipe must be at least 18" long before I light it on fire. So far, no boom!

This is just out in the open

Here it is inside an air tank which became my forge.
 

rayra

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Dec 1, 2014
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Escaped from Los Angeles
Ordinarily natural gas pressure for residential purposes isn't high enough to be useful for any sort of torch applications, however I do have 2psi service in my home. I'm very good with plumbing but I'm wondering if it is possible to purchase appropriate tools, piping and anything else to make this work - I need some recommendations. I can easily plumb in a line before the pressure regulator in my garage to get the full 2psi output, would this be enough to act in a similar manner as a propane torch for soldering purposes?
Not even remotely close.

A propane torch kit costs $24.

A MAPP gas kit costs twice that, if you need more heat.

/btw, a propane torch head will fit on and work with 1-lb camping propane cylinders too.
 

DuluthMachineWorks

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Mar 7, 2019
Messages
152
Location
Duluth, GA
I use an oxy/propane setup, and it takes me FOREVER to go through a 20lb cylinder. Even with the big propane weed burner for preheats, it's reasonably economical to run. Unless I was going to have a permanent gas-supplied setup, like a forge or furnace, I wouldn't bother. A 20lb tank sitting below the work bench with appropriate hoses/regulator/torch would be cheaper and more useful than anything you could run on natural gas.
 
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