Cheaper than ????

pat32rf · Jan 28, 2017

I have a set of oxy/acet torches out in the garage and I also have a little plumbers "B" tank that I use for smaller heating jobs and soldering. Been using the same bottle of gas for five years but I ran out last night. I know how the price of the bigger bottles have jumped and I am wondering if I might be better off switching to one of the fancy newer propane torches for my plumbing jobs...?

yomax4 · Jan 28, 2017

I have a couple Victor Propane Turbo torches and they work well. Actually they are Air Propane because they pull air from the atmosphere to help create heat. I like these but when doing larger copper pipe like 1" or larger, I go back to Acetylene air like your B tank or better yet get it over with by lighting the Oxy-Acet set. I like Oxy-acet when you need to re-do or add a joint close to one that is already there. You can heat it up and solder it quickly and get out without loosening up the whole system which could happen with a long drawn out propane heated joint. But. It all works. Some just faster than others.

Texasmark · Jan 28, 2017

If you are asking about using Propane rather than Acetylene depends on your tolerance level. I started with A and when I moved out here A wasn't all that accessible but P was so I changed tips and went with P. Hard to start and not as hot were my two dislikes. After my finances started picking up and stores got closer, went back to A.

pat32rf · Jan 29, 2017

Our local plumbers all seem to use some form of propane turbo torch these days but back when I was working our choices for a hot flame were acetylene so I carried a company refilled B tank. I am now over 70 and don't much copper work anymore. I have lots of 1lb propane tanks and thought it might be cheaper to buy a turbo torch than refill the B tank.....but I can get a refill a mile down the road, a Turbo torch is 60 miles away at the welding wholesale.....
If I save enough I can pay my $700 hydro bill.....

IslandTractor · Jan 29, 2017

Propane is cheaper and a lot easier to pick up than acetylene. I prefer to use the hand held ?16 oz propane canisters as I don't do that much soldering. I suppose if I were a plumber it would make sense to carry a bigger tank around and acetylene would be a reasonable option too.